How to make a Beach handle more load on the roof

[Gwynn81]

I bought the strongest 800N. Today I put the 800N and replace the original 450N. I need it for my roof box and wing foil gear alltogether 50kg. Today I tried how Will open only with roof , no roof box. Opening is OK. Almost the same as with the original. But closing the roof is very Hard. You must give a lot of strenght to close it. I did not try with the roof box yet. I hope that Will be better. I think that 800 N is a little to much. I wish i bought 650N.
I use rachet strap to change the gas spring.
Thanks for the advice.

After one month of use, one of the gas struts started leaking oil and consequently lost its function. I contacted the company Hinscha, and they kindly offered to replace it under warranty — free of charge. I sent them photos, and they determined that the struts were installed incorrectly. Apparently, the wider part — the cylinder — should be positioned higher than the narrower part — the rod.
When I receive the new ones (this time I will get 650 Nm), I will replace them and install them the other way around compared to how the original ones were mounted. I hope this will work correctly.
I’m attaching a picture of how I currently have them installed, and also a picture from Hinscha showing how they should be installed.

 

[Gwynn81]

After one month of use, one of the gas struts started leaking oil and consequently lost its function. I contacted the company Hinscha, and they kindly offered to replace it under warranty — free of charge. I sent them photos, and they determined that the struts were installed incorrectly. Apparently, the wider part — the cylinder — should be positioned higher than the narrower part — the rod.
When I receive the new ones (this time I will get 650 Nm), I will replace them and install them the other way around compared to how the original ones were mounted. I hope this will work correctly.
I’m attaching a picture of how I currently have them installed, and also a picture from Hinscha showing how they should be installed.

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They wrote:
When installing the new gas springs, please make sure the cylinder is positioned higher than the thin rod. Otherwise, the seal of the cylinder may dry out because the oil cannot reach it. If the seal dries out, it will eventually degrade (this is not visible), causing the gas spring to lose oil.

 

[Tarquers]

They wrote:
When installing the new gas springs, please make sure the cylinder is positioned higher than the thin rod. Otherwise, the seal of the cylinder may dry out because the oil cannot reach it. If the seal dries out, it will eventually degrade (this is not visible), causing the gas spring to lose oil.

Good of them to replace under warranty!

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Never knew that, so would appear that VW have fitted the roof struts upside down on all beaches at the factory…below video also explains.

 

[Tarquers]

Never knew that, so would appear that VW have fitted the roof struts upside down on all beaches at the factory…below video also explains.

Given they spend 99% of the time in the closed (horizontal) position, I suspect it’s not that much of an issue?

 

[kave]

Mine are mounted in the wrong way as well then for theee years, no problem yet. My car normally is parked 99% of the time with roof down on an incline where the front is lower than the rear so I guess its the right way for my vehicle.
On suspension mtb the recommendation is to store the bike so that the fork is upside down, then the sealings will last longer as well.

 

[owen_h]

Interesting, mine are (and always have been) mounted 'upside down' as well. Just had a quick look at some of the other manufactures (SCA, Westfalia, Jerba) and they all appear to have the cylinder end fixed to the elevating roof rather than the vehicle body.

 

[WelshGas]

So, what about the Gas struts holding the roof bed up or the Tailgate?

 

[Ch1pbutty]

So, what about the Gas struts holding the roof bed up or the Tailgate?

Boot / tailgate struts have the gas at the top.

 

[owen_h]

So, what about the Gas struts holding the roof bed up or the Tailgate?

pictures seem to suggest roofbed has gas section at the top for both T5->T6.1 and also the New California. Will check next time I have the roof open.