T6 tail gate struts

[Harvey66]

Hi I have a t6 Cali and had a bike rack fitted , can anyone tell me what new struts I need to hold tailgate up cheers

 

[Volkywagen]

You don’t need new struts. Your motor should have come with the stronger ones as standard.
is the door not holding up??

 

[Harvey66]

When I open door I have to kind of hold it there so it stays and you only need to apply minimal force and it wants to come down seemed ok before rack was fitted regards

 

[Trebor]

Hi I have a t6 Cali and had a bike rack fitted , can anyone tell me what new struts I need to hold tailgate up cheers

Hi I have a t6 Cali and had a bike rack fitted , can anyone tell me what new struts I need to hold tailgate up cheers

Hi Harvey66 .......It’s December and close to freezing out there . Gas pressure is related to temperature .

 

[Lightning]

Hi I have a t6 Cali and had a bike rack fitted , can anyone tell me what new struts I need to hold tailgate up cheers

I brought an adjustable handle designed as a paint roller extension handle, from B&Q which I use to pin open the boot door, with a bike still on the rack too. I store it de-extended on the bike rack when not in use. It works very well.

 

[Lightning]

I brought an adjustable handle designed as a paint roller extension handle, from B&Q which I use to pin open the boot door, with a bike still on the rack too. I store it de-extended on the bike rack when not in use. It works very well.

It’s adjustable pole really.

 

[Bill R]

Hi Harvey66 .......It’s December and close to freezing out there . Gas pressure is related to temperature .

Yep - you’ll find that without changing anything that you will have to try quite hard to close it in the summer

 

[Alan Andrews]

Yep - you’ll find that without changing anything that you will have to try quite hard to close it in the summer

Totally agree from experience. Is a consequence of the cold weather.

If you change to much stiffer higher rated struts then you will find it very difficult to close in summer with no bikes or bike rack attached.

 

[clarinetbcn]

Difficult to close in summer? Just had a weekend out with two bikes on the rack in 0 degree weather, no problem with the tailgate staying up with the bikes. This is good. Are you all really going to tell me that it's a problem shutting the tailgate in summer? Please.

 

[WelshGas]

Difficult to close in summer? Just had a weekend out with two bikes on the rack in 0 degree weather, no problem with the tailgate staying up with the bikes. This is good. Are you all really going to tell me that it's a problem shutting the tailgate in summer? Please.

Yes.
Obviously you misread the post by @Alan Andrews - " If you change to much stiffer higher rated struts then you will find it very difficult to close in summer with no bikes or bike rack attached."

 

[clarinetbcn]

When I open door I have to kind of hold it there so it stays and you only need to apply minimal force and it wants to come down seemed ok before rack was fitted regards

@WelshGas I was pointing out that if this is the case, he doesn't have the upgraded struts that should have been fitted as standard on his Cali, which will hold 2 bikes and rack up in winter, and can be closed without the rack without too much fuss in summer.

 

[WelshGas]

@WelshGas I was pointing out that if this is the case, he doesn't have the upgraded struts that should have been fitted as standard on his Cali, which will hold 2 bikes and rack up in winter, and can be closed without the rack without too much fuss in summer.

Others who have the correct Gas Struts and the tailgate rack would tend to disagree as @Lightning states in his post.

 

[clarinetbcn]

We could do a poll. I find it to be no problem.

 

[WelshGas]

We could do a poll. I find it to be no problem.

https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/search/63151/?q=Gas+struts&o=relevance

 

[Amarillo]

@clarinetbcn

I think that struts of the same rating can degrade over time.

For what it's worth, with a bike rack on the tailgate and chairs in the bag along with front window vents and external roof topper, my tailgate struggles to stay up in the cold - even with no bikes. If I vigorously wiggle it up and down it soon stiffens up and stays up.

In the warm it is a different story and my tailgate will just about stay open with two 7.5Kg children's bikes on the rack.

 

[clarinetbcn]

@clarinetbcn

I think that struts of the same rating can degrade over time.

For what it's worth, with a bike rack on the tailgate and chairs in the bag along with front window vents and external roof topper, my tailgate struggles to stay up in the cold - even with no bikes. If I vigorously wiggle it up and down it soon stiffens up and stays up.

In the warm it is a different story and my tailgate will just about stay open with two 7.5Kg children's bikes on the rack.

Although mine was 4 years old when I bought it 1 1/2 years ago, it was obvious that it had never been used for camping (not a mark anywhere inside or out, upstairs mattress still in plastic bag, etc.). I have made up for that with 30,000 km of heavy use. The struts are still going strong (!), but it will be interesting to see how long they last.

 

[briwy]

This is what I use when it won't stay up. Bit of alloy channel cut to length, just slots onto the strut. Cheap and cheerful.

 

[Bill R]

This is what I use when it won't stay up. Bit of alloy channel cut to length, just slots onto the strut. Cheap and cheerful.

View attachment 53185

View attachment 53186

Genius !

 

[Kevintube1979]

I've had this problem from new (ocean,now 6 months old) the tailgate wont stay up with just the standard VW bike rack on so makes it quite useless for carrying anything as it its dangerous, it closes on whoever is stood there,ive spoken to VW they say they are the correct struts however im going to book it in under warranty as I think they must be faulty and it actually deters me from using and enjoying the van

 

[clarinetbcn]

I've had this problem from new (ocean,now 6 months old) the tailgate wont stay up with just the standard VW bike rack on so makes it quite useless for carrying anything as it its dangerous, it closes on whoever is stood there,ive spoken to VW they say they are the correct struts however im going to book it in under warranty as I think they must be faulty and it actually deters me from using and enjoying the van

Yes, it certainly should do better than that.

 

[westfalia]

View attachment 53198
Yes, it certainly should do better than that.

I wouldn't do that with mine, looks like an accident waiting
to happen.

 

[Nick Stubbs]

Cant even lift mine with two bikes on, just didnt feel right to try.

 

[Exige]

My T6 tailgate would barely stay open with empty bike rack on when cold. Have bump in head to prove. Yesterday had the rear high level light replaced under warranty & they replaced the struts without asking, which was nice. Will be interesting to see if any difference when cold.

 

[Jools]

I replaced mine with some specialist struts from a company in the midlands and they were much worse.... so I went back to the VW. originals. Much better in summer and it is important to push the tailgate a little further so it locks out. Will safely hold 2 heavyish bikes now in summer

 

[flyingmm]

On the subject of droopy boots, My boot requires a push to get it up to 90 degrees without anything on. Should they at least open fully without a helping hand?