Are your vehicles ready for your summer getaways?

Ute’s gleaming, the 4WDs got fresh oil and the pop-up tent is ready to go. Grab the fishing rods, chuck in the boards, stock up the eskie and you’re set. Summer adventures are officially happening! 

If you’re planning to get out and about this summer, especially if it’s for some good times off-road, it’s important that your vehicles and camping equipment are in proper working condition. No one wants to set up shop for a night by the fire to realise the tent won’t stay up or the boot’s giving you trouble. We like our holidays, cruisy. Not laboursome! 

Giving your vehicles a scrub and service, checking the tires and refreshing the water and oil are typical on the to-do list. What a lot of avid adventurers forget is… the gas struts. 

Before taking off, don’t forget to check if your gas struts need to be replaced or regassed, depending on the type of strut. In this article, we’ll walk you through some gas strut basics, so you can be well-prepped ahead of those long, glorious summer days. 

What is a gas strut? 

In layman’s terms, gas struts are literally the things that keep your boot from falling on your head. Your car boot, bonnet, hatch and tailgate weigh a lot. They require a sturdy, well-gassed strut to prop them up. 

Gas struts are used in car boots and bonnets, canopies, tents including rooftop tents, caravans, camper vans, tailgates, horizontal opening windows, the lids of heavy toolboxes, food trucks, smoko vans and more. 

How do gas struts work? 

Also known as gas springs or gas stays, gas struts are a spring powered by compressed gas. It does not require an external energy source to create movement. The gas strut is usually used to support or counterbalance weight. 

As gas struts have many uses, they can be constructed slightly differently. However, they all have a common functionality based on a piston and a rod, similar to a bike pump or a hand pump.  The flow of gas around the piston can be set by the manufacturer to apply a specific force that is required to open and close a particular object. That is why a different type of strut would be needed to close a ute’s tailgate than one used to close a small caravan window. 

The pressure exerted by a gas strut can be anything from a few kilos to half a tonne.

Which gas strut do I need?

It can be tricky business working out which gas strut you need as there are thousands of different types. There are also a number of different categories including standard gas struts; side valve gas struts; locking gas struts; friction lock gas struts; lock open gas struts and protected gas struts.

That’s why it is sometimes best to chat with the people who know best (hint hint!), especially if it’s for a new application. 

To calculate which type of gas strut you need, there are two things to consider:

• The length of the strut (mm)

• How much pressure (N) that it needs to be gassed up to. 

For more tips, check out our fact sheet.

How long do gas struts last?

Gas struts can last up to 10 years although this could be much less. Around five years is the usual benchmark. Like all mechanical parts, use over time wears them out. They can also be affected by the physical environment, changes in temperature and other factors. 

How do I know if I need a new gas strut?

If it’s not working properly! If in doubt, get them replaced before embarking on any big trips. That is unless you enjoy propping up your boot with a stick and other creative solutions. 

Can gas struts be regassed?

All gas struts lose gas over time. If your strut is fairly new, it may be able to be regassed. However, after 5-8 years or if it is not working properly, it should be replaced. Note that not all types of gas struts can be regassed. 

Need a new gas strut? The ovesco team will help you find the right strut for your job. Strut on over (pun very much intended!) to our Newcastle store, 4 Channel Road, Mayfield West, Monday to Friday from 7:30am to 4pm, or give us a call on 1300 151 268.