ROOF LIFTER GAS STRUT BASE. THE GAS STRUTS WERE MADE BY GAS SPRINGS AUSTRALIA, IN BRISBANE, WITH A 14mm STRUT IN A 28mm TUBE.
THE STRUTS ARE INSTALLED INTERNALLY AND VERTICALLY - THIS PUTS THE FORCE DIRECTLY IN THE LINE OF ACTION (ie, LIFTING STRAIGHT UP) RATHER THAN THE OBLIQUE INSTALLATION MOST STRUTS USE. THERE ARE PROS AND CONS TO EACH METHOD…
VERTICAL: ALL STRUT EFFORT IS APPLIED IN A LINEAR FORCE CURVE, SO THE ROOF SPRINGS STRAIGHT UP AS SOON AS THE HOLD-DOWN IS RELEASED. THIS MAKES IT EASY FOR ALL BODY TYPES AND STRENGTHS TO LIFT TE ROOF. BUT IT ALSO MEANS YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY HOLD THE ROOF DOWN WHEN YOU’RE PACKING UP - THUS THE NEED FOR A CLEAT.
OBLIQUE: GAS STRUT NEEDS TO BE A LOT MORE POWERFUL AS THE ANGLE OF EFFORT IS NOT DIRECTLY OPPOSING THE WEIGHT OF THE ROOF. THE PERSON ALSO NEEDS TO EXERT MORE EFFORT AT THE START OF THE LIFT TO GET THE ROOF UP INTO THAT PART OF THE FORCE CURVE WHERE THE STRUT TAKES OVER. THIS CAN BE HARD FOR SMALLER PEOPLE. BUT WHEN DOWN, THE ROOF WILL TEND TO STAY DOWN.