Vanagon Rear Hatch Struts
How to keep your rear door open when you are carrying cargo on it.

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• If your hatch struts are in good shape, the rear door will stay open by itself with just a rack mounted.  The rack alone does not
  make it noticeably harder to open the door.
• With bikes, tire or gas can on the rack the door will not stay open by itself.   

Samba Forum Thread on Extra force hatch struts

There are several things you can do:

1.  Some people can open the rear door with a rack and one item mounted (tire, bike, gas can).  A strut
     prop tube can be used to hold the door open. See the below page for pictures  
     This option works for some people.  I include this tube free with all orders. 
     Make sure your hatch struts are in good shape, new ones are not that expensive.
    
     The prop tube is "Non metallic conduit, Schedule 40, 1 inch".  Cut tube about 8 inches long.  This can be obtained from building supply stores such as Home Depot and Lowes
     in the electrical department.
   
    
    
2. The vanagon parts book specifies a different hatch strut for each side of the door. 
   Left side 251-829-331B lower strength
   Right side 251-829-332 higher strength
   If you use two right side hatch struts you may find this to be adequate to keep your door open
    
3. Extra high force hatch struts. 
   There are various suppliers who will make up hatch supports with the end fittings, length and force that you specify.
   
   https://www.liftsupportsdepot.comI
   https://www.mcmaster.com
   

• Vanagon hatch support dimensions are as follows:
  
  Extended Length A [in]: 20.00
  Stroke C [in]: 8.00
• Compressed Length B [in]: 11.77
• Stock force about: 140 lbs or 623 Newtons
  Extra force:  about 250 lbs or 1112 Newtons
  
• Force Newtons: 
• Shaft Connection: Ball Socket Cup (Steel) Type=10mm=3/8"=.39"
• Body Connection: Ball Socket Cup (Steel) Type=10mm=3/8"=.39"
• Rod Diameter (MM): 10
• Cylinder Diameter (MM): 22
• The picture below is of a van with these lift supports installed

      These are about twice the force of stock lift supports.  These will keep the door open with a tire and gas container in place.
      You will not be able to close the door when no cargo is in place.  Also, the door will dangerously fly open if no cargo is on the rack.
      You can only use high force hatch struts when cargo is on the rack.