One, Heavy Duty Gas Spring for Poptop - 2 required for EuroVan Camper by Winnebago Only

Following directions found on the ev_update Yahoo group, I was able to install this on my 1995 EVC with minimal fuss. A ratcheting cargo strap is the key to compressing the strut to the correct length before installing. After a decade, it is not surprising to have a gas strut fail. Having two of these is more legit than using two sticks to hold up your roof.

I agree with the earlier review: "A ratcheting cargo strap is the key to compressing the strut to the correct length before installing." Without this tip I would have been lost. Knowing to use a ratcheting strap made the job (with a neighbor's assistance) very easy.

Haven't found anyone to install them yet

My 75 year old mom has a '99 Eurovan Camper and could not get the camper top up. It was too heavy for her. I noticed the top sagging a bit and ordered one regular spring and one heavy duty. I changed them both out myself (45 yr old female). She can now get the top up by herself! It's a bit difficult to get started lowering but she can do that as well. That's why in my case with no additional gear on the camper top I recommend 2 regular struts. But this really did solve my problem and I would recommend them! I also ordered the struts for the stove cover from here and they worked great too! That goes up and down with no effort!

I got the heavy duty struts and I wonder if this was the best for me. They're powerful. Once I have pushed the top up a foot they take over and lift the top to full extension by themselves. Also, when closing, I have to pull both handles with some effort. This is probably the one to get if you have a storage case on your poptop. Also, the youtube video on installation was great.

Good replacement.

Ths replacement gas spring is slightly longer than the original one. It seems very strong and provide great support for the heavy roof, but it is very hard to install. I had to unmount hald of the canvas to gain about an extra inch in height for the installation before I could pop the strut in and lower the roof.

2 heavy duty pop top struts - Yes, they are a bit too long, I had watched the video suggesting using a strap around the ends of the struts to make them shorter to fit, but my straps were too weak to do that. So - I attached the one end of strut to underside of top, removed the bracket attaching the other end to the vehicle, made a loop of rope going from the top latch handle, around the end of the lower bracket, which was attached to the strut. The rope had a loop to put the other end through, then mechanical advantage made it possible to pull the length of assembly shorter, then put the big bolts into the bottom bracket, snug all down. Viola!

EuroVan Camper poptop gas spring - heavy duty, worked perfectly. Replaced original 2 gas springs on a 1995 Eurovan/Winnebago style camper 2 years ago with original equipment - but on latest camping trip to Maine could not lift top by myself. Tried until my back, head, neck, shoulders and arms all gave out - could not lift that top. The price and shipping was easy to take, the piece arrived very quickly, and NO drilling was required to install. The strut fit in exactly as the originals did. I don't carry anything on top that adds weight, so EuroCampers advised me to try just one strut to make sure I could pull the top down by myself. The strut is longer than the original, so I had a mechanic friend help me with the install. Might suggest this as it's almost impossible to depress the strut manually - even with all your weight on it. Not to mention the top will need some sort of post to keep it up while you remove the old strut. As suggested in the video, he used a special "ratchet belt" to depress/shorten the strut so it would clip in to the original attachments. Anyway, very happy with the results. Took about 15-20 minutes to install, and I can easily lift the top up the first 6 inches - before it virtually lifts itself naturally with the strut extending itself. And with the strut providing support, bringing it down is also very controlled, and feels much safer. Thanks EuroCampers, Stan Solomon

Agree with all the others reviewers. Strong product that holds the top up, but tricky to install. I tried ropes, bar clamps, neither worked. Ended up as one of the other reviewers, unfastening about half of the canvas to get the room to install. Overall happy with the product and eurocampers.com. Will be ordering more from them.

My new ones don’t seem as strong as the last set I installed; that time I had trouble pulling the top down, but this time I don’t—and I’m not getting stronger! Ratchet straps work great for shortening them to the right length to install them.