Gas strut installation - ball stud and rivetnut sizes

[wm87]

I am looking at installing gas struts on my Swift shell. Does anyone know what size of ball stud (thread length/ball height) and rivet nut they use from factory? The gas struts I've found clamp onto 10 mm ball size.

I found this place to order stainless ball studs from. https://lstechnologies.ca/products/brackets-mounts/stainless-steel-ball-studs-metric/

Does anyone have source to purchase rivet nuts? Or can I email a FWC dealer and purchase the whole set from them?

 

[Argonaut20]

I bought the struts and mounts (from strut-your-stuff-here) on ebay. He was easy to deal with and had what I needed. I don't think rivet nuts are really necessary for mounting the struts as #10 sheet metal screws seem robust enough as you are going into the aluminum frame when you mount the struts.

 

[Argonaut20]

Here is a lengthy discussion of gas strut roof lifters and installation:
http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/2974-roof-lifting-helper-shocks-thingys/page-21?hl=%2Bstrut+%2Broof+%2Blift#entry58631

This gets you to page 21, but easy enough to go to the beginning. Search the Truck Campers forum for 'gas strut roof lifters' and there are some later threads as well but this is the first and very complete series of posts. I have one caveat in that using stainless screws may not be a good idea when going into aluminum.

 

[Brandon - K6BLH]

I have a 1997 Grandby, and want to retrofit a roof lift strut setup. Is the mount for the struts pretty universal, or are they different depending on the generation/year of the camper? I can hopefully find all the parts I need on the above mentioned Ebay site, but just need a little assistance in knowing which mounts to buy.

 

[wm87]

I am purchasing two 30 lb 40 inch and two 40 lb 40 inch from Gemini Gas Springs out of Vernon, BC that I found based on previous forums on here but that is for a 2017 Swift. I had no idea about the stainless steel on aluminium, good to know.
With regards to the rivnut, I was going to install them because that it what the instructions from the factory say that they do and ball studs seem like a cleaner install.

I think I am going to order M8x1.25 with a ball height of 15 mm and tread length of 15 mm. Then find some rivnuts that will work with it.

 

[Argonaut20]

I put gas struts on the 2002 Eagle following the photos at the top of the page on page 21. The structures are similar year over year so the mounting using the mounting plates w/ studs should work on older campers than mine. Before deciding on the length of strut, you might check to see what the distance is between the center of the camper above the door and the likely locations of the upper stud mounts. With a Grandby, 40" will likely work but check to be sure before ordering.

 

[Argonaut20]

Here is the mount I used:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nitro-Prop-Gas-Spring-Strut-Shock-Ball-Mount-OFF-SET-Counter-Balance-Bracket-10m/391973559321?epid=5023246160&hash=item5b4371dc19:g:bzQAAOSwd4tT57oz

Basically an offset mount with the standard stud.