Lift Assist cylinders Hawk with brake light ?

[DavidGraves]

Our 2012 Hawk shell has what appears to be a factory installed brake light over the rear door.

Will reversing the orientation of lift assist cylinders (top at center of roof) stress the roof structure ?
We don't carry fixed weight nor plan to.

I would welcome any specific experience with this.

Apologies but could someone please post the Suspa part numbers ?

Suspa....part number...open and closed length...40 lb cylinders.

I cannot find the install instructions on the FWC website and don't want to bug them with questions.

Many thanks

DavidGraves

North Oregon coast

 

[LookyLou]

The lights over the camper door are position lights. They do not work as brake lights unless you've modified them someway.

 

[DavidGraves]

Hi Looky

I need to figure out to send photos more easily.

This light, a large red light, is dead center of camper and over door where I want to mount bottom of lift assists.

Thanks

DavidGraves

 

[PaulT]

David,

You might contact American RV Company in Tigard. They are an FWC dealer and stock cylinders.

http://www.americanrvcompany.net/
877-394-9635

They replaced my rear 20 lb. cylinders with 30 lb ones on my 2014 Hawk.
Marking on 20 lb cylinders as follows:

Suspa
C16-28189. 20 LBS. 14/12

Maybe this will lead to other info you want.

The red bar light over the rear door is just a clearance light on same circuit as other clearance lights. You will need to run a 4th (and possibly 5th) wire from truck to camper to use it as a brake light. And then you will still need a clearance light over rear door.

Paul

 

[DavidGraves]

Thanks Paul

I believe we may have met in Death Valley NP a few years back although we did not have the FWC then.

My inquiry really is whether I can mount the top of cylinders in the middle of the roof without stressing the roof structure by too much lift in the center.

DavidGraves

North Oregon coast

 

[PaulT]

My inquiry really is whether I can mount the top of cylinders in the middle of the roof without stressing the roof structure by too much lift in the center.

Sounds like a question for Stan at FWC. I can see the concern especially if the roof loading isn't symmetrical.

Good luck

Paul

 

[MotoDave]

Some additional Part Numbers since you asked. I used the 30# struts on my Hawk, and its borderline too much lift. Can make getting the front to lower tricky, but it makes raising almost hands free. I've found the 'turn on the fan and close the door' trick to work well for me.

36", 30#: Suspa C16-22241 ($30 https://shop.suspa.com/c16-22241-gas-spring-p4200.aspx)
(I think the dimensions are same as below, but nost specifically listed on their site)

36", 40#: Suspa C16-15952 ($30 https://shop.suspa.com/c16-15952-gas-spring-p80.aspx)
Center-to-Center Length * Extended 35.43" (900mm) * Compressed 19.29" (490mm) Force 40 lbs (178 N)

 

[super doody]

Dave,

I'm not understanding why you would have to reverse positions.

Are you saying the center red marker light is in the way? The strut brackets are mount to each side of the rear red light.

This is a photo from the fWC website:

http://www.fourwh.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/ARB-Hawk-Mid-Atlantic-Overland-Festival-Huntingdon-PA-East-Coast-Popup-Camper.jpg

 

[MotoDave]

My thought too - I took a picture of mine last night, I mounted them out far enough to miss the rain gutter, and I think they could have been even further outboard.

 

[DavidGraves]

Dave,

I'm not understanding why you would have to reverse positions.

Are you saying the center red marker light is in the way? The strut brackets are mount to each side of the rear red light.

This is a photo from the fWC website:

http://www.fourwh.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/ARB-Hawk-Mid-Atlantic-Overland-Festival-Huntingdon-PA-East-Coast-Popup-Camper.jpg

Super

NOW we are getting somewhere ! Thank you !

Have you found anywhere at the FWC site specifying which lift cylinders those are?

DavidGraves

 

[MotoDave]

Check the pdf in the first post here, it lists lengths and recommended # range for each model
http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/9038-fwc-gas-strut-info/

 

[DavidGraves]

You might contact American RV Company in Tigard. They are an FWC dealer and stock cylinders.

http://www.americanrvcompany.net/
877-394-9635

They replaced my rear 20 lb. cylinders with 30 lb ones on my 2014 Hawk.
Marking on 20 lb cylinders as follows:

Suspa
C16-28189. 20 LBS. 14/12

Maybe this will lead to other info you want.
Hi Paul

I took your suggestion and called the company you mentioned.

They said it would cost me about $500 to have lift struts added.........

I politely declined.

 

[PaulT]

[
Hi Paul

I took your suggestion and called the company you mentioned.

They said it would cost me about $500 to have lift struts added.........

I politely declined.

Yikes! I can see why you made your decision. At that price, one might consider 4 helium balloons. Although, a helium tank might put you over your GVWR.

Paul