Bay door gas springs.

[Bob Hatch]

We've got a 1999 Winnebago Adventure MH and the gas springs on the larger bay doors were shoot. Doors wouldn't stay up and I either had to hold them up with my head while looking for stuff in the bay, or get a stick or broom handle, or holler "help" to Mary. I decided it was time to get some new ones and called a local Winnebago dealer and talked to the parts guy. The originals were 60 lb springs and I wanted a bit more heft so I was looking for 80 lb ones. I had replaced a couple several years ago with the 80s' and they just seemed more appropriate than the 60's. Anyway when I talked to the parts guy and got him the part number he told me they were $42 and change each. WHAT? They're a simple gas spring that's about 1/2" in diameter and 10" long when extended. I needed 6, so that would be $252 plus. I told him I'd think about it.

A bit of research on the web and I found a supplier for small airplane parts in Bend, OR and called them. They quoted me a price of $15.00 each for the same item, but didn't have the 80's in stock. A couple of emails later the lady that I was communicating with suggested I call their supplier and get them directly.

The supplier was:
ASSOCIATED SPRING RAYMOND 215-785-4466

They were $12.99 each plus shipping. Total for all six was 83.14. Got them via UPS today and installed all six and all bay doors will now stay up when I open them.

The part number for the 80lb is GSNI500080, and the only difference in the originals is that the attachment hardware uses a metal clip vs. the plastic clip on the originals.

So, if you've got a Winnebago MH with weak gas springs on the bay doors, give these guys a call. Easy to work with and they stuffed a catalog in with the springs. I haven't taken the time to really look through the catalog yet, but I will.

[Ernie Ekberg]

www.orrorr.com has all kinds of gas springs at cheap prices. They ship very fast, also.

[Navy Flier]

Not to discount your efforts, but when I had the same problem with a 03 Horizon I found the manufacturers name on the strut went to their web site and ordered what I needed. As I remember they were about $15.