Tailgate gas struts

[al & chris]

Just sent rear tailgate gas struts of to SGS yesterday for re gas due to to bike rack weight . Tracked them they received them this morning hoping for quick turn around as could do with next week any one know how long they take!

[al & chris]

Just had a phone call and they say the cant re gas them so I will have to have new uprated struts. more expense !

[helen&tony]

Hi
Have you got an address for up-rated struts, as SGS state they can up-rate struts?...Maybe they can supply original specifications regarding length and ability to support weight in Kg, then it's a case of looking through strut catalogues to find something suitable?
Cheers
Helen

[al & chris]

Yes was SGS I sent them to. They check them and if poss will upgrade them or will supply new ones if needed uprated for bike racks etc.

[al & chris]

You have to send original struts to them for end fittings which they have to use as they are unique to bongos.

[Simon Jones]

I'm planning on sending mine to be unrated too. Did they say why they could not be done?

[scanner]

I'm planning on sending mine to be unrated too. Did they say why they could not be done?

It's usually wear that means the struts won't hold a higher pressure than standard.

[Simon Jones]

Ah ok, mine are in generally good nick and from 2002 so hopefully they are re-usable.

[BrianD]

If it helps anyone I have a pair of struts free to collect (Bournemouth) seemed to be working Ok with the standard tailgate, could be used as a temporary measure whilst yours are being rebuilt, or leave yours on and get these rebuilt. Will need to know by this afternoon though (Bongo is off to the big Bongo graveyard in the sky, via China).

Cheers
Brian

[teenmal]

This might help some peeps..

http://www.strutsdirect.co.uk/index.php ... truts-c-28

[helen&tony]

Hi
Teenmal...
Useful...bookmarked!
Cheers
Helen

[al & chris]

Just got gas struts back and! They don't hold tail gate up at all. In fact they are not as strong as the ones I sent in. Rang them today they say its an easy fix i have to take them off and send them in again or take van in to them for re gas. Either way another £12 postage or £40 fuel to get to them. Plus going away in van tomorrow so won't be able to do for another two weeks. A bit annoyed is being very polite

[briwy]

I tried to get ours uprated at SGS when we fitted a bike rack to the tailgate.
They reckoned ours were too worn on the strut to uprate (2001 Bongo) and I ended up forking out £140 for new ones. I got the old ones back and I can't see any discernible wear on the rods. Wish I'd left them alone now and carried on using the bits of alloy angle to hold the tailgate up.
About three years ago they uprated some off the N reg we had then without any problems.
They have just moved into some fancy new premises so just wondering if they are trying to make a few bob to cover it.
They do take off the special Bongo fittings and fit them back to the new ones but I reckon it would be an easy job to grind/file off the old rivets and put a bolt in if suitable new struts can be found at a reasonable price.

[dave_aber]

I just slipped a section of plastic waste pipe over them to act as stoppers to keep the tailgate up with the rack (& bikes) in place.

[al & chris]

Well I just paid £144 plus £12 pap for something not as good as I had before.