Holdsworth Gas Struts - help needed Brighton

[gailus40]

I bought it 2 months ago, and always have to find a hunky bloke to lift the roof up for me - a heavy dead weight I can't even budge it an inch by myself. I also have to pull with all my weight to bring the roof back down. I assume the gas struts have gone, and I've found a place in Derby to re-gas or replace, but then I've got the issue of removing and replacing them myself. Does anyone know of anywhere down south (I'm near Brighton) where I could take it to to get it done, or offer help and advice of the best way to remove them without killing myself in the process.
Many thanks

[New Kentish Campers]

I can't say about how to fit them as I've not done the job, but you could try this place for struts, in case they are cheaper than the firm you have found:

Details from an invoice in my file for a replacement gas-strut for my Villa 3: [it is dated 2009 so I hope the firm is still alive ]
" The Campershop
The Old Post office
Tunnel Hill
Upton upon Severn
Worcester
WR8 0QL"
£96.52 plus vat, as shown on my receipt. [That's for one strut, by the look of it too ]

Phone number: 01684 592199 [441684592199]

Hope that helps...

[gailus40]

Hope that was for all four! I've got quotes of approx £100+vat for new, and £50+vat for re-gased from SGS Engineering in Derby, but the issue is their removal/fitting. I'm well aware how heavy the roof is cos I can't bl**dy lift it, and the work has to be done on the road side as I don't have off road parking. What I really am looking for is somewhere within an hour or 2 of Brighton where I can take it and get it done - but googling has come up with nothing and was just hoping for some local knowledge

[lefty67]

what sort of pop-top is it?

[New Kentish Campers]

Hope that was for all four! I've got quotes of approx £100+vat for new, and £50+vat for re-gased from SGS Engineering in Derby, but the issue is their removal/fitting. I'm well aware how heavy the roof is cos I can't bl**dy lift it, and the work has to be done on the road side as I don't have off road parking. What I really am looking for is somewhere within an hour or 2 of Brighton where I can take it and get it done - but googling has come up with nothing and was just hoping for some local knowledge

It says on the invoice 'struts' but then in the qty.box, 1. I cant see they'd be a ton each though, that's mad

I take it you have a Villa pop top?

And this might help you, courtesy of the Wiki: https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Ga ... .26_Sussex

[gailus40]

Yep, it's a Villa. That's be 1 box containing a set of 4 then.

[lefty67]

sorry to ask but there are a couple of different villa pop tops, is yours a villa1 with the bellows type pop top?

[gailus40]

I wish it was cos they're much more cute. It's the vertical lift solid sided one with 2 crossed struts at the front and rear. I know several garages I can book it in to, and just send off for the new struts, but I'm skint after scrapping one van and buying this so was looking for somewhere local to remove and regas. Having no success so may just put up with it and add it to the list of winter jobs x

[Keekster]

I dont know if its like the Devon ones, they are under tension when the roof is at full height. What this means is you have to compress them to fit them. A hellish job . In the end I had to make a tool (jig) to hold them the correct length until I fitted them, then I pulled the roof down a tad, to free the jig. So it may be worth paying someone to fit them.

[gailus40]

I suspected it may be a bit of a pain, but not that bad, lol. Decided now - I've got a whole summer of camping to do on a budget - so sod the struts for now, and just smile and offer free beer in exchange for roof duties x

[1664]

just smile and offer free beer in exchange for roof duties x

we are easily bribed