DIY Hood Struts - 2nd Gen

DIY hood struts!

Super happy how they turned out. I initially installed 100 lbs struts but they are way too overkill. I am replacing them with 40 lbs ones right away. Hopefully they are much better.

Here are the parts:

C16-08316 20" 40lb Per Gas Strut Shock Lift Support for RV Door Bed Storage Truck Tonneau Cover Camper Shell Rear Window and Other Heavy Duty Box Lid, Set of 2 Vepagoo
20" struts


$12 10MM Ball Stud Mounting Brackets for Gas Struts Lift Supports Shocks Spring Prop Silver 4PCS, with 16 pcs Screws
10mm ball stud mounting brackets


You could use a little longer strut if you want the hood to open higher. I wasn't interested in this because my ditch lights are close to hitting the windshield with the hood prop rod.
These are installed just like Spiker.










The driver side strut does have minor contact the fuse for my subs but I'm not worried about that.
The strut also slightly touches the brake fluid reservoir when lowering. Also not worried about that.









More information to come!

 

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Great find. Definitely cheaper than the Redline struts I put on mine.

 

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Redline hood struts is what I use, quality stuff

 

Great option. Spiker is another good one.
Here in Canada, we get fucked in the currency exchange and shipping. So I needed to find other options than a company in the USA.

 

Nice DIY job! Looks like you've got $52 (USD) in it which is half the price of Redline or Spyker packages. Post back here if the struts fail so we can see how long they last.

 

Will do. Also switching to lighter struts so I will report how those perform.

 

How did you calculate the mounting points for the length of struts you used?

 

I followed the Spiker installation manual. I had to do a couple easy modifications. Not hard at all.
I attached Spiker and Redline install documents here.

 

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This is a cool DIY!

 

Very cool. I always appreciate the effort people take find a good DIY way to get something built/done, I'm the same way.

 

@dpele thank you, just ordered. was $36 USD, i did have to change location to USA.

 

Nice setup.

 

Awesome!
For everyone in the US, I guarantee there is some very similar products on Amazon.com (instead of .ca). This will probably give you free and fast shipping.
If you guys find the matching product, post the link on here to give others some help!

 

$15 ARANA 10MM Gas Strut Mounting Brackets, Ball Stud Mount Bracket for Universal Lift Supports Shocks Spring 4PCS with 16 Screws (Only Fits 10mm Ball Head)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08MWK6DBF?ie=UTF8

$25 Vepagoo C1608316 Gas Struts 20" 40Lb/178N Shock Spring Lift Support for RV Bed Heavy Lid Truck Cover Camper Trailer Door Mattress Storage Boat Hatch, Set of 2

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FJ1L7LG?ie=UTF8

 

Update:

• Originally had 100 lbs struts (Vepagoo) - way to strong. It was too much to pull the hood down.
• Replaced with 40 lbs struts (Vepagoo) - hood would not raise on it's own, but it would stay up. Too weak.
• Replaced with 80 lbs struts (Red Hound Auto) - nice and strong lift. Decently easy to pull down. Still firm.

I will be keeping these 80 lbs struts. I think the 60 lbs would work, but not sure it would lift a hood with snow/ice on it.

These Red Hound Auto struts are much smaller than the Vepagoo brand. I was a little scared when doing the initial pre-installation compressions. I thought I was going to bend the rods.

 

Dpele,
Getting ready to order struts for this mod. Could you please update and tell us again how the 80lb struts are working for you? I'm leaning towards the larger diam. Vepagoo 60lb struts. My 3rd Gen. 4runner uses 24" struts. Is 20" long enough for your Tacoma, or would you go longer now that you have some experience with them?