Need to change struts on topper glass

Hey All-

Posted this in the technical forum, but figured maybe my 1st gen brethren can help me out...

I need to change one (will do both) strut that lifts my glass on the back of my topper.

My question is a pretty stupid one.

In order to find the length of the strut do I measure it when it is completely extended or complete lowered?

Thanks

 

edit nvm

18" 26lbs

You can delete this thread

thanks mods

 

My piece of advice is...do NOT use 40lb struts. Don't ask me how I know...

 

lol... lemme guess - busted glass?

Yeah I just replaced them with 17" (actually not 18") 28 lbs struts.

The guy saw the hydraulic fluid dripping out of the busted one and asked me how long I've had them.

I told him 13 or 14 years.

His reply was, "dahgum... they should only last about 2 or 3 years"

 

Nope, not broken glass. But to anyone not familiar with opening my topper, they assume it is always locked because it is so hard to pull open. I'm worried somebody is going to get hit in the chin as it flies up if they let go of it...I've just been too lazy to order the right size online. 40lbs was the lightest I could find locally.

 

When speaking to the local guys who I bought the 28 lbers from, they said if you go too high, it'll torque on your topper glass when fully extended and chances are it'll break.

Just what they told me so take it FWIW.

I notice a huge difference in trying to pull it down with the new struts on. The old ones was easy-peasy... now I have to put some force into it.

 

I did mine with 28 lbs...wouldn,t want any more!!

 

That wouldn't be good...Looks like I know what I'm doing next time I work on the truck