Fridge gas strut

[Dr Gil]

No more getting my head banged by the fridge door. Or having to hold it up with one hand while I sift through the fridge.

**** Update Sept 1, 2018. Sorry, I didn't post up the most recent update. I found that using (2) 50N gas struts for the 63qt is the ticket. The door doesn't come down, doesn't spring off of the hinges (struts are too strong), and doesn't flip up too hard and hit you in the face.

***New update Nov 15, 2024. I replaced the gas springs pretty close to 6 years. I open and close this fridge door several times a week, so this was a great return on investment.

Lee Valley (This is the link to buy the gas strut)

I got this idea off a couple of guys from Expedition Portal.

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[Dissent]

Would you share the part number and source, I'd like to do this when I get a fridge.

 

[bajaphile]

The moment about the point that the strut is attached to is results in a higher force then 11lbs. Mounting the strut further out towards the lip of the lid would have helped. (Try opening the fridge lid with a finger on the inside near the hinge vs opening it further away from the hinge and you'll feel the difference).

 

[Dr Gil]

Yes, you are correct about that. The lever arm is much larger further away from the hinge.

 

[surfpig]

You people...

 

[alia176]

This is great, love the out of box idea. I'm going to use a simple paracord to prevent the fridge lid from opening past 90deg and bonking my daughter on the head. As much as I enjoy the s*** out of the head bonking, she'll be a teenager soon and I'm beginning to get scared of that hormone thing.....

 

[rbabs]

I have the same fridge could you take some measurements from the back of the fridge to where you mounted each side of the strut.
Thank you

 

[Dr Gil]

I have the same fridge could you take some measurements from the back of the fridge to where you mounted each side of the strut.
Thank you

I added another strut an it performs noticeabley better with equal pressure on the lid.

 

[alia176]

Nicely done Gil. Did you use self tappers or some other method?

 

[Dr Gil]

Nicely done Gil. Did you use self tappers or some other method?

I used the shortest, widest, stainless sheet metal screw I could find. Not much room behind the plastic. With 2 struts there is less stress on the screws.

 

[Dissent]

Nice job! As far as I understand, the ARB is a cold wall fridge meaning the coils are in the walls in the main compartment but that rear cubby doesn't have any cooling lines in the wall, hence the warmer compartment.

 

[Beanzermin]

I was going to buy the Elements fridge just for this feature! Now I'm going to go dig around on expedition portal!

 

[Dirty Koala]

Brilliant idea, I can't tell you how often I pinch my fingers in the lid. I ordered up a pair of struts.

 

[woytovich]

Found this thread, ordered the parts, completed the project! Thank you.

 

[mudgudgeon]

Just scrolling through, stopped in this thread.

I have an "AUTO FRIDGE", fantastic product from a now defunct business from Australia.

It has gas struts on the lid, but they are mounted externally, not inside the fridge space.

Benefit is, they aren't taking up space in your cold storage area.

Downside, they take up space on the outside. If you're trying to pack things into a tight area, this can make things difficult, but, my fridge needs 1-1/2" of space around all sides to shed heat anyway

 

[peesalot]

I use a bungee hangin off roll cage, bungee is on its 3rd fridge.