I've done a bunch of lift strut replacements on Cobra trailers. The absolutely best way to do it safely is to use an overhead hoist or a hangar upper door header and come-along with straps attached to the rear handles. (The handles are plenty strongenough.) Lift the top fully until you can sort of "feel" the struts at their maximum extension. Make sure the front tongue and the rear of the trailer are supported. Use the front jack and the rear side jacks to eliminate any wiggle or vertical play. Use
I've done a bunch of lift strut replacements on Cobra trailers. The absolutely best way to do it safely is to use an overhead hoist or a hangar upper door header and come-along with straps attached to the rear handles. (The handles are plenty strongenough.) Lift the top fully until you can sort of "feel" the struts at their maximum extension. Make sure the front tongue and the rear of the trailer are supported. Use the front jack and the rear side jacks to eliminate any wiggle or vertical play. Use
Hi,They have arrived. I've never been through the process of replacing them, so I'm looking for advice.
I think this may be the perfect question for this group.
I own a share of a DG-1000S which we keep in a Cobra trailer with a fiberglass top. It's a large trailer, of course, and the fiberglass top is heavy. The gas springs (one on each side) that help lift the top have died, so I ordered replacements.
We'll need to find a way to brace the trailer open - perhaps 2 x 2x4 boards with padding and "V"s cut in one end to keep them from coming off the top.
We'll need a way to remove the old gas springs and compress and connect the new ones.
Any tips?
Thank You in Advance,
Paul Remde
Bracing the top open with 2x4s does work, but it is quite a bit less safe than using a hoist. If using this method, only remove one strut at a time. Remove the weak strut first and replace it with the new one before proceeding to the second one. Ifpossible, clamp the 2x4 to the side of the trailer and try to fix it somehow to the top rail. If it slides and lets the top fall, you could torque the trailer top enough to crack a 'glass top or permanently twist an aluminum one. And there is also a
One other note: Make sure both the upper bolt and the lower pivot shaft are inserted through the square tubes AND the gas strut eyes. It is possible to miss the eye without realizing it, and the strut will not be properly secured to the pivots. Ask mehow I know this.
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