I’m wanting to get my FIL a Christmas present. His cylinders on his toolbox on his truck don’t keep the lid up. I looked at them and after researching about them they are 30lb cylinders. I’m not sure if my FIL replaced them and bought the wrong ones or if they are the original and worn out. I’ve been around for 12 years and they have never worked. How can I figure out what weight rating is needed for the lid? The toolbox is the heaviest lid I’ve ever been around. I’m pretty sure it’s almost 1/8” diamond plate steel. Would it work to weigh the lid with a bathroom scale and then maybe go 10 or 20 lbs more per cylinder?

I’m not wanting to ask him about it because I want it to be a surprise. And I also want it to work when we install them.

12 years... Get him a new toolbox!
They come with new lift cylinders.

Or contact the toolbox manufacturer for replacements.

If you go with replacement struts, be sure to check the connection on each end, I have had the round ends to wobble enough to ream out the connection holes.

probably 40 or maybe even 50# struts.

best is to get one and take with you to napa. you can look on the cyl. if the print is still readable and get the part # then go heavier.

Either would be fine.

Tractor supply carries them

Thanks. I’ll be calling to spring company Attwood tomorrow and hope they can help. After looking at the part number it says 100n. So maybe it’s 100 Newton’s. The springs are shot though so Maybe they are original.

Or I could just go to tractor supply and buy them until it works and return what doesn’t work. Thanks 68rustbucket.

The lid weighs 60 lbs and it is mounted to the lid 1/4 the way from the hinge so that doubles the weight needed. So I would think it’s 120lbs at that spot so maybe 2 60lb or 2 80lb ones would work. Online it says go around 20% higher to take into account wearing down over time.

I started thinking about this more and I don’t want the lid to open by itself I want it to be helping it open and then stay open. So 100 Newton’s is 22 lbs so two would be 44 lbs then since the hinge is mounted 1/4 the way from the hinge that’s lifting at 22 lbs force and it weighs less than 22 lbs opened so I’m thinking of 100n might be right.

Idk. An I’m probably not explaining this well or maybe I’m looking at it too seriously and anywhere from 20 lbs to 40 lbs force will be fine with the two springs.

Is it an Rawson Koenig or Weatherguard then try Earl Owen Distributors.

It’s an old ranch hand. Found the sticker under the lid this evening. I’ll call them tomorrow.