Lift strut broken loose

[Jerfay]

Our Montana has the typical large pass-through compartment in the front. One of the lift struts has torn loose from the compartment door repeatedly. The inside of the door is now so damaged the screws won’t hold. This is the only strut that has done this. Are we going to have to bolt all the way through the door to get it to stay? Any other solutions?

[lfd311]

You can try the matchstick trick to see if it works. You need a wooden stick (kitchen) match and some wood glue. Break the match in half, put some glue in the hole and push the match in. Let it dry for a little while and then re-screw the mount on. This has worked for me in the past.

[sourdough]

Is something putting the strut in a bind? If this happens repeatedly I would surmise it is either a weak/incorrect mounting or mounted in the wrong place putting stress on the strut.

[roadglide]

I took a strut off it was hard closing the pass thru lift up door it has been with 1 strut going on 4 years .

[Jerfay]

Thank you all for your help.

lfd311, I think we’re past the matchstick fix! The door has a flake board inside; it’s just flimsy!

Sourdough, the strut is VERY stiff, but it matches the other struts in strength and position. I agree, something is torquing it, but it’s not obvious!

Roadglide, this is a large door and one strut won’t hold it up. I wish that would fix it. Hubby says he’s going to bolt through the door, so even though the bolt heads will show on the outside of the door, that should fix it!

Again, thanks to all! Happy RVing!

[flybouy]

I'd take an aluminum plate say 4" Sq. Drill and tap holes for the strut to screw on to. Then a hole in each corner to screw it to the door. You would have 4 "new" holes and a larger area to displace the force.

[JRTJH]

I would also replace that strut. You said that it's "the same as the rest, but much harder to compress" so it may be mismarked or not working properly. If the strut is the same one that's pulled out several times in the past, it's time for a replacement.

[K_N_L]

Might consider some type of an marine epoxy to fill the entire area, then redrill new holes. If still suspect then apply a metal patch as noted to reinforce it.

[bobbecky]

This is what I did to both the pass through doors a long time ago, and nothing has come loose since.