RV & Camper
RV and teardrop builders need springs that survive road vibration, temperature swings from −30 °C to summer heat, and years of outdoor exposure. Galley hatches are the most common fit — usually a pair of springs on a wide, top-hinged lid where the owner wants it to stay up in wind without a prop rod.
Typical force
150–600N
per spring
Typical stroke
150–300mm
travel required
Material
Stainless 304, or steel with a corrosion-resistant coating
Road salt and constant weather exposure pit a plain steel rod within a season or two, and a pitted rod destroys the seal.
Common applications
| Application | Typical force | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Galley hatch | 250–600 N per spring | Wide, heavy lids — always two springs, sized so the hatch holds in a breeze |
| Storage bay door | 150–350 N per spring | Often side-hinged; check that the spring clears the door frame at full open |
| Pop-top roof | 400–600 N per spring | Four springs typical; balance matters more than raw force |
| Bed lift / dinette storage | 200–400 N per spring | Interior, so standard steel is acceptable |
What goes wrong
Specification mistakes we see most often in rv & camper work.
- Wind load on a raised galley hatch adds a force the calculator does not model — size up one increment if the hatch is over 1 m wide.
- Cold weather reduces gas pressure, and therefore force, by roughly 3% per 10 °C drop. A spring sized at room temperature feels weak in a Canadian winter.
- Road vibration loosens bracket fasteners over time — use nyloc nuts or thread locker, not plain hardware.
Size one now
The calculator has presets for rv & camper work — they load typical dimensions so you only have to adjust what differs.
Products for rv & camper
Working on rv & camper?
Tell us the panel dimensions and the environment. We will size the spring, specify the right material, and come back within 1 business day.