jolooote
Miami, FL
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The hood is hard to lift and close. Very heavy. Is there a hood lift mechanism available to make it easier?
Joe & Charlotte
2020 Jayco Greyhawk Prestige 29MV Celestial Blue Full Body Paint E-450 305hp V10 6spd Class C 'COACH'
2012 Jeep Wrangler 285hp V6 'TOAD'
Gabby & Molly are Dogs
Leroy's a Conure, Loretta's a Squeaker
"Once it starts breakin'...GET RID OF IT!!!"
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bobndot
USA
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Joined: 08/21/2007
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Do a search for ‘hydraulic hood assist pistons’ .
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garyemunson
Reno, Nevada
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I, too, have been looking for a strut kit made for the Ford E van hoods. Have yet to find any despite a lot of searching. Anyone? Seems like a simple thing for a company to make.
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ron.dittmer
North-East Illinois
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2007 was the last year of the fiberglass hood on the E-series. We have a 2007 E350 rig with the fiberglass hood and I never considered it heavy.
I wonder how the old fiberglass hood compares to the 2008-current steel hood with regards to weight.
2007 Phoenix Cruiser model 2350, with 2006 Jeep Liberty in-tow
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bobndot
USA
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Ron, my mechanic swapped a steel hood for a glass hood on an early mustang and it was almost 1/2 the weight. The OEM hood was about 50 lbs. vs high 20’s for the glass.
The E series cabs have such small hoods most people don’t feel the need for gas struts .
You have two options.
1. Forget the web, make phone calls to rv repair shops who have suppliers that we do not have access to.
2. Take measurements yourself and buy the appropriate size.
I will supply a link how to measure for struts.
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bobndot
USA
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Measure for gas struts
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bukhrn
Lanexa, Va
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ron.dittmer wrote:2007 was the last year of the fiberglass hood on the E-series. We have a 2007 E350 rig with the fiberglass hood and I never considered it heavy.
I wonder how the old fiberglass hood compares to the 2008-current steel hood with regards to weight. I didn't realize that they used to come with fiberglass hoods, my '07 Forester on the '06 E450 chassis came with the metal hood, as bobndot mentioned, the hood is so small, I
never considered it all that heavy.
2007 Forester 2941DS
2014 Ford Focus
Zamboni, Long Haired Mini Dachshund
You can have my RV, when you pry my cold dead fingers from the Steering Wheel
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theoldwizard1
SE MI
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ron.dittmer wrote:2007 was the last year of the fiberglass hood on the E-series. We have a 2007 E350 rig with the fiberglass hood and I never considered it heavy.
I wonder how the old fiberglass hood compares to the 2008-current steel hood with regards to weight.
The reason Ford went to fiberglass hoods years ago was the high number of complaints about stone chips and rust through.
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ron.dittmer
North-East Illinois
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theoldwizard1 wrote:ron.dittmer wrote:2007 was the last year of the fiberglass hood on the E-series. We have a 2007 E350 rig with the fiberglass hood and I never considered it heavy.
I wonder how the old fiberglass hood compares to the 2008-current steel hood with regards to weight. The reason Ford went to fiberglass hoods years ago was the high number of complaints about stone chips and rust through. I understood the same. The previous generation Ford van had serious rust issues with the leading edge of the hood. Going fiberglass was the ultimate solution.
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ron.dittmer
North-East Illinois
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bukhrn wrote:I didn't realize that they used to come with fiberglass hoods, my '07 Forester on the '06 E450 chassis came with the metal hood...... Are you certain your 2006 E450 has a steel hood? Or are you "assuming" so? If it is truly made of steel, it must be an aftermarket replacement because I understand every original hood on the E150, E250, E350, and E450 made from 1992 to 2007 is made of fiberglass. Someone please correctly if I am wrong.
* This post was
edited 01/14/22 05:59pm by ron.dittmer *
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