Toolbox Gas Strut Failure — the $28 Replacement That Fixed It

My Weather Guard saddle box gas struts failed after 3 years. The lid would stay up about 30 seconds then slowly drop. On a hot day it'd drop in 10 seconds.

I measured the struts: 18" extended, 12" collapsed, 20 lb force rating. Found exact replacements on Amazon for $14 each (Apexstone brand). Installed both in 15 minutes with just a flathead screwdriver to pop the clips.

3 months later, still holding strong. Even in 95°F Texas heat, the lid stays up all day. Should've done this sooner.

Bottom line: Measure your struts (extended/collapsed length + force rating), buy the same spec, swap in 15 minutes. Don't buy the "universal" ones — buy the exact size.