Second Hand Volkswagen Crafter Bonnet Strut

Yes, the Volkswagen Crafter does use gas-filled bonnet struts rather than a traditional prop rod, so this is a genuine part on the vehicle. There are two struts, one on the nearside and one on the offside, which together hold the bonnet open when raised. If one or both have lost their gas charge and the bonnet is no longer staying up on its own, replacing the struts is the correct fix.

The first-generation Crafter ran from 2006 to 2016 and shares the same front-end structure throughout that period, so a strut from anywhere within those years should be compatible with another van in the same generation. Wheelbase, roof height, and engine choice make no difference to bonnet strut fitment. Always confirm the part against your registration with the breaker before purchasing.

The second-generation Crafter launched in 2017 on an entirely new platform with a redesigned front end, so the bonnet and its struts are not the same as those on the 2006–2016 first-generation model. A strut from a 2018 van is very unlikely to interchange with a 2012 van, and you should stick to parts sourced from within the same generation. Confirm this with the breaker against your specific registration to be certain.

No — wheelbase and roof height make no difference to bonnet strut fitment, as the front-end structure including the bonnet and its supporting hardware is shared across all body lengths within a generation. A strut from a long-wheelbase high-roof van of the same generation will be the same part as one from a short-wheelbase standard-roof van. Focus on getting the correct generation rather than worrying about van size.

No — trim level does not affect bonnet strut fitment on the Crafter. The bonnet and its struts are the same across trim variants within a generation, so whether your van is a base-specification model or a higher-spec variant makes no difference to the strut itself. The only thing to confirm is that the part comes from the same generation as your van.

This is worth being cautious about, because 2017 marks the start of the all-new second-generation Crafter on a completely different platform, meaning the bonnet and strut design changed significantly from the 2006–2016 first-generation model. A 2016 van is first-generation and a 2017 van is second-generation, so the two are not directly comparable despite the small gap in years. You should source a strut from the 2006–2016 range for your van, and confirm compatibility with the breaker against your registration before buying.