Help with Compression Shocks

I need help determining which type of shock I need to buy. I want the cheapest form of shock that can handle approximately 500 pounds of static load in all directions. The actual compression should only function in one linear plane and should only require about 25 pounds of force to cause full compression, but the frame of the shock needs to be able to withstand the static load of up to five hundred pounds. Sorry if I am doing a bad job explaining this. Imagine a device that has two horizontal shocks, one running from the left to the right, one running from the right to the left, and both of these shocks extremely close to each other. Both of these shocks are mounted to two vertical arms. The tops of the arms are mounted to a short horizontal bar, and this short horizontal bar theoretically weights 500 pounds. I need to be able to hold onto either of the shocks and have the shocks not break under the weight.

There are many industrial shock manufacturers. One of the oldest names I'm familiar with is Ace ([url]www.acecontrols.com/[/url]). Give them a call. They have people that can help you select the right shock. Cheap? That depends on your frame of reference. How expensive is failure?

This might sound like a stupid question, but are there such things as coilover shocks that have the spring covered? I think I need a miniature coil-over shock with threaded ends that does not have the spring exposed. I have searched the internet exhaustively and I just can't find what I want.