A telescoping hold open rod assembly 30 for use in holding a panel in an open position to provide a user access to an opening covered by the panel, the rod assembly comprising: an outer tube 40 having an L-shaped slot 78 and holes 92; a corresponding inner tube 42, the inner tube being telescopically arranged along a central axis 44 of the overall assembly 30 to facilitate telescopic collapsing of the overall assembly 30; a bearing at a bearing end 32 of the assembly; a latching end 34 spaced at an end of the rod assembly 30 distal from the bearing end; and a locking sleeve assembly 36, controllable to allow the operator to controllably extend the assembly 30 and lock it in an extended position as well as to unlock the assembly and allow it to be telescopically collapsed, the locking sleeve assembly 36 including a sleeve barrel 70 positioned over the outer tube 40 in a position in which apertures 76 through the sleeve barrel 70 can be controllably aligned with the slot 78 in the outer tube, pin(s) 80 engaged in apertures 76 and in the open area of slot 78, providing controlled movement of the sleeve barrel 70 relative to slot 78, a retaining ring 102 for retaining pin(s) 80 on the sleeve barrel 70, a spring 96 coupled to the sleeve barrel 70 and the outer tube 40, ball bearings 90 retained in corresponding holes 92 of the outer tube 40 and engaging inside surfaces of the inner portion 72 of the sleeve barrel 70 and corresponding portions of the inner tube 42, wherein the sleeve barrel 70 is configured to move along the axis 44 and to rotate about the axis 44, and wherein the rotation and movement of the sleeve barrel allows the ball bearings 90 to be disengaged to unlock the inner tube 42 from the outer tube 40. an outer tube 40 having an L-shaped slot 78 and holes 92; a corresponding inner tube 42, the inner tube being telescopically arranged along a central axis 44 of the overall assembly 30 to facilitate telescopic collapsing of the overall assembly 30; a bearing at a bearing end 32 of the assembly; a latching end 34 spaced at an end of the rod assembly 30 distal from the bearing end; and a locking sleeve assembly 36, controllable to allow the operator to controllably extend the assembly 30 and lock it in an extended position as well as to unlock the assembly and allow it to be telescopically collapsed, the locking sleeve assembly 36 including a sleeve barrel 70 positioned over the outer tube 40 in a position in which apertures 76 through the sleeve barrel 70 can be controllably aligned with the slot 78 in the outer tube, pin(s) 80 engaged in apertures 76 and in the open area of slot 78, providing controlled movement of the sleeve barrel 70 relative to slot 78, a retaining ring 102 for retaining pin(s) 80 on the sleeve barrel 70, a spring 96 coupled to the sleeve barrel 70 and the outer tube 40, ball bearings 90 retained in corresponding holes 92 of the outer tube 40 and engaging inside surfaces of the inner portion 72 of the sleeve barrel 70 and corresponding portions of the inner tube 42, wherein the sleeve barrel 70 is configured to move along the axis 44 and to rotate about the axis 44, and wherein the rotation and movement of the sleeve barrel allows the ball bearings 90 to be disengaged to unlock the inner tube 42 from the outer tube 40. a sleeve barrel 70 positioned over the outer tube 40 in a position in which apertures 76 through the sleeve barrel 70 can be controllably aligned with the slot 78 in the outer tube, pin(s) 80 engaged in apertures 76 and in the open area of slot 78, providing controlled movement of the sleeve barrel 70 relative to slot 78, a retaining ring 102 for retaining pin(s) 80 on the sleeve barrel 70, a spring 96 coupled to the sleeve barrel 70 and the outer tube 40, ball bearings 90 retained in corresponding holes 92 of the outer tube 40 and engaging inside surfaces of the inner portion 72 of the sleeve barrel 70 and corresponding portions of the inner tube 42, wherein the sleeve barrel 70 is configured to move along the axis 44 and to rotate about the axis 44, and wherein the rotation and movement of the sleeve barrel allows the ball bearings 90 to be disengaged to unlock the inner tube 42 from the outer tube 40.