A damping device includes a housing defining a pressure chamber, containing a magnetorheological fluid. A rod is slideably coupled to the housing to adjust a length of the housing. A piston is attached to the rod and disposed within the pressure chamber. The piston is immersed within the magnetorheological fluid, and separates the pressure chamber into a first half and a second half. An electromagnet is disposed in magnetic contact with the magnetorheological fluid, and is operable to apply a magnetic field to the magnetorheological fluid to increase viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid to prevent movement of the rod relative to the housing. The magnetorheological fluid is free to flow through a fluid port in the piston, between a first half and a second half of the pressure chamber, in the absence of the magnetic field from the magnetic source to allow adjustment of the length.