I had my hatch re-covered. I though it had difficulty opening because the wood was water logged. Turns out the new wood is just as heavy. The problem is in the screw jack. What I am doing, rather than replace the screw jack, I am adding a gas shock (as found on the hatch of a Camaro) to the existing screw jack. Just clamp in on to the back side, and no one will be the wiser.