I have heard you can pull the lift up by pulling up with little bumps and I guess it slowly rotates the screw on the lift ... on mine the top of the tube on the lift has been notched out ...the upper tube slides down inside the lower tube. A bolt goes thru the two tubes. So if you need to open the hatch without the lift you just pull up on the Hatch. The bolt is snug but not tight ....it takes a little effort but will pop free ....