Great idea Karl!
This definitely beats replacing the struts, which I've done _twice_
and they still only last about 6 months. (It's LA so it ain't the
cold weather.) The 8" PVC pipe's also a whole lot more elegant than
the 3' prop board I've been using.

>From:    "Karl F. Bloss" <bloss@CITYNET.NET>
>Subject: Rear Hatch/Door Pistons
>
>Get yourself a piece of 3/4" PVC pipe about 8-3/16" long.  Remove the
>circlip on the frame side of the piston, pull the piston off
>(careful: the hatch is heavy!), slip the PVC pipe on, and put the
>piston and circlip back on.
>
>The PVC pipe drops down on the piston when the hatch is opened and
>hooks against the cylinder.  The hatch is now "locked" open.  To drop
>the hatch, pop the pipe so it slips over the cylinder and it hides
>nicely.