Dan:

New stock hatch struts will keep it up with the bike rack
empty.  That's the setup on my '87 syncro.  The struts
are ~4 years old and still work fine.  I think I got them
from the Bus Depot but don't remember which ones.  I
probably got the stock left/right ones.

The PVC spacer tube solution would work with bikes on
the rack, except that I couldn't lift the door anyway....

                        Richard A Jones
                        Boulder, Colorado