Difficulty Reaching, Pulling Down the Hatch

Pictures, please.

It is quite a reach. Impossible to close the hatch with one hand, so a problem if carrying something.

 

It's finally my weekend, so I'll have a chance to play with it. And I can take pictures, too.

 

My wife has the same problem. She is 4'11 and cannot reach the handhold on her 2018 Prius in order to close the hatch. After Toyota refused to do anything about it, and even suggested that she should carry a foot stool, I did some research and found a great shop in Carlsbad, CA that carries a shorter strut specifically made for the Prius. We took the car over, purchased a pair of struts,
Model *-*PM3811-A and had the owner install them for us. Now my wife can easily close the hatch. The new struts cost us $47.63!

Here is the info for anyone interested:

LiftSupports Depot
2345 Camino Vida Roble
Carlsbad, CA 92011
760-744-2956

 

Something like that might prevent garage door collisions too.

 

Has anybody adjusted the hatch opening height the way Toyota intended?

 

Maybe if the dealer knew about it.

 

There is a procedure?

 

I'm on my 4th Prius. I'm 5'11" and have no trouble reaching the hatch door, but getting it to close is more difficult than my 3 previous cars. Even if you push it as you are closing it there's not usually enough momentum for it to latch. I usually have to pull it down, then push it closed. Even then I often have to open and re-close it for it to latch.

 

Sometimes there's little rubber bumpers that are height adjustable; with them you can try screwing them in slightly, which reduces their height, makes closing easier. Not sure if this is applicable.

Or a hatch gasket that's not completely pushed down?