EZ ways of getting the hood up??

There should be a step in the front bumper so that you are not exactly pulling on the hood from the ground. As the hood begins to pivot over center, and you step back to the ground, be sure to slow the hood rather than letting it fall against the support straps. Those straps or cables have been known to break.

I don't know what you would have done with a Cracker Box Jimmy. The cab-over was tilted manually with the help of coil springs, no hydraulics.

 

some trucks, you can grab the fender and push up, easier than you can pull it from the front.

 

Yea, what Poppy said. Push it up! Bend your knees and push it up. However, if you weigh 150 lbs. you should have no problem just using your weight to pull it up from the front. Just my 2 cent.