took some advice from the type2 list and installed an inside release for
the rear hatch on my vanagon westfalia.  pretty simple.  took off rear
wood panel (made new one using old cracked one as template). coated
inside hatch with Kool-Patch (goes on very nice, no smell, acts as rust
preventer, sound deadener, and slight insulator).

took some picture frame hanger wire, wrapped one end to post that the
small return latch spring attaches to.  ran hanger wire out one of the
holes that the plastic plug goes into (that holds the rear panel on),
slipped a piece of shrink tubing over wire, attached ring to other end
of wire.  now when the rear hatch is closed (locked or not) i can pull
the ring to the right (right is left in this case - ie drivers side when
facing rear of van), hatch pops open.  Nice thing about it is it is low
so the rear mattress covers the wire and ring.

eric
henning@fp.com

ps - kool-patch was another listees advice.