Yeah, it is hard to see over the hood, but that was the same problem when I was wheeling my 98 Trooper. It didn't help that I had never been on those trails before and was always the first in line. Physics and geometry can only be overcame to a point. Even without the hood itself, the engine takes up almost every inch of the bay, side to side and top to bottom (and then some).

The worst part is the sudden impacts side-to-side! I bang my head on the top of the door jamb entirely too much. Thinking about wearing a helmet and gluing some padding up there.