RE: Hard time taking off
The (tricycle) trainer that I learned to fly with was an absolute pig. Even my instructor (with over 30 yrs flying and building experience) complained about it constantly. I tried everything and my instructor tried everything but nothing worked. I finally soloed and got rid of that @@$%# thing. And it's been tail-draggers ever since.
britbrat, APIA, SBD-5 and the others all have good ideas and I hope that one of them solves your problem. If it doesn't then you might have gotten ahold of my old trainer.
Get a tail-dragger. You'll never look back.
Best of luck,
Mike