the issue with the hanger is actually the hooks being off center. If the hooks had a tweak in them so that when hanging the bar is inline with the cylinder, that'd be much better.
EDIT: Like this
The significance is now the cylinder is loaded purely in tension (aside from the force of you ramming into the pyramid) when you hang. Otherwise you'd have a constant bending moment trying to bend your cylinder shaft.
It also looks like you're using two 1-1/16" bore cylinders. Unless you're storing energy in springs when they raise (or you're very light) this isn't enough force. Even then it's marginal.