I have great success with mine and it's wildly convenient. I agree it is a little overzealous sometimes and it has tried to kill me more than once both closing and opening. But I would not give it up. Way too useful when loading or unloading a cooler, groceries, a dog, a dead body, ya know, whatever you're hauling around.
I do not have the tow pack, but I do the kick in the same place every time, right in the middle of the left half of the bumper...so right here:
Also, you're not swiping side to side under the bumper, you're kicking in and out...think the crane kick from Karate Kid; pick up your foot, go straight under the bumper about 6 inches and then come straight back out. Not too fast, not too slow.
Both my 5 year old and my 2 year old have figured it out and they fight to see who gets to "kick open dad's car".