hullavator thule - Anybody have experience

kellercl

I was considering picking up a hullavator thule to make loading the kayak easier, but I was curious as to what people thought about it.  The intro price is higher than I like, but if it really works as well as claimed.  I already have a compatible roof rack.

John McKroid

After taking a moment to view the video on how it works, one still has to lift the entire kayak above waist level.  It seems to me that it would be easier to lift one side up on to a Sherpak boat roller and save yourself $600.  When my friend borrowed my Pro Angler, he just laid a towel on the rental car's roof corner, so that he did not scratch the paint when pushing the kayak up onto the roof rack.

kellercl

Thanks for the perspective, I was kind of thinking the same thing.

krash

Not sure what you want to lift, but check the specs.. It used to say Lift Capacity 75 pounds, but now the marketing blurb says assist up to 40 pounds of the kayaks weight.

I once saw one on a bit Suburban that the guy had modified to be motorized, or perhaps hydrolic, that after loading the kayak he had a remote that did the rest.. up and down.

kellercl

If I understand it correctly, the system can handle 75 lb total weight, but only helps with 40 pounds.  I am going to try the solution John pointed out, might as well try a $40 solution before spending $650.  

krash

Somewhere  not long ago I saw an advertisement for a product very similar to the hulavator, forget the name/brand.

Getting the rig on/off the car is not the problem for me, its humping that thing from the racks in the back yar to the car, form the car to the water and back... sure there are carts but they don;t work that well on rugged surfaces.
For years before going lighter, I used the bathmat on the corner of the roofline, lift the bow or stern up to a balance point, then lift the opposite end and slide the kayak on the roof racks.... rubberized bath mats work well as they don;t slip and repel water.

With a Hulavator it wold make my life easier for loading though.. but my it helps me out that my Civic roof line is only chest high.

jcanracer

I've been interested in the Hullavator for some time now, but instead I stick to lighter kayaks (Revo13 & Compass) that I can lift above my head even after a day on the water. I also don't keep my roof racks on my car full time anymore since I go kayaking so infrequently nowadays.

Keller, remind me what kind of kayak you have? if it's heavy enough to be problematic lifting to the hullavator, then I would totally go with the roller idea that John suggested.

kellercl

Moken 10 Lite, it is 54 pounds I believe.  The problem is my current vehicle is rather tall, getting it up feels clumsy.  I keep waiting to drop the kayak and damage the car.  Getting the kayak to chest height is super easy.  

jcanracer

54lbs, nice.
I hear ya on the tall vehicles; I went from a hatchback to a low-suv (Mazda CX5) but I often think a Jeep with big wheels would make car-topping **** near impossible lol.
So besides the Hullavator and roller idea, how about roof rack crossbar with the assist bar?
Something like this: https://www.rei.com/product/723906/thule-outrigger-ii?CAWELAID=120217890000766204&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=21009508720&CATCI=pla-649803280473&cm_mmc=PLA_Google|404_1050549998|7239060010|none|5711fc1d-f94d-498f-a33e-d0ff17473ec0|pla-649803280473&lsft=cm_mmc:PLA_Google_LIA|404_1050549998|7239060010|none|5711fc1d-f94d-498f-a33e-d0ff17473ec0&kclid=5711fc1d-f94d-498f-a33e-d0ff17473ec0&gclid=CjwKCAjw7MzkBRAGEiwAkOXexOE4KCePSYQGK9ZDBfPGHwCA3x4tT0ifw1KvvIdQ2YSl6d-kmUTAoRoCtI4QAvD_BwE


Basically, you lift one end up onto the bar and shimmy the other end up and then slide it across.

kellercl

That is pretty slick. I have will have to look into that idea.  Thanks for the suggestion.  Most certainty I can handle the weight, it is the length that makes it awkward.  The assist bar is a great idea.  

krash

I have one of those also... its the Thule version on/in a set of the square 48" bars... as shown it works great for loading and unloading. Its available for cheap....