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Rhino Rack/
Watersport Carriers/
Load AssistsItem # RR-RUSL
Retail:$158.13
Our Price: $142.20
You Save: $15.93This item qualifies for Free Shipping
This side loader lets you easily load a kayak, ladder, or other gear on your roof rack without assistance. Padding protects your boat and vehicle. Accommodates vehicles of different heights. Easy, clamp-on installation to most crossbars.
Features:
Specs:
The Rhino-Rack universal side loader makes it easy for one person to load a kayak, canoe, surfboard, ladder, or other gear onto a vehicle's roof rack. A padded bar extends past the side of your vehicle and holds one end of your load up so you can pivot the other end onto your vehicle's roof. This eliminates the need for a second pair of hands while loading your gear. A telescoping pole helps accommodate for uneven terrain and adds support for heavier loads.
Quick and Easy Installation
This crossbar extension easily clamps onto most crossbars without the use of tools, and it can be installed on either side of your vehicle. Simply place the first clamp against the bottom of your crossbar and rotate the extension around so the second clamp can grab the top. Once it's secure, you're ready to load your gear.
Simple, 1-Person Loading
To load your boat from the back of your vehicle, simply lean your boat or ladder against the extension at a 45-degree angle. The padded bar protects your boat from scratches and scuffs during the entire loading process.
Next, lift the rear end of the boat up so that it's level with your roof rack and set it on your vehicle's rear crossbar.
Finally, use the back end of the boat to lift the front end and pivot it into place on your vehicle's front crossbar. Once it's in place, secure your load with tie-down straps (sold separately).
Convenient Storage
After you've loaded and secured your boat, disconnect the side loader from your crossbars. Once disconnected, store the Side Loader in the included storage and carry bag.
Installation Details 
Video of Rhino-Rack Universal Load Assist - Crossbar Mount - Side Loading - 132 lbs
Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Today we're going to be taking a look at the Rhino Rack universal side loader part number RR-RUSL. This universal side loader from rhino rack has a nice soft foam pad here, so that when you load up your kayak or your canoe or rather small boat it's not going to rub or scratch or damage to the surface of the kayak. Also the pole here which connects to the end of the bar does telescope to accommodate different heights of vehicles, and it's also going to help support that load that is put down onto the lateral bar when you're loading up your boat. Now the brackets that secure the bar to the crossbars can be installed to accommodate the rhino rack Aero bars, Euro bars and the heavy duty crossbars making sure that it will fit to pretty much any configuration. Also fits with Thule and Yakima Bars. Before installing the side loader you'll first need to determine what kind of brackets you'll need to install onto the bar which will attach to your crossbar. Now, if you have Aero bars or the Euro bars or the Rhino Rack heavy duty bars in the included instructions the brackets are numbered and labeled to determine which brackets you'll need to install onto the bar and it does come with an Allen wrench so that you can remove this Allen bolts and reinstall the brackets according to your roof rack setup. Here we have our brackets already on the bar ready for our Aero crossbars which we have assembled onto our vehicle. Now, we'll just go ahead and show you how to install the bar onto one of your roof rack crossbars.
The bracket with the soft foam pad is going to rest on the top side of your roof. This pad is designed to protect the roof from scratches and abrasions in case this bracket would come off and hit the top of your roof. Basically what we are going do is we are going to set the bar at an angle and twist it to get that bracket underneath the bar, then we'll simply just clamp it on making sure that this bar is parallel to the cross bar. You can see this clip is engaged around the top of the bar and then the one with the pad is engaged on the underside of the bar and again if it would fall off, that pad is there to protect the roof of your vehicle. Now, with this bar assembled onto our crossbar, next we are going ahead and take the padded bar which is going to be inserted into the open end of that bar. We need to go ahead and push in this pin and the pin needs to be facing the bottom. We'll slide that in, push up that silver pin then you'll hear a little click when that pin engages and then we are ready to install the next piece. Next we are now going to go ahead and install the telescoping pole.
Now, the pole telescopes to be able to accommodate different heights of vehicles. What you'll do is you'll just twist the bar and allow it to come out then you'll twist it the opposite way to tighten it and then again for this side as well. We'll go ahead and come over to the side of the vehicle where this bar is over hanging and there is a hole at the end of this bar. With the pole telescoped out, we'll go ahead and slide this silver pin up into this hole, then telescope the pole out, lift it up just a bit and then tighten it in place. This is going to help when you put the kayak on, it's going to support that downward load so that this bar doesn't bend and potentially tear up your roof rack. Now, we'll go ahead and show you how to load up a kayak.
What you'll do is you'll simply place just the top part of the kayak onto the pad. Also when you are loading up your kayak, you'll notice this angled piece of steel right here, it is angled outward. When you are hooking up your kayak or when you are putting your kayak onto the side loader here, it's going to help prevent it from slipping off and falling. And with the front of the kayak in place, we'll just lift it from the back and then what we'll need to do is pivot it and rest it on the back bar and then we'll come up to the front and then pivot just the front of it and rest it on the front bar. Then with it on the bars, then we can easily adjust it just to get it even, disperse the weight evenly and then we will just use some straps and tie it down. The carrier allows for an easy removal.
We'll just simply remove the pole, set that aside, then we'll pop off the padded arm and now with this easy design, it simply just twists off and now with our carrier all loaded up and in three small pieces here, we'll just throw it in the back of the car. Then when we are finished with our kayak all loaded up, it thus come with this nice convenient carrying case, we'll just unbuckle it and then be able to throw the three components into the bag and throw it in to our vehicle. And now with our kayak all loaded up, that will complete today's review of the Rhino Rack universal side loader part number RR-RUSL. .
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars (32 Customer Reviews)
This side loader lets you easily load a kayak, ladder, or other gear on your roof rack without assistance. Padding protects your boat and vehicle. Accommodates vehicles of different heights. Easy, clamp-on installation to most crossbars.I wish I had known about this years ago. I could have saved myself A LOT of heart (and head) ache. 601045
This was my second big purchase from Etrailer. I have been very pleased both times. The other reviews were so descriptive I knew exactly what to expect and received a great loader. I probably wouldn’t use it for anything heavier than 70 pounds but it works perfectly with my kayak. 663041
All the items I ordered came in one large box. All the items were undamaged, new, with all the necessary hardware. The items also arrived right on time! Very satisfied! Please use this site and also use their assistance either online or just call! 614799
I am a 5 ft tall 55 year old woman. I drive a Nissan Versa....it's a small car, but it's still a reach. I tried making my own kayak loader (via the Internet), but I only wasted my own time and energy. I had just received my Rhino Rack from etrailers & loved it....so I took a peek to see if they could help me again. I found this Rhino-Rack Loader...I LOVE IT! It makes loading & unloading so quick & easy! I should have ordered it from the very beginning. But I suppose some of us have to learn our lessons the hard way. ?? By the way....Easy ordering & FAST shipping! Thank you so much! I am one happy kayaker! Sincerely, Sandy 294333
This product attempts to be "one size fits all." Unfortunately, that means some cartop racks like my 2007 Toyota 4Runner doesn't allow for a snug fit for the horizontal bar of the RR-RUSL. It moves a bit and scratches the paint on my car's roof. I transport a Hobie fishing kayak that is a bit on the heavy side, so the side of my car got scratches on it as I put the kayak on and off the roof rack. I should've used some blankets to protect my car's finish as I do now, but the damage has already been done. If you want to protect your car's finish, I suggest using a couple of yoga rugs to protect your roof and side of your car. 397254
After one year using this product, I’ve come to the conclusion that a light trailer is the better solution to transporting heavier kayaks like the Hobie Fishing Kayak. I have yet to purchase a light weight trailer, but am actively looking for one that is sturdy and can break down to a smaller size for storage.
Gary Z - 06/24/2018Thanks for the follow up. We do have several trailers that we do offer, and some that are specifically designed for kayaks. I have included a link and you would want to check out the offerings by Malone, specifically for your kayak. there are several options depending on your loading preferences.
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Rachael H - 6/25/2018While previous reviewers have noted that the Rhino-Rack Universal S-Loader is not really "universal" in application it did fit my Sports Rack Rack System (SR1009) using clamp 4 (A position) and clamp 5 (B position, outer holes). This loader will be used to transport a 52lb 16.5ft canoe. The fit seems snug enough though I would avoid pushing or jerking a heavier item like a longer canoe or kayak to quickly over the support bar. Doing so, could possibly decouple it from the supported cross-bar. While solidly constructed, the weak link in the system is the telescoping support pole. Like most telescoping poles it is made of lighter gauge aluminium and it is designed for stability only and not something to support you while you use the Rhino Rack cross bar to do pull ups. 540208
Be informed before buying this. If you have kayak holders on your crossbars, they will interfere with this, especially with aero bars where the crossbar bracket will not work well on the driver side. Also, if you have two kayaks the holder for the second kayak will interfere with the loader. The only really viable solution is to use foam blocks for one or two kayaks. The review video tellingly shows only bare crossbars and makes no mention of holders. Mine are being returned. Another user did post a photo showing one set of J racks mounted backwards. A very awkward mounting that requires reaching all the way across the vehicle roof to tighten all th straps! 490152
I contacted rhino rack and they state you can use the j-cradles with this load assist but you will have to lift the kayak over the cradle to get it secure.
-- Heather A - 04/13/2018I am 66 years old an knew I would have difficulty lifting my kayaks onto the roof of my vehicle. I knew that this loading accessory was not built for J style kayak holders, but thought that I could try to fit it anyway. The loader comes its several clamp types and I found that if I used clamps 1 and 2 instead to the 3 and 4 it called for in the directions for the Euro style roof rack that the system fit perfectly with the J Style carriers. How great is that! Loaded up my kayaks today with no problem. Great item. 249030
I'm not getting any younger so lifting my canoe on top of my Suburban is a challenge. When I saw this, I thought it would be a big help. Assembly is fairly straight forward, but you better have a strong thumb to release the button to take it apart. Haven't loaded the canoe yet, but I think it will work just fine. One thing not addressed in the literature is that I have to remove one of the Yakima braces I have mounted on the cross bars to attach the Load Assist. A minor inconvenience. 595112
The supporting/ telescoping pole is useless and cross threads easily. If you have any attachments on your roof rack, these will probably not work. They were designed to be used without attachments on the rack. Rhino rack will not stand by their products. I bought 2 of these and they are pretty useless. Check the reviews on these on other websites. I won’t buy from the manufacturer again. 620134
The load assist is covered by a 3 year warranty. Please contact our Customer Service folks at 800-298-8924.
-- Mike L - 04/11/2019Great product, suggest putting a pad/blanket over the side of the car in case you slip, to protect the paint. 711115
On the Euro bars I had to loosen and slide aside the kayak rack all the way to the other side, then slide it back under the kayak while holding that end up to get the bar secured to the rack. It'd be nice to have some kind of extension that went around or under the kayak carrier. 703864
Fits my Rage by Powersports canoe rack perfectly. Good quality and I look forward to many years of use as I can no longer heft my canoe on the racks without assistance. Now I don’t have to search out my wife or a neighbor. 678568
This a great product for anyone that has canoe or Kayak. I've been in the sports retail for sometime and product has never been introduced in retailer I've ever work with. I ran across this product on you tube. 670715
Product shipped quickly and functions as it should. 667840
Seems like a good idea but doesn't work as well as i would like with my crossbars on my Subaru forester with a J Cradle. The telescoping pole would not completely tighten properly and would collapse. Still trying to come up with a better way to maneuver the kayak into the J Cradle by myself without buying a more expensive system. 659797
Awesome product- it works! I'm a 5'4" woman who lifts her 75 lb. kayak using this rack. It took me a couple of tries to get the process, but after that no problems. I'm so glad I found this product it's been a life saver. 625513
The Rhino-Rack Universal Load Assist - Crossbar Mount is a great help to load and unload my 59 pound kayak onto my Yakima J-low racks by myself safely. It is good quality and definitely a great addition to my equipment. 549152
This product is made of good/solid raw materials, and is worth the money. I looked at other similar products, but they lacked the left, and length I needed to properly load my Perception Pilot kayak onto my flush mount roof rack. The upright support bar is necessary to prevent overloading the bar or the crossbar of your roof rack. 509526
Still going strong.
Jeffrey - 05/17/2019The rack is on the roof and the Rhino side bracket ready makes it easy to load my Hobie 14 foot Pro Angler Kayak (98lbs) on the high roof of my Suburban, (it has a 3" lift}. Next year will be my first winter in retirement and I'll be able to haul my kayak to Florida pulling a travel trailer. 500877
Talk about a great accessory ... this makes loading my yaks on top of my full size truck cap a breeze. Plus it knocks down and stores compactly in its own bag. It’s a no brainer if you’re loading boats on your own. 467495
I recieved the order this afternoon and open the Box and I love the product.it is well built and strong and being Its the same brand name the Racks on my car,well great ! Thank you for your help. Soon as I can take a photo with the kayak on I will send it. 465929
Got it on-time and a great price. Instructions very clear and after changing the brackets to match my cross-rails, it worked perfectly. Very stable and breaks down to fit in a nice soft case. My Hobie Outback weighs about 90 pounds and it is easy to load with this tool. 425352
This product (RR-RUSL) a RHINO RACK "universal side loader" was exactly as simple to install and setup as the video showed. It was installed on a SUV on to THULE standard square cross bars, mounted on THULE 450 foot pack on raised side rails on my vehicle. This product enabled me to load my WILDNESS 125 kayak by myself, without the fear of damaging my car or hurting myself, onto the kayak saddles, for transport to my favorite lake. The product was ordered and received in less than five days and shipping was FREE. 424956
I have not had chance to use this yet, but, it is very high quality and I have no doubt it will do what I need it for. 407499
One of the best e-commerce sites at which I shop. What is on their website is what is in stock and shipped the same day, if possible. My last two orders shipped the day I made them. That's not normal, that's good customer service. 387446
product was as advertised.I have thulie slide and glide on areo bars.will need to adapt so mount goes around glides.but I am pleased with product.was looking at thulie with lift assist but price was high thought I would try these.I am 70 years young and my kayak weighs 75lb. 348125
Excellent product and GREAT service (as usual) from etrailer! 343070
The quality of service and products has made me a repeat customer of Etrailer. Rooftopping a racing skiff I found that I needed something more to enable single handed loading and unloading of my sailboat. The extension fits the need nicely as the issue is height, size and bulk, not weight, that has been the challenge in getting the boat onto my tall Ram 2500 4x4. I now have the solution and am no longer dependent on extra hands to accomplish the task. Thank you Etrailer! 327509
Product came on time and in good condit ion. 283564
I purchased this roof rack for the purpose of transporting my kayaks on my 2012 Ford Edge. The roof rack installed easily and fits the vehicle perfectly. I loaded the kayaks and took them for a ride and they traveled nicely. I am very pleased with this purchase. 249023
Works great to load my 120 pound + Hobie Oasis on top of my Subaru Outback. I've found that it's actually easier to load it by myself instead of having someone help me. 243523
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