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Is this right for you? Product Expert Matthew E says:
This carrier with built-in lift assist takes the strain out of loading a kayak onto your roof rack. Arms with gas struts let you load and tie down kayak at waist level, then easily lift it onto your roof. Tie-downs included. Mounts to most crossbars.
Features:
Specs:
Note: Your vehicle's roof must have a load capacity of at least 130 lbs to use the Hullavator.
The Hullavator Pro gives your back and shoulders some relief as it helps you lift your boat onto your vehicle's roof rack. And you won't need to stand on your running boards or a step stool to position and tie down your boat. This carrier with lift assist comes down along the side of your vehicle so that you can load your boat and strap it to the carrier at waist height. The arms of the cradle adjust to accommodate your boat's hull, and padding helps protect your boat from getting scratched. Folding arms with gas struts deliver your boat in the cradles up onto your roof for transport.
Installation onto Existing Crossbars
The Hullavator Pro installs on top of your existing crossbars. This system mounts onto square and round roof rack crossbars with included hardware, and it slides into the channels of AeroBlade crossbars. To ensure there is sufficient clearance between your vehicle and the Hullavator when it is lowered, your crossbars must extend between 4" and 8" beyond the feet.
A pivot pin secures the arms of the carrier to the bar mount assembly and allows the rotation necessary to reel your kayak onto your roof rack.
Lift Assist with Gas Struts
Gas struts eliminate the majority of lifting required to mount your kayak onto your roof rack. Cradles roll out and down to a vertical position along the side of your vehicle so that you can load your kayak - cockpit out - into the carrier at waist height.
To lower the cradles, remove the release pins and squeeze the handles. The arms will unfold to lower the cradles down to the side of your vehicle.
To adjust the cradles, loosen the knobs and slide the upper arms of the cradle along the built-in track.
Squeeze the handles on both arms and lift your boat in the cradles straight up to roof height. The gas struts will assist you. Rotate your kayak onto the roof and gently lower the cradles onto the roof assembly. Pull the handles so that the arms snap into place for transport. Secure the Hullavator on the roof with the pin and clip.
You can add 2 One-Key System locks (sold separately) to secure the basket to your roof rack.
Padding and Tie-Downs
Tie-down straps with buckles are included for securing your kayak in the cradles. You can tie your boat down when it's at the side of your vehicle, so you don't have to reach up or throw the straps over the roof. Loop these straps through the arms of the cradles and around the hull of your boat. The straps have padded buckles that let you tighten the straps and secure your boat.
Average Customer Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (22 Customer Reviews)
This carrier with built-in lift assist takes the strain out of loading a kayak onto your roof rack. Arms with gas struts let you load and tie down kayak at waist level, then easily lift it onto your roof. Tie-downs included. Mounts to most crossbars.I installed the Hullavater on my 2002 Toyota Tacoma's canopy that has 2" tubular rails. I couldn't find any cross bars to fit so I custom made the cross bar from scrap square tubes. It also lowers the high by about 4" compared to stock cross bars. Assembly is simple. I went online to download the English version instruction instead of the one in the box. Installing the loaders on the base bars is just a simple one pivot pin each. It depends on your vehicle's high, I have to climb a little to line up the holes to pin them. Maybe after frequent use, I will perfect my method. I first installed the cross bars too close together. When I strapped the kayak down, it put tension on one of the carriers made it difficult to snap lock in place. Realigned the cross bars, now it works as design. One down side is they sit very tall on top of my truck so I have to install them outside and remember to remove them before I back into my garage. I wish they can be folded down. I would give them a five stars. I read some complains about the bases get rusted easy. I sprayed them with rubber paint before I installed them. So far they look ok under Seattle sky. Although they are a little pricey, I really like that I don't have to climb up to strap my kayak not to mention it is easy on my back when load and unloading. 588481
Anthony - 12/07/2019A little challenging figuring out how to work the lift assist, but love the eTRailer videos that helped me figure it out. Everything worked together perfectly. 923280
Awesome. Package came sealed and it was easily put together. Great company. I love these guys. 917066
910055
Very easy to do business with. I’ve purchased multiple items from them recently and they ship out right away. Molly assisted me with my most recent order providing answers and follow up emails enduring my questions were addressed. 907962
I did 5 star not on the product but on the quality and speed etrailer.com performed on my order. They got it shipped same day and had it delivered next day! Can’t complain! As for the product, I bought this in advance - looking forward to spring already! So I cannot rate the product until I put it together and use it. 907069
Great product - fast delivery 898275
I am new to roof rack systems but the customer service and ordering was seamless. Never have I encountered such knowledgeable and friendly reps. Order from here you will not be disappointed. 896191
I was particularly impressed with the excellent service from Alex. I was having difficulty nailing down a delivery date for an apparently much-in-demand product. Alex proactively researched the issue, found a workaround and expeditiously got the product shipped. A pleasure doing business with you folks! 857250
Great Product. Arrived before expected...would order from this company again. 854895
Part A is defective, I am working with Lauren at Etrailers to try to get two new one sent to me as I look at my kayak sitting on my garage floor. I cannot believe that Thule is as great on their products as they have been touted, but we will see if they come thru with replacement parts ASAP. Lauren is awesome. Thule has to have had this issue before, they part they riveted to the main attachment is off by 1/8 inch which means I cannot attach the pin that lets me add these bars and remove them. They need to respond to Lauren first thing Monday morning, send me the parts overnight so I can get out there. I am 68 and picking this up as a new adventure. Lord, don't stop me now. 827810
This is the third Hullavator set I have purchased, I've had the other two for several years and am extremely pleased with their ease of use and the quality and durability of the product. However, there was one minor issue with this particular set. The pivot pins could not be installed in the arm assembly when attempting to attach them to the bar mount due to interference from a portion of the underside of the bar mount. I used a Dremel to remove a very small amount of the metal obstruction which resulted in the ability to easily install the pivot pins. I did not have this issue with my other Hullavators so it must be a relatively recent manufacturing issue at Thule and was only a minor annoyance that would not prevent me from purchasing this item in the future. As usual, my experience with etrailer was very positive and I will continue to patronize them due to their excellent service and product selection. 825598
The instructions were a little confusing. The use of MM was not something I was use to using in a product. I was able to find a ruler that measured in MM. I had to measure each bolt in order to find the correct set. Another concern is how each product was dependent on each other. This was not clear in the instructions. I feel that part of the problem was that the instructions were in multiple languages. This resulted in the English instructions being too brief. 797994
I ordered my Thule Hullverator on a Friday and received the following Friday. My son-in-law helped install it on Mother’s Day. Everything was included in the boxes. I ordered from you instead of Thule because you offered free shipping. Otherwise it was the same price. Very easy to order and prompt. Thank you. 795077
Love this. I only weigh 100# and am 68 years old. Makes it very easy to load and unload my ClearCanoe. Everyone interested to see how it works. 778063
I recently upgraded from a 2017 Ford F-150 to a 2019 Ford F-350 and the height difference between the two over the bed with a Leer cap was substantial. The Hullavator kayak carrier system seemed like a good way to save my back while towing our travel trailer and having the kayaks go with us. This is not an inexpensive why to get the kayaks on top of my F-350's cap but it is the safest way. The carrier arrived on time and most importantly not damaged or missing parts. The carrier appears to be built to last and the fit and finish is well thought out. The instructions made the assembly and installation fairly simple to accomplish. I have not as yet traveled with it but I have loaded a fishing kayak on it. I loaded a 32 inch wide fishing kayak on it in both the upright position and upside down. I do not anticipate any problems while traveling in either configuration. I have given it 4 stars because of the high price which is Thule's problem and not Etrailers. Etrailer's representatives were very informative and helpful in my decision to purchase this item. 738613
I recently ordered 2 heavy Hobie kayaks and need to be able to carry them on top of my truck so that I can tow a Fifth Wheel. The Hullavator Pro carriers seem much sturdier than competing brands, and the lift assist will make loading on top of my F350 much easier. They were easy for me to assemble and install. (I purchased 2 sets). They are expensive, but it’s not worth losing a kayak in traffic in order to save a few bucks. I have had other Thule carriers, and have been very happy with the strength and longevity. 728868
Thomas - 12/03/2020
I absolutely love this carrier. I have an 80 lb sit on top kayak, and it was sometimes a struggle to get up on roof of vehicle. With this hullavator, it is a snap. Can’t recommend it enough. 601768
The Hullavator Pro works like a charm! It allows us to put our 15' touring boats on top of the Jeep easily, and has turned a two-person job into a one-person job. The staff at e-trailer were wonderful too! They answered all our questions, did a price match, and got our Hullavator out to us in a timely manner. I highly recommend this company. We have made multiple purchases from them within the last two years, and all of our experiences have been great. 545331
I Luv it. I used to think twice about going with my kayaks because of the pain of putting 2 kayaks on my jeep roof. I have a very heavy tandom kayak. Now with hullavator, its easy. And it holds them really secure on The Jeep. Well worth the investment. 389131
The carrier requires a lot of assembly. The written instructions were not the best. It would have been nice to see an installation video. It installed without any problems. It is a little tricky installing and removing it to the fixed mount and installing the pin. Once I realized there was a bar to hook the carrier onto while installing the pin I was fine. As with most Thule products the quality is good. It would have been nice to have the locks included considering the price. 321832
BobG - 12/03/2017Thanks for the follow up Bob G. I would like to caution you to make sure that the roof of your vehicle and the crossbar system that you are using will adequately support the weight an additional Hullavator and your boat.
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Rachael H - 12/4/2017Info for this part was:
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