Most Popular Side Loading for 2008 Subaru Outback Wagon

This fits 2018 Outback with no issues at all. Comes with all straps and extra for front and back tie down. First time putting them on took about 30min. Every time after about 10-15min. Have a 10 and 11ft kayak and they work perfectly. Etrailer was quick on responses, better priced, and shipped quickly. Will use them again.

Click to Enlarge

I purchased two sets of Thule Hull-A- Port Carrier with Tie-Downs (J-Style, fixed side - loading) last year. They have been installed on our Subaru Outback all of this summer. I like that they are easy to install, easy to use, well built, and that Outback fits under a standard garage door with them installed. Its a snap to pop the kayaks on and go! If you paddle longer boats (my kayaks are 14, 14.5 and 15 feet long) I recommend getting the Thule Bow/Stern Tie Downs (TH530) for convenient temporary bow & stern tie down points, without crawling under the vehicle to attach to the frame.

Well-made high quality product. The kayak racks fit perfectly onto the roof rack of our 2018 Subaru Outback. The one downside was the difficulty in getting the hold-down straps around the top of the loop on each of the racks after the kayaks were loaded on, even when following the strapping instructions to the letter. It would be nice if there were some way of holding the strap in place on the top of the loop without it slipping down.

The rack installs very easily and is mostly intuitive to use. I feel more comfortable with a kayak in the jay low rack than I did with the kayak flat on my old car rack -- the kayak's weight and shape help to hold it into position. The straps are pretty easy to figure out, etc. My only complaint is less about the jay low than about the new Subaru Outback I own. There are no tie-downs locations on the front of the car! So, if the front tie-downs are needed, then perhaps this is not the best rack if you own a new Subaru. On the other hand, I've now used the rack three times without bothering with the front tie-down. Go figure.

Works great.

Bought a pair of these to go on 59" rhino rack bars on our Outback Wilderness and am really pleased. I left the bars full width - they are not a head banger on the car - and mounted the Hullavators as far outboard as possible which means the kayaks clear the side of the car and wing mirrors without folding them in. I did have to modify one Hullavator to make the Hobie Lynx fit (36" wide Lynx = 36" max Hullavator width)

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Good information on site. There are photos of the installation which help a lot. The product is working well to transport two 10’ kayaks on roof rack of 2015 Subaru Outback.

Installed on 2015 Subaru Outback...holds 2 kayaks safely and securely. Easy to use once you get the hang of positioning the kayaks where you want them and using the straps.

The product itself is great and you should feel confident that it will get the job done. However, it said it would fit my 2013 Subaru outback, and while it does fit, the roof racks are not wide enough for the width of the canoe. So that’s something to be aware of before purchasing this product.

As all Thule products the Thule universally mounted canoe carrier is great. It came with all required items for safe and easy canoe transportation. There are two straps with pull to fasten for the canoe down, two tie down ropes for each end with nice pull tight and release mechanisms for the cord as well, along with two straps to fasten to the canoe ends used with the pull to tighten cords. The Chevy traverse cross bar had to have the plastic end caps removed for use with Thule canoe carrier. This was because my canoe took up the entire cross bar width to allow for Thule mounts. It is not a big deal to remove the plastic end caps. They only provide a finished stream lined look. Happy and Safe Canoeing

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

This kayak carrier works great with my factory Rav4 roof rack and 10' Tamarack Angler kayak. I did break one tightener knob but probably over-tightened it. And it was replaced for free. I can load and unload the kayak easily and it doesn't budge going down the freeway. I can even drive in and out of the garage with the kayak on the rack for easy storage hanging from the rafters.

Click to Enlarge

Installed this Thule Top Deck Rooftop Kayak Carrier System with tie onto our Thule Roof rack system. Easy to install and this will carry our handmade 17' Wooden Sea Kayak. Very well made.

I purchased the product to make it possible to haul a 30+ year-old White fiberglass canoe on the standard roof-rack of a 2013 Subaru Outback. The kit works very well, but some experimentation was involved. Due to the tapering width of the canoe, I use haul kit with the front guides reversed to face the inside of the canoe gunwhales. In the back the guides are used as intended, facing the outside of the gunwhales.

Product was as advertised, however it was missing four bolts that I had to get at a hardware store, but other than that it was fine. Service from etrailer team was outstanding.

Fantastic carrier. Very sturdy and easy to set up.

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

purchased the e-trailer j-style kayak carrier after reviewing the large selection offered. shipping was fast and installation easy on 2017 Outback. the carrier and associated tie-downs all of excellent quality. I particularly liked the e-trailer unique method of attaching the forward and aft tie-downs to the car. Initial trip with kayak was about 50 miles, much on the expressway at high speed, with no transit problems. this item works great and is a very good deal.

I had the moulded downloader and needed the folding in order to fit in the garage. The top feed for the tie straps isn't as good as the moulded J-style rack, the strap came out of one, but the kayak stayed where it needed to be. It is easy to raise and lower the rack, but I am not always sure at what angle I am supposed to set them. With the moulded J-style, they are at the perfect angle for holding a kayak. I wish the clamp that goes under the bars were a better fit for the oval bars, but they do send two different size bolts and the longer ones work.

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

The Malone DownLoader is very good value for the money. The J-style cradle is nice when you have to muscle a kayak on top of a tall crossover or SUV. You can hook the edge of the cockpit onto the base of the cradle and flip the kayak up onto the metal hoop support. Carrier installation and removal is easy and doesn't require any tools. Materials are good, but not great and that's what prevents this product from getting 5 stars IMO. The foam padding is nice enough and has been durable, but the metal plate that attaches the carrier to the roof rails is plastic coated steel and the plastic cracks over time, and leads to rust on the steel plate beneath. Not a big deal, but it might compromise the plate over time. I also wish that the provided nylon straps were longer, and that the ratchet buckles were covered in rubber to protect the roof of the vehicle and the windshield when you're trying to get them around the hull of the boat. We quickly replaced these with longer aftermarket straps that have rubber covers over the buckles. Those minor points aside, the Malone DownLoader kayak carrier gets the job done easily and safely, and does so at a very affordable price point.

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

These pads worked well on our Yakima RailBar Crossbars- Item #Y00448-0449 that we also bought from etrailer around 2020/2021. Not sure if etrailer carries the exact Yakima Crossbars anymore, but think they have a similar model. Both the pads and crossbars work well to haul our kayak on our 2019 Subaru Forester. etrailer's customer service rocks! We had a lot of questions purchasing both items and they were great to talk to!

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

The product came quickly and was so easy to install on my existing roof rails! It is absolutely perfect to fit many needs above and beyond my kayaks and paddle boards. They look so good on my new 2019 Jag F-Pace I might leave them on all the time.

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

The package arrived brand new. No complaint. Now I need to find out if I can install this on my Rhino-Rack universal platform on my 2020 Subaru Outback.

I have had about a year to use this and I have no regrets. I have a 2018 Subaru Outback and I have absolutely no trouble taking these on and off. The kayaks load very easy and the carrier’s fold up very nice. They are holding up very well.

Very solid and stable. Used for 2021 Hobie Outback mounted on a trailer via 1 x 2 steel stut construction.

I've used these racks for a few kayaking trips now and so far am pleased with the purchase. The assembly was fairly straight forward and I was extremely happy to see that the racks came with 4 ratchet straps, which I wasn't expecting. I gave the product 4 stars because after the first trip the padding on one of the racks tore during travel and is now duck taped on. The plastic knobs underneath the racks also loosen while driving, especially on windy days so make sure you double check that they're synched down before you travel!

I've owned this product for a year now,and originally bought it for an okt13,and just recently upgraded to a hobie outback. I've gotten a lot of uses out of this so far and have done a ton of kayaking.most of my trips I travel long distance from Pittsburgh to Virginia Beach.so far I must say I love these types of straddles! Very nice support and I like the fact that they allow you to mount your kayak upright,instead of upside down on the bar which results in scratching up the gunnels.definitley recommend this product!

Looks like is quality product, looking forward to using it soon. Prompt shipping, satisfied.

The Rhino-Rack 2 Kayak Carrier I ordered from etrailer was easily reviewed and ordered from their website and ALL communication relative to order confirmation and extreme detail included in their tracking was nothing short of phenomenal! The items were packaged with care and arrived intact. These fit our basic Lexus crossbars and is the perfect product for carrying our two (2) kayaks. My hat goes off to the great folks at etrailer -- It doesn't get any better than this!!!

These work great and I was able to install them on the OEM rack for my truck. The only downside is that the threads for the clamp hang down a little too close to the roof for comfort.

easy to install...very haPPY WITH YOUR SERvice

Have only taken it out once so far but it was easy to put on and use. Could be easy for someone to steal, I put bike locks on mine to prevent that.

Click to Enlarge

I can't lift my kayak onto my roof rack like I could when I was younger. This looked like a perfect answer to keep me actively using my kayak. It is simple to use, but it does take some strength as you have to lift your kayak onto the loader and must lift the kayak up onto the roof rack as it only loads to just before the top, so keep that in mind. The legs need to be about 6" - 8" longer as mine don't touch the ground at the connectors. I can only reach the ground with them lowered to where they are almost out of the holder. They also touch the Jeep, so I am going to have to carry something to fit between the loader and the Jeep to prevent scratching the door paint. I think if the legs were longer and they fit with both the holder/connectors then I think they might not touch the Jeep. I would have given 5 stars if the legs were long enough. It works with both my moulded J rack and my fold down J rack. It works with both style of kayaks, rounded and straight hulls.

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

About a year ago, I purchased one set of the Malone Downloader w/Lift Assist (MPG114MD-351XL) and second set of Downloader J-Style Folding Racks (MPG114MD) for use on a 2014 Subaru Outback with standard Subaru roof racks. I had no issue with installation and use of any of the parts using the enclosed instructions and online videos. Everything seems to fit properly and securely; no broken, unusable, or missing parts. Over the past year we've use the racks extensively for our 10.5 ft recreational kayaks on both short local trips and longer highway trips. We augmented the roof racks with T-handle hood and tailgate tie-downs and some locally purchased camlock tie-down cords. Everything working great with 10's of racking/unracking episodes. We've only used the Lift Assist maybe 1 of 10 trips when there's only a single person lifting, so can't provide as much feedback. However, the Lift Assist does work exactly as advertised and we're happy with the results. In addition, the friendly and well-informed folks at etrailer.com were a huge help with answering tech questions. Well done!

Installed it today on my Thule rack. Great product!

The problem: How to transport kayaks with smaller vehicle as weight of cross & kayak racks plus kayaks was above vehicle roof weight limits. So I shopped for a "kayak" trailer. The people at etrailer made the ordering process easy and successful to complete this project. Great trailer, impressed with the size & strength of frame, and assembly went together as instructed. Installed bunk boards and mounted Thule DockGrip for Kayaks. This for me is an easier and safer way to transport kayaks. Thank you etrailer...

Heavy duty. Easy enough to install. Instructions aren't great, but you can figure it out. The crane is a good idea in theory, but could use some design refinement as it only lifts just enough to tuck a paddleboard underneath. The rachet system is great and the rubber coverings for the wires are super helpful for preventing scratches.

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

This company couldn’t make these products any easier to setup! Had my roof rack built and installed in roughly an hour (double checking on measurements). I’ll gladly do business again if I need any trailer/roof rack needs. Quick to email notifications for updates as well.

The keys are an issue (wish they were metal), but everything else is great! I go sunrise kayaking only and hate putting straps on with cold hands at 3:30 in the morning. I have a Nissan Pathfinder and was able to put this on with another set of Malone J-hooks so that I can have a second kayak when I go with someone. Once the fear subsides of it possibly falling off, you realize how quick and easy this thing is to use. It takes me 1 minute instead of 9-18 minutes to get my kayak up and secure. I have tested it at 75mph without any jiggling or issues. I sat on this in my shopping cart forever and finally pulled the trigger. If you kayak at least 10 times a year or are going at high speeds for extended periods of time in warm weather, totally worth it. If not, well, there are cheaper options out there.

Rec'd earlier this week, so today i will install. The item was obviously a return. The logos are nearly scratched off in places, all the items were loosely thrown in the box, and the 10mm wrench and hex key were missing. i think everything else is there. The keys should be a bright color instead of black, some spray paint will fix that. Anyhoo, i am a little disappointed.

The carriers are nicely equipped with everything you need to secure your kayak to your roof rack. The only downside is the clamps don't seat well on the Subaru Outback (2017) crossbars. The clamps are shaped to favor a square bar. As a result the actual bar surface area this holder contacts is very little and even when screwed down nice and tight, the boat was able to move side to side and scratch the coating off of the OEM cross bars. I did order these in a pinch as I was pressed for time & my original pick was out of stock so it is what it is. Very nice carrier for the price, but I'd recommend only if you've got square bars.

The product is of good construction but probably due to how it fits on my crossbars it needs additional support. The crossbars for my Honda Pilot are wide blade type and these racks seem more appropriate for narrower square type crossbars. Even with the rack fastened very tightly, the rack can twist back and forth. Last year on a trip across Montana the wind was pretty gusty and it caused the front one to pivot quite a bit and we had to pull off and apply a ratcheting strap over the kayak and under the factory rails to ensure it was held tight and wouldn't move again. This year on the same trip we had bad winds but had a roof rack mounted behind these racks giving it support on the tall side. We had to strap it real good to make sure it didn't move. If we hadn't had that additional support behind it and add'l straps we probably would have had more problems. I think if the top metal bracket had a wider channel to fit our crossbars it would be much more stable. The way it is now it just sandwiches 2 metal plates between my crossbar which allows it to pivot under stress.

Click to Enlarge