Thule Hullavator Kayak Carrier Mounting Requirements

Expert Reply:

To install Thule's load-assist Hullavator kayak carrier # TH898 on a vehicle's roof rack the ends of the bars must extend out past the roof rack feet by at least 4-inches. You can see this requirement illustrated in the linked diagram. The comparable Yakima ShowDown carrier # Y04081 also has a similar bar space requirement.

If your roof rack is a Subaru factory type whose bars do not extend past the rack feet/rails then you can still use the Hullavator but you'll need to add a different roof rack with longer bars that provide the needed clearance at the sides of the vehicle to prevent the Hullavator from contacting the car.

Yakima's HD Crossbar rack made of parts # Y01156, # Y00148, # Y03541 and # Y00241 fits the non-Touring version that has flush mounted rails that run front to back. The 55-inch bars are the longest available for your Outback and you can check using a tape measure to confirm that these will extend out far enough.

If you don't care to change your roof rack you can still use a load-assisted kayak carrier like the rear-loading roller-style HandRoll # Y04082-2 which directly fits your factory bars and provides roller-assisted loading from the back of the car. If you prefer to stay with a side-load carrier have a look at the Malone Downloader/Telos load-assist carrier # MPG114MD-351XL which also fits your existing roof rack. You can see how the Telos load assist works by viewing the linked video.

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expert reply by: Adam R

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