Will The Thule Hullavator Pro Work On Volvo Factory Roof Rack

Updated 09/09/2019 | Published 09/06/2019

Products Featured in This Question

Thule Hullavator Pro Kayak Roof Rack and Lift Assist w/ Tie-Downs - Saddle Style - Universal Mount

(118)

$899.95

Malone DownLoader Kayak Roof Rack w/ Lift Assist and Tie-Downs - J-Style - Clamp On

(144)

$611.90

Question:

Will my Thule Hullavator Pro 898 fit on 2004 Volvo XC70 factory installed rack?

asked by: Dianne S

Helpful Expert Reply:

I did some research on the 2004 Volvo XC70 factory roof rack and it looks like the bars attach to raised rails and the bars do not go through the feet so there is not any bar overhang. The Thule Hullavator Pro Kayak Carrier and Lift Assist with Tie-Downs part # TH898 does require 4-8" of extension past the feet of the roof rack for sufficient clearance between he vehicle and the Hullavator when using the load assist option. Without sufficient enough clearance you may end up scratching the side of the Volvo. The Hullavator also requires a cross bar spread of 24". If your bars do end up having enough extension and the 24" cross bar spread the Hullavator will work nicely but from my research I was not able to find factory bars that provided a sufficient amount of clearance that you need.

I recommend to use the Malone DownLoader Kayak Carrier and TelosXL Load Assist w/ Tie-Downs - J-Style - Side Loading part # MPG114MD-351XL kayak carriers which do not utilize the bar overhang for load assist. The Malone Downloader comes with two lift assist arms that allow you to walk the kayak up the side of the vehicle and up into the carrier for easy loading. They are great option for an easy load assist kayak carrier and will work well on your factory roof rack as long as the bars have a 24" crossbar spread. I have attached a video of the loading process to show you how easy it is.

expert reply by: Heather A