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Reviewed in Canada on August 30, 2024
I installed these on Thule aero bars. It was super easy to install. The instructions are clear and easy to follow. My racks will fit two comfortably but other racks can only fit one hullivator set up. I have 2 16” foot sea kayaks and they fit very nice. Makes loading and unloading a breeze.
Sam
Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2024
We have been using Hullavators on all of our trucks since 2012. Currently in use on 4 service trucks. The Thule warranty is a true lifetime warranty. We have had very few issues over the past 13 years of using Hullavators but when we did, Thule replaced the part or the whole unit. They only required proof that we purchased it new (so save your receipt). I am 72 years old and loading a kayak on top of a cap on a pickup truck (with a Hullavator) is a piece of cake. You may think that Hullavators are pricey, but Worth Every Penny it costs.
Tswoodshop
Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2023
I'm getting up in age and can no longer lift even my 50lb kayak up on the roof of my Sienna without another person helping, and even then, it's a difficult job I don't look forward to after a days paddling. The Hullavator Pro seemed like the solution. But the price... YIKES! I looked at the Yakima Showdown, which is almost HALF the cost of the Thule Hullavator Pro, but you have to reach up and pull OUT before you can drop down the kayak. Many of us of at retirement age simply don't have the strength to reach up that high and pull the entire weight OUT several feet before you can drop it down to load/unload. So the Yakima was out of the question for me. The Hullivator solves this with it's unique design. You simply pull down with it's gas assist struts which easily drop it down to the side of the car. Great design that works well... once you get it installed!Why only four stars? I'm a retired electronics technician. I've re-built many a car engine over the years. I'm pretty mechanically savvy and I can follow directions as well as anybody. I don't mind the Euro style multi language instructions that come with products if I could understand exactly what they wanted me to do. The instructions were sparse one liners that left you with lots of guessing and head scratching. For a product that's $50 shy of a thousand bucks, I expected a more detailed instruction manual. I eventually got frustrated and jumped on YouTube where a few good souls stepped through the process and showed me what the Thule manual lacked. At the very least, include a link in the instructions to a Thule video explaining and SHOWING us how to install their expensive product. Also... for something this expensive, and so easily removed from the roof in a matter of seconds, you absolutely need a lock. Thule doesn't provide one!! C'mon guys... how little would it affect your bottom line if you threw in couple of locks? Oh sure they sell them... cheap ones for $50! For me, that's an insult. But... they are the only game in town that does this so well, and they probably know that. So, they can ding you as much as they want. Therefore, can't in my right mind give them 5 full stars. For lack of a readable manual and a couple locks that probably would cost THEM maybe $10-15 at most, they are getting some negative feedback that will probably cost them some sales. To bad... otherwise it's a great product.
Dana C.
Reviewed in Canada on October 9, 2023
Awesome! Make loading the kayak so much easier.
Brian Howell
Reviewed in Canada on December 13, 2022
I won’t be able to use it until the Spring next year.
Mr. Know-it-Some
Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2020
I purchased this to replace my hullaport because I have rotator cuff issues and loading and unloading my kayak on top of my SUV was getting to be too much. Plus, now I don't have to carry around a small step stool to load the kayak on the roof. LoL!I have a 10' kayak that 30" wide. It is about 55lbs and I can easily stow it up and down using the hullavator. I do get whistling but not so much rattling when going down the road. Installation was not much of an issue. Your vehicle and roof rack must meet certain criteria in order for this to mount and function as it should.Few things to keep in mind before purchase and installation: this can only install to the Thule square bar or any Thule roof bar that has the t-track system. The roof rail needs to extend out past the sides of your vehicle. After the unit is mounted and pulled down, there needs to be a minimum of a 4" clearance from the hullavator arm to the side of your vehicle. I have this mounted to a 2014 Acura MDX with a Thule 53" Wingbar Evo and I have exactly 4" clearance. If you have a flatter sided vehicle, I imagine the install will be easier for you.This is definitely a great investment. If you can get all the stars to line up, the install and usage will be easy for you. In the end, my rotator cuffs are very grateful.
Dianna
Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2018
What an AMAZING product!! I bought this kayak rack for one main reason: I was sick and tired of wasting precious time and inconveniencing friends in order to go kayaking! I had to either borrow a friend’s truck or inconvenience my group of kayaking friends with trucks to pick me up whenever I wanted to paddle! As a 55 year old extremely independent female, this was really getting old! When I bought my new 2018 Subaru Crosstrek, I also wanted a kayak rack that I could operate myself without damaging my brand new car! This rack is amazing! I have a 50 lb Wilderness Pungo 120 12-foot kayak and it fits perfectly on the Hullavator 898 Pro! I have no problem loading or unloading the kayak myself! The lift-assist feature is phenomenal! Having this rack has afforded me the freedom and ability to just get up and go anytime I want! It literally takes me 12 minutes to attach the cradles to the roof rack, load the boat, and tie down the bow and stern!! It’s the talk of town wherever I launch!! All that being said, the only downfall, if you want to call it that, is the fact that it is on the expensive side! HOWEVER ..... for me, it has been worth every single penny! I would spend it again in a heartbeat!! THANK YOU, THULE!! This is the best invention EVER!! I can’t put into words how liberating this has been for me! I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!!!!
David Moe
Reviewed in Canada on July 19, 2016
This device proved extremely useful since my 5' 2" wife can now load her own kayak onto her own SUV by herself, without me having to listen to her whining and complaining that she has to call me every time she wants to load her kayak. Myself, I have shoulder injuries and can't lift one arm above my shoulder, so even though I probably could load a kayak one-handed by myself, the Hullavator helps me too. Why work any harder than you have to, or have to listen to your wife complain that you're a lazy bum who never helps her except when she complains. That in itself is worth the relatively high price. Worth the money, at least to me.
Ghostlore
Reviewed in Canada on October 8, 2016
I really like this lift system. It allows me to load my 59 lb / 18' kayak by myself, quickly, and with very little effort. And less time spent loading equals more time paddling :)It was easy enough to assemble onto my Thule square crossbars. Your mileage may differ depending on what kind of roof rack you have. Note that the crossbar you are mounting this to needs at least 4 inches of overhang (Thule says 4"-8"), so that when you lower the unit it does not hit the side of your car. Most crossbars provide this much overhang already but it is something to be sure of before buying.Putting it together took me about an hour and a half start to finish (I timed it), but it should be noted I took the time to count and organize all of the parts to make sure everything was there first. I also watched a couple of online videos (YouTube) while assembling to get a feel for how it was supposed to go together.My only complaint (and the only reason for 4 stars instead of 5) is that it does not come with locks. You have to purchase them separately but I feel that for the money that you are spending on this product they should be included. Not a deal breaker by any means, just...irksome.That said, if you are looking for the ability to load/unload a kayak onto your vehicle easily, and by yourself, I don't think there is a better way to do it than the Hullavator Pro. For me, it has been a terrific investment, and I would absolutely recommend to anyone looking for a carrier/lift system.*I should note here that I've only had the chance to use this a handful of times, so I can't speak to the durability of the product. It appears to be very solid and well-made, but you never know. I will update my review if anything changes down the road.Happy Paddling.
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