ThuleThule 898000 Hullavator Pro Kayak/Canoe Carrier, One-Size

Have just installed this at the weekend after struggling in the last year or so with a combination of the weight and length of my kayak (a Wilderness Systems Thresher 140, 14’ long weighing around 34kg) and a car with a high roof (2008 Ford Galaxy). It had got to the stage where it was so much hassle to car-top my kayak, I was preferring not to use it at all and so it hadn’t seen the water for 18 months. Then I researched this and whilst the price had put me off, it looked like it might be the solution to my problem.Firstly “installation” – I was adamant that I wanted this on the Thule Wing Bars (rather than the Pro Bars which are the only bars that Thule recommends for the Hullavator). After a bit of research, I decided that the only reason that Thule state that the Hullavator will only fit the Pro Bars is not for reasons of fitment incompatibility with other bars or strength / weight issues but rather that other bars don’t overhang their feet as much as the Pro Bars do which will therefore not give you sufficient clearance from the side of your car when lowering the Hullavator to avoid damaging your car. A few clicks later and I decided to take a punt on Wing Bars two sizes longer than those recommended by Thule for my car (I went for the 135cm instead of the 118cm that are recommended) in the hope that it would give me the clearance that I needed – and it did! I initially tried the largest 150cm Wing Bars but these were too long for my car and would not fit in the tracks provided on the roof (hence going down a size to 135cm which are perfect).The Hullavator itself was a doddle to fit once the Wing Bars were in place and it uses the T-Tracks on top of the Wing Bars to fit the main bracket of the Hullavator (the bit you leave attached to the Wing Bar when you are not using the Hullavator). The Hullavator itself came with the fittings for the T-Tracks (and no other fittings were included). The new version of the Hullavator (the 898) also comes fitted with a pair of lock barrels with keys which also prevents it from being removed from your car roof when locked – I think that previous versions required you to purchase the locks separately as an optional extra.Moving on to “use” – I fitted the main bodies of the Hullavator to the bracket now attached to my Wing Bars using the quick-release pivot pin provided and lowered it into position at the side of my car ready to receive my kayak. For all the users on here moaning that sometimes the Hullavator snaps back up into position unexpectedly – ignore them – this only happens when you don’t have it correctly locked (with a “click”) in the downward position and is down to user-error. Once down, it stays down and in place ready to receive your kayak. This reassured me for the first time that the 135cm Wing Bars I had fitted would give me the required clearance at the side of my car once the boat was loaded and so I was happy.I then placed my kayak in the lower cradles where it was held firmly until I could adjust the upper cradles down to cradle my boat – the newer version of the Hullavator requires the supplied allen key to adjust the upper cradles whereas the older version was a thumb wheel – not sure why they changed this as it seems more hassle but once adjusted, you never have to do it again unless you are loading a different boat.The Hullavator took the weight of my boat easily (which is at it’s upper weight capacity of 35kg) and held it in place while I attached the webbing straps across the width of the boat and through the cradles – these are supplied with the Hullavator and all of this strapping is now applied while the kayak is at waist height. Also supplied are two of the “Quick Draw” Thule bow and stern ropes but I didn’t bother with these as I was only travelling a short distance and at low speed.I then depressed the handles on the Hullavator and guided my kayak effortlessly into the up position – this was again an absolute doddle with the Hullavator taking the majority of the weight and holding the kayak firm as it was lifted. I then completed the second stage of the loading which is allowing the boat to gently drop onto the roof bars in the loaded position and the Hullavator clicking reassuringly into place. I could not get over how effortless this was and proceeded to take my boat off and on again repeatedly just because I could!In driving, the kayak was firmly held and secure and I knew that I could enjoy my paddling without the old worry of how I was going to get it back on the roof of the car again when my arms were tired and a breeze may have picked up a bit. The Hullavator is slightly hanging off the edge of the bars (which is how it is meant to sit) but this means that I could easily fit another one on the other side of the bars for a second kayak. The only problem here is that the Hullavator weighs in at around 17kg and with a 35kg boat loaded along with my second kayak at around the 30kg mark, I am already exceeding the 75kg roof limit of my car (albeit by only a small amount). My bars are rated for 100kg so no worries there.Loading and unloading at the launch point was only hampered by on-lookers curious about the Hullavator and wondering how I planned to drive my car with the kayak hanging at the side of it asking me questions!When not in use, the main bodies of the Hullavator remove quickly and easily by taking out the single pivot pin on each of the two mechanisms and this leaves a very discrete and small bracket left attached to your bars by way of the T-Track screws. This means that my wife is not having to drive around all week with the cradles sticking up from the roof and ensure that there are no height difficulties getting into car parks, etc.Although I have only used them for one weekend and so cannot attest to their longevity at this early stage, it is clear that they are a quality piece of equipment that are well made and substantial and they show all the signs of lasting for years if properly cared for. Most importantly it means that I am finally able to enjoy my kayaks again without the worry of being able to lift them up so high or do myself an injury and that means the Hullavator was worth every penny to me!Highly recommended but do your own research first on the bars you want to fit to your own car and be careful of the weight limit of the roof of your vehicle.

Great quality product and service thank you

Overwhelmingly disappointed.. I just wanted to paddle with zero fuss!-1*) You can ONLY use on cars with roof rails / factory flush mountings / factory fixing points.Per OEM manual & warnings must be installed on car with roof load limit of 60kg or more.In the EU Roof load max roof load limit 75kg with roof rails & 50kg without (rapid system & brackets to window / frame edge). Check your car / van. But that the directive. Don’t be “fooled” by the roof bar / bracket limit which should always be in excess of roof limit.So if you use the 754 Rapid System you are limited to 50kg roof loading & the Hullavator needs 60kg - not compatible.-2*) When one hullivator is installed on car with Roof Rails you can only legally carry ONE RM sea kayak?The Hulivator weighs 17.5kg on it own .. add an empty (like that happens) 17’ RM sea kayak at 28.5kg + Bars = not a lot left.If you have a Sit On Top these can be 32kg Hullavtor limit is 35kg. You are Defo at limit.No giving a friend a “lift”.-3*) ONLY to be installed on Pro-Bars in UK -Sold my almost new Aerobars bought the expensive Pro-Bars :(-4*) Setting up - spent a good 4-5 hours cutting the rubber strips out of my pro-bars. Finally got it all set-up!+1/2*) you can remove the hooked pin and take the actuator of the roof rails leaving the plate. -1/2) they are heavy (17.5kg) and over head (my car is 1.9m high hence the investment), not a simple task -although I guess it will get easier with practice.-5*) if you don’t mark FWD & AFT on your Hullivator you will spend another 2 hours man handeling your kayak in the rain adjusting the hullivator with Alan keys - older models seem to have a knob new ones you set the arms - very fiddely.-6*) if you need to remove your roof rails (getting into car parks - or husbands who think fuel economy is more important than time) - spend another 3-4 hours re-setting bars and hullivator back up.-7*) help a friend and collect a new kayak - see above man handlng kayak in rain until setup... 2hoursIf you have a high car (or week shoulders) AND only ever carry one kayak (the SAME kayak) and either leave the hullivator permently attached to your vechile or mark it well & ensure returns in exactly the same position everytime then go for it... if not DO NOT waste your money.Buy steps or get a lower car.I sold my Thule Aero Bars & Thule K-Guard to buy this & “upgrade to pro-Bars”- wish I had NOT.The Thule K-Guard weighs 4.2kg - you can legally fit 2x & carry 2 Sea kayaks on car with roof rails.So now I need to get rid of hullivator and buy 2x K-Guards - or the Kari-Tek system (which of course needs Square Bars !!!)Overwhelmingly disappointed :(I just want to paddle with zero fuss!

It took a long time to but together, but the best money ever spent for ease of loading my kayak onto a very tall 4x4

Fantastic piece of engineering. Makes loading and unloading my kayak very easy.👍

does not come with the bracket for square bars in the UK. I cannot find how to get the right bracket and I dont want to shell out for the aero bars.

The plastic bracket that grips the J bar supports has cracked after only 10 or so uses rendering the unit unusable. Very unhappy given the high cost of this product.

Acquistate due coppie. Ottimo sistema per il carico e lo scarico assistito dei kayak. La posizione di carico abbassa i supporti lungo le fiancate dell'auto. Al momento del posizionamento sul tetto gli ammortizzatori alleggeriscono di circa 18 Kg lo sforzo di sollevamento. I kayak si legano quando sono in basso e quindi, una volta sollevati sul tetto, il sistema si aggancia ai supporti e si è pronti a partire. Ottimo prodotto.

Ja sie sind teuer aber auch JA sie sind sehr nützlich! Leicht zu installieren und falls es jemand wissen will, nein man benötigt nicht unbedingt eine Nut im Träger! Man kann diese auch an einem normalen Träger installieren! ( Mercedes Vito original Lastenträger Vierkant) von meiner Seite aus eine klare Kaufempfehlung wenn man einen Bus hat!

Item as described by the seller

Très bon produit

En realidad esta muy bien.Menos esfuerzo para gente con una edad que no puede subir un kayak a la baca del coche.Es genial.