ThuleHullavator Pro Rooftop Kayak Carrier

We have a large SUV that previously required ladders, throwing tie lines over the truck, a lot of muscle to get the kayaks on the roof and over an hour of our time. The Hullavator Pro has turned this into an easy 20 minute job for two kayaks. We should have bought this system years ago. The ability to lock them brings us peace of mind and driving with them is so quiet it's wonderful for our ears.

This thing is a godsend! I'm 5ft and have an Xterra with 33" tires so getting a kayak on normally was a freaking feat in frustration. I absolutely love this thing. I read that there was an issue with rust but it seems that Thule has tackled that issue. I used the Thule 50" square cross bars that go around raised rails (can't remember what they are called). Worked perfect. Only needed just over a 4" overhang. Best several hundred dollars I've ever spent.

Bought two of these & they were shipped very quickly (even on a holiday weekend) by the supplier. They carry my boats very well. The instructions included in the package could be re-done to be just a little more clear as to when to use which bolts, washers & nuts. Once I got that figured out it went on the vehicle very quickly. Thule should really think of a better, easier & more user friendly way of mounting & dismounting the cradle base arm to the load bar attachment arm. It can be quite difficult to insert & remove the pivot pin with just one person. Other than that I am very pleased with this product.

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.

A great design and easy to use, but for this price Thule could have provided locks. Without them the main assemblies can be removed (stolen) from the roof bars. in seconds.Thule Locks are available on Amazon, at $50.00 per pair!