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Thule Hullavator

$471.89
$589.95^*

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(12)

Item # 723901

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Thule® is always looking to raise the bar, but this time they've lowered it!

This kayak lift system brings the load platform down and enables anyone to load and unload a kayak
Reduces lift height required to load and unload a kayak by 40 inches
Reduces effort required to lift boat with gas-assist shocks that help raise the boat onto the vehicle roof
No need to reach top of vehicle to secure boat; strap it while in the down position
Integrated padded support protects boat surface
Lift system only requires approximately 25 inches of load bar space for mounting, leaving room for other accessories
Fits Thule and Yakima load bars
Includes lift system, integrated padded support, mounting hardware and all straps necessary to transport one kayak
Locks to load bar, (locks sold separately)

Please note: Thule products cannot be shipped to Canadian addresses.

Made in USA.

Item 723901

An oversize shipping charge of $25 applies to this item (plus regular shipping fees). Or ship it FREE to any REI store for pickup. Please allow up to two weeks for delivery.
Important: Read more about shipping costs.

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Thule Hullavator Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

Thule Hullavator

4.2

(based on 12 reviews)

100%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Easy to use (8)
Durable (5)
Stable (5)
Easy to install (3)

Cons

Best Uses

Suv's (4)
Kayak / canoe / rafting (3)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Casual/ recreational (3)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (3)

Reviewed by 12 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-10

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Mar

2013

3.0

Rusts

By C Otter

from Seattle, WA

About Me Intermediate

See all my reviews

Pros

Boat Loading Much Easier

Cons

Hard To Install Or Use

Best Uses

Kayaking

Comments about Thule Hullavator:

It was great when it was working. I really liked not having to lift the boat above my shoulders. It made loading a boat really fast. It started to rust a few months after I purchased it before it had had any exposure to sea water. We will see how Thule customer service works. May be bringing it back to REI.

Thule should really have better quality control for an item this pricey.

Comment on this review

Aug

2012

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

This rack answered all of our concerns

By Abrecht David

from Los Osos, CA.

About Me Beginner

See all my reviews

Pros

Durable
Easy To Install
Easy To Use
Stable

Cons

Best Uses

Large Cars
SUV's
Trucks

Comments about Thule Hullavator:

This is the best rack for our needs! With two kayaks and a high profile Honda Element, I looked at all of the possible racks that would accommodate us. My wife and I are in our 60's and did not want to struggle to lift the kayaks to the roof or slide them up the back end of the car. This rack is so easy to use and lowers the kayaks to waist height.

An earlier REI reviewer mentioned an issue with the rack's stability on Yakima round bars. Thule may have revised the mounting brackets and under bar bracket to better accommodate round bars because once I tightened the mounting brackets they simply did not move.

Comment on this review

Apr

2012

5.0

load kayaks with ease.

By Tut

from Fuquay, NC

See all my reviews

Pros

Durable
Easy To Install
Easy To Use
Stable

Cons

Best Uses

Trucks

Comments about Thule Hullavator:

This product makes loading boats on high vehicles simple. I had these on a 4runner and now a f150. I am about 5'8 so it was a challenge loading my kayaks. The hullavator makes loading the kayaks effortless. It lowers the rack to your level.

I find the padding is fine. I only had issue 1 time when over tightening the straps. I carry Polly and composite kayaks and this product adjusts to all 4 of my kayaks with minimal adjustment.

Comment on this review

Jul

2011

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Great for solo paddlers!

By fotvandrare

from Saint Paul, MN

About Me Intermediate

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy To Use

Cons

Best Uses

Comments about Thule Hullavator:

I am a female solo paddler and I purchased the Thule Hullavator to help me load my 9 ft. kayak onto my mini van with out help.

The pros of the side loading Hullavator for me are that the kayak doesn't scrape on the rear spoiler of my van when I load it and that it allows me to load my kayak by myself in a very controlled fashion with no over the waist heavy lifting involved. I purchased this rack for this reason as I have lower back issues and this system is a literally a back saver! The "lift assist" mechanism makes lifting my kayak a snap.

I have no issues with the longer Thule rack bars needed for my install as I am 5'5" and the mini van is tall enough that they are out of my way.

I found the system relatively easy to install with the help of a second pair of hands. Just bought it this Spring so I can't comment on the ease of removal at the end of the season. But it looks like it will be a simple process.

Comment on this review

Apr

2011

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Hullavator the back saver

By Fireman273

from Walled Lake, Michigan

About Me Expert

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy To Use
Stable

Cons

Better clamps for tubes
Fine tuning needed
Needs better instructions

Best Uses

SUV's

Comments about Thule Hullavator:

The mounting brackets need to be made for a square tube seperataley. when you thighten them, they tend to unlevel the rack making lifting tough. fine tuning instructions should be included in the booklet. other than that it is a good addition to my kayak fishing needs.

Comment on this review

Aug

2010

(4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

3.0

work saver with problems

By bdahl

from Evergreen, CO

About Me On The Mountain

See all my reviews

Pros

Durable
Easy To Use

Cons

Defective safety catch
Hard on Kayak
Unstable

Best Uses

Large Cars
SUV's

Comments about Thule Hullavator:

I have had my Hullavator for over 2 years now & it has made solo kayaking much easier and thus more fun. Mine has three problems though.

1) I use it on a round Yakima bar and thus it wants to slide off the side rather than stay upright. Once the boat is on, however, the boat holds it up.

2) the latch on one of the arms that is supposed to catch & lock the arm down in the extended position does not catch automatically (it is spring loaded) and thus the arm can go flying back up when the kayak is removed. This can be remedied by manually pushing the latch down over the stop though your fingers could be crushed if the arm were allowed to retract at that point in time.

3) the "pads" are not pads at all, they are hard as a rock and leave impressions in two places on the bottom of one side of my plastic W.S. Tsunami 145 kayak. The Hullavator is probably shaped to fit all boats and thus fits none well. Additional soft padding should solve this issue.

All in all the Hullavator has been worth the investment.

Comment on this review

Jul

2010

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Thule Hullavator

By Honeychurch

from Washington, DC

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy To Use
REI will install it
Stable

Cons

Best Uses

Comments about Thule Hullavator:

I am 5'3" and this lets me load and unload myself.Glad I had REI figure out the installation b/c rack has to be installed just right to clear side of your car. And have to get used to avoid hitting head on rack extending over side of roof, as you get in and out of car on that side. So I put colored tape on the rack ends as visual reminder.Had to go back to store for help getting the hang of operating it but REI customer service is great and patient instructors and now I do it right each time.And people are intrigued watching it work. S

Comment on this review

Jun

2010

(4 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

2.0

Nice-but doesn't fit all kayaks

By CAkath

from Windsor, CA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Stable

Cons

Doesn't fit my kayak

Best Uses

SUV's

Comments about Thule Hullavator:

After putting the unit together and mounting it on my SUV, we couldn't wait to see how it performed. But, after lifting my Hobie Outback onto the rack, we discovered it didn't fit the bracket that lifts it up onto the vehicle. My kayak was too wide for the arms. We were very disappointed that it wouldn't fit, especially since we were told it would at the store.

Comment on this review

Mar

2009

(5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Great product for self loading kayak

By rnak

from Seattle, WA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to Install
Easy to Use

Cons

Best Uses

Comments about Thule Hullavator:

This works great to lift a kayak onto a roof rack on a SUV by yourself. I struggled to get a kayak onto a roof rack that used typical saddles. Installed the Hullavator and no longer have a problem lifting the kayak onto the roofrack.

Highly recommended for loading a kayak onto a roof rack by yourself, specially onto taller vehicles like SUV's & vans.

Comment on this review

Nov

2008

(4 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Works On Small Cars!

By Rev Man

from Stephenson, MI

About Me Novice User

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Functional
Rugged

Cons

Awkward on my car

Best Uses

Kayaking

Comments about Thule Hullavator:

I have a Ford Escort and it works great with it.

The only downside is that because the loading arms and the kayak are closer to the ground you have to be almost in a crouching position in order to get the kayak to lift to the upright position.

It is very easy to use and it gets my kayak onto the top of the car easily.