Kayak Rack - Self Lifting or other ideas for loading

Kayak Rack - Self Lifting or other ideas for loading

ACfarmer [Member]

5/22/2011 7:53:15 PM

I'd like to locate a roof top mounted kayak rack for my wife's SUV. She can't lift her kayak onto the roof top mounted rack without banging it off the vehicle. I've found the Hull-a-Votar rack from Thule but its ~$450+ (not including the base rack itself). This rack extends down the side of the vehicle so the person loading only needs to lift the kayak up about three feet off the ground.

I've also been looking at a rack outrigger which basically slides inside on of the Thule racks and extends out as a pivot point with the idea that she would only need to lift 1/2 the kayak to the roof line. anyone have any info/experience on these racks or others of a similar design? Thanks

jsteih [Team Member]

5/25/2011 9:17:07 AM

Try a set of Hully Rollers in the back of the vehicle. Then she can just set the bow in them and push the kayak forward into a set of saddles.

Mach [Team Member]

5/25/2011 10:13:02 AM

When I had my Trooper, and carried a canoe, I added a home made extension to the rack that had a roll bar off the back so I could lift the front end of my canoe onto the roll bar then lift the back and push it forward into the rack. Same could be done for kayaks. The rack extension was made of gas pipe and a piece of pvc for the roll bar that rolled on the gas pipe.

Or get her a lighter kayak.