How to load Kayak?

[Aggiechick]

I have been using the Thule AeroBlades and two sets of Yakima JayLows for the past year for our two 12' sit-on-top kayaks. My husband travels a lot, so I've been in a predicament of not being able to take my kayak out as much as I'd like. I'm not tall enough to get it onto the JayLows without a ladder, so it's difficult for me to load a 65 lb kayak by myself with this setup. I just found a Thule Hullavator on Craigslist, and I'm replacing the passenger's side set of the JayLows with this. I figure that if I need to load a second kayak, then there will be a second person, and the JayLows on the driver's side will still work for that.

 

[zcruiser]

Got tired of shoving my yaks up on top of the truck so I built this on a $300 Northern Tools trailer.

 

[Brandonium]

Is that a Gobi rack? I've been curious if a Gobi rack can hold 2 kayaks for long journeys (4 hours +)

cheap J cradles for now, until I can find some hullavators at a REI garage sale.

 

[jdm_rider]

Is that a Gobi rack? I've been curious if a Gobi rack can hold 2 kayaks for long journeys (4 hours +)

the gobi rack is solid. I mounted it the removable cross bars and the bars held up well. It was only a 30 minute drive to the lake, i haven't done any long drives with it. I now have a RTT mounted to the removable crossbars. which isn't recommended but they are holding up well. i check them periodically and the bars haven't budged.

 

[hammb]

Hey guys, I finally got my hands on a kayak (great deal on Craigslist for a barely used yak. It's a biggun though. Wilderness Systems Ride 135...13' 6" yak coming in at over 80# unloaded.

Getting it onto the roof wasn't bad with 2 guys, but by myself I think I'm gonna go the route of getting one of those hitch extenders to use as a pivot point. I can make use of that thing for loading lumber, etc in the back end as well.

I'm curious what everyone uses as a bow/stern tie down though? Bringing the boat home we just used a piece of rope with a knot the seller tied to the front tow points. It held nicely, but my knot tying skills are virtually non-existent. When I transport the yak I want to continue tying the bow down to the front tow anchors, and the stern to the hitch, but I'm not sure what to buy to do that.

Are you guys buying the yakima/thule, dedicated tie downs? They seem to come with a ratcheting pulley. Or are you using the same style cam straps as you do for the hull around the roof rack?

Just curious.. Thanks guys.

 

[chuonfood]

New kayak owner here! As you can see from the picture below, I am in need of a way to haul on the rack. (TE Rack w/ factory crossbars)

How long is this kayak? I'm planning on buying the Hobie PA12 and was wondering if this will work through the 4runner's tailgate. I just want to keep things simple. Thanks.

Also, can someone provide the 5th gen's tailgate window dimensions? Thanks

 

[badhabits]

This works and does not hurt the kayaks. I have carried as many as 10 at one time.

 

[Auntie Soshul]

I'm curious what everyone uses as a bow/stern tie down though?

I use these for the front of my canoe: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0024AVPO4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[hammb]

I use these for the front of my canoe: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0024AVPO4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

So you tie off to that instead of the tow mounts, which makes sense, but what do you tie from those loops to the canoe?

Do you just use rope and knots that you tie, or are you using a cam buckle strap? I know I don't want to use a ratchet strap since they're too easy to overtighten and damage the boat.

 

[Auntie Soshul]

So you tie off to that instead of the tow mounts, which makes sense, but what do you tie from those loops to the canoe?

Do you just use rope and knots that you tie, or are you using a cam buckle strap? I know I don't want to use a ratchet strap since they're too easy to overtighten and damage the boat.

I use a regular canoe tie strap. It has plastic (non-scratching) buckles.

 

[heffelfinger007]

I've got a pair of Malone Downloader folding J Hooks. It works pretty well for my kayak. I do the clean and jerk to get the kayak above my head, and then I put the top of it in the hooks. I then open the rear passenger door, stand on the ledge, and pivot the yak up.



On the other side, I mounted a Thule SUP rack I found at bargain hunt for more than half off.

 

[leered]

Just ordered a hullavator and the 58" base bars. Is that the width of yours?



2014 4Runner
Sprint booster, URD Y pipe, magnaflow exhaust, SCS stealth 6, BFG KO2 275/70/17, 35%tint all around including windshield, TRD intake, Xenon depot Low beam HID, LED XD high beam, XD LED Fog w/ laminx yellow, Aidanjames LED fog housing DRL,vintage Toyota shiftknob, scan gage, Toytec 3" lift, bilstein 5100 shocks, Zaino bros protected.

How did the "hullavator and the 58" base bars" work for you? Are those the right cross bars, length-wise ? Just wondering what length would they have to be in order to prevent denting the doors. Can you share some info and pics on your setup? Thanks!

 

[TejasRunner]

Clean and jerk for the win. It's kind of awkward at first but once you understand how to balance the kayak it's pretty easy. Obviously having two people to load is ideal.

I have the Yakima J-Low. You want to make sure you get the folding down type J-cradles if you don't want to take them off after each use.

Are your J-lows clamped to the factory cross bars?

 

[Biker58]

I just took delivery of a T4R and live on the Texas coast. Since I kayak, I am finding this very interesting. Traded an 08 Tundra with almost 200k miles. Thanks for all the great info

 

[Whttxtrail]

Like this? Or that?

I decided that both are sufficient.

 

[Biker58]

I like the use of pvc pipe. Being a kayaker means being creative and inventive

 

[zcruiser]

I like my boats to be hull-up because aerodynamics.

 

[TexasTJ]

We've carried it a couple of different ways, regularly with Yakima J-lows.

 

[jkaylen]

I've used J-Hooks and I think they are the best for long distance transport of your kayak, based off of how it's cradled (think 4+ hour trips).

That being said, I've had to carry six kayaks for some whitewater laps in Colorado, so a friend and I built this custom rack that sits on my Gobi. The vertical uprights on the passenger side are removable and the sides slide in to be the width of the roof and pull out to be the width of the mirrors. VERY happy with this setup.

Tip: Regardless of method used, use non-ratcheting straps and go through at least one, preferably two, hard points. If you have longer boats (say, >10feet), do use a bow line to the front (if knots aren't your thing, use a non-ratcheting strap with a buckle).

 

[Jewelonly]

I decided that both are sufficient.

What brand and size crossbars are you using in order to install 2 Thule Hullavators for 2 kayaks? My kayaks are 10 feet long and 31 inches wide.

Thank you.