Thule 897XT Hullavator Kayak Roof Rack Mount Carrier

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Kayak Carrier Accessory with lift assist - reduces lift height by up to 40" for carrying kayaks on roofracks
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Technical Details

- Reduces effort to lift boat with gas assist shockt that help raise boat onto vehicle roof
- includes lift system, integrated padded support, mounting hardware, and all straps to carry one kayak
- Mounts to Thule standard, Rapid Aero, Xsporter, and Yakima load bars
- Superior boat protection with integrated paddes support
- Accomodates kayaks up to 36" wide and 100lbs
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 "Great idea needs better execution" 2008-08-03
By C. Chang (DFW)
I've seen many video clips on the net introducing this product (search youTube) so I will skip the functions of it. Lifting my 17' kayak onto my CR-V roof is not something enjoyable, so I bite the bullet. I had to abandoned my factory cross bar and installed the Thule Aero Rapid bars (Thule square and Yakima round will also work but the Aero bar looks much nicer) to accommodate that. This is needed for the load bar to extend 4 to 8 inch beyond the foot, my factory bar will not do that. So after sinking in about $700 I got this going. The installation was not difficult; they even included a DVD with installation instructions. It seems the Hullavator is designed with the square bar in mind. The adaptation to the Aero bars looks like an afterthought. They gave you 4 thin plastic clear films per arm to protect the contact points. A square bar would fit nicely under the mounting bar. But for the Aero bar there were just 4 contact points; I don't even want to tighten the screws too much because of that.



I know before hands that the added height to my CR-V will not clear my garage door; so keep that in mind. The shorter cradle can barely makes it; the bottom taller cradle just simply won't. Now Thule has the Hull-a-port PRO which has a cradle/carrier that will fold, you would think they could have that feature on this $440 product, right? That will sure let me drive my CR-V into my garage without taking it off. The DVD suggest that you take the whole arm assembly off when entering a low clearance garage and states that it is easy.. Ah, it was not that easy, the arms are heavy and putting and removing the pivot pins through the holes can be tricky. I think I will just take the cradles off for now.



Another thing is the Aero bars are nice looking but this Hullavator is not; two big gray boxes without much aero dynamics are sitting on my car roof.. They did pack a lot of mechanisms in there so I guess there is not much room for improvements in that regard. Oh, also be careful not to hit your head, it sticks out just enough to get you. on the other hand it was a good thing that it leave more space on the rack for other things. I moved the front cross bar to in between the front and back doors to avoid it. I can see some other car may not have that choice.



Enough whining I guess the benefits are exceeding the shortcommings so it is a keeper for now.




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Thule 897XT Hullavator Kayak Roof Rack Mount Carrier

Buy Cheap Thule 897XT Hullavator Kayak Roof Rack Mount Carrier

Buy Low Price From Here Now
Kayak Carrier Accessory with lift assist - reduces lift height by up to 40" for carrying kayaks on roofracks
Readmore

Technical Details

- Reduces effort to lift boat with gas assist shockt that help raise boat onto vehicle roof
- includes lift system, integrated padded support, mounting hardware, and all straps to carry one kayak
- Mounts to Thule standard, Rapid Aero, Xsporter, and Yakima load bars
- Superior boat protection with integrated paddes support
- Accomodates kayaks up to 36" wide and 100lbs
See more technical details

 "Great idea needs better execution" 2008-08-03
By C. Chang (DFW)
I've seen many video clips on the net introducing this product (search youTube) so I will skip the functions of it. Lifting my 17' kayak onto my CR-V roof is not something enjoyable, so I bite the bullet. I had to abandoned my factory cross bar and installed the Thule Aero Rapid bars (Thule square and Yakima round will also work but the Aero bar looks much nicer) to accommodate that. This is needed for the load bar to extend 4 to 8 inch beyond the foot, my factory bar will not do that. So after sinking in about $700 I got this going. The installation was not difficult; they even included a DVD with installation instructions. It seems the Hullavator is designed with the square bar in mind. The adaptation to the Aero bars looks like an afterthought. They gave you 4 thin plastic clear films per arm to protect the contact points. A square bar would fit nicely under the mounting bar. But for the Aero bar there were just 4 contact points; I don't even want to tighten the screws too much because of that.



I know before hands that the added height to my CR-V will not clear my garage door; so keep that in mind. The shorter cradle can barely makes it; the bottom taller cradle just simply won't. Now Thule has the Hull-a-port PRO which has a cradle/carrier that will fold, you would think they could have that feature on this $440 product, right? That will sure let me drive my CR-V into my garage without taking it off. The DVD suggest that you take the whole arm assembly off when entering a low clearance garage and states that it is easy.. Ah, it was not that easy, the arms are heavy and putting and removing the pivot pins through the holes can be tricky. I think I will just take the cradles off for now.



Another thing is the Aero bars are nice looking but this Hullavator is not; two big gray boxes without much aero dynamics are sitting on my car roof.. They did pack a lot of mechanisms in there so I guess there is not much room for improvements in that regard. Oh, also be careful not to hit your head, it sticks out just enough to get you. on the other hand it was a good thing that it leave more space on the rack for other things. I moved the front cross bar to in between the front and back doors to avoid it. I can see some other car may not have that choice.



Enough whining I guess the benefits are exceeding the shortcommings so it is a keeper for now.




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Yakima LandShark Rooftop Kayak Carrier

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For you value-minded paddlers, landshark saddles give you great performance without costing an arm and a leg. Because, hey, you never know when those extra limbs will come in handy.
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Technical Details

- Contoured rooftop saddles designed to hold 1 kayak on your car
- Saddles mount easily to round or square rooftop crossbars
- Extra-secure grip holds your boat safely and reliably
- Setup is far more cost-effective than other kayak carriers
- Compatible with factory crossbars; limited lifetime warranty
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Thule 847 Outrigger Kayak Load Assist for Roof Rack Mount Carrier

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Retractable Bar extends from side of vehicle and provides pivot point for load boats on tall vehicles
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Technical Details

- Prevents unwanted boat to vehicle contact
- Integrated load stop prevents boat from sliding off bar when loading and unloading
- Mounts to Thule Square bars only
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 "End of the Outrigger Needs to Be Taller" 2009-10-07
By EE4Hire (Torrington, CT)
The product certainly does what it claims--making it easier to load a heavy kayak. However the stop which keeps the kayak from sliding sidewards off of the bar is not really that good. It should be taller. My boat slipped off the bar, jumped over the end, and fell, taking the passenger side exterior mirror out. Since then I have to use extra caution such as ensuring the car is parked on really level ground, finding ground with good traction, and lifting with extra control.

 "Thule Outrigger" 2009-07-01
By Robert P. Labrie (St. Petersburg, FL USA)
My wife belongs to a ladies group called the Adventurous Woman, so she'll need to be able to load the kayak without my help. She has practiced with the Outrigger a couple of times and is able to load and unload her kayak all by herself (she's 5'4" and she loads it on an SUV). The only reason I did not give this a 5-star rating is because I feel the end could be a little more substantial to give more confidence in keeping the kayak from falling, but it works.

 "Awesome!" 2008-09-06
By C. Cogar (FL United States)
The Outrigger is great! It makes loading your boat possible when you are on your own. I used to struggle with my 15 ft boat while strangers would walk by and giggle (some would eventually offer to help). Now I just put one end of my boat on the outstretched Outrigger, lift the other side and roll it up into the rack! Huzzah!

 "Good Addition for Kayak Haulers" 2008-07-25
By James R. Holtan (Oakland, CA USA)
It was my hope that these extensions would allow my wife to load her Perception Swifty kayaks by herself. We have a Ford Escape (yes, for those of you who are wondering - it is a hybrid), so the rack is fairly high, and my wife's not overly strong.



While I find these VERY helpful for loading the kayaks, they're not a miraculous assist, and my wife is still not confident in doing it herself. It does take a good amount of caution in lifting the kayak up; you always have the feeling it could easily tip and fall off the extension.



If you're not quite certain you could get the kayak up, even with this assistance, you're probably better off paying for one of Thule's more expensive 'lift assist' models.



If you just need that 'little extra assistance' to load the kayak, these are great.


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Yakima BoatLoader Canoe and Kayak Side Loading System

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When Coach gets back from a serious day of paddling, he's so tired he can barely do a 12-ounce curl. But he can still load my boat easily, thanks to the BoatLoader.
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Technical Details

- Side loading system designed for easy transport of canoes and kayaks
- Telescoping arm extends outward for quick 1-person loading
- Keeps boat away from car during loading; retracts into round bar
- Works on sedans, SUVs, trucks, and more; requires Yakima round bar
- Designed with valuable assistance and insight of boat retailers
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 "Great accessory for racks" 2009-09-13
By Chris Wilinski (Capistrano Beach, CA)
This loader is so cool I'm buying another one. Right now I've been using it for hanging my wet gear on the side of my van, soon with two as a side surfboard rack that will work as a side awning above the side slider door. I'll be able to open the back of my van without having to slide my surfboards all the way forward, I plan on making a side shade using both and of course for canoes on occasion. Check out this website [...]

 "Saves my car, canoe, and back." 2009-04-22
By N. Brooks (Canada)
I use a large fibreglass canoe that is at the very limit of my carrying capacity. This wonderful bar allows me to prop up the canoe on my shoulders via the yoke and simply walk it on to the roof of my car. These bars take the weight of the canoe and allow me to pop around and push the canoe the rest of the way up on the roof. Definitely worth the money since a botched "shimmy" mount attempt would cost me considerably more at the body shop!

 "Well designed and very functional!" 2008-07-12
By D. Olsen (Seattle, WA)
This is very handy for loading canoes by yourself. Saves rubbing the paint off your roof or canopy while loading. Strong enough to handle the three types of canoes I've used. Worth the money!


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Yakima HullRaiser Aero Rooftop Kayak Carrier with Straps

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The Yakima® HullRaiser Aero kayak carrier is designed to bring you boat security, ease of loading, and compatibility with aerodynamic factory crossbars. It keeps touring, whitewater, and recreational kayaks safe and sound and utilizes a J-cradle design that uses less crossbar space than saddle set-ups.
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Technical Details

- Rooftop kayak carrier with J-cradle design that holds boat on its side
- Takes up a minimum of roof space and supports quick and easy loading
- Fits round, square, and most factory crossbars without requiring adapters
- Premium padding protects kayak finish; includes tie-down straps with buckles
- Compatible with touring, whitewater, and recreational kayaks; 1-year warranty
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 "pleased but still uncertain" 2008-03-24
By ChemSciGuy (Midland, MI USA)
I have used these successfully for transport of my kayak. The boat loads easily and the rack cradles it well. The racks seem stable on the road. It has taken a bit for me to figure out how best to strap the boat. I've moved away from lines to the bumper and have gone to more robust side to side strapping. Early transport had the kayak moving considerably on the racks. The mounting clamps are not secure enough - nor can they be - to keep the boat from moving on the car's cross braces. Overall, these are still the best I've seen.


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Yakima Kayak Stacker Rooftop Kayak Carrier with Tie-Downs

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This fishhook-mount system holds up to 4 kayaks, giving you more flexibility than the average contortionist.
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Technical Details

- Fishhook-mount kayak system for carrying up to 4 kayaks at once
- Pair of vertical non-scratch supports for standing kayaks on sides
- Versatile "arrow" top hooks make it easy to tie off whitewater boats
- Heavy-duty straps with padded buckles and bow/stern tie-down straps
- Saves enough space to store other gear on your roof; 1-year warranty
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 "Flimsy, doesn't install well" 2009-07-12
By S
I can't get this to install well on my rectangular Subaru roof rack. It rocks back and forth when it is installed. Then I can't un-install it. I have had a frustrating day dealing with this stupid thing, and NOT going kayaking. I am going to look into J-racks and probably end up spending another $300 on top of the $100 I wasted on this piece of junk.

 "Work exactly as advertised!" 2007-07-13
By Mark S. Ramsden
It's always a score when a product works as advertised. Buyers should be aware that putting kayaks on top of an SUV is a two person job with this style rack. The nylon ties are solid. Excellent product.


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Yakima BigStack Rooftop Canoe, Kayak, or Surfboard Rack with Tie Down

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Carries multiple boats. Folds down flat when not in use. Padded to prevent boat and vehicle damage. Fits round, square and factory crossbars out of the box. Unique anchor head design allows for "lasso loading" or loading straps through the mast. Locks to crossbar using SKS locking system (lock cores sold separately). Heavy duty straps included.
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Technical Details

- Carries multiple boats
- Folds down flat when not in use
- Padded to prevent boat and vehicle damage
- Heavy duty straps included
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 "Great product for carrying multiple kayaks!" 2009-08-20
By Kayak Fan (Pennsylvania)
We got the Bigstack to carry two Perception Swifty Kayaks. We used it to take them on vacation from PA to NC.

While some reviews indicated they did not seem very secure, that was not our experience. Our's were mounted on our Toyota Highlander factory roof rack. The strapping system was designed well and if you follow the directions, they are very secure. While the product states you can carry up to 4 kayaks, it would be tight to do so with our roof rack but possible. It definitely would carry 3 Swifties without a problem. Our kayaks are 9 1/2 feet long. A friend just purchased the same system for their Swifty and a 12ft kayak. They are also pleased with the Bigstack.



We also purchased cockpit covers to help with wind resistance which also allowed for storage in the kayak.



The only drawback is getting the kayaks lifted onto the roof, but that is the case with most any system.



I hope this helps you with your decision!

 "Great product" 2009-07-05
By E. Pryzby (CT)
This item installed in just 5 or 10 minutes from the time we opened the box. Nice construction, and our 2 kayaks didn't budge an inch once they were strapped in. And, there's still enough space for us to transport 2 bicycles on the same rack at the same time that we transport 2 kayaks.



This is a bit expensive considering what it is, but in my opinion that's true of all of Yakima's and Thule's products. It's certainly cheaper than having your kayak slide off of the roof at 60MPH.

 "Big Stack" 2009-05-07
By Steven Parker (Santa Fe,NM)
The big stack is just like advertized but it needs to lock in the down position.I don't understand why it doesn't. Yakama needs to work on that.

 "Yakima Big Stack" 2009-03-22
By Gregory R. Burgess (Jewett, OH USA)
WOW! 3 kayaks rode from Florida to Ohio in the snow without a hitch. They did exactly what they were supposed to do. The only complaint that I have are the straps that came with it. I guess I should have put more twists in the front one or put a towel underneath it so I wouldn't have lost all the paint on my hood.

 "A big expensive and cumbersome." 2008-10-13
By Chunkee (Clinton, TN United States)
These work. That being said, a better grip is needed on Yakima racks, as they turn easily, even when tightened well. Square tube rack, like Thule, will not turn. I have these on a tall minivan. I have hull raisers also, still a pain, latching them down and getting them up high on top and making sure they are secure. Takes a great deal of time. I am thinking utility trailer. Transfer the entire roof rack (Yakima) to a utility trailer that is at a height that is much much more manageable, easy to use and can be easier to check.



JC


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Yakima HullRaiser Rooftop Kayak Carrier with Tie-Downs

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The little brother to the hullraiser aero saves you some dough, mounts to either round or square bars, and proves that boat security and ease of loading run in the hullraiser family.
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Technical Details

- J-cradle design uses less crossbar space than saddle designs
- Keeps touring, whitewater and recreational kayaks safe & sound
- Includes premium padding for ultimate boat protection
- Includes 1 pair of heavy duty straps, with padded buckles
- Includes bow/stern tie-down straps to complete kayak stability
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 "Need Room?" 2009-08-08
By Wife Calls Me Nerd (Somewhere In The Swamps Of Jersey)
The HullRaiser is the perfect solution to your kayak carrying needs, especially if you carry more than one yak, like I do on occasion. If you carry two boats on your vehicle you know how wide of a load that is. With the HullRaiser you can cut that down by just about half with its vertical loading. True, if you have an SUV or other tall vehicle, your gonna need help or good upper body strength to get your craft up there, but for me that's a small trade off. The HullRaiser is a quality product, very robust, well padded, and easy to mount with good stainless steel hardware. Need room? Get yourself a set of Yakima HullRaiser's, you won't regret it.

 "HullRaiser - just as advertised" 2009-06-05
By J. Parker (SLO, CA USA)
I found the HullRaiser exactly as it was described. I had a Stacker before purchasing the HullRaiser. On my Jeep, the Stacker was up quite high and tough to get the straps on correctly.



The HullRaiser was very simple to mount. Very stable when loaded with kayak. Haven't had to use the front and rear tie down straps yet. Only limitation is that I have to be able to get the kayak above my head to be able to hoist it onto the Hullraiser. Not much of a problem for me, but could be if you don't have the upper body strength. May be other ways to get it into place.


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Yakima BowDown Rooftop Kayak Rack with Tie Down

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Carries one boat on its side, on the top of the vehicle. Folds down flat when not in use. Padded with hull guard pads to prevent boat damage. Fits round, square, and factory crossbars out of the box(fitlist on carton). Locks to crossbar using SKS locking system (lock cores sold separately). Heavy duty straps included.
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Technical Details

- Rooftop kayak carrier with J-cradle design that holds boat on its side
- Takes up a minimum of roof space and supports quick and easy loading
- HullGuard padding with EVA foam protects boat; integrated boat ramp system
- Fits round, square, and most factory crossbars without requiring adapters
- Compatible with touring, whitewater, and recreational kayaks; 1-year warranty
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 "Yakima Bowdown Kayak Racks" 2009-07-22
By M. Elmore (Minden, Nv)
I purchased two sets to carry two kayaks on our 2005 Honda CRV. They mounted easily on the factory roof rack and I secured them from theft with the optional SKS (Same Key System) locks. Loading and securing the kayaks, on their side, on the Bowdown is easy (with the use of a foot stool to reach and pull the straps over the kayak). The kayaks are very secure and we were able to travel at highway speed without concern. The racks fold and lock in the down postion when not in use, thus not having to take them off to park in our garage. I would give them five stars except when driving they whistle. I was able to isolate the whistle to the waffle configuration on the top of the racks. I highly recommend them.


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Yakima Mako Saddles Rooftop Kayak Carrier with Straps with Tie-Downs

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Mako saddles are designed for stability and protection of sea kayaks, recreational and whitewater boats. (Sorry to disappoint those of you who saw the name and figured they were for riding sharks.)
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Technical Details

- Rooftop kayak carrier with scoop-shaped cradle for easy loading
- Set of Dynaflex pads securely grip virtually any hull shape
- Padded buckle protects both boat and vehicle from scratches
- Bow/stern tie-down straps keep kayak incredibly stable
- Works with round, square, and most factory crossbars; 1-year warranty
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 "a perfect fit" 2009-06-09
By Maryann May
they hold the boat with a perfect fit, plus they look cool on my truck...

 "Description is deceptive" 2008-12-07
By B. Allsop (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Advertised to be able to fit all luggage racks, including FACTORY racks. What the description does NOT tell you however is that you need to purchase almost another $60 worth of hardware or spend $400 on one of their racks for these saddles to work. I am sure they would work fine, but I had to return the items immediately. Amazon handled the return promptly and properly.

 "Best kayak rack invented" 2008-08-15
By S. Johnson (Bellingham, WA)
Yakima Mako saddles rule!



I can understand the impulse to save a few bucks by purchasing the landsharks or another brands saddles but don't do it. Why pay $3,000.00 for a fiberglass kayak and then beat the hull to death on your roof or worse yet lose the boat on the highway.



Yakima mako saddles adjust to many different hull shapes, hold the boat very securely and provide a bit of cushion for the boat over bumps. I have used these saddles on several different fiberglass and poly boats and have been extremely pleased with the hull contact. I have not seen hull abrasions and roughening at the site of contact that occurs with other saddles. While the slight movement of the boat while traveling takes some getting used too - this is the saddle flexing, not the boat moving in the saddles - this action gives the boat a bit of cushion on 4x4 or rough roads. Very secure at highway speeds.



Great product that should last you years and years.

 "Secure but cumbersome." 2008-07-04
By Tzar Igor (Weed, CA USA)
Purchased two sets of Yakima Mako Saddles to hold our two touring kayaks on top of our Yakima round bars. After several trips with our kayaks in the saddle we find that they hold the kayaks securely even at 70 mph.



I would give these saddles five stars if they were simpler to mount and dismount from the bars. Each saddle is secured by FOUR wing nut bolts. Before each trip I must position all four saddles (two per kayak) and secure SIXTEEN wing nuts. Then I must thread the straps through the saddles and around the kayaks. Let this be a challenge to Yakima engineers, design a secure kayak mounting system with a simpler (one step?) fastner.



Otherwise, Yakima products rule!


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SportRack - Abr511 - J-style kayak carrier

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Proven J style kayak carrier creates more room on load bar to trasport other accessories
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Technical Details

- Easy to use with no adjustments needed; lift boat on roof and tie down
- Quick on/off hardware ensure rapid installation and removal on most OE and aftermarket crossbars
- Heavy duty tie-down straps with cam buckle and galvanized steel bumper hooks included
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 "Excellent quality, very secure" 2009-09-17
By mgspeed (Southeast PA)
My only guess is that the manufacturer has made changes since some of the earlier reviews were made. I used this to tie down an Old Town Loon 15t tandem kayak, which is 14'11" long and 30" wide, and I had so much extra strap that I had to tie up the extra so it wouldn't hit the car while I was driving. The front and rear ties would be easier if they were straps instead of ropes, but once again there was more than enough to tie it to my 99 Toyota Sienna. It is true that I couldn't pull my van into the garage without taking them off first, but installation/removal is less than two minutes, so I can't take marks off for that. Once tied down it was obvious that my kayak wasn't going anywhere!

 "Just about the same as excellent for less" 2009-04-18
By T. Dempsey (Pittsburgh, PA USA)
This rack, obviously made by Thule or its manufacturer, is identical in all visible respects to Thule's Model 815 Rack with the exception of the boat straps and the padding on the bars. The mounting system (which is perfect for Thule's rectangular cross-bars and great for round cross-bars) is the same top-notch construction. The bow and stern guy lines are more than adequate if you've perfected your Trucker's Hitch and the padding on the rack is just fine. The only downside is that the buckles on the boat straps are not padded as the Thule straps are. A few bucks to upgrade those and you have a Thule rack set for about 2/3rds the Thule price. Quite a deal in my book and on my boat.

 "No instructions = Damaged car" 2008-09-30
By M. Board (Ohio)
Difficult to get kayak tied to it. Kayak almost fell off car. Damaged car because no instructions given on how to strap. Had to replace windshield because of strap falling and hitting glass. Damage to body of car also. Unfortunate that no instructions given on how to strap down kayak.

 "SportRack Abr511 - J-style kayak carrier" 2008-09-20
By Semore Blues (Minnesota)
I just bought two pair of these. In my opinion, J style carriers are the only way to load more than one kayak on a car roof. I bought these because they fit on the factory rack of my Toyota Sienna minivan and because they were cheap, at least compared to Yakima. I paid $80 a pair for them. They appear well made and are relatively easy to install on the factory rack after you've done it once. Once strapped up, my kayaks felt very secure. I have only two complaints about them. The ropes provided to secure the front and back of the kayak are not adjustable. Adjustable straps, like those provided to secure the midsection of the kayak, would be much better. Also, the racks have to be removed in order to enter a typical garage. Overall, I am happy with these. If you can afford it however, buy the Yakima bowdown, which can fold down so you can get in the garage. I will probably keep these for use on my Corolla which is small enough that I can get in the garage with them on. I will get the bowdown for my van.

 "Reasonable lower-cost alternative to the more popular J-Racks " 2008-07-24
By SevenFortyOne (Stafford, CT)
These J-Racks seem to work well. After 1,000 miles of banging around throughout New England these J-Racks have done what they are inteded to do. Why pay more for Thule racks when these are just as good? And since Thule owns SportRack, you really are getting a Thule product without paying extra for the name.



My only complaint lies with the length of the supplied straps - they were about 6 inches too short for my 28" wide kayaks. The straps are equivalent quality to any you'd purchse in the store, they are just too short for wider kayaks.




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