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Thule Hullavator XT for Outback?
http://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4618
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Author:  anasasi [ Sat Aug 19, 2006 9:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Thule Hullavator XT for Outback?

New to Hobie Kayaks. Old H-Cat sailor. Who among the exalted here have used the Thule Hullavator XT (latest edition) successfully in levering up an Outback to a 6' plus van roof?

Also, Apalach, where can I find a visual repository of your fine adaptations, inventions, and modifications?

anasasi

Sacramento, CA

Author:  Apalach [ Sun Aug 20, 2006 7:06 am ]
Post subject: 

Hey anasasi,
A hearty welcome to the Hobie Forum! Is that "anasasi" or "anasazi," as in the "ancient ones" of Southwest lore?

Good to hear that the Thule Hullavator works with the OB. I almost got one of those when I was looking for an alternative way of transport, back when the Hullavator was known as the Talon, and under separate manufacture. But I was not sure the OB would fit it, the Trailex trailer cost about the same, and with the Hullavator rig on my roof rack, I would no longer be able to use the short term parking at the local airport because of the lowered security bars across the entrance. So I ended up getting the trailer. Now, the trailer has worked fine, but I still prefer not to have to fool with a trailer on 4WD trails or sand paths with restricted turnarounds. But--"asi es la vida", as my Dad used to say!

Not quite sure what you mean by a "visual respository." The best way to find previously posted info on the site is to use the "Search" function at the top of the page. It would be nice if there was an index of some sort, but I know of no site that has that feature. Good luck.
Best,
Dick

Author:  anasasi [ Sun Aug 20, 2006 12:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Thule Hullavator XT for Outback?

Thanks Apalach, however I am looking for a success story using the Hullavator XT before springing for one for me. The lowly conveyance is a VW Vanagon Westfalia Syncro with the South African suspension modifications. It sports yakima bars at 39" separation (3 instances) with a bar c/l to ground of 84". For a 66" stature GOMER, that's a pretty tall order for a clearance lift. Hull has to clear 85", Vasily Alexiev and Dwight Stones are no longer available for levitation and clean and jerk so the current method is to place the Outback hull side up on two crates. Lift the rudder end up onto a yakima kayak loader bar (highly recommended BTW) Using the now no longer occupied crate as a step, lift the bow and place it on the top of the open front door. Then using both crates press the hull up onto the front bar and slide it over to the center of the carry position. Then by moving the now free crates amidships, slide the hull into transport position, lash down and swap left to right and do it again for the other Outback. Involved, complicated, requiring a delicate sense of timing, balance, sequence, and olympic class execution to defeat the ever lurking gravity. Effort is estimated at 3.97 herns. (4 herns=1 hernia)

Takes about 20 minutes at best barring natural disaster. Now the claim of the HXT is that loading your boat is a breeze. And for a paltry 449USD plus tax at your local R.E.I. it can be done at your own risk.

So the question is who among the exalted has used one of these elegantly described and advertised devices to load an outback onto a car/van/M113 APC?

And once again, if you could either post or pmail locations of your pictures avoiding the truly lame search capabilites of this Bulletin Board Scripting Language it would make it easier for this cheechako to gawk and drool appropriately.

Also who makes that dandy rod holder on the back of your cooler? ATI? Berkeley? or? Can't seem to find the reference any more now that I have the proper Igloo cooler.

anasasi
(Old and often in the way - Garcia, Grisman, Rowan, Clements and Kahn )

Author:  Apalach [ Sun Aug 20, 2006 1:54 pm ]
Post subject: 

Sorry--I misread your reference to the Hullavator. Actually, I was never certain it would work with the OB, because of the wide sponsons. I know that the Thule J-saddles do not work with the OB for that reason.

Dang anasasi--wish I could help you out with the pics, but I would have to locate them the same way--with the Search or Find function. With 370 posts here and over 2,500 posts on KFS (where a lot of the same or similar info also got posted), I think I will let you do all the heavy lifting!

Speaking of which, I used to have a Vanagon and my Trooper is about the same height now, so I have to carry a step ladder around now in order to use my rack. Thus the reason I sprung for the Trailex trailer--even though I don't like fooling with trailers. But once you get used to the idea, you sort of forget you have one back there (until you have to back up, that is :evil: ). And a clean and jerk to a height of about 3 feet (probably less than one hern) sure beats the over the head number with a rating of nearly 4!) Even with my home-made loading bar from an extra Thule bar and some SS U-bolts, it still required a ladder to get the other end elevated without aggravating my rotator cuffs.

With regard to the Igloo cooler and the ATI rodholder, I can help you out with that one since it is all covered in a single post here.

http://www.hobiecat.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=2428

Also here is my post about the Trailex trailer over on KFS. Have fun!

http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee/forums/a/ ... 030751/p/1

Author:  anasasi [ Tue Aug 22, 2006 5:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Thule Hullavator XT for Outback?

Thanks to the helpful folks at Rack 'n' Road here in Sacramento, I have a better idea of the suitability of the Hullavator for hoisting an Outback onto the top of my VW Vanagon Westfalia 'camper van'. In a nutshell, using the hullavator is complicated by the mounting height of the Yakima bars. Mine are 84" above ground, which implies lifting the Outback ~ 45" and positioning it on the dropped arms of the hullavator in one swell foop as incremental loading is very problematic geometrically and spacially. This would require some way to support the hull parallel to the ground. I have thought of using two of the Yakima boat loaders and two simple slings into which the boat ends can be sequentially placed. Then swing the boat onto the hullavator, securing as we go as the outback will not rest unaided on the hullavator arms unlike other boats. Remove the slings, retract the boatloaders and hoist it to the roof perhaps. Dr. Ruben Goldberg would be proud. However it is probably easier to get a new dog rather than teach the old dog so...

I presently do an incremental lift of the stern from ground level to an extended Yakima boat loader. Then lift the bow to rest on the open door. Next using the available artificial terrain in the form of a plastic crate, lift the hull from the center onto the rack itself. Secure and repeat for the other boat.

No need for the BowFlex.

anasasi

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