Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 10-31-2008, 12:19 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
surfgeek33's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Long Beach, Ca
Posts: 985
Send a message via AIM to surfgeek33
Thule Hullavator

Anyone have any experience with the Thule Hullavator? We were thinking it would be a good addition to our 4x4 SMB to haul surfboards or a kayak with its ease of loading. Any positive or negative feed back is appreciated! Thanks

-Ray

__________________
???

"I do, cellularSTEVE" :o)
surfgeek33 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-31-2008, 12:44 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 989
Re: Thule Hullavator

Quote:
Originally Posted by surfgeek33
Anyone have any experience with the Thule Hullavator? We were thinking it would be a good addition to our 4x4 SMB to haul surfboards or a kayak with its ease of loading. Any positive or negative feed back is appreciated! Thanks

-Ray
I don't have the hullavator, but we just got the slipstream for our kayaks. It works great for loading a kayak with two people. I haven't tried it myself yet, but I will soon. I will do a little write up of it in the near future.

When we do have surf boards on the roof, we just hand/haul them up. I can handle 9' longboards myself with limited difficulties.
__________________
2007 Ford RB Diesel SMB 4x4 Pueblo Gold; Custom configuration (aisle layout); PIAA 580 driving lights; Picked up on Oct 19, 2007.
sdwindansea is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-31-2008, 02:02 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
surfgeek33's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Long Beach, Ca
Posts: 985
Send a message via AIM to surfgeek33
Can you use the Slipstream to load a surfboard as well? We have a cascade box on the passenger side of the rack and my goal is to have something that I can strap a Kayak or a surfboard on, not together ofcourse.
__________________
???

"I do, cellularSTEVE" :o)
surfgeek33 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-31-2008, 02:28 PM   #4
Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 43
I use Thule Hullavators on my Sprinter for kayaks. Since the roof is over eight feet high it was the only simple way to load the boats. The racks work! However you need to be careful to raise and lower kayaks or boards evenly.

The Hullavators are probably not the least expensive solution but I would buy them again. Check my album for pics.

Henry
__________________
Sprinter RB Penthouse
yakhlr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-01-2008, 05:07 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
surfgeek33's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Long Beach, Ca
Posts: 985
Send a message via AIM to surfgeek33
I posted something yesterday and I think it got lost in cyberspace.

sd,
Thanks......looking forward to the pics.

Henry,
Thank you as well. Do you use a ladder to raise or lower your kayak?

-Ray
__________________
???

"I do, cellularSTEVE" :o)
surfgeek33 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-01-2008, 08:16 PM   #6
Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 43
Ray

I use a three step stool. I can't reach the rack handles without it. Once the boats are down beside the van it's easy to get them on or off. If the racks are on the van the loading unloading process(straps, bow and stern lines, etc) only takes about ten minutes for both kayaks. We had to practice a few times but my wife and I have become fairly fast at it. We always remove the racks after use because it's just too much stuff up there. Again the racks work! The alternative is climb on the roof and pull stuff up.

Henry
__________________
Sprinter RB Penthouse
yakhlr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-03-2008, 06:28 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 989
Ray, I just posted a separate topic on the Thule Slipstream (http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=2056). Let me know if you have any questions.
__________________
2007 Ford RB Diesel SMB 4x4 Pueblo Gold; Custom configuration (aisle layout); PIAA 580 driving lights; Picked up on Oct 19, 2007.
sdwindansea is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-19-2008, 06:11 AM   #8
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Ogden, Utah
Posts: 4
HUllavators

I have a Transformer with the Powered Pentouse Top. I bought some used Hullavators on Craigslist and LOVE THEM. I load a 16 foot and 14.5 foot kayaks without any issues.
JohnnyO is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-13-2017, 09:49 PM   #9
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Arizona
Posts: 10
We have a 75# tandem kayak and a 2014 E350 SMB w/penthouse. We are seriously considering buying a Hullavator. We are concerned about the tork put on the penthouse by the Hullavator when loading and unloading. Should we be??
bglockwood is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-14-2017, 09:39 AM   #10
Site Team
 
daveb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,407
Garage
Depends. An electric top can lift quite a bit. The Aluminess rack plus all the lighting and solar panels adds up. I just make sure the storage pod I have on top is empty of heavy items before lifting the penthouse.
__________________
2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer

Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures..........On and off road adventures
daveb is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:29 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.