Here is my weekend experience with the Hullavator 897XT.

I ordered everything online from RackAttack. Everything arrived via UPS on time.

My yak is an Hobie Outfitter Tandem. Dimensions are 12'8"long; 34" wide; 62 lbs.

My car was purchased with a factory rack when it came to this install I realized my auto from dealer also included crossrails and a wind deflector. So my install and purchase online required that I also purchase Thule's 450 Crossroad and also their 50" crossbars (dimension for my SUV...there are other sizes for other vehicles). The install was easy ...needed a three step side ladder. After that then I could move on to installing the Hullavator.

My reason for getting this expensive system was two fold. The yak was too heavy to lift on top of the SUV confortably. Secondly I am into my sixties and not as strong as I once was. I plan to use regularly and wanted a system that would make the process of loading and unloading the yak easy. Too, I had been to a few kayak shows and had personally tried a few times and knew this was the system for me. Fortunately, I bought a slightly used Outfitter online and with that savings decided I could afford the Hullavator.

The installation was relatively easy. The instructions for assembly were OK but not great. Let's just say I have come to expect three language instructions guides to be similiar and give you enough information to follow along but not much more. One assembly arm, at a time, I squeezed the lever handle release with one hand and pulled down the assembly arm while holding on to the upper cradle arm with the other. I repeated this procedure several times. I took the arm assembly up and onto the rack and locked it into place and would release the handle and bring the assembling arm down. The gas piston inside the assembly arm really can spring upward with quite a bit of torque. Content that all was well and the assenmbly arm was down and locked along the side of the car I lifted the kayay into the cradles. This unit is supposed to handle kayak up to 36 inches. I first thing I found out is that upper and lower kayak cradle arms needed to be widened so y 34" kayak could fit. Thule provides a hex key wrench to loosen bolts to do this. I adjusted and measured a few times to make sure I was center top and bottom as best as possible. I placed the kayak in the holders. Put on the Thule blue straps and tried to raise the kayak. I reached under my kayak, released the arm handle, heard the click I am to hear, and tried to raise the kayak. I could not. The gas piston in the arm assembly would not take hold and raise the kayak. I repeated my attempt to raise the kayak. The Hullavator. I went into my house got my digital camera and have taken a dozen or so pictures of everything to send to Thule. I probably will next go to a local dealer (maybe even a couple of them) to verify that my install was proper. At the moment it appear this system is flawed to thinner kayak that don't weight what my yak weighs. Tobe continued ....