Can I Mount A Thule Hullavator On My 2018 Honda Civic To Carry My 50 lb Kayak

Question:

I have a 4-door 2018 Honda Civic and a 50-pound sit-on-top kayak I need to load, transport, and unload solo. Im not sure if the Thule Hullavator would work or what my options are. Also, what all would I need as far as crossbars, mounting hardware, etc? I bought a tie down roof rack from Amazon, and even with a professional tying the kayak down, the kayak became a flying missile on the highway - in the mountains! Fortunately no one was hurt minus deep scrapes to my kayak. I just want to safely lift and transport my kayak by myself and get her on the water. Please advise. Thank You!!

asked by: Tiffanie P

Helpful Expert Reply:

I would go with a Yakima setup for the roof of your 2018 Honda Civic. That is because the Yakima rack is rated for 165 lbs on your 2018 Honda Civic. That is 55 lbs more than the Thule roof rack for your vehicle. However, you would still be able to attach a Thule Hullavator to your vehicle.

My recommended Yakima rack will consist of the following:

Yakima CoreBar Crossbars - Steel - Black - 60" Long - Qty 2, part # Y00422,
BaseLine Towers for Yakima Crossbars - Naked Roofs - Qty 4, part # Y28TR,
BaseClip Fit Kit for Yakima BaseLine Roof Rack Towers - Qty 4, part # Y06182, and the
Yakima Same Key System (SKS) Lock Cores (QTY 4), part # Y07204.

This roof rack has a weight limit of 165 lbs. It comes with elliptical shaped bars to help reduce wind noise and to aid with fuel efficiency. You will be able to clamp roof rack accessories to these crossbars and you can lock the rack to your vehicle with the Yakima SKS Lock Cores. Once this is in place you can add the Thule Hullavator.

Adding the Thule Hullavator Pro Kayak Carrier and Lift Assist with Tie-Downs - Side Loading, part # TH898, will provide near 100% lift assistance. It will require between 4" and 8" of crossbar beyond the Thule foot. It comes with adjustable cradles and padded arms to accommodate different size kayaks and to protect your kayak from scratches and scrapes. You will also get two padded cam straps and bow and stern tie-downs. You can also lock the Hullavator with the Thule One-Key System Lock Cylinders, part # TH450200.

I have included product description links, video installation and demo links, and a picture of Thule Hullavator requirements below.