Can I Use A Load Assist Kayak Carrier On My 2021 Toyota RAV4 Factory Roof Rack

Question:

Just purchased a 2021rav4. Was looking at the Thule Hullavator but seems like this would not work for loading 2 kayaks, whereas this assist seems like it could load 2 boats? I am 5foot tall and usually travel with a creek and sliceyboat but live alone and need a method to get 2 boats up by myself. Racks are round Yakima and I am conceerned that this product would damage the hood extension that extends 4inch past the read window. Rear rack is about 40inch in front of where the roof extension ends. Racks are 50inch apart and hang over car about 6. Boats are about 45 and 37 lbs and length of boats are 93inch and 86inch long. Once on the racks I can slide 1st boat over to load 2nd boat? Thanks,

asked by: Carrie S

Expert Reply:

You can use your Yakima roof rack with the Malone SeaWing Kayak Carrier and Load Assist w/ Tie-Downs - Rear Loading - Clamp On, part # MPG113MD. I definitely recommend that you use two of these kayak carriers instead of one. Especially if your plan is to move one kayak over the wings of the carrier and load it directly on your crossbar. If you have two carriers you can use separate load assists to get the kayaks on your vehicle, without having to worry about how to maneuver your kayak over the wings of your carrier.

The Malone SeaWing comes with two load straps and a pair of bow and stern tie downs. You can carry kayaks up to 75 lbs with this carrier. The weight limit of your Yakima roof rack is 165 lbs, so you should have no problems carrying your kayaks. The bottom of the extension of the Malone SeaWing does have padding to protect the finish of your vehicle, in your case specifically your rear window overhang.

I cannot recommend the Thule Hullavator Pro Kayak Carrier and Lift Assist with Tie-Downs - Side Loading, part # TH898, for a couple of reasons. The first one is that the Thule Hullavator can only load on kayak, so you would need two of them for your vehicle. That leads to the next reason. The Yakima roof rack on your 2021 Toyota RAV4 has weight limit of 165 lbs. Two Thule Hullavators and the weights of your kayaks come to approximately 160 lbs, and that is without the weight of the roof rack. You would exceed the roof racks weight limit.

I have included an installation video of the Malone SeaWing below.

expert reply by: Mark Smith