whiskey299 Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 Hi guys, I have to buy a second hand car soon and I'm also intending to buy a hobie outback as well. wondering what vehicle you currently use and or what your recommended vehicle would be? ideally a 4 door vehicle is preferred as I need to transport 2 kids occasionally to school for drop offs and pickups. my initial budget would be something under 15k. thanks Brad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtp Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 Hi Brad, I have a hobie outback and have been transporting them on a 2007 corolla sedan with no problems over the past few years. I use a thule hullavator side loader and because the car is fairly close to the ground there's barely any lifting required to fit it into the kayak bracket from the ground. I would imagine any sedan with roof racks would be fairly similar. I've actually recently bought a new triton but have yet to fit it with roof racks. Will be interesting to see if it is more difficult to load or not. Have sent you a pm. Cheers, Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lungfai76 Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 I have a Hobie Outback and drive a FJ Cruiser.....needless to say loading the Yak is a pain even using the rhino rear t loader. My advice, look for something lower ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
savit Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Is it MORE because Outback is so wide or 4WD - so high? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lungfai76 Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 4WD too high for such heavy yaks. Don't get me wrong, still doable, just a pain ? If I still had the Original forester (station wagon more than SUV) then it would be so much easier to load the Yak. In saying that, when considering a car to transport your Yak, think about boot access. If like me and you get a t-load then access to your fishing gear, mirage drive, paddles etc becomes harder as my swing open boot does not open so I have to use the boot window (thank god it opens upwards). When yak is loaded onto a upwards opening boot be mindful that it will hit the Yak, YouTube has some funny instances where Yak meets upwards boot ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
savit Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 (edited) Looks like people are loving pain. I've been traveling down the coast recently and most people were transporting yaks on top of high vehicles. Would Subaru Outback do the good job for yak and tackle and parts transporting (still wagon-size unlike current Forester)? Edited January 9, 2017 by savit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharknett Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Depending on load requirements for other activities I would say anything from a medium hatch or wagon up. Makes it easier to carry & load yak gear, esky, rods etc than a sedan. Throw a waterproof tarp or similar in the back & no problems with damp or sand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lungfai76 Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 5 hours ago, savit said: Looks like people are loving pain. I've been traveling down the coast recently and most people were transporting yaks on top of high vehicles. Would Subaru Outback do the good job for yak and tackle and parts transporting (still wagon-size unlike current Forester)? Those yaks are probably not a Hobie Outback, they probably weigh half of what a Hobie does and throwing them up there is pretty easy ? Station wagons are a great transportation vehicle for yaks and any other activities you get into. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
savit Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Thanks guys. 2 hours ago, Lungfai76 said: Those yaks are probably not a Hobie Outback, they probably weigh half of what a Hobie does and throwing them up there is pretty easy ? I noticed several times Hobie PAs on top of the vehicles which means Outback still can be considered almost featherlite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lungfai76 Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 25 minutes ago, savit said: Thanks guys. I noticed several times Hobie PAs on top of the vehicles which means Outback still can be considered almost featherlite Man those guys must have backs made of steel and an arm reach over 3 meters ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
savit Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 2 hours ago, Lungfai76 said: Man those guys must have backs made of steel and an arm reach over 3 meters ? Agree, unless there is another pair of hands to help in that or following car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whiskey299 Posted January 10, 2017 Author Share Posted January 10, 2017 Thanks for responding guys, from what I have read a lower car is definitely better and something with easy access to the boot to store the other gear. Time to start the car hunt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharknett Posted January 13, 2017 Share Posted January 13, 2017 You can also get devices to help you slide the yak on from the rear instead of lifting. I have a custom made T bar that bolts into the towbar but you can also get wheels that sit on the back window of a hatch or wagon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whiskey299 Posted January 13, 2017 Author Share Posted January 13, 2017 1 hour ago, sharknett said: You can also get devices to help you slide the yak on from the rear instead of lifting. I have a custom made T bar that bolts into the towbar but you can also get wheels that sit on the back window of a hatch or wagon. Interesting option you have pointed out. Can you share any photos or links? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJAfelice Posted January 13, 2017 Share Posted January 13, 2017 I have to load two 3.6m yaks onto the top of a land cruiser, I use a rhino rack universal side loader . Makes it a lot easier and I don't have to ask my wife for help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtp Posted January 13, 2017 Share Posted January 13, 2017 5 hours ago, sharknett said: You can also get devices to help you slide the yak on from the rear instead of lifting. I have a custom made T bar that bolts into the towbar but you can also get wheels that sit on the back window of a hatch or wagon. Is this what you are referring too? Do you think this works well for utes? The videos always make it look easy... I just got a triton and must say side loading has been troublesome given the height. Thanks Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lungfai76 Posted January 14, 2017 Share Posted January 14, 2017 (edited) I have that Rhino RTL001. It looks easy but you still have to lift the bulk of the Yak. If you want to try it out on your triton I could bring it over for you to test if you wanna try before you buy ? I'll even trade you the T-load and rear loading Kayak holders for your Hullavator. T-load also doubles as a rear crossbar to carry long items eg Ladders so is more useful for Utes than my FJ Edited January 14, 2017 by Lungfai76 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtp Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 Thanks Lungfai, have sent you a pm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lungfai76 Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 Pulled a neck muscle trying to load the Yak onto the bloody FJ on Sunday so threw in the towel and went shopping instead. The crowds gave me the crappers as no one was there to shop. Free air con at shopping malls seems to beat the pull of a nice dip in the water. Found a vacant spot at a cafe to sit and eBay as the local rack place didn't have stock. 1k and a 5 day wait for my new way of loading the Kayak onto the FJ to arrive. Hopefully it's worth the dosh as I love both the car and the Yak and will not part with either ? So the T load (RTL001) can rot in hell as it being replaced by a NKL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJAfelice Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 11 hours ago, Lungfai76 said: Pulled a neck muscle trying to load the Yak onto the bloody FJ on Sunday so threw in the towel and went shopping instead. The crowds gave me the crappers as no one was there to shop. Free air con at shopping malls seems to beat the pull of a nice dip in the water. Found a vacant spot at a cafe to sit and eBay as the local rack place didn't have stock. 1k and a 5 day wait for my new way of loading the Kayak onto the FJ to arrive. Hopefully it's worth the dosh as I love both the car and the Yak and will not part with either ? So the T load (RTL001) can rot in hell as it being replaced by a NKL. Did you look at the Rhino Universal Side Loader, might have saved you abit of cash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lungfai76 Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 RUSL is basically the same as the TLoad in weight management. The Thule Hullavator is a better side loader if you still want to use effort as the has struts take some of the weight off. The NKL is a winch system so no more back breaking lifting ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whiskey299 Posted January 18, 2017 Author Share Posted January 18, 2017 Interesting product the NKL here's a link to the system I found http://www.rhinorack.com.au/products/water/kayak-loaders/nautic-kayak-lifter_nkl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharknett Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 On 13/01/2017 at 6:04 PM, jtp said: Is this what you are referring too? Do you think this works well for utes? The videos always make it look easy... I just got a triton and must say side loading has been troublesome given the height. Thanks Joe Similar but mine does not fold down. Was made for me by a family member. Allows me to put the nose of the yak up & slide on. Main reason I got it was the racks that came with the car flex while driving which loosens the straps. The bar gives me a 3rd, more secure tie down point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lungfai76 Posted February 3, 2017 Share Posted February 3, 2017 Hey Brad, Have you got the car and Yak yet? I got the NKL and my god the difference in loading is phenomical ? So if you are still in the market and don't want to rule out a 4x4, consider the NKL as your Yak loader. 1 problem though, it doesn't give you any room for a second Yak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whiskey299 Posted February 7, 2017 Author Share Posted February 7, 2017 Haven't bought a yak yet, still working on selling the old van and buying a second On 04/02/2017 at 1:57 AM, Lungfai76 said: Hey Brad, Have you got the car and Yak yet? I got the NKL and my god the difference in loading is phenomical ? So if you are still in the market and don't want to rule out a 4x4, consider the NKL as your Yak loader. 1 problem though, it doesn't give you any room for a second Yak. Haven't bought a kayak yet. still looking into sell the old van and buying a second hand car! Sounds like the NKL is the way to go for any high vehicle! Will make that decision once I'm closer to really buying one, which is still months away unfortunately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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