Loading a kayak alone

For those of you who car-top your kayaks, how difficult is it to load a kayak around 70-80 lbs on a small SUV like a CR-V. Thinking of buying that used Tarpon 140 for sale in Seattle, wondering about loading it by myself? Advice from those more experienced would be appreciated. I'm 5'9", 60 years old, in decent shape for a young man, but do have some back issues. (don't we all).

Thanks for any thoughts.

John

Get a load assist bar and its super easy.  I can load and unload my outback onto a Full size SUV or Civic easily. 

Something like this...

A load assist bar can help, but the Thule Hullivator would be the easiest choice if you can afford it:
http://tinyurl.com/mkd6zhg. 

I have a CR-V with a small dent in the roof from using a load assist bar once, you still have to hoist the weight while pivoting the kayak up to the racks.  I no longer load on the roof at all.

No issue with the hullivator , eh?  I was looking into one but first, the old ones couldn;t fit an outback without modifications.  Two, it looked like a PITA still.  Maybe with my civic. 

Is it easier than this or is this a proper representation:

I'm an oldish fart, and not a weightlifter.  I load my 13' Revolution onto my Toyota 4-Runner as follows:  I park the vehicle on a flat spot, and put a towel over the wind deflector.  I lay my kayak on the ground by my vehicle with the stern lined up with the centerline of the vehicle, and with the nose next to one of the rear tires.  I lift the nose of the kayak onto my shoulder, which if done correctly puts little stress on my back.  I pull my shoulder a couple of feet closer to the stern, walk the bow over to the center of the back of my vehicle, and set the keel onto my towel-covered wind deflector.  Then I walk down to the stern, lift it up, and slide the kayak forward onto my roof racks.  Then I flip the kayak over onto its gunwales and strap it down.

To take the kayak off my vehicle, I reverse the process.  I park the vehicle in a flat spot and put a towel over the wind deflector.  I flip the kayak over onto its keel, and slide it back on the roof rack to a point just before where the stern will start to tip down.  Then I grab a scupper hole, pull the kayak back, and set the stern on the ground.  Then I walk to the back of my vehicle, set my shoulder under the keel of the kayak, walk the bow over to the side of my vehicle, and lower the bow to the ground.  If done correctly, lowering the kayak puts very little stress on my back.

You need to be careful to park your vehicle on a flat spot.  If your roof rack or your wind deflector are at an angle, your kayak could slide off the top of your vehicle as you're sliding it on or off your vehicle.

I put a towel over my wind deflector so sand on the bottom of my kayak won't scratch up the deflector.

Get a load assist bar and its super easy.  I can load and unload my outback onto a Full size SUV or Civic easily. 

I have Thule bars on my vehicle.  How rigid is the Thule load assist bar?  I heard somebody complain that it wasn't stiff enough.

Although I've got a sedan and not SUV, I second pmmpete's method, and this is how I see most others do it solo, too. No scratches on my vehicle yet. A towel works, but yoga/sleeping/exercise pad, which tend to hold better to the vehicle surface, can provide extra protection from scratches.

Appreciate the info, looked at some videos on youtube also, seems like I should be able to do this. Will be purchasing a used tarpon 140  in the next week.
Thanks
John

No issue with the hullivator , eh?  I was looking into one but first, the old ones couldn;t fit an outback without modifications.  Two, it looked like a PITA still.  Maybe with my civic. 

I didn't say there weren't issues with the Hullivator, the biggest one is the maximum weight for a kayak is 72# per the owner's manual.   Most SOT kayaks are going to exceed that limit, an Outback most certainly does.  But it does eliminate the need to hoist the kayak above roof line and then reaching up to tie down to the rack.

Get a load assist bar and its super easy.  I can load and unload my outback onto a Full size SUV or Civic easily. 

I have Thule bars on my vehicle.  How rigid is the Thule load assist bar?  I heard somebody complain that it wasn't stiff enough.

It's not super stiff.  But it loads my outback fine. My outback is also something on the order of 20 pounds or more than stock.  Lots of foam, downrigger mounts, etc.  I may need to dry the foam out a bit.  SHouldn't be wet as its closed cell but I know my GF's outback is featherlight compared to mine. 

I was looking at this one for when I eventually get my own kayak...

http://www.rhinorack.com/en-us/products/water/kayak-loaders/t-load-hitch-mount_rtl002

Malone sea wing with the stinger on the back no more scratching TLW's  subaru

Appreciate the info, looked at some videos on youtube also, seems like I should be able to do this. Will be purchasing a used tarpon 140  in the next week.
Thanks
John

It helps that the Tarpons are well-balanced at the side handles.  Makes it simpler to lift.  Not easier, just less tippy, bow-to-stern.