Loading the yak

How does one load their yak onto their vehicles?  I have been searching for a few weeks and none of the options I have found would work for me.  Guess I should expand my dilemma.  Jezebel, or Jesse for short (she is from the Republic of Texas afterall) is taller than I am.  Can not slide up the backside because of a wind deflector and spare tire.  Can not slide up the front due to some bug thing (looks like a unabrow) and steep angles on the windscreen.  Not really wanting to try a clean and jerk I almost pulled the trigger on a Thule 897xt tonight, found it for $415.19 new in box including shipping, but decided to wait and see what the crew on here had to say.  Have read a review that said the hullavator (Thule) was not the best for an outback.  Oh yeah, Jeep liberty.  Went to buy and overland but preferred the ride quality.

Tia,

Do you have any racks, yet? I didn't see any mention of anything other than the Thule you almost bought.

I've heard of pipe extensions that slide out the end of the rack- ah, Yakama racks has a "boat loader"- http://www.yakima.com/shop/water/lift-assist/boatloader

I'm pretty sure I've heard of people doing DIY solutions. The idea is to extend the bar, lift one end of the boat up, then go to the other and lift it to the bar.

I use my factory rack on my 11' Outback with yakima rollers and pads.  Works fine, I left the front onto a pillow on the back of the Subaru and one under the back of the Yak , LIFT the front unto the pillow and slide it up to the wheels and bobs your uncle.

Big fan of the boat loader here.  I tried the DIY route to try and make my own, it wasn't pretty.  I went and got it at REI so I wouldn't have to worry about returning it.  Here's a vid I put together with my old X-Factor that shows how it works. 

I used to dead lift my 16' kayak (adventure) til I got smart. What I do is set the racks up close to the outside of the bars. When loading, i put the kayak at a slight angle right next to the car with the back close to the rear tire and front pointing away just a bit. I then lift the stern only, and place it on the rear mounts of the rack. At this point the bow is on the ground and stern on the racks. I then go around to the front, grab the handle and shove the kayak further on to the rear mounts to move the balance of weight into the car. When most of it is on, i just lift the bow onto the front mounts. I believe this is called "levering".  Sounds more complicated than it actually is when I type it all out like this. Maybe I'll do a quick vid to illustrate.

Works great for me still, even tho I'm now loading my heavy-ass kayak onto a eurovan!  And I no longer ruin my day on the water by busting my back

The method Rawfish uses is definitely a slick one, and that was no light weight yak either!   

About all I can suggest is take a picture of your vehicle and kayak, and post it here for us to ponder solutions for ya.
If you live near one of us, I'm sure anyone would be willing to spend some time helping you get a method to work.   

.... go to the gym

.... go to the gym

My friend Eli say s he prefers to have very weak arms.  This way, every fish he hooks feels like a monster. 

.... go to the gym

My friend Eli say s he prefers to have very weak arms.  This way, every fish he hooks feels like a monster. 

Is that why you love fishing for greenling?

Oh snap!

 
Nothing but love .... Is it Sunday yet?

Sorry the pics are so bad, camera phones.

Ok, what you are looking for is something like this, called a roller loader.

http://www.prolineracks.com/rollerloader-abb-rl-kayak-roller-caddy-rack.html

designed to clear that rear shade etc..

I used to have nearly the exact same Jeep Liberty... only difference was I had a bull bar on the front.  I actually used the rear wind deflector thingy as a slider.  It is tough enough to take a kayak sliding over it as long as you don't slam it onto it, trust me.  I used Yakima Hully Rollers on the rear and a pair of Mako Saddles up front.  It worked great.  Attach the bow strap to the tow hook on the front and the aft strap to the trailer hitch chain hoop.

I'm just barely 5' 9"... To get the kayak initially up top, you need to grab the side handles and prop it up on the wind deflector.  From there lift up the rear of the 'yak and push it forward and onto the rack.  If you have trouble with the grab handle method try picking  up the front end, walking it up over your head, and then pulling it with you as you walk backwards towards the rear door.

If you are worried about the paint on the rear deflector, just repaint it from time to time with flat/matte grille paint.  It is quick an easy to do if you put newspapers underneath it.  Another way to protect it is to get stone guard film and put it on the deflector- no more painting required.

Thanks for the ideas!  Looks like I may hit the rack shops tomorrow, although with the roller loader think of how fun it would be to launch.  From the top of the boat ramp with wheels up front and behind.  I bet that would get some interesting looks.