Recently, a customer came in with a 2008 Buick Allure and asked if we could fit the THULE Hullavator onto their car. There were two systems that fit onto the Allure, the 400XT and the 400XTR by THULE. Both systems clip around the door-frame of the car, but the XTR uses THULE Rapid Aero Bars rather than the black square bars used in the 400XT system. The customer picked the 400XTR system for their vehicle because of the sleek look provided by the silver Rapid Aero Bars. 
THULE Rapid Aero Bars are a great upgrade from the regular black square bars. Rapid Aero Bars are made from aluminum instead of steel, which provides protection from corrosion so your bars maintain their colour and finish. Rapid Aero Bars are shaped differently than the THULE Black Square bars in order to decrease wind noise and improve fuel mileage. Certain THULE X-Adapt kits are required when mounting racks onto Rapid Aero Bars, however with the THULE Hullavator all parts necessary to assemble and mount the rack onto either Rapid Aero , Black Square bars , or Yakima Round Bars are included.
The Hullavator is THULE’s premium lift-assist kayak carrier. The Hullavator features waist level loading/unloading at the side of the vehicle, versus overhead loading/unloading, for an easier, safer and less strenuous way to load and unload your kayak. Your kayak rests on padded cradles that adjust to fit both lake/river kayaks as well as longer and wider sea kayaks (36 inch maximum width). The Hullavator is designed to lift up to 75lbs, or 90% of the kayak’s weight. With eight points of contact for your kayak, the heavy-duty straps as well as the bow/stern tie downs, both included with the Hullavator, provide the most secure fit possible of all our kayak carrying solutions.
We thought that the Hullavator on THULE Rapid Aero Bars looked exceptional on the ’08 Allure, and that it deserved to be shared.
For a short tutorial and explination on the THULE Hullavator, click here.
