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Carry bigger, longer loads with this hitch-mounted load support. The adjustable-height system includes a 49" long, Vortex Aero crossbar; a tilting mast for easy loading; and a tie-down for transporting a ladder or kayak.
Features:
Specs:
Carry larger and longer cargo on your vehicle's existing roof rack by installing the Rhino-Rack T-Load in your 2-inch trailer hitch. This adjustable-height crossbar system provides the lateral support you need to safely carry long gear such as a ladder or kayak on your roof rack.
The T-Load includes a 49-inch-long, Vortex Aero crossbar that sits parallel to your roof-rack crossbars. The aluminum crossbar is mounted on an anti-swivel plate to ensure stability. And it has a built-in channel for mounting Rhino-Rack accessories such as ratcheting tie-downs and load supports. The crossbar also has a rubber insert in the channel that helps to cushion your load and that provides slip resistance during transport. The insert can be cut to accommodate channel-mounted accessories. An anti-swivel plate provides a stable mounting point for your crossbar. The plate is designed to accommodate a Rhino-Rack Vortex Aero (included) or Heavy-Duty (sold separately) crossbar, so you can swap out the bar depending on the accessories you wish to use with the system.
The height of the T-Load's upright bar is adjustable to match the height of your roof-rack crossbars. This enables you to use the T-Load on multiple vehicles. To adjust the height, simply loosen a nut and bolt, slide the bar up or down, and retighten the bolt. You also have the option to secure the T-Load in place at a fixed height. To mount the T-Load in a fixed position, drill a hole in the bar at the desired height and use the included wire lock linchpin to hold it in place. This option is great for those who will frequently be using the T-Load on the same vehicle - or for those who are always reinstalling the carrier and don't want to line up the height and use a wrench every time. Once your hole is drilled, the system requires no further adjustment, and drilling the hole enables you to simply pull the pin and lower the crossbar for convenient storage when not in use.
The upright bar of the T-Load tilts forward and away from your vehicle for easier loading and better access to the rear cargo area. The bar has a bracket in the base that lets you choose between two angles of tilt.
A rubber mat is provided to serve as a no-slip base for leaning a kayak or canoe onto the crossbar from the ground. To load, place the bow of your watercraft on the mat, lay the other end on the T-Load crossbar, and push the kayak or canoe up and onto your roof rack.
This system includes a pair of load supports that you install by clamping them around the crossbar. The load supports can be positioned anywhere along the bar to accommodate cargo of different widths. Each load support has an angled side and a straight side. For an item with a curved shape - such as a kayak - position the load stops with the angled sides facing each other on the crossbar. For straight-edge items - such as ladders or lumber - position the load stops with the flat sides facing each other.
The T-Load comes with a 51-inch-long nylon strap to use when you are carrying your canoe or kayak hull-side down. The strap - or sling - has buckles that you insert into cutouts on the load stops to anchor the strap in place. When pulled tight, the strap helps to balance the canoe or kayak during transport. Use tie-down straps and bow/stern tie-downs (sold separately) to properly anchor your kayak to your roof when using the T-Load.
Average Customer Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (147 Customer Reviews)
Carry bigger, longer loads with this hitch-mounted load support. The adjustable-height system includes a 49" long, Vortex Aero crossbar; a tilting mast for easy loading; and a tie-down for transporting a ladder or kayak.Using this on a 2021 Honda Passport. The rack works as shown on videos although it will take some getting used to using it with a Hobie Outback Kayak. Assembly was pretty easy; to me, the video was much better than the instructions. A lock does come with it, but had differing opinions whether it did or didn’t so I ordered a lock that I’ll be returning.
The hitch pin for this uses a threaded bolt and the assembly does rattle a bit when installed.
Product shopped immediately, arrived as scheduled.
Had installed and kayak on top of car within two hours of opening box. Very simple. I am 67, still go to gym a lot, but my joints ache and back is feeling the years, so this makes loading of my 85 lb kayak now very easy. Worked smooth first time, though practicing the balance while unloading and rocking the bar back is important.
I previously used a Yakima Bar Extender, (pic attached) which was fine for my previous lighter kayak. But I did scratch the side of my car many times with the Yakima system when unloading, and nearly dropped the heavier yak several times because the Yakima bar sagged under the extra weight of the newer yak. I just got a new Subaru and dearly wanted to avoid any scratches. This Rhino Rack seems perfect option, kayak is always under control, and is very secure.
Robin
8/27/2022
1 year update - I use this rack a lot for weekend trips. 2 minutes only to put on the car or take off. Heavy duty construction. I also use for a fragile 18 ft rowing shell and like the third point of support. I live on coast with salt air, so I occasionally rinse. Also oil the one mounting bolt threads so they stay clean and do not rust. Highly recommend this rack !
The Rhino Rack Load Assist looks like it will satisfy my need completely. I have an inflatable dinghy, which weighs the same as a kayak. The Load Assist will help me place the dinghy on the roof racks of my Toyota Highlander! The packaging was well worn when the product arrived at my home but the double packaging by etrailer.com ensured all parts arrived safely.
Just got this in and installed last week. I used it for the first time this weekend and it worked great. It is MUCH easier to load my kayak on the Thule TracRac on my pickup. I need to work out how to slow the descent rate of the support bar when putting up or taking down the kayak. If you are putting the kayak up with it and need to lower it for some unexpected reason, the bar will come back at you fast. You might need some quick reflexes to keep it from hitting you. Having a full size pickup, I was pleased to see the hitch mount had two holes in it so I could bolt it in the hole closest to the end to give it the extra length needed to allow the tailgate to open fully without hitting the bar (when at the 45 degree angle). The nylon strap across the support bar is handy but I am wondering if it would be better to not use it when putting the kayak up onto the truck. Some trial and error may be needed to minimize the chance of getting hit on the noggin but it isn't a big deal right now. I have a few ideas to try (or suggestions from the Rhino-Rack people might be good).
I'm only giving it 4 stars just because of the rapid descent issue (which admittedly could be my fault for a lack of being able to find anything in the instructions about this) and I can't give it 4.5 stars. I think it is a great product though and it only took me about 45 minutes to install. (I'm a slow, methodical reader.)
A representative told me that my pickup tailgate would open without hitting the vertical support in the lowered position, but it did hit. Disappointed.
Heather A.
10/23/2023
Man.. I am sorry you got misleading information from a rep. I will look into that for you but this vertical support does not tilt away enough for a pickup tailgate to open fully. you want the Erickson Big Bed Load Extender for Truck Bed or Roof part # EM07600-07601. This load extender will extend out farther than the Rhino Rack but it will allow your truck bed to open. Take a look at the video on the Chevy Silverado I added. Let me send you over to customer service to see if they can help you figure this out.
Overall it was fairly easy to assemble. The non-slip mat was much different and flimsy compared to the reviews and videos I watched on this product. As for ease of use it made loading my 100lb fishing kayak a breeze. Ensure you fully tighten the bolt in the hitch receiver or you’ll have too much play in the upright when loading.
great product! got it to haul my kayak on my unlimited rubicon (soft top) instead of installing a full roof rack. worked out great. easy install, well built, and removeable. good price too. i highly recomend
Steve M.
1/17/2014
Jeremy any pic of your Kayak on your jeep? I have a wrangler wsoft top would like to see your system.Thanks for your time Steve
Jeremy
2/6/2014
Rack works perfectly on my 2013 JK with 2 receiver. When installed, the racks vertical posttube rack butts up on stock spare tire. So if you have a larger spare mounted on tailgate, may be an issue. On the front, my light bar is used with Rhino Rack for kayak. Works great for me since I use up/down soft top a lot. Very clean install and setup, and well built.
Patrick B.
2/10/2014
Steve M.
2/10/2014
Jeremy, I like it locks great going to look into getting the same setupThanks fro sharing the picture Steve
Worked okay, except for the fact that the included hitch pin lock didn’t work for me. I have a recessed tow hitch on my Tesla Model Y, and as a result there is not enough room to operate the included lock and key that is in line with the hitch pin. Having a hitch lock with a key hole that was angled 90 degrees towards the rear of the vehicle would have helped. That, or including a shorter hitch pin so that I could thread it in from the left and lock in on the right would have helped.
Bought this for a 2015 Jeep Cherokee to load a Hobie Passport and it works great. I was hesitant about carrying the kayak with just the two cross bars. This third wing helps to load and secure the kayak.
Loading - I spread the goal posts wide enough for the beam of the boat and lift one end onto it. When lifting the other end and sliding onto the roof rack, the goal posts keep the boat from sliding laterally too much.
Securing - I narrow the goal posts to fit the boat and secure at three points: the two roof rack cross bars and the Rhino Rack. The front and back are narrow enough to prevent the boat from sliding forward or backwards so no bow or stern lines needed.
It is a bit pricey, a bit heavy, and awkward to store, but it gives me a lot of peace of mind that the kayak isn't going anywhere while I'm on the freeway. Plus it was one of the few that was adjustable enough to get to the same height as the roof rack cross bars.
I purchased the T Load support bar system for my 2013 Ford F-150 FX4. My kayak is a Seda Glider, weighing 42 Lbs and 19ft long. I’m so glad I opted for the T Loader, as my long kayak would be next to impossible to load onto the cab roof racks without the T Loader. With the T Loader, I can completely load my
kayak while standing behind the truck with no stress or strain. I’m 68 years old and about 6’ tall. I honestly don’t think I could load my long kayak without the T Loader!
My complete Rhino Rack system was not cheap, but it is very strong and stable on the road at 70MPH. This system enables me to take my kayak anywhere I want to go, safely and without hassle.
Well constructed of heavy materials. Once the screw in hitch pin is tightened (with the included wrench), the rack stays put with no rattle. A plastic lock was included for the hitch pin. Metal would probably have been better but it works as is. The instructions were OK with just pictures and no word descriptions and it took me about 40 minutes to assemble. I have a 17 foot composite canoe that was difficult to load onto my crew cab truck Yakima roof racks by myself. This product works as intended and I am able to load my canoe by myself. I'm 5'7" and had to let the canoe drop the last several inches onto the rack as I couldn't reach high enough as it pivoted forward. I may try attaching a rope to aid in controlling the canoe as it moves forward toward the roof rack. The pivot point of the rack to swing forward and aft is a bit snug and is a little difficult to get it to move. Hopefully that will get smoother with more use and maybe some lubricant. I drilled the optional hole for the permanent height adjustment and the material was very heavy to drill. Overall an excellent product and I highly recommend it.
I bought this load assist bar for my hobie pro angler 14 ft . This was the first time using both of them . It went well they are some down falls with it but I would still highly recommend it . My vehicle is a 02 ford excursion. The t bar loader is well built but my first problem is that the hitch pin is a little short but still works and it is the wrong diameter for the size of the hole it should be a 5/8 pin size instead of 1/2 inch diameter. The second thing is, and it might be because of my vehicle, the height it extends to is a little short for my rig. It still does the job just fine but there is no rear end support witch is not a big deal for me . One thing you have to be carful of is when you are unloading your kayak the t-bar does fall towards you . I do use a small step ladder after I have the kayak on the roof to adjust it. Without the t-loader it would be nearly impossible to do it .
The unit is much more stable than expected. No rocking or swaying even with a side wind. The canoe is easy to load, I come in from the drivers side, set one end of the canoe in between the uprights and then move over to the truck and set the other end on the bar across the extended cab and then just lift it over. Of course the 5th wheel is not in this picture but that is why we load over the front.
The T-loader was easy to assemble and worked as promised in the specs and videos. It has made loading my 16.5 foot kayak much easier, and it is now essentially a one person job.
I really think that this is a great product for the price (i.e., I felt like I was getting something which should cost more than it did). I have a very heavy fishing kayak and am not a spring chicken so it took a couple of times & a Youtube video to figure out how to use it but it worked fine after figuring that out.
So far I can't comment on functionality, as some assembly parts were and still remain missing. I did as asked and sent a photo of the bar code on the box to etrailer, but have not received the missing part, so I'm having to fabricate something in order to use it. The attachment hole(s) to the hitch require drilling out in order to take a normal hitch pin and I had to cut 3/8" off to get it to fit my hitch receiver. Maybe it fits CURT hitch receivers, but it's not really standard. Seems well made, but something of a hassle if all the assembly parts are not there and the hitch insert has to be both shortened and drilled out to make a standard hitch pin work with it.
Katrina B.
6/20/2022
Thats terrible that your packages were missing! I have sent your information over to our customer service department for them to make sure this gets resolved as soon as possible. And it looks like they have gotten this shipped out and it will be delivering to you shortly.
This rack makes it easy for me to load my kayak on the rope of my Equinox by myself. Don’t have to worry about hitting the car. Also gives a 3 point to tie down to. Hauled my kayak from Montana to Florida with no problems.
Very well made, Works with my tal F350 roof rack.
easy to remove when not in use and takes up Zero space to stow.
This T-bar is the ticket when loading a Hobie PA-14 on the top rack of a lifted Jeep JK Unlimited Rubicon by myself.
The experience with E trailer was excellent, the customer suport, the product, evrething, even the marketing on line
It does great for extending my pickup bed to support a 12 ft kayak in a short bed pickup. Easy to assemble and if you strap everything down it does not rattle very much. For short day trips it's perfect. I am not sure how long the rubber on the roller will last and it would be nice to know what a person can use for a replacement once it wears out. But it does the job nicely. It is sturdy.
Item was well packaged and all parts included. Easy assebmly.
Perfect fit and look, thanks George even with 35" spare on the back. Headed to Montauk later to try the new racks out
I've owned the product now for about 2 months. I use it to load/unload a Hobie Mirage Outback kayak on/off the roof of a 2007 Honda Pilot.
I'm very happy with the product; however, it has taken some practice to get "good" at using it. It's not all as easy as the online videos would make it appear, but it does make the job as easy as I can imagine it being. And I tried several other options before this one -- the T-Load is the best of the bunch. It's just that there's no getting around the physics of lifting and pushing a 65-lb bulky kayak onto the car roof, and there is no substitute for having another person around to help you. Short of that, this is the next best thing. I am a relatively small guy (5'7") and I have gotten so that I can load/unload the kayak by myself without it killing me, so it fulfills my purpose for it. That's not to say that it is effortless though.
Some tips if you are considering this product:
- With the T-Load extended out, the rear hatch of the Pilot can be opened, with about 6 inches of clearance from the bar. Very nice. However your hatch must open up; you would not be able to open the hatch on, say, a RAV4 that opens to the side.
- Practice with it first at home with another person around to jump-in if you get stuck. There are nuances to it that simply require some practice to learn. And to a large extent, the "nuances" have much to do with what you are loading/unloading -- in my case, my Hobie kayak, which has to be flipped hull-side up for transport, and that has to be done while it is on the T-Load because of the rudder, then I have a fishfinder mount that gets stuck on the strap and must be lifted over it, etc. All of which is manageable once you've done it a few times, but can otherwise get you in trouble if you're not prepared for it -- thus have a buddy around to help the first few times.
- Wear gloves, especially if you are sweaty or just coming off the water (assuming you are using to load a kayak). Sweaty hands will slip and get you in trouble quickly, especially if you're alone. My fishing gloves with a rubber coating solve that problem.
So I give the product two thumbs up. It is very rugged and well constructed. It is my first Rhino Rack product, and my impression from it is that Rhino Rack delivers quality products. I expect this thing to last a long time. And my purchase through eTrailer was also very good. No issues at all.
Carole P.
5/17/2014
Hi Mark F. Question: You say, in your review, its not as easy as the video. I am 52, 115, female and am trying to figure out a way to load my 16 ft kayak 49lbs onto my xporter rail on my pickup. When you say practice, what does that mean? Do you load it with the kayak cart attached? Or will that be another obstacle? Sorry for all the questions but I dont want to crash it and the weight is an issue. Since you have had it a while now let me know how its working. Thanks Carole P
Rachael H.
5/27/2014
Mark F.
5/28/2014
Carole P, it would not make sense to me to try to load it with the wheels on. That would definitely be an obstacle. By practice, I mean that you should load and unload your kayak a few times with help around, just in case. In my case, I ran into hiccups that required some forethought to work through. But the specifics of that will be unique to you and your kayak and your vehicle. And maybe you try it out and have no hiccups at all.I will say that I am coming up on nearly 2 years now of using this product, and I am still very happy with it. I still use it! It has held up just fine. And I load and unload my kayak now with hardly a thought.I obviously dont know you at all, but when you say you are 52 and 115 lbs, I picture a small woman and that could be a concern with this. Even with this product, you still need to be relatively fit and strong to lift and maneuver most of the weight of the kayak.
I bought this product to make it easier for loading my 2018 Hobie outback kayak on top of my 2007 Toyota tundra.
Hobie recommends that this Kayak be transported topside down, so that eliminates using the strap. So when trying to slide the kayak on the bar without the strap the rubber pops off the crossbar.
My biggest problem is when the hitch pin is at its farthest location and the bar is lowered all the way, The tailgate hits the bar .
It is a very sturdy product and I’m sure that it would work great for other kayaks and on a vehicle that does not have such a big tail gate but unfortunately it did not work out so good for me .
Kevin
8/25/2020
Okay too short for my tundra
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Rhino R.
7/16/2023
I decided to go another direction for load assist. The t-bar worked good but my other system works better for my particular application.