AFTER BUYING AN OC1, I REALIZE THAT I NEED A TECHNIQUE HOW TO LOAD IT ON MY CHEVY TRACKER BY MYSELF. BEING ONLY 5' CAN ANYONE HAVE AN INSIGHT AS TO A TECHNIQUE ON HOW TO LOAD ON MY CAR? I PRESENTLY USE A 2' STEP STOOL TO LOAD FROM THE BACK BUT I'M FEEL REALLY INSECURE. ANY SUGGESTIONS FROM OTHER SHORTIES?
HEY, ALSO THULE HAS A NEW PRODUCT CALLED THE HULLAVATOR. IT LOADS FROM THE SIDE USING HYDROLICS. DOES ANYONE KNOW IF IT'LL WORK FOR OC-1S?
Submitted by SHORTPAKE on Wed, 06/22/2005 - 4:38pm
Aloha!
I'm not shorty, but I have a suggestion. Try putting in a roller so you can roll the canoe from the back. A saddle on the front rack, and a roller in the back. I seem to see it alot on higher vehicles.
Good luck!
#1 Thu, 06/23/2005 - 12:12am
I'm not a shorty either, but I experienced the same issue. I put saddles on my racks and slid the canoe on from the rear of the truck. You have to put the rear bar back as far as you can and rollers didnt work for me because the canoe is to narrow. I also left the canoe fully rigged. Take it apart every week and wash it out cause the salt water can fuse the parts. shoot me an e-mail if you want to see photos.
Pete
#2 Thu, 06/23/2005 - 6:38am
[b]I experience the same thing although I have a S-10, what has worked for me is a side action place the stern on the back rack, have your side door open (unless you have runners) tilt the canoe toward you jump up in the cab or runners secure the front, then go to the back. I have a different drive way so I would have to be 6'8" to load :oops: Well hope this helps, my boss has the roller in back and she loads the canoe that way. Paddle hard..
[/b]
#3 Thu, 06/23/2005 - 10:00am
I think loading from the back is the hardest way if you're short. Try putting the 2' stool on the side near your back tire. You approach from the rear/side then poke your nose onto the front rack at a slight angle while to the side of your truck. Then step up your stool and place the rest of the canoe onto the rear rack. From there you can slide it forward while the canoe rests on both racks. You may have to adjust where you place the stool a little but this is a lot better than going in straight from the back. If its really windy, don't even chance it without help!
#4 Thu, 06/23/2005 - 3:26pm
pake, if you have thule or yakima saddles, try put old socks over it. It supposedly makes the OC-1 slide easier when you push em' from da back. I never tried it myself (despite being a shorty myself, 5'2"), but seen it work for other people. I use a step stool for loading and unloading if I no mo' help. I don't give a rip what others think when they see me using it. I got over my "vertically challenged" issues a long time ago. U should to.
Laterz!
#5 Thu, 06/23/2005 - 4:21pm
I am short this is how I do it. Saddles in the front, load from the side of the car to the front first. Make sure your saddle is close to edge not near the middle of the rack. Hold the back end of the boat then step up on the bumper or top of the top of the tire and place the back end down. I just have padded racks in the back so the positioning does not have to be perfect. Have your straps ready and secure the boat asap, you can fine tune later.
Aloha
#6 Tue, 06/28/2005 - 4:26pm
Mahalos for all your responses. I really have some good ideas. I definately going to try the open front door method with the back on first.
It seems the side method is the fav of us "vertically challenged".
Hey if anyone has used a Thule "hullavator" please let me know if it works on an oc-1.
#7 Thu, 06/30/2005 - 9:25am