Yes, Thule still has not released a fit kit (as of March 2021), but I believe that 60” Yakima JetStream bars on SkyLine feet will probably work with my older Hullavator 897. Will wait a bit longer for Thule and then will try the Yakima solution.
Thanks! Please do post it here if end up losing patience.
Any update? Thule still doesn’t have racks for the 2020 Highlander. Do any non-Thule racks work on this car for the Hullinator?
The Yakima bars (60”) and mounting kit have been ordered and should arrive by the weekend. Will advise next week if the Hullavator 897 is compatible.
Jetstream bars work fine with the Hullavator using the T-slot bar mount clamps rather Than the wrap around-the-bar of old square bars/yakima bars. The parts are included in the parts bag of the Hullavator or order able directly from Thule.
See you on the water,
Marshall Seddon
The River Connection, Inc.
9 W. Market St.
Hyde Park, NY. 12538
845-229-0595 main
845-242-4731 mobile
Main: www.the-river-connection.com
Store: www.the-river-connection.us
Facebook: fb.me/theriverconnection
Instagram: www.instagram.com/marshall.seddon
Just a quick recollection, if the the old 897 bar mount is being used you may need to notch the plastic end cap on the Jetstream bar. The old bar mount has rounded flanges on the end which protrude downward. The newer 898 bar mount does not have the extra metal flanges.
See you on the water,
Marshall Seddon
The River Connection, Inc.
9 W. Market St.
Hyde Park, NY. 12538
845-229-0595 main
845-242-4731 mobile
Main: www.the-river-connection.com
Store: www.the-river-connection.us
Facebook: fb.me/theriverconnection
Instagram: www.instagram.com/marshall.seddon
i spoke to Thule yesterday. tracks for the 2020 Highlander are not a priority for them. it will be “at least several months” before they are available.
looks like non-thule will be necessary
Thanks for the update. Apparently I should stop grumbling about how time-consuming it is to unmount the cross bars for the flush mount Rav4 rails. At least there is something that handles my Hullivator cradles as intended.
All the parts have arrived now. It will be my Saturday project (4/24) to mount everything and check for fit. I’ll advise then, with photos if all is good. Wish me luck.
I hope it works! Good luck!
My Mazda CX5 came with the flush rails. Yakima has the towers that clip onto the flush rails. I already had the round bars, so it was just the matter of getting the towers.
Okay, the short answer is that the Hullavator 897 WILL work with 60” Yakima JetStream bars on SkyLine feet on the 2021 Toyota Highlander Platinum. (Just as Marshall stated in his post.) I still need to do a bit of tweaking tomorrow, but it is going to work. You will need the 60” bars though, as I’m pretty sure there would not be sufficient clearance to the side of the car with the Hullavator in the lower position using the 50” bars, especially with a heavy kayak. I’ll take some pictures over the weekend and post them here.
2020 Highlander, or 2021? Or does it make a difference? thanks for doing this!
I don’t recall the Jetstream bar sizing but I know that the Thule 135 (53”) are the minimum to take two Hullavators. The Jetstream have more fit range as the slot for the Tower/Foot pack runs the entire length of the bar whereas Thule is slotted for approx 8”-10” at the ends. The T-slot attachment does allow you to mount the bar mount assembly further out than the over-the-bar clamp down not quite as much overhanging bar is needed.
Time for me to get to work, yes Hullavating today.
See you on the water,
Marshall
The River Connection, Inc.
9 W. Market St.
Hyde Park, NY. 12538
845-229-0595 main
845-242-4731 mobile
Main: [www.the-river-connection.com]
Store: [www.the-river-connection.us]
Facebook: [fb.me/theriverconnection]
Instagram: Instagram.com/marshall.seddon
Still happy with your Yakima/Hullivator install? Unless you had serious problems, I’m going to put in my orders.
Thank you so very much for doing this experiment!
Yes. Sorry I didn’t get around to taking the photos, but it works and I transported my kayak just to be sure. You should be good to proceed.
1 Like
i ordered the Yakima parts but, alas, the hullavator is hulla-hard to get. Thule is backordered until August. It is sold out everyone I can find, in-store and online. I am sad.
Try etrailer.com. I’ve had good luck with them. That is where I purchased the Yakima bars and gear last month.