Telos™ XL Load Assist Module

The load assist is a great idea, but does not work very well. Here are the pros and cons... Pros: 1. Hooks into most Malone j-cradles and can be used to load more than one kayak (one at a time of course). 2. Sturdy construction. 3. Still thinking...

Cons: 1. The cradle does not lower far enough to the ground. The height is awkward and I find it harder than just getting the kayak on top of your head and lifting it onto the roof with out the load assist. 2. Along the same lines as above, the "J" of cradle that keeps your yak from sliding off sticks up too high. This makes it more difficult to load than it needs to be. I might try using a hack saw to cut this shorter, but then risk it sliding off when I try to push the yak up onto the car. 3. Even when collapsed, the load assist XL legs are pretty big and take a lot of space in the trunk/cargo area of your vehicle. 4. The XL model has legs that extend all the way to the ground and you have to stand on the feet to keep the units from twisting while using it. 5. The units are not spring loaded or anything. The way it works is you sit your yak on the cradles and then lift on end at a time while the other end is supported by the other cradle. you alternate lifting ends until it is completely raised and then you push your yak up and onto the J-cradles for transport. The idea is that you only have to lift half the kayak at a time. The load assist cradles do not always slide easily, so you have to lift the yak and then raise the cradle which requires you to stand directly in front of the end you are lifting. The problem is while you are lifting one end the load assist unit at the other end wants to twist (because you cannot stand on both feet at the same time).

Ultimately I would not recommend this to anyone. Maybe if you have limited ability in your shoulder or arm it could be helpful, but I doubt it would be enough help unless you have a really light kayak (like 40 lbs or something).

As an FYI, I have used these to load a Viking Profish Reload (68 lbs) and an OK Malibu Two (54 lbs) onto a 2013 Toyota Sienna minivan. If you have a shorter vehicle and/or lighter yaks, maybe you will have a better experience. That said, what is this for if not to raise a reasonably sized yak onto a common height vehicle? It did technically work, but not well enough to be worth the trouble of using it and certainly not well enough to justify the price.

 I thought because I'm just 5ft this was the answer. Now I have a very expensive toy that I can't use.

I can't rate this because I can't lift the kayak into the cradles, so I don't know if it works

New user of the Telos but if you read the other reviews you have all you need to know. To touch on those points:

Once in the cradles you still need to lift the BOAT not the slide mechanism, this is easy to do because the other rack holds the weight, then shift to the opposite rack and raise it. I probably swap sides 4-5 times to get the boat to the top. I drive a Honda Ridgeline and my racks don't go very far apart so hold on to your boat just in case, the higher you try to raise it at one time the more likely it is to slide off the racks. It isn't a big deal with a 10' boat but when I load my 14' that is something to watch.

As said, fold your mirror in if you can. It will be in the way and if you have painted mirrors they are gonna get scratched.

Definitely place suction cups in areas that are reinforced or like a panel bend where there is strength.

These are well worth the money to save your back. I find the older I get the harder things get and quickly.

I've had the Telos load assist system for about 4 years now and currently load my 60+ pound sea kayak into Malone Autoloader Xv J-cradles on our 2014 Subaru Forester. I found years ago that it helps to use a folding Rubber Maid stool, which I keep in the car. This allows me the height I need to thread the retaining straps and for the final push or pull that is required to get the boat in or out or the J-cradles. It takes a little finesse, but with being over 60 it saves on my back and shoulders. I usually place my kayak on the driver side of the car, so I always fold in the driver's side mirror before I start the load/unload process.

If I have any complaint it's that the Telos takes up a bit of storage space in my vehicle. I generally end up storing it in our roof box. The user needs to take some care in wiping off the areas on body panels where the Telos suctions cups will go. That will eliminate scratches. You also need the set the placement of the suctions cups so they fall near an edge or contour on a body panel. This is where the panel is most ridged. If you simply place a suction cup in the middle of a thin body panel that can lead to the denting that has happened to some owners.