Before we bought our trailer we would transport our Outfitters on the roof of our van, a Honda Odyssey at the time. I often went kayaking by myself (or with just a small kid or the dog) and developed a technique for loading and unloading safely and easily by myself. Here is the procedure I used for loading:
1. Place the kayak on the ground flipped upside down at the back of the van with the stern directly behind the van and the bow off to one side of the van just a foot or two forward of the rear bumper. I usually also place a life jacket under the stern point to protect it.
2. Facing the stern, pick up the bow over your head and walk toward the stern a few steps raising the bow as you go.
3. Now turn around to face forward (or not if you find this too hard) and walk sideways still holding the bow over your head, until you are directly behind the van and can set the bow down on the luggage rack crossbar.
4. Pick the stern up and slide the kayak forward until it is easy to raise the stern up and level the kayak.
Taking the kayak down is a reverse of the above, first sliding the stern back and setting on a life jacket, then lifting the bow and setting it down off to the side. Using this technique you do not actually ever handle much weight, especially over your head. I got to where I could actually load and unload quicker this way than while trying to instruct a helper.
One caution loading and unloading is that the kayak may shift with just the bow on the crossbar, especially if windy or parked off level. When loading I would usually put the rear hold-down strap on loosely around the bow before the final step of sliding the kayaking in. Likewise, when unloading, I leave the rear strap on but loose in case the bow shifts.
Peter
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