This rack isn't going to make loading any easier to load. It's designed to hold the canoe in place once it's on top of the SUV. The ability for one person to load a canoe on top of a SUV depends on the weight of the boat, strength of the person and vehicle height. If you are able to place the boat on top of the SUV, then one person will be able to operate the straps to tie it down. As the description states, consider the Thule Outrigger, for additional help loading a boat.