Vehicle Ski Racks

[Bobonli]

Situation: after a multi-year hiatus my family is skiing. Both of our cars (a minivan and suv) have 'bare' roofs; no rails or cross bars. The SUV has a 2 inch trailer hitch for the bike rack. The SUV is our preferred mountain/snow car and putting the skis in the back will cut down on seating space for the kids.

There is a new car in the future (lease ends in Feb) but (a) we will ski before then and (b) the next one will likely be bare-roofed since that's what the dealers are stocking and I won't want to pay a hefty up-charge for rails on a lease.

My last roof rack for skis was a Yakima. Mounts and bars are long gone. $700 to get the mounts, rails and ski holders. Thats a lot for a few trips a year. The only hitch mounted one I've come across is also by Yakima but it requires a mast-style bike rack to clamp onto.

There's got to be a less costly roof option that I'm missing. Suggestions, please.

[htwoopup]

Do any of the local shops rent them in addition to skis? Or maybe spring for the whole thing with the bars/ racks and then when you lease the next car maybe you only need to buy the new « feet » part of the system. At least that’s how my Thule work. I use the same bars and ski holders on both cars but have to change the feet that attach to the part above the door.

[Bongobob]

Does your SUV have raingutters?

[Bobonli]

Does your SUV have raingutters?

Nope

[htwoopup]

I just remembered...at one point I had a hitch mounted Thule bike rack, I think The Parkway. There is a ski rack that you can get that mounts on it. Now, I have to say the kid’s rental snowboard flew out of it on a turn on the Taconic. But I think that was probably user error in putting the board in the carrier. It was why her mother (my practice wife) made me go to the racks on the top of the car though (she wasn’t buying the one time that I admittted that I had made a mistake but that’s another story).

[j44ke]

I'd look at Seasucker. Cars are so individually tailored for aerodynamics, that even changing model cars within the same line can mean 1/3 to 2/3 of the price for the base rack on car A is not usable on rack B. And if Yakima/Thule also change their design, then you may not be able to use your mounts either - though this is less the case with ski mounts than it is with bike mounts. But seems like the ideal use for a Seasucker rack.

[sk_tle]

I always put the skis inside the car. I used to carry 2 adults pairs inside a mazda 2, surely you can put more inside a minivan ?

[Bobonli]

I'd look at Seasucker. Cars are so individually tailored for aerodynamics, that even changing model cars within the same line can mean 1/3 to 2/3 of the price for the base rack on car A is not usable on rack B. And if Yakima/Thule also change their design, then you may not be able to use your mounts either - though this is less the case with ski mounts than it is with bike mounts. But seems like the ideal use for a Seasucker rack.

Good idea. I hadn't considered suction cups!
My issue with the Thule/Yakima is that from year to year they change the clips and baseplates as the car models change. So I could buy a set today for the SUV but it probably wouldn't fit the minivan and it might not fit the 2020 model I get in Feb. I know from past experience that the minivan needs longer bars, which would overhang the SUV. I'm looking for something more interchangeable from vehicle to vehicle, if possible. Having said that, the minivan doesn't handle as well in the Adirondack snow and ice as the SUV with AWD capabilities, so my wife is never enthusiastic about taking that car skiing.

[Bobonli]

I'd look at Seasucker.

Ok. I have one question and it applies to both the Seasucker ski and bike products: What's stopping someone from just popping the suction cups off the roof while I'm in the diner eating dinner?
And are they really secure at highway speeds?

Yes, that was 2 questions :)

[j44ke]

Friends drove across country with two full suspension mountain bikes on the top of their car. No problems. Another friend has the original model and uses it on his Aston Martin. No problems. I think skis are pretty low risk compared to bicycles. Of course, you have to mount it correctly.

I don't know enough about the current Seasucker racks to tell you whether there are locks or not. I know on the original model there are not. That's the only one I have seen "in the flesh".

[Bobonli]

Thanks. The ski racks lock the skis into the rack. I'm probably overthinking the theft risk of someone coming along while I'm having dinner and popping the suction cups off the roof.....
I wonder how they handle temperature changes, come to think of it. The last time I was in Lake Placid, it was near 40 when I drove into town and 6 degree the next morning!

[Hank Scorpio]

I don't know if this helps you out at all but I have a set of the Thule rooftop carriers that I don't need anymore. In nice shape just have to make sure I still have the keys for them. I think they are the snowsport model from a few years ago.

OR

If you want to get roof rails I can loan you an Atlantis roof box for your trip. I know I have the keys for that.

[Bobonli]

I found this, which tickles my fancy because it doesn't involve buying rails and racks and I already have a hitch. What I like is that it's a standalone thing, versus the Thule version that is an add-on to a bike carrier that I don't have, need or want.

Looks like they are mainly selling thru Amazon and the user reviews are positive.

[j44ke]

Catamount is viewable from the backyard (blocks out my view of Russia,) and I've seen this recently in the local eating establishment's parking lot. All I can say is remember how tall your skis are when you pull into the ski lodge/toll booth/drive thru/garage at home. The ski tips look at least 3 feet above the roof line, maybe taller depending on the car.

[Bobonli]

Catamount is viewable from the backyard (blocks out my view of Russia,) and I've seen this recently in the local eating establishment's parking lot. All I can say is remember how tall your skis are when you pull into the ski lodge/toll booth/drive thru/garage at home. The ski tips look at least 3 feet above the roof line, maybe taller depending on the car.

Yup. The alternative is pretty expensive though. My SUV doesn't have crossbars, so a roof system would mean about $500 worth of hardware and then there's the unfortunate fact that my wife and son are vertically challenged so they'll be no help getting stuff on and off the car.

This weekend we put the skis in the back of the minivan with a week's luggage and food (it doesn't quite fit in the Pilot...I can either have the gear or take the kids) and >>shocker>> turns out the minivan doesn't climb snow covered hills very well!

[j44ke]

Yup. The alternative is pretty expensive though. My SUV doesn't have crossbars, so a roof system would mean about $500 worth of hardware and then there's the unfortunate fact that my wife and son are vertically challenged so they'll be no help getting stuff on and off the car.

This weekend we put the skis in the back of the minivan with a week's luggage and food (it doesn't quite fit in the Pilot...I can either have the gear or take the kids) and >>shocker>> turns out the minivan doesn't climb snow covered hills very well!

If your car has traction control, turn it off when climbing snow covered hills. In my car, that means switching it into "sport" mode. Otherwise as soon as one wheel slips, traction control kills the power to that wheel. Not helpful. There are other times you might want traction control, but not going up a snow covered hill.

Or get studded tires.

[Drew]

Ski tech has changed a lot in the last few years. Might be worth considering renting skis for the trips this year (most places have season rental rates) and try out a bunch of different skis. If you’re just getting back into it after multiple years off, you’re going to want new stuff.

That way you don’t have to schlep skis, and you know what you want when stuff is cheap cheap cheap this summer.

Just my two centavos.

[Bobonli]

Ski tech has changed a lot in the last few years. Might be worth considering renting skis for the trips this year (most places have season rental rates) and try out a bunch of different skis. If you’re just getting back into it after multiple years off, you’re going to want new stuff.

That way you don’t have to schlep skis, and you know what you want when stuff is cheap cheap cheap this summer.

Just my two centavos.

We went with seasonal rentals from a shop near our home. This way we get to avoid lines at the mountain, and we got a better fit etc from a person who took the time to get us the right stuff, versus the assembly line at the mountain.