Any avid skier who takes frequent road trips to the mountains understands the importance of a car ski rack. These racks and boxes free up extra space in your vehicle that can be used for luggage, ski boots and extra friends and family members. In the past, if you were a four-season outdoor activity enthusiast, you would have to make a difficult decision regarding your car racks. A rack that was great for your skis would probably be unsuitable for your bicycle or kayak. However, the modern racks are not your father’s car racks. Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, with a few handy tools, a ski car rack can turn into a bike rack or a kayak rack.
While this is certainly good news, your choice of car ski rack should not be a frivolous decision. A number of factors should be considered prior to making your ultimate car rack choice. For exactly how long do you plan to keep your current vehicle? If you and your car have not tied the knot in a lifelong commitment, you will need to consider the day when you will part company. Hopefully, you will have chosen a car ski rack whose mounting locks can be removed and used in a new car rack mounting system.
Your next step is to choose a car ski rack that is suitable for your particular vehicle. For instance, if you want to go with a rooftop car rack, you should be sure to check with your car owner’s manual about your car’s roof weight limitations. You should never, under any circumstances, exceed these limits. Do you park your car in a garage? Is there a height limitation? Take this into account when selecting a rooftop car ski rack. Fortunately, Skis.com has an excellent variety of car racks for your beloved boards. Happy trails!
Now that you’ve made the decision to purchase a car ski rack, you might be interested in your available options. Rooftop racks are designed to attach to the top of your car. If your vehicle has a factory installed rack, a rooftop ski rack can be directly attached. If your car does not have factory installed racks, a rooftop rack can be installed by using an attaching device that clamps between your car door and the car frame. If you are a multi-sport athlete, you can add additional carriers that are designed to carry bikes, kayaks, etc.
In contrast, trunk or deck racks are actually mounts, which are designed to attach your skis to your car trunk. Hitch racks can be attached to your car or truck receiver hitch, and spare tire racks attach either to your spare tire or to your spare tire’s attaching device.
For ski equipment, rooftop car racks are the most popular because of their versatility. Rooftop ski racks come in a wide price range. Spending extra bucks will get you a more secure locking system and superior cradles that are designed to hold your gear in place. Inexpensive racks use plastic mounting mechanisms. These are suitable if you only take a few ski trips throughout the season. High-end car ski racks are composed of quality tubing and stronger materials. For those who take frequent ski trips, these provide a more secure attachment.
If you have either an extensive ski quiver, or if you have an extensive group of friends or family members who accompany you on your ski trips, you might consider the Thule Flat Top 6 pair. If your usual group of traveling companions is a mix of two-plankers and knuckle draggers, consider the Thule 91726 Pull Top Ski/Snowboard Carrier. This ski car rack is designed to hold skis and snowboards.
Got gear? Got lots of gear? You might want to consider a car rack box. Boxes have a number of distinct advantages over car racks. The first advantage has to do with weather protection. When you use a ski rack, your boards are exposed to the dirt, grit and salt that is kicked up from the highway. Your skis are also exposed to the eyes of the general public. If you have a popular brand, you might be tempting potential thieves to try their hand at lock picking. However, ski racks do have their benefits. In most cases, it’s easier to slide your skis out of the racks as opposed to getting your skis out of the box. This is especially true if you are “vertically challenged."
On the other hand, if you tend to travel with multiple pairs of skis, as well as other items that you can’t seem to stuff into your luggage, a car rack box is the way to go. While these boxes are usually more expensive than simple ski racks, they are more economical than buying a bigger car to hold your constantly expanding gear collection. When you purchase a car rack box such as those made by Thule, you are actually purchasing a complete mounting system. You can hold your winter gear in the box. In the warmer weather, you can mount your bike or kayak on the accompanying racks. These racks can also serve as ski racks, which can either be used for particularly large groups of traveling skiers, or for separating wet skis from the rest of your clothing and gear.
For example, take a look at the Thule 676 Cascade 1100 Roof Top Pebble Finish that is for sale on Skis.com. Composed of impact resistant ABS plastic, it holds lots of gear, and is shaped to reduce wind drag.
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