School of Rack | Ski Carriers / Snowboard Carriers Information Article - Hitch & Roof Ski Racks

When it comes to the business of transporting your skis and snowboards on the roof of your vehicle, you have two choices: A ski-snowboard carrier or a cargo box. To carry your skis and snowboards at the rear of the vehicle, you have once choice: A ski-snowboard attachment that mounts to an existing hitch mounted or spare tire mounted bike carrier.

Roof Mount Ski-Snowboard Racks generally mount to a pair of crossbars, which run across the top of a vehicle from side to side. Most roof mount ski-snowboard carriers include universal mounting hardware and adapters to connect to any factory rack crossbars, as well as after-market multi-purpose base rack systems such as those made by Yakima Racks, Thule Racks, Inno Racks etc. There is one exception, the Thule 5401 Snowcat, which mounts to raised factory side rails, no crossbars are necessary. Roof mount ski-snowboard carriers generally cradle snowboards, skis and ski poles between a top half and a bottom half, which have rubber gaskets affixed to them to grip and protect your equipment. The top half clamps down onto the bottom half and snaps closed. There are a couple notable exceptions such as the Thule 562 Non-Locking Vertical Ski Rack, which uses glorified rubber bands to hold your skis in a plastic U-bracket. The Thule 575 is a premium dedicated snowboard rack which cradles the snowboards nearly vertical. Most roof mount snowboard-ski racks also have locking options to lock equipment inside the carrier.
» all Yakima roof mount snowboard-ski racks
» all Thule roof mount snowboard-ski racks
» all other roof mount snowboard-ski racks
» all factory rack compatible ski-snowboard racks

Pros:

• Affordability: Rooftop ski carriers are less expensive than cargo boxes.
• Compatibility: Most ski carriers come out of the box ready to mount to virtually all factory crossbars as well as to Yakima, Thule, Inno and other after-market roof rack crossbars. Can also be used with vehicles that allow only minimal bar spread due to a short roof line.
• Security: Virtually all rooftop snowboard-ski racks are lockable. Thule and Yakima carriers are compatible with their own respective proprietary removable lock cores. When these carriers are locked, the mounting hardware cannot be accessed and therefore the rack itself is impossible to remove from the crossbars as well.
• Safety: Less equipment-meddling hazards exist up high than down low.
• Convenience: Skis and snowboards are easy to load and unload. Just open the carrier with the push of a button, (skilled folks can pop both front and back carriers open simultaneously) load your equipment, and close. Certain models even conveniently slide outward and over the edge of the roof to eliminate needing to reach over the top of the car.

Cons:

• Exposure: Equipment is exposed to the elements as well as road grime such as salt, dirt, or cinder. This issue is overcome by placing skis and ski poles inside a ski bag or snowboards in a snowboard bag before loading onto the carrier.
• Reaching: Some folks may have a hard time reaching the racks to load and unload skis and boards. Wheel steps, which mount to any one of the vehicle's wheels, can help with this. Short stepladders work too.
• Dirty Parka: All that road grime that is stuck to the side of your car will rub off on your nice parka if you lean against your car while reaching for that last pair skis.
• Incompatibility: If you have low lying crossbars, like many factory crossbars, and your carrier doesn’t come with an integrated ski carrier lift adapter, the bindings of your skis or snowboard can potentially hit the roof of your vehicle, preventing you from closing the top of the carrier properly.
• Limited Capacity: Can generally only carry up to six pairs of skis or four snowboards. You can carry skis and snowboards together in the same ski-snowboard rack however.

Roof Mount Cargo Boxes are hard-plastic pods that mount to crossbars and safely and securely transport your snowboards, skis, ski poles and other ski gear and equipment. Roof boxes can also be used for other purposes such as transporting cargo luggage gear, camping equipment, baby joggers other sport gear and much more. Generally roof mount cargo-ski boxes include universal mounting hardware and adapters to connect to any factory rack crossbars, as well as after-market multi-purpose base rack systems such as those made by Thule Racks, Yakima Racks, Inno Racks etc.
» all roof mount snowboard-ski boxes

Pros:

• Optimum Security: Gear is enclosed and out of view. Ski Boxes are lockable and when locked, mounting hardware cannot be accessed. Thule boxes are compatible with Thule lock cores and Yakima boxes work with Yakima lock cores. Most cargo boxes are packaged with locks included.
• Capacity: Not only can you place all of your skis, ski poles and snowboards inside, you can also place your ski boots and snowboard boots, helmets, toe warmers, and other cargo-luggage gear in the roof box, further saving room in your vehicle. The largest cargo boxes can even carry as many as twelve pairs of skis and more.
• Protection: Gear is safe from road grime assault. Boxes are virtually waterproof and windproof.
• Compatibility: Boxes can be mounted to Yakima, Thule, Inno and other after-market roof rack crossbars , as well as virtually all factory crossbars. No additional hardware or adapters are needed.
• Convenience: Skis and snowboards are easy to load and unload inside box. Most ski boxes are dual opening to allow access from either side of the vehicle as well.

Cons:

• Cost: Cargo boxes are more expensive than rooftop ski-snowboard carriers.
• Incompatibility: Cargo boxes require a minimum base rack system crossbar spread, preventing cargo boxes from being used on some vehicles with very short roof lines. Also, some cargo boxes are too short to carry skis and are designed for carrying luggage and other types of cargo gear only. Be sure to check the length of a cargo box to be sure it can accommodate your longest skis or snowboards. On vehicles with shorter rooflines, some cargo boxes can interfere with rear hatch and prevent the rear hatch from opening completely.

Spare Tire Mount and Hitch Mount Snowboard-Ski Racks are accessory attachments that mount to certain spare tire mount bike racks and the "Hang and Dangle" style hitch mounted bike racks. Hitch mount ski-snowboard attachments are not compatible with platform bike tray style hitch bike racks.
» all spare tire & hitch mount ski racks

Pros:

• Ease of Access: Minimal lifting and reaching is required to load and unload skis, ski poles and snowboards.
• Affordability: If you already own a hitch mounted bike rack, a ski-snowboard rack attachment offers an affordable way to carry up to six pairs of skis or four snowboards on the hitch bike rack.
• Security: Plenty of security features with these models. Besides including locks, it is often possible to also use the integrated cable locks found on the hitch bike rack to also lock the ski-snowboard rack attachment and the skis and snowboards, offering further security protection.

Cons:

• Exposure: Without using ski bags or snowboard bags, equipment is exposed to the elements as well as road grime such as salt, dirt, or cinder.
• Vulnerability: Equipment is more likely to get damaged from ground level hazards, such as other vehicles, frozen snowbanks and abominable snowmen.
• Limited Capacity: Can generally only carry up to six pairs of skis or four snowboards. You can carry skis and snowboards together in the same ski-snowboard rack however.
• Inconvenient Access to Rear Trunk or Hatch: Access to rear of vehicle may be hindered. Certain models of hitch racks, however, can swing away while others, once equipment has been removed from rack, can pivot down.

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