Proper terminology --- Ski holder on car?

[ski&bfree]

Hi all!

What do you call the "thing" that holds your skis while you travel by car? It is placed on top of your roof and your skis fit nicely in place.

My small Honda Civic will not accommodate my skis or my brother's snowboard (more importantly..my skis!).

Also, how much should I be looking to spend on this contraption?

 

[abc]

A ski rack is what you're looking for.

New, it's probably around US$100. You maybe able to find a used one for half of that on eBay.

 

[ski&bfree]

Lol...it's as easy as that. Thank you:D

Do you know if it's easy enough to install?

 

[Robyn]

I surely spent more on my rack that $100 when setting it up for my Civic. Do you have cross bars already? If not you'll need that as well. I have a Thule rack but Yakima is good as well. You can figure out what you need on their sites, just as an example, I priced on the Thule site a setup for a 2007 and the total was around $500. If you have the patience to do the measuring and figuring out the hardware I think it's easy enough. I paid someone to install mine because I don't have the patience.

 

[itri]

You're definitely looking at more than $100. You might be able to find the rack itself for around that, but if you're driving a Civic, you're going to need to get it outfitted with crossbars as well. Even just buying the factory crossbars for my SUV and getting the rack, I'm pretty sure we paid at least $250, probably more.

My husband did the install on ours, but again, it was on an SUV so I don't think it was as in-depth as it probably is to install on a Civic.

If you do a search, you can probably find a specialty shop that installs racks in your area (bike/ski/kayak/canoe/etc). I would probably stop by and just talk to them to get the info about what you're going to need to do, then you can take that information and either let them do it for you or use the info to do it yourself.

 

[ski&bfree]

I think I could do the installing myself (maybe lol), however, $500 is out of my price range. I was looking on ebay for ski racks and they show some magnetic and suction cup ones. I don't know how long those would last, or even if that would work in the winter months with the slippery car surface combined with snow/ice. I guess you get what you pay for...how true for almost everything!

Is a ski rack removable? I have a sunroof, do you think this will interfere with anything?

 

[Robyn]

$500 is full price but maybe check ebay or craigslist to see what you can find used. Civics are pretty common so you might find something. Or get the cross bars and rack and then just buy the fit kit new. But I would absolutely NOT use something with suction cups. I would be way to nervous that it would get ripped off my car with a strong gust of wind, or the moisture from winter weather.

 

[ski&bfree]

I agree. I would not risk using something like that. I will continue looking and also take a trip to my local sports shop.

 

[abc]

You can spend $500 to get a multi-purpose rack that will carry bikes & skis and what no, if you have the need.

But for just skis, there's no need to go that route. Many sporting good store will have dedicated ski racks for a lot less.

 

[SnowHot]

Hi all!

What do you call the "thing" that holds your skis while you travel by car? It is placed on top of your roof and your skis fit nicely in place.

My small Honda Civic will not accommodate my skis or my brother's snowboard (more importantly..my skis!).

Also, how much should I be looking to spend on this contraption?

Something like a Yakima box, roof box?

 

[Jilly]

ski&bfree, I see Ontario in your profile. GTA?? Because of your sun roof, check with the experts. Rack Attack in Toronto is one of the best. You'll need "feet" or connectors to your car. Then bars. Then either the racks or a box. Boxes are great. Keeps everything clean and safe. Gas mileage sucks, but a Civic is great to start with. If you trade cars, and keep the same model, you should be able to just move the works. Sometimes you have to buy new connectors/feet, but the rack or box stay. Boxes run $400 new, plus the bars etc. Also check out Thule or Yakima websites. They will tell you want stuff you need to get something on top. Stay away from Canadian Tire or Walmart!!

 

[Robyn]

You can spend $500 to get a multi-purpose rack that will carry bikes & skis and what no, if you have the need.

But for just skis, there's no need to go that route. Many sporting good store will have dedicated ski racks for a lot less.

Can you find me an example? All the stores around here carry either Yakima or Thule, I've never seen anything else that's not factory installed.

 

[playoutside]

I think you can get the magnetic or suction cup kind, but they are not as solid as the Thule and Yakima that most people are commenting on. I don't think I would trust the suction ones, but have had the magnetic kind on rental cars and it worked just fine for back and forth from airport. One thing to worry about with either of those is the road grime etching your roof at the touch points of the magnet or suction cup -- especially since both are more prone to slight sliding on your painted roof. I have seen brands for just skis/boards that are less than 200 and attach to rain gutters on cars. The Yakima and Thule system give you greater flexibility to carry any kind of gear, but it does come at a higher price.

 

[itri]

If you have a Rack Attack near you, I would definitely go talk to them. We've used them several times and they're great! I was actually going to recommend them before, but had no idea if they were anywhere near you.

 

[volklgirl]

Barrecrafter is just one company that makes dedicated roof-top ski racks that are both lockable and removable for around $100-150, and they don't require any kind of towers or cross-bars. Your sun roof should fit in between the 2 rack bars. Check with you LSS (local ski shop) or any sporting goods store that also carries skis.

Unfotunately, Ski Tote no longer makes their "Yes Rack". It was plastic so it didn't rust, it locked, it could be installed and removed in under 5 minutes, it carried any combination of up to 4 pairs of skis & poles and 4 snowboards, adapters could be purchased to also carry bikes, and it was only $75! Bic bought Ski Tote out, made the rack for another year or so, then they disappeared all together. :mad:

 

[ski&bfree]

ski&bfree, I see Ontario in your profile. GTA?? Because of your sun roof, check with the experts. Rack Attack in Toronto is one of the best. You'll need "feet" or connectors to your car. Then bars. Then either the racks or a box. Boxes are great. Keeps everything clean and safe. Gas mileage sucks, but a Civic is great to start with. [......] Stay away from Canadian Tire or Walmart!!

No, not in the GTA, about 3 hours from it actually. I've never heard of Rack Attack, I'm definitely going to check them out. I will stay clear of WalMart & Canadian Tire lol.

Come to think of it, our van has those "feet" you're talking about. If I am thinking of the same thing. Maybe I should just buy the rack and hook it up to my van instead of installing all that on my civic, especially with my sunroof..I don't know how it would work anyway!

 

[ski&bfree]

Barrecrafter is just one company that makes dedicated roof-top ski racks that are both lockable and removable for around $100-150, and they don't require any kind of towers or cross-bars. Your sun roof should fit in between the 2 rack bars. Check with you LSS (local ski shop) or any sporting goods store that also carries skis.

Unfotunately, Ski Tote no longer makes their "Yes Rack". It was plastic so it didn't rust, it locked, it could be installed and removed in under 5 minutes, it carried any combination of up to 4 pairs of skis & poles and 4 snowboards, adapters could be purchased to also carry bikes, and it was only $75! Bic bought Ski Tote out, made the rack for another year or so, then they disappeared all together. :mad:

That sounds like an all-around-rack! I will check out Barecrafter (never heard of it). Is it an American company? I'm close to the Michigan boarder that's why I am asking. I can take a ride across the bridge and check it out.

Thanks guys for your feedback! I appreciate it greatly!!

 

[Bravosarah]

Check out Kijiji too.

 

[snowski/swimmouse]

just another note for your thought process: one trip on top of a friend's car my *rapped* skis were rusty the following day! I know money is a concern, but I just wanted to make you aware of my experience of what road salt can do!

 

[ski&bfree]

Definitely...I will keep that in mind! The rock salt can do damage to the car, I don't want to imagine what it possibly could do to my skis

I'm looking in to one of those box thingys, seeing as my mom's van has the rack already on it.

I really do appreciate everyone's input