Wich ski rack?

[kimhs99]

Picked up a pair of xc ski's and looking for a ski rack for the roof rack on ebay.

If anyone can point me to the right direction, brand or model.

Thanks.

[magz]

Hey, just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents.

I have a Yakima Q-towers rack on my '96 blazer with a Big Powderhorn in the middle for 2 snowboards (both wide boards), and have enough room on the side for a Copperhead to fit my bike. You can definitely go cheaper than the Q-towers, but I chose them for compatiblity reasons. All-in-all, my rack cost probably $400 or so brand new, but on eBay you can find really cheap deals on the parts. My current rack has fit an '84 Cutlass Supreme, a '94 Explorer (until I wrecked it this summer), and currently on my Blazer just fine. I've even used the same length crossbars for all three rides, just have had to change the clips (like a $40 purchase).

FYI, if you've never used a rack before, be prepared for a noticeable increase in wind noise. It doesn't bother me since I crank my tunes so loud, but some people buy farrings (the big slanted wind shield) to cut down on wind noise. Farrings also make it look more streamlined.

If nothing else, a rack makes your ride look tougher IMO and lets people know that you actually USE your Blazer for activities other than carting junior to soccer practice.

Let me know if you want any pics of what my Yakima looks like installed.

[96blazer]

I was a ski tech for a few years, the shop I worked at sold and rented ski/snowboard racks. I used to ride with one of the retail sales guys, so he told me all the info on them: first, when buying a ski rack, don't let the sales guy sell you some overpriced garbage or more parts than you actually need (that's what they do a lot). You just need a simple rack to hold skis and possibly a board.

Yakima or Thule are the 2 main brands, both very good. I perfer Yakima. And you don't need a huge set-up.

Here's the set up I had, which is exactly what you need:
Yakima Buttondown 6 with mighty mounts & locks
<---need to click, IMGs don't work

Basically, it's a rack that holds 6 skis or 4 snowboard (half face up, the other half face down). it's mounts on to the crossbars of the factory roof rack with the Mighty Mounts (little clips). It's a very simple install, takes a a few minutes. Just snap the Mighty Mounts onto your factory rack, than sit the racks on them, then insert the and tighten the screws (2 per rack, easily down by hand, no tools needed).

Here's a place that sells the whole package for under $100.
http://www.rackwarehouse.com/y3045c.html

Some places sell the parts individually. There's a shorter rack called the buttondown 4 that's a few buck cheaper, but holds about half the amount. And the locks are up to you, the are not required, but I'd get them just to avoid getting the equipment or rack itself jacked.



Personally, I would buy at a local ski shop, but find a place that won't rip you off by adding a lot of useless extras. Some shops will try to sell you the extender that tilts the rack at a high angle so the upside-down facing skis/snowboards can fit without hitting the trucks roof, but you don't need that. Just close down the bindings and they fit perfectly.

[magz]

I didn't even think about '96 Blazer's option. If you already have a factory rack on your rig, and you just want something simple, go with what he described above. It just mounts directly to the existing luggage rack with a couple clips and wignuts. Super easy install, and definitely cheaper than the route I went...but then again I went with the setup I did because I wanted something compatible with a variety of vehicles.

Whatever you end up with, make sure you get locks for it. I don't know about Thule offhand, but Yakima offers their SKS lock system that lets you use one key for all locks. And after spending money on a rack and the xc skis you're transporting, you DEFINITELY want to secure your gear! I lived in a skitown last winter it wasn't uncommon to hear about people getting their skis jacked because they weren't locked down.

If you decide to skip eBay and buy directly from a store, make sure you know what you want before you head into the store. Both Yakima and Thule websites have a little program to figure out what will fit your ride. Salesmen can be annoying, and half the time will try to sell you the wrong setup. Personally I bought all my stuff from REI because members get 10% dividends back at the end of the year, and when you're dropping that much money on a rack it's nice to get something back. Good luck though, and relish in the fact that your truck will look a lot cooler than practically anything else on the road with your new badass rack!