How do you transport your skis?

[andyzee]

I have tried the two obvious choices, cargo box and rack, and find pros and cons with each. Rack is nice and convenient, however you pick up all the road crap on your skiis. Cargo box is protects the skis. But it's harder accessing, on my 4Runner, and the skis bounce around. Yes, I know you can tie them down, but it's a pain in the butt having to balance your self on the runners of the truck and messin with tie downs. I was thinking of working on some kind of in between. Perhaps a cargo box and some contraption where the skis are held in place at the top of the box when you open it. Any ideas out there?

[teachski]

Skis in a bag or with bindings wrapped on roof rack or inside the car. I never transport my skis outside of my vehicle without covering the binding at a minimum.

[andyzee]

Originally Posted by teachski

Skis in a bag or with bindings wrapped on roof rack or inside the car. I never transport my skis outside of my vehicle without covering the binding at a minimum.

I've tried that one too, hey one thing to say bout a roof rack, the skis can look pretty weird after a long ride. A couple of times times the tips snow covered the tips, got dirty from road grime, froze and it looked like a couple of snakes sitting on my roof with their mouths open and fangs hanging out. Looked cool, but not too good for the skis.

[teachski]

Originally Posted by andyzee

I've tried that one too, hey one thing to say bout a roof rack, the skis can look pretty weird after a long ride. A couple of times times the tips snow covered the tips, got dirty from road grime, froze and it looked like a couple of snakes sitting on my roof with their mouths open and fangs hanging out. Looked cool, but not too good for the skis.

This is why I put the skis in the car sometimes. If the weather is bad the skis are never on the rack. If on a long trip they are either in the car or in a full bag. the binding wrap is only used for shorter local trips.

[uphillklimber]

We transport the skiis two ways. If we take the truck, it has a cap and a carpet in the back. If we take the car, we use a cargo box with carpet laid down in that. A store clerk suggested that to us. Being in construction, it is easy to happen upon a piece of scrap carpet. It really works pretty well. I hate the straps inside the box, such a PITA. Of course, if you really lock up the binders, the skiis will move around a bit, but generally speaking they are right in the same spot I place them.

[uphillklimber]

Oh yeah, I should have stated that I never transported them outside the vehicle. I would lay them in the floor of the minivan, slide between the seats, whatever. I didn't want the road grime lodging in the bindings. That's quite an investment to protect.

[Charlie Schuessler]

First thing is the skis are wiped clean & dry, held together with base protector wraps and placed in a clean bag that is snugly tightened. If I'm traveling alone, they travel in the car bagged. Boot & Garment Bag on back seat. If I take the sedan with others, all skis get bagged and go on the roof. If I take the wagon with up to two people, bagged skis inside the car, or if with 3 or 4 people, bagged skis on the roof. Everything inside the car gets seat-belted in place. All poles always go in the trunk. I have a collection of bags and use some for inside travel only and usually carry an extra bag for a forgetful person…

I use a Thule rack system between two cars, where each car has it’s own attachment clamps and carrier bars. For the two cars we use one 4-ski rack set, one canoe carrier and two bicycle racks. All components have their own locks and all locks are keyed the same. I’ve been using the Thule components for at least ten years and I am very pleased with the performance.

[TeleGrrrl]

Inside the Subaru. I don't own a roof rack or a ski box.

[First Tracks]

In the passenger seat of a two-seat convertible -- good thing I don't mind skiing alone!

[hammer]

Inside my car; I fold down the 40% portion of the back seat and make the kids sit a little closer together.

I do have a question that I think is related to this: how does everyone get their skis and gear from their vehicle to the lodge? With kids in tow getting gear to the lodge is usually a challenge...