Does anyone have any tips for attaching skis to a SUV’s roof rack. It’s just the two bars on the top, not an actual ski rack. I was going to just bungee them up there, but I wanted to ask if there was a better way before I risk some expensive toys hitting the highway at 60mph. Thanks.
I’d pad them so there’s no metal-to-metal contact (bad for both skis and racks). And I’d use multiple short bungees to make sure they stay put no matter what.
Of course, given the cost of skis and the prevalence of road salt, I think I’d rationalize the cost of an enclosed container - or the inconvenience of carrying the skis inside the SUV.
Yakima Space Booster, $259.
Yakima Sky Box, $521.
Thule Spirit, $599.
There are 20 boxes to choose from. I’m pretty sure these will go on your existing racks. Most people seem to get ski racks. Here’s the Thule Universal Flat Top 4-Ski Carrier for $110. Or you can get a rack system that can be used year-round.
For actually carrying the skis, I carry mine tips-aft. The way I look at it, tips-forward potentially could… I don’t know… catch on something, catch too much wind… Anyway I just don’t like tips-forward. (I don’t really think that the wind is going to catch the tips and bend them back.)
Protect your skis and bindings from the road salt by using a ski bag or ski box. Don’t not use bungees – their hooks occasionally bend/break. Use rope or webbing. A trucker’s hitch is a good knot to know: Trucker's Hitch | How to tie a Trucker's Hitch using Step-by-Step Animations | Animated Knots by Grog
You might want to consider locking the skis down if you are going to be away from your vehicle.