# Skis and roof rack

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skis-and-roof-rack/430131>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 15, 2007, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skis-and-roof-rack/430131 "2007-12-15T20:34:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skis-and-roof-rack/430131/1 "2007-12-15T20:34:14Z")

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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.

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**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skis-and-roof-rack/430131/2 "2007-12-15T21:12:56Z")

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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.

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skis-and-roof-rack/430131/3 "2007-12-15T21:39:48Z")

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[QUOTE=Xema]  
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.  
[/QUOTE]

[Yakima Space Booster](http://www.rei.com/product/722806), $259.  
[Yakima Sky Box](http://www.rei.com/product/743201), $521.  
[Thule Spirit](http://www.rei.com/product/723236), $599.

There are [20 boxes](http://www.rei.com/Search.do?cat=4501515&sortby=Price%3A+Low+-+High&page=LIST&hist=cat%2C4501515) 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](http://www.rei.com/product/762262) 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.)

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**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2007, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skis-and-roof-rack/430131/4 "2007-12-16T00:58:37Z")

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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](http://www.animatedknots.com/truckers/index.php)

You might want to consider locking the skis down if you are going to be away from your vehicle.