Ski rack – how to choose the best one?

Tips

Artur Owczarek

Brand Product Manager Moje AutoHe has been involved in the automotive industry for years. He is passionate about cars and detailing. On his blog, he shares his knowledge and experience, offering tips on how to effectively care for your car and extend its life.

• How to transport skis by car?
• What types of ski racks are there?
• How to securely attach skis to the car rack?
• What features does a high-quality ski rack have?
• What to choose: buy or rent a suitable ski rack?
• What are the Polish and foreign regulations regarding transporting skis by car?

Skis and snowboards can be transported inside the car. This is a convenient solution because you just need to open the hatch and put the equipment in the trunk. This method, however, has a number of disadvantages. First of all, transport in the cabin is particularly safe. If you brake suddenly, your skis will be dangerous.

For this reason, the equipment should be transported in a special sleeve and additionally secured, for example tape for securing luggage. The sleeve usually only holds two sets of skis. In addition, the sleeve and the interior will need to be cleaned after returning from the slope. Equipment transported inside the car also takes up space for other luggage.

A better solution is to use devices that allow you to transport skis or snowboards outside the car. We can choose from options that allow transport on the roof and in the back of the car.

Devices for transporting skis and snowboards can be divided into three main categories: hook holders, magnetic holders and carrying systems. Hook-mounted ski rack allows you to transport ski equipment vertically. This ensures easy access, because skis or snowboards are located at the level of the trunk lid.

Magnetic holders are easy to install and do not require roof beams. They are attached directly to the roof. If we decide on such a solution, it is best to invest in a model with additional protection in the form of a strap. A magnetic ski rack is recommended for short-distance trips and when you transport little equipment. Often it only holds two sets of skis.

In the case of classic roof racks and boxes, it is necessary to have rail holders or beams attached to the roof. We can attach ski holders to the crossbars, which operate on the clamp principle. Boxing is a universal way to transport cargo. We can put in it not only skis or snowboards, but also shoes and jackets.

Roof ski rack

Before we attach ski rack for the car, it is worth washing the body. Removing dirt can prevent scratches from occurring. They may appear if hard particles, such as grains of sand, remain between the paint and the handle. We write more about how to take care of your car in the cold months in the article Is washing your car in winter a good idea?.

Let's make sure that the beams and handles are well attached to the roof, and in the case of transport on a hook, whether the rack actually holds well on the ball. When transporting skis on the roof in a carrier, they should be mounted backwards. This reduces aerodynamic drag and makes less noise. After attaching the equipment to the ski holder, close the safety devices.

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Standard latches and closures should, in theory, prevent equipment from sliding around. However, it is worth ensuring additional security. A set of skis or snowboards can be covered a net for securing luggage, which will hold the equipment in place in the event of major overloads or closure failure. Boxing can be embraced tape to secure the load, which will prevent it from opening. This type of protection will also be useful when transporting equipment inside a vehicle.

If we choose hook ski rack, then, according to the law, it should have a set of lighting, including reversing lights. Therefore, such a ski rack should have a 13-pin connector. A good hook-mounted ski rack should also have a tilting function, which will provide access to the rack without having to remove the equipment.

A roof-mounted ski rack with a retractable base will make loading and unloading your equipment easier. There will be no need to climb, we will simply push the skis towards each other. When choosing a holder, pay attention to whether it has a rubber finish that prevents scratching the skis. The advantage will be large buttons that can be operated with gloves.

If we want to transport skis in a box, consider whether it is worth investing in a better model that can be opened in both directions. The comfort of use will be increased by actuators that will keep the flap up during packing and unloading.

We don't have to buy a ski holder or a box. We can use the services of roof rack and hook rack rental companies.

When is it worth deciding on this? First of all, in a situation where we go skiing occasionally, and not when we try to use every free moment to go to the slope during the season. Why buy equipment that we will use once every three or four years? It is also worth taking advantage of the offer of roof rack rentals if we do not have space to store transport equipment.

Purchase of ski holders, hook-mounted ski rack whether a roof rack is worth considering if we actually ski a lot. We can also consider the investment if we often travel with more luggage. A roof box will be useful not only in winter, but also in summer. We can load bags, climbing equipment and other items that won't fit in the trunk.

Open ski rack

In Poland, there are no regulations specifically regarding the transport of skis and snowboards. Regulations relating to the transport of cargo in general apply.

The rules for the proper transport of items by car are included in Art. 61 Road Traffic Law. Let's look at the sections that may be related to the transport of winter sports equipment. According to the code:

• transported objects must not impede steering, disturb the stability of the vehicle and cause the permissible axle loads of the vehicle on the road to be exceeded,
• load placed on the vehicle cannot limit the visibility of the road or cover lights, signaling devices and license plates,
• load placed on the vehicle should be protected against changing position or causing excessive noise,
• if a given item protrudes beyond the side edge of the car, the total width of the vehicle with the load cannot exceed 2,55 m, and with a vehicle width of 2,55 m it cannot be greater than 3 m (but on one side it cannot protrude for a distance greater than 23 cm),
• the load cannot protrude from the rear of the vehicle for a distance greater than 2 m from the rear contour of the vehicle,
• the load cannot protrude from the front of the vehicle to a distance of more than 0,5 m from the front contour plane and more than 1,5 m from the driver's seat,
• the height of the vehicle with load cannot exceed 4 m.

Moreover, in accordance with Art. 60, it is prohibited to use the vehicle in a way that threatens the safety of a person inside or outside the vehicle. What conclusions can be drawn from the regulations? When transporting skis or snowboards, the equipment must not extend too far beyond the outline of the car. Moreover, it must be well secured so as not to endanger car passengers and bystanders.

In fact, European regulations look very similar. They pay attention to the solidity of the assembly and the immobilization of the skis while traveling by car. These issues will be particularly important during a police check if we transport skis inside the car, so it will be a good idea to buy a sleeve.

Choosing the right ski rack is important for our comfort during the trip and for travel safety. Before going to the slope, be sure to check the technical condition of the vehicle. We write in more detail in the articles about the procedures that are worth remembering How to prepare your car for winter? and By car to go skiing.