LR4+Expedition Rack+... skis?

[John Pallett]

Just got an LR4 with an Expedition rack, which has cross-bars at the base, but my skis are too long to fit in the rack if I mount a traditional ski rack on them. So, I need a better option.

I haven't found anything online to help, so I'm starting this thread where I will share progress as I explore options to add cross-bars to the top of the Expedition rack, so I can mount a proper ski rack.

Suggestions welcome in the meantime!

 

[jwest]

Remove rack that costs you gas, noise, and is rarely used in winter, or ever. Pop a nice low profile cargo box on to keep yer **** grime free. Yeah, skis look cool but why people destroy the bindings on roofs is beyond me.

 

[Fuji4]

Remove rack that costs you gas, noise, and is rarely used in winter, or ever. Pop a nice low profile cargo box on to keep yer **** grime free. Yeah, skis look cool but why people destroy the bindings on roofs is beyond me.

Yeah that. I have a full expo rack but only run it when camping and need the space. Which is not often. For skiing I try to put the stuff in the car when only two or three people go. When full I use a Thule aero blade and a Thule sonic xl. The less stuff on the roof the better especially when trying to do 80+ through the sierras.

 

[jwest]

Yes this ^ my Hannibal is actually mounted on what was supposed to be a quick fix/temp idea. Yakima cross bars on standard short towers.

The beauty is though that I can take the whole thing off or on, SOLO, in about 5-10 minutes. 2 2x4 slid under sitting across factory tracks, unlatch towers, then twist wood to vertical which in turn lifts rack out of the landing pads. Now you just slide it over, get centered for the weight, slide off above head, the lower to ground.

It even has the rear awning and 4 front mounted lights attached and the 3 bars with towers.

I’m not a cross fit beast. I am 165 lbs and strong enough but this is about old school leverage.

I can get my 100 lb roof tent on/off alone by using the 2x4 as safety ramp/weight helpers. Self sufficiency is important to me but also so you can safely deal with stuff when no help is around.

The rack seriously kills the fuel mpg and like you said, the handling is way better at 80

 

[John Pallett]

Update: Yakima timberlime towers connect to the expedition rack side bars really well; from there mounted cross bars. Agreed it's not ideal for mileage, vehicle height or binding grime but it'll let us all get up today at least using mostly equipment I already have.

https://www.rei.com/product/102596/yakima-timberline-towers-set-of-4

Question: if I remove the OEM expedition rack, what's underneath? Just got the Rover so haven't experimented yet.

The dealer can do rails and crossbars for $1300 but that seems like the last resort.

 

[avslash]

Don't go to the dealer rails.

My eBay short rails have served flawlessly for years for a fraction of the cost of oe rails. That use includes a couple of trips with spare tire, fuel, etc before I wised up and got all that weight off the roof.

I would also suggest you get the short rails, as I have yet to see a good use for the extended rails.

 

[jwest]

Update: Yakima timberlime towers connect to the expedition rack side bars really well; from there mounted cross bars. Agreed it's not ideal for mileage, vehicle height or binding grime but it'll let us all get up today at least using mostly equipment I already have.

https://www.rei.com/product/102596/yakima-timberline-towers-set-of-4

Question: if I remove the OEM expedition rack, what's underneath? Just got the Rover so haven't experimented yet.

The dealer can do rails and crossbars for $1300 but that seems like the last resort.

Why do you think there are no rails under the rack? That's what they mount to I think I recall .... ?

Anyway, I did not know non oe were out there but that $1300 is insane. Dealer cross bars are idiotic usually and that $ proves it. The only reason I used Yakima is because they are round cross bars and I needed to deal with a sloping 3 bar mounting plan so I didn't want to also be getting odd contact points on Thule square bars - which I do prefer for some uses.

12 years ago after trying it once in a pinch for exact same reason as you are dealing with, I decided (no offense) that it was pretty much the most ******** thing to do by adding a rack on top of a rack LOL Most people don't truly utilize the racks they have and sorry but the factory one is kinda annoying for almost all things that a rack is supposed to be good for in the first place due to it's weird layout and sort of non-system for mounting things.

I have the extended rails, **** I also just realized I have the short ones too that I'd be willing to sell. Anyway, I use the long because the hannibal is the long version and needs the support out front.

If for some reason there aren't rails under the rack you have, it's an easy install and you'll have a chance to learn how that all goes together if you're into that sort of thing.

 

[Mx468]

If you can find Disco 2 or the old rangerover cross bars they fit on the rack and will help bridge the gap.

 

[ktm525]

Unless you are hauling 5 people I would invest in a good ski bag and , fold the middle 2nd row down and let your skis ride inside. This is what I do with a family of four and up to 6 pairs of skis. My 193cm skis just fit straight from console to tailgate. We have some very nasty winds up here on the highway (gusts 60 mph+) that I really don't like to use boxes unless absolutely necessary.

 

[avslash]

Mountain people problems......

This Texan wishes he had to worry about ski transport.

I'm lucky to get 10 days on the slopes a season. Although this year is an outlier. Just got six in at Northstar in the week between the holidays. Of course Northstar got 42" of snow the week after we left.