Ski Rack

[Heem]

I'm sure we must have some skiers here. I wonder what you use for a ski rack on your disco? I'm looking at thule and yakima, but there are so many different options, and with the funny roof line of the disco, I cant see how any standard rack would fit properly. If you have pictures of your solution I'd appreciate that as well.

thanks so much.

-Jim

 

[kapaduch]

Hey,
I have also been looking for board rack for my disco. I've come across only a couple that would fit, you can either buy the crossbars (if you dont have them) for the factory frontal roof rack. And then there are many generic racks that will fit a factory rack, which will be your cheapest option for roof racks. But yakima (not sure about thule) sells extended raingutter towers, that are made for cars with high roof lines like ours. Then you have to buy cross bars to mount on the towers and a yakima rack to mount on the crossbars, which will run you about 450 or so when all said and done, if you buy it new that is. But you can always buy ski/snowboard racks that fit into your trailer hitch ( i cant since mine didnt come with a tow package). Which will be pretty cheap. And finally they sell racks that have a bent bar which fits over the spare tires of suv's that have a rear mounted spare tire (such as the disco), and then it has straps that adjust around the back of the tire to hold it secure. This last one will most likely be your least expensive way, but then again it doesnt look as cool as the roof racks, so i guess its a financial issue.
Kevin P.

 

[Heem]

Yea, I actually have one of the hitch mount ones. goes right in the 2" reciever. I bought it for my Jeep which is softtop so no possibility of roof rack, and It's nice since it holds both skis and bikes without any additional attachments. Problem is it's really big and stick far off the back, so I fear someone is gonna impale their front windshield on it

I was thinking about the kind that goes on the crossbars of factory rack (I do have the bars) however I ski on 200cm skis, which are quite long, and I think if the rack was on the factory bars, which are on the low part of the roof, the skis would scrape the high part of the roof.

Of course, I tried to speak with a ski shop that sells all this rack stuff.. they were like, ok Land Rover, who makes that? Land Rover. Yes sir, but what company makes that? Land Rover. GRR.

thanks for your input, I do appreciate it.

 

[Moose]

Get Thule/Yakima high-foot towers, and put the cross bars on -- then your rack will be above the line from the rear half of the roof.

This is the best-looking solution, won't interfere with rear door operation, and you can find crossbars/gutter mounts for ~$100 on EBay.

 

[SteveA]

If you go the route of using the Land Rover cross bars, the mounts for your skis will hold them above the rear section of the roof. In other words, the factory roof rails hold the cross bars. The cross bars curve up and rise above the level of the roof rails. Then the ski holder mounts on top of the cross bars. This puts the bottom of the ski holder above the level of the rear section of the roof. Assuming the ski holder you use holds the skis on edge or on an angle, you can mount a ski of any length without trouble. Land Rover has 3 different Genuine ski carriers including a ski and snowboard carrier available that retail for between $115 and 280 that are designed to fit directly to your cross bars.

Hope this helps,
Stephen

 

[tmiller1]

I already have a roof rack (ie, full rack, like Safety Devices or NWP). I am planning on buying the Thule 726 (Deluxe Pull Top 6pr Ski Carrier). This should mount directly onto my roof rack bars without any additional crossbars, etc. I say should, but since I haven't tried it yet I don't know for sure.

Additional accessories include the Thule LK1 (a "Lift Kit" for high profile bindings), as well as the Thule FM1 (a fat mouth clamp for easy/fast mounting, and custom fitting).

 

[snodog]

Barrecrafters makes a spare tire mount,I think
model no. sr88 but not sure. Ive been using
this rack 4 yrs. no problems.

 

[Broms]

I just came back from Ski Market to do some rack research. I have 2 sets of LB50 cross bars (the disco requires the LB65), an Angle ski rack (6 pair) and 2 for mount (Rocky Mount) bike racks. I was trying to find factory cross bars for the '04 Disco rails, but they were $300. So I think I am going with the Thule highmounts. BTW the Atlantic British site shows the item as the T953 foot pack and the TLB65 bars. The ski shop had 3 different foot options. The prices for the foot packs ranged between $160 and $190. THe cross bars are around $50.

Good luck with it.

 

[nixxy]

Thule makes a ski attachment that mounts perfectly to the side of the NWP rack. Works great for skis and snowboards.....

link:

http://www.thuleracks.com/thule/product.asp?dept_id=9&sku=575

Andy

 

[campbell]

Thule makes a ski attachment that mounts perfectly to the side of the NWP rack. Works great for skis and snowboards.....

link:

http://www.thuleracks.com/thule/product.asp?dept_id=9&sku=575

Andy

For what it's worth I have used a ski rack similar to this design. I rented a car in Denver and was driving west on I-70 out of Denver, right where that overhead sign is that warns for inclimate weather, when the board flew off the car. Either the people at the rental place did not install the rack properly or the design of the rack could not withstand the stress of the highway speed coupled with the strong winds. Either way, my board was toast. If it were me I would go with a ski rack that allows the board and skis to lay flat, or parallel with the roof. Also get one that has metal arms that clamp down over the board and skis, and also locks. I think over time you will be happier with this type of set-up.

P.S. The rental company paid for a new board and bindings...