 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi,
I purchased a set of skis for the fist time a few weeks ago. Have to take them down to Tignes @ Easter. I already have a Atera roof bars for the car, but the only ski rack I can find for oval bars are £100+.
I was thinking of making some plates to clamp the skis onto the roof bars using the T Track bolts, wrapping the plate in an old bike inner tube to protect the skis. Anyone know a good reason why I should not be attempting this, or a similar arrangement available at a sensible price commercially? I am not sure why such an arrangement is not readily available.
Steve.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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ringingmaster, Put skis in ski bag, fasten bag to roof rack with bungee cords.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Lot of road salt going to do nasty things to your bindings over such a long distance, not to mentio all manner of organic fly-life etc
Must admit I think I prefer the big idea
But you have an estate !? Why need to put skis on roof?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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you have an estate car will the skis not go in the car a lot quieter and more fuel efficient!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I'm sure most commercials are more expensive because they are usually designed to take a number of skis and have the ability to lock the top bar. Just make sure you can see the car when you stop for a coffee/relief, or take it in turns if travelling two or more up.
Or, get back in the A-Team garage and engineer a way to lock the skis down.
I'll be sure to look out for you on the next series of dragons den though. 
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brock, sev112, inside of car full of kids and associated junk. 
Was planning to wrap commercial grade clingfilm around the bindings. Though will think about how to secure a ski bag.
Buddy1664, I think I will get some locking nuts for the final solution.
Test drive this afternoon.
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sev112, I really don't think it's a problem to have bindings uncovered...
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| under a new name wrote: |
| sev112, I really don't think it's a problem to have bindings uncovered... |
Lot more crap comes off a motorway than the average piste
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ringingmaster, I've just seen where you're from. Make sure you drive through the nicer side of town or fit the locking nuts first. I know of a few areas where they'd have your planks off the bars whilst you're stopped at traffic lights.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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The trouble with putting them on the roof like that is that all the bindings are exposed to the crap off the roads. I know the argument goes that they must be fairly robust things to poke up with what they go through anyway, but I think that the grits in road dirt are very fine and all the salt on the roads can't be good for them. I therefore favour the sling 'em in a ski bag and tether that the rack in some way. We use long nylon luggage straps for the main tying and a bungee just as belt and braces. We also add a thick cable lock as a disincentive to someone slicing the straps when we are inside a service station, and take them off the roof of the car if we go into a motel overnight.
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Before anybody from 'Tin Town' (not many avid skiers I wouldn't think) rips into me, I know what it's like I grew up there.
ringingmaster, Have a good holiday.
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You know it makes sense.
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Megamum, While I am going to cover these up just in case, I really would be surprised if fine grit would affect bindings. While safety critical, they are relatively simple systems and designed to cope with harsh conditions and muck. However, I would expect that salt will do them no good whatsoever, but would think a good hose down, dry and a coat of WD40 would see that right.
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Sun 2-03-14 17:15; edited 1 time in total
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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ringingmaster, There is perpetual disagreement between those who quite happily drive zillions miles with exposed skis/bindings on their roof and those who wouldn't even go 100 yds down the road in such a state. You will never get any compromise between the two.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I carry skis inside car having put a length of 22mm plumbing pipe between front headrests to support. Tips reach just past headrest (177/180/161cm skis in Golf IV hatchback and no ski bag) and don't impinge on passengers.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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colinstone, That is just where screen for the DVD sits.
Test drive went well. No noise up to 80MPH, and fuel consumption appears about normal.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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If they were my skis, the skis would be in the car and the kids would be on the roof.
But for a family run to Tignes I'd hire or buy a long thin roof box.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Well I like it
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| hobbiteater wrote: |
| Well I like it |
Thanks.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I would buy/make a loose bag to cover the skis if I were you, they could still be fitted the same way but would protect from the salt etc
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Looks good. I'd give some thought to how to lock the nuts, not just to prevent theft but also to make them a bit more secure to working loose. Having a pair of skis come off the rack on the motorway could be disastrous, especially for the person behind you! Any chance of a lanyard of some sort as a backup?
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A Skoda Octavia Estate has a 'ski slot' in the rear specifically for the job (even comes with a special bag/end to contain the tips safely). With the back seats flat I can fit them inside regardless. Mind you the purchase of an Octavia Estate might be an OTT solution  On a long family trip to ski I run a Thule 780 roof box on the Octavia Estate set to one side with gear in, the 4 sets of skis lashed next to it in a large ski bag and the boot loaded level. Two growing kids in the backseat and us up front!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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kieranm, I once had a car lose a roof rack complete with 2 bikes just in front of me - good job there was nothing in the other lane!!
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Sorted!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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This type of thread always gives me a wry smile. We spend a not inconsiderable amount on gear, be it skis or bikes and then look for the cheapest solution possible be it home made or the cheapest Hanford strap on rack for bikes. It's even better when they are all attached to cars costing north of 30K. It's a bit like the ones using a mobile in a car worth 50K when a hands fee kit was only a couple of hundred quid more. We've just replaced a Thule roof box after 14 years service that worked out at about £20 a year and you can use it on other trips as well.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I hand my skis to the Peruvian Pan Pipe Band sat on the car roof that drink petrol, otherwise known as the Thule Ski Rack 
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You know it makes sense.
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spyderjon, that's def. what I had in mind 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Quick update as we are back in the ski season. Home made was great last year. No noticeable increase in fuel consumption. Second set being made for this year. Will add photos when I have it sorted.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@spyderjon, me too, bindings open on the roof a no-go!
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