 Poster: A snowHead
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We are two students who love skiing. At the moment we are doing a project regarding transportation of ski equipment outside a car. We would love to hear from all you skiing enthusiasts out there what you wish for in the ultimate ski transport solution! What are your needs? Something that is missing, annoying or that you appreciate with todays products?
All opinions and thoughts are welcome!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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There are loads of roof rack arrangements for skis. Personally I'd like to see someone come up with a system that sits inside the top of the car, using head room down the centre without losing much rear visibility or requiring seats to be folded down, and doesn't affect fuel economy and coat skis in the motorway gunk that comes from putting them on top.
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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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Think Thule have probably solved this problem. Mistress Panda has a good idea though. Roof sleeves, even better if you can think of way to rig them betwwen hatch and rear vew mirror in a hire car and make them weigh under 500g/compact packable.
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We carried our skis on a rack on the roof and they were perfectly safe but oh dear the fuel consumption was dreadful. Something external and fuel consumption neutral is what I would want. Perhaps something like a roof box that integrated straight onto the car roof rather than sitting on roof-racks would be more aerodynamic.
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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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J9, closest you could get is something that suckers on to the roof of the car, and has very little gap, but even that will affect fuel economy. If it can be nside the car it is also much mre secure - something that comes off the front headrests and the floor of the boot, slide skis in, then jack up the back end so you can get them right up against the inside of the roof. I should design this thing, it wouldn't even be complicated.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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I saw a reference recently to a car which had a storage compartment in the roof for stuff like skis - Fiat Doblo? Or one of those tall cheap people carrier kind of things, as that was what I was looking for. Skis which weren't in a strong separate compartment could be horrendously dangerous. Slice your head open. 
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Sorted:
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As skis are shorter than they used to be, and cars tend to be getting bigger, then I've been considering the possibility of a horizontal ski box that can sit on the tail of the car. The effects on aerodynamics would be negligible in comparison as they are sitting in an area of turbulence. The biggest issue would be ensuring lights and numberplate are visible, but also enabling easy access to the boot.
As a guide, a Mondeo is 1.9m wide, my longest skis are 183cm. It would increase the length of the car by maybe 20cm at the centerline, but as most cars have some degree of curvature to the back, it could look a little odd at the sides.
Still, something to consider.
Indeed, taking it a step further, make the rear bumper into ski storage. It may only have space for one pair, but it would be built in.
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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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feef, that's an interesting idea - a bit like a bike rack. Could sit on a tow bar - as my bike rack does, though it does block access to the boot. In fact, it would be a very easy matter to adapt a bike rack to carry skis and snowboards. It's a mucky place, though.
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| pam w wrote: |
| feef, that's an interesting idea - a bit like a bike rack. Could sit on a tow bar - as my bike rack does, though it does block access to the boot. In fact, it would be a very easy matter to adapt a bike rack to carry skis and snowboards. It's a mucky place, though. |
I was thinking more of a box, so the skis wouldn't get mucky. It could even just be attached with straps, or clips onto the boot, no need for a tow-ball. Add in some extra-strong boot support rams and you could even open the boot with it attached as long as the hinges can take the load.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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feef, It could be attached in the same manner as a bike rack and have intergral lights and numberplate (that's the easy bit) If done right it could even improve fuel mileage. Make it from carbon fibre for weight and you could open the hatch or estate door with it on. Good idea and relatively easy to implement.
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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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A hatch through from the boot works well for me. What would be nice would be to have more than one hatch so you have more flexibility depending on number of rearseat passengers, luggage, etc.
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Putting skis inside the car at head height, between the driver and passenger, is a really crazy idea.
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You know it makes sense.
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Works for both skis and snowboards.
For short journeys for up to 4 sets of skis/snowboards
1. Put boot in binding
2. Open window,
3. Insert boot through open window
4. Carefully close window to lock in place *
5. Drive off **
* Works best with hire cars, particularly those with glass waiver.
** keep it under 50, take care with any particularly low bridges/tunnels.
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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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Frosty the Snowman, Actually this is how we get our kit to the airport. Wooden baton cable-tied between the headrest posts. back of boardbag & ski bag on parcel shelf, front resting on the baton, works a treat.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Richard_Sideways, does it impede your view through the passenger window, or indeed the front window?
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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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I use a bungee cable between the front headrests, does the job if only two of us in the car but could be refined. Second Mistress Panda design requirements
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My skis (190cm) fit inside the car with one rear seat folded down unless I need to fit people in the car in which case I use the roof box. Would be nice not to deal with frozen locks. That's about 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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Frosty the Snowman, Not particularly to the side, minor obstruction to side, not really much more than having a passenger in the seat, can still see the mirror. No obstruction to the front at all. Cars not particularly big, just a 5 door Ford Focus.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
Kind of mixing ski bag with roof box, good idea?
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Nope. Cost of two of those adds up to roughly same as roofbox, they are less secure, you can't get much other stuff in them, they suck aerodynamically, they look naff. Excellent for flying though.
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We just stuck them inside the car having folded on back seat down flat. 4 pairs of skis plus a folding bench for servicing. Granted it did help that there were only 2 of us in the Discovery 
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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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Collapse split rear seat (the 40 of the 60:40 usually does it), open boot, fling skis in, close boot
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feef, saw just such a thing except vertical on the back of a van a few years back
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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BWM 5 series with ski prep. Rear centre arm rest folds down to leave space for 4 sets of skis. Also works as a wall to stop the kids from fighting.
Alternatively, wind down rear windows, place skis across both windows, bit of foam/rubber to protect the glass. Wind up windows. Make sure your rear seat passengers are seated before you start though
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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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What I would like to see is a car fag lighter plug on those turkey boot dryers so I could plug em in in the boot and keep boots toastie on way to the hill, boots currently reside in passenger wheel well with heat on en route but not as effective as the turkey - putting on cold boots can ruin your day
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You know it makes sense.
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Thornyhill, that's the fella for me, thanks
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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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| barry wrote: |
| Thornyhill, that's the fella for me, thanks |
I've got some for me wellies 
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Poster: A snowHead
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axelson, Of course they are a good idea. Skis are in the case. The case is lifted off the car and rolled to the ski locker. The hard cases do not flap like soft ones, they are easier to attach, they do not twist forcing the bindings on the roof and they are weather proof. They do not have the storage problem that roof boxes have when not in use.
However, I always have the handles downward, the front one straddling the roof bar as recommended in the instructions.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Oh barry, Thornyhill, I think Rule 5 just came into effect...
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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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Richard_Sideways, Rule 5 Would also suggest buy transit, put winter tyres on it, paint whoevers ski team on the side to give it some cachet job done
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Cynic, like it - although the winter tyres could be interpreted as being a bit wimpy. Whats wrong chains? Frightened of getting your manicure all dirty?
Or just letting the ol' tranny to wag her tail now and again 
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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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Mine go in the boot.
Fuel is an issue but if I attach a snow plough I can run it on red
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Cynic, Richard_Sideways, About 15 years ago, 6 of us did the boys ski trip in a transit and it was a very effective tool, just threw everything in the back and off we went. Downside i recall was the autoroute tolls were more expensive.
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| BergenBergen wrote: |
| Cynic, Richard_Sideways, About 15 years ago, 6 of us did the boys ski trip in a transit and it was a very effective tool, just threw everything in the back and off we went. Downside i recall was the autoroute tolls were more expensive. |
I'd be very impressed if it was a Mk I Transit
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| Richard_Sideways wrote: |
| Oh barry, Thornyhill, I think Rule 5 just came into effect... |
nothing as bad as cold damp wellies. I would rather dance barefoot on a pile of lego and upturned plugs than put on cold damp wellies.
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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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Ratae Corieltauvorum, yes that would have been impressive, ours was a later vintage. It was a developmental vehicle that had an electronically controlled injection pump with an interesting fuel map which meant that if you ever tired of your average French Pug 205 driver tailgating with flashing headlights and indicators, you could allow them to pass and then return the favour to well over 100mph.
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| Thornyhill wrote: |
| Richard_Sideways wrote: |
| Oh barry, Thornyhill, I think Rule 5 just came into effect... |
nothing as bad as cold damp wellies. I would rather dance barefoot on a pile of lego and upturned plugs than put on cold damp wellies. |
Indeed, every second thread on here is folk bleating about cold feet, have the boots warm and dry before putting them on and most will enjoy all day comfort
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FAQ
