Now that I am renting cars rather than owning, I am in need of a cross-country ski rack setup that could be used on a variety of cars, all without rain gutters and all without factory OEM roof racks. Since many on this listserver also ski, do any of you know if there is such a thing on the market as a ski rack that could be used on just about any new car? In the days when cars all had rain gutters this was no big deal, except for standing out in the cold adjusting the length of the rack or of the steel bands whose hooked ends wrapped around the rain gutters. Are the hooked ends of the bands now set to grab the inside of door frames or other points of gutterless cars? Or am I out of luck? I suspect that nowadays ski racks are matched to specific cars or are meant to fit on factory racks or the standard bars of Thule, Yakima and the like. I thought of asking our Floridian friends, Bob Denton and Sandy Kramer among others, but, while the rest of us are trying to remember ever hearing the sound of snow flakes on water, they are still trying to figure out what snow is. :-) ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Last year when I was down in the Seattle area in the winter driving a rental car I purchased a ski rack from REI that mounts directly on the passenger window and holds two pairs of skiis quite nicely. I'm sure you can probably find something similar locally there in NYC - this style of rack has been around for quite a while. Dave Seng (back from a great morning paddle) Juneau, Alaska > -----Original Message----- > From: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com [mailto:rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com] > Sent: Thursday, October 21, 1999 3:32 PM > To: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subject: [Paddlewise] Off topic--ski racks > > > Now that I am renting cars rather than owning, I am in need of a > cross-country ski rack setup that could be used on a variety of cars, > all without rain gutters and all without factory OEM roof racks. > > Since many on this listserver also ski, do any of you know if there is > such a thing on the market as a ski rack that could be used on just > about any new car? snip > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Ralph, I'm not sure how they work but there is something like fake rain gutters you can put on the cars. I'm not at all sure that you don't have to drill holes to put them on but it might be worth looking into. I think the ones I was talking with someone about were Yakama. Don't know about the ski racks, only horse trailers. Joan rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com wrote: > Now that I am renting cars rather than owning, I am in need of a > cross-country ski rack setup that could be used on a variety of cars, > all without rain gutters and all without factory OEM roof racks. > > Since many on this listserver also ski, do any of you know if there is > such a thing on the market as a ski rack that could be used on just > about any new car? In the days when cars all had rain gutters this was > no big deal, except for standing out in the cold adjusting the length of > the rack or of the steel bands whose hooked ends wrapped around the rain > gutters. Are the hooked ends of the bands now set to grab the inside of > door frames or other points of gutterless cars? Or am I out of luck? > > I suspect that nowadays ski racks are matched to specific cars or are > meant to fit on factory racks or the standard bars of Thule, Yakima and > the like. > > I thought of asking our Floridian friends, Bob Denton and Sandy Kramer > among others, but, while the rest of us are trying to remember ever > hearing the sound of snow flakes on water, they are still trying to > figure out what snow is. :-) > > ralph diaz > -- > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter > PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 > Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com > "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not > to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ > *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
The Thule and Yakima racks use car-specific clips that are purchased separately. If you went this route you would have to have a number of clips, not to mention having to adjust the width of the towers each time. Not the way to go. I have seen window fit racks that might serve your purpose (sort of like the old drive up restaurant trays). Also, I have seen ski racks that are held down magnetically. I don't have any experience with either type so I can't speak for how they work. -----Original Message----- From: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com [mailto:rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com] Sent: Thursday, October 21, 1999 7:32 PM To: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subject: [Paddlewise] Off topic--ski racks Now that I am renting cars rather than owning, I am in need of a cross-country ski rack setup that could be used on a variety of cars, all without rain gutters and all without factory OEM roof racks. Since many on this listserver also ski, do any of you know if there is such a thing on the market as a ski rack that could be used on just about any new car? In the days when cars all had rain gutters this was no big deal, except for standing out in the cold adjusting the length of the rack or of the steel bands whose hooked ends wrapped around the rain gutters. Are the hooked ends of the bands now set to grab the inside of door frames or other points of gutterless cars? Or am I out of luck? I suspect that nowadays ski racks are matched to specific cars or are meant to fit on factory racks or the standard bars of Thule, Yakima and the like. I thought of asking our Floridian friends, Bob Denton and Sandy Kramer among others, but, while the rest of us are trying to remember ever hearing the sound of snow flakes on water, they are still trying to figure out what snow is. :-) ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Hi Ralph, OK, here's some more info on window-mount ski racks - check the ski rack section of this URL - http://www.barrecrafters.com Apparently REI doesn't carry the window mount model(s) (at least not on their web site) any longer, but I thought it was a nice rack for light usage. Dave Seng Juneau, Alaska > -----Original Message----- > From: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com [mailto:rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com] > Sent: Thursday, October 21, 1999 3:32 PM > To: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subject: [Paddlewise] Off topic--ski racks > > > Now that I am renting cars rather than owning, I am in need of a > cross-country ski rack setup that could be used on a variety of cars, > all without rain gutters and all without factory OEM roof racks. > > Since many on this listserver also ski, do any of you know if there is > such a thing on the market as a ski rack that could be used on just > about any new car? snip *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Thu, 21 Oct 1999 rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com wrote: > I thought of asking our Floridian friends, Bob Denton and Sandy Kramer > among others, but, while the rest of us are trying to remember ever > hearing the sound of snow flakes on water, they are still trying to > figure out what snow is. :-) I well recall snow from my years up Nawth. The first day it snowed in Ann Arbor, I went into the calculus class I was teaching (as a grad teaching fellow) and was pelleted with wee snowballs by my students, gathered from the windowsills. (I, a native Miamian, had told them that this white puffy stuff falling from the skies was obviously an incredible myth.) It was an enormous pleasure. Some years later in Cleveland and around, I learned the marvelous sound and feeling of crunchy snow underfoot, and have heard some of the variety of snow sounds that Pwisers have mentioned lately. They are indeed lovely to feel and hear. It seems I'm the only one who hasn't heard snow hit water! Now I'm looking forward to that also. Thanks, guys!! e Elaine Harmon - eilidh_at_dc.seflin.org - eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Ralph Diaz (rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com) wrote: >Now that I am renting cars rather than owning, I am in need of a >cross-country ski rack setup that could be used on a variety of cars, >all without rain gutters and all without factory OEM roof racks. Yakima makes Q-towers; these are semi-standard towers that have interchangeable clips to fit different door shapes. The Q-Clips fit inside the gutterless door and wrap around the door gasket. One size doesn't fit all, however, but one size might fit several different cars, so 2 sets of clips might fit the majority of cars. You could get the whole Yakima setup with bars and good racks, and the Q-towers, and if and when you buy a new car, you can get the clips that fit your car and not be out the investment in the rack. The Q-clips are rather expensive ($22) but when you factor them into the cost of the whole rack system, they're not that bad! You can also get Q-clips that fit cars with gutters, so your options are still open. Yakima also makes a suction-base ski rack that carries two pairs of skis. This might also be a good option. As an aside: anybody on this list into AT ("randonee") skiing? I found some new Diamir Fritschi size XL AT bindings for $220--should I break the bank and get some? Shawn -- Shawn W. Baker 0 46°53'N © 1999 ____©/______ 114°06'W ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^\ ,/ /~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^ baker_at_montana.com 0 http://www.missoulaconcrete.com/shawn/ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
At 04:32 PM 10/21/99 -0700, rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com wrote: >Now that I am renting cars rather than owning, I am in need of a >cross-country ski rack setup that could be used on a variety of cars, >all without rain gutters and all without factory OEM roof racks. Awhile back I was looking for a rack for my wifes car to carry a kayak or canoe. It also doesn't have rain gutters. Since I keep my boats right on the water I didn't need it very often so couldn't justify cost of a Yakima/Thule especially because it required the extension kit. It would have cost over $300. I also wanted something more than foam pads. I ended up getting a Walden Multisport rack. This rack comes with two metal bars that have two rotomolded plastic pods on them. The pods can slide on the bar a bit to fit almost any car. The bottom of the pods are lined with foam rubber to keep them from slipping and scratching the paint. The racks are placed on the car and held down with web straps that run through the pods and then trough the doors of the vehicle (remember to open them first). That holds the rack firmly to the top of the vehicle. It will hold two kayaks or one canoe (which are tied down to the rack using webbed straps). I didn't order it, but there's also a optional package that contains items for using the rack to hold skis or bicycles. The basic rack retails for around $110. Now, here's the good news. About two weeks after I bought the rack we bought a Ford explorer and I just replaced the factory racks with a set of Yakima railriders. I used the Walden rack once. If you're interested in it I can make you a good deal on it. There used to be a link on the Walden site for it but it's gone now. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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