Ski Rack

[EJB90]

I know this is kinda out of season but whatever.

My 1998 Disco LSE has the 3 crossbars that connect to the roof rails. I eventually want to put my $160 Thule Ski Rack on it (its currently on my grand cherokee). The problem is that they don't have a direct factory mount for the cross bars. They have a universal one, but its too big even with all the little adjuststers. There is the "snow cat" which costs $200 and seems ridiculous because I already own a ski rack. I could get the Thule cross bars which costs at least $200. That too seems like a waste because I already have crossbars. I tried the stock fit kit that attaches to thule cross bars, they almost fit but are like .0000111" too big so the ski rack slides back and forth on my roof rails.

Anyone have any ideas of what I could do here?

 

[jhmover]

Find some D2 crossbars they're a lot wider. They fit a D1, I know because I used the D2 bars on my D1 until I got a roof rack and sold them.

 

[UK 4X4]

if the rack does not grip and you have a gap........I'd just use a couple of strips of rubber and tighten down....

Or you can make your own for $50...two 1" square tubes and a couple of pieces of 1' strip....

mine stayed on all winter, snowboarding everyweekend

 

[xmustang420]

I used a piece of an old bicycle tube around my sd rack to properly get a snuck fit. Worked like a charm

 

[EJB90]

Ok I got it to work.

I used the standard thule clip (clip made for thule bars) to clip onto my factory D1 bars. I then wrapped around the D1 bars a single piece of electrical shrink tubing wrapped around once (I didn't heat it up to shrink it- its going to be used only in the winter, so I am not concerned about the shrink wrap shrinking from the sun). Then I clipped on the clips on top of the shrink tubing and it works great.

 

[Zarati]

SHould work. I'm used standard Thule clips to run my Yakima's on there. I just took a flat file to the little square "Stopper" and filed it down a bit to allow the clips to close a little tighter. Worked like a champ.

HOwever, I would NOT run anything but Ski's up there. I wanted to run Bikes, etc so I converted to the RailRiders that grab onto the facory bars "not cross bars but the ones ont he side that run lengthwise up the car. That allows me to run normal length bars and gives me the flexibility to run my Yakima Rocketbox AND a 6-pr Ski Attachemnt or Rocketbox and 2-bikes on the top. Much sturdier too.

l8r

 

[Zarati]

Well,
You cant see it very well but here is a pic with the Rail Riders and normal width crossbars. As you can see it gives you a LOT more realestate for mounting stuff. I can go one wider on the crossbars but only do when I haul two Canoes on top. Normally they stick out too far.

 

[EJB90]

My solution seems to work fine

Except for if my bindings get any bigger I won't be able to fit them up there.

And the added wind noise/whistle.

Luckily there's a decent* ski place about 20 min from me so i can live with it. Plus the room rack cross bars come off very easily so when I'm not using them I can take them off.

*Decent as in better than nothing

 

[Zarati]

Yea, the "quick Disconnect" feature is nice. especially if you have any low parking Garages. And if all you need is Ski's then that setup works fine. I needed to carry Ski's and the rocket Box, and sometimes Bikes and Canoes and those factory bars just arent beefy enough for Bikes or RocketBoxes.

anyhow, Enjoy the Ski Rig. And if you do need extra Binding Clearance, the RailRiders "Not sure what Thule's version is called but they have one too" will add about 2" more clearance and give you more Bar space if you ever need it.

Now lets pray for SNOW!!!

 

[Robbie]

i did not like using the cross bars for my yakima powder hound with boards up there. way to much bouncing and flexing of the cross bars and i never felt comfortable that the rack would not just blow off with the boards. i bought a gutter kit for the comfort factor. the cross bars that attach to the permanent mount bars is also a great idea.