Ok just picked up my 2011 and I'm looking for a hitch mounted ski rack. Anyone have any experience with or recommendations for them?

I see that Thule and Yakima make them but they all attach to "their" bike racks. I have a Peformance X-Port 4 bike rack that looks similar in construction to the Yakima bike rack. I wonder if it will fit? I just bought the bike rack this past summer so I can't justify buying another one just to get a ski rack for it.

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

Pretty sure Yakima has this one that doesn't attach to a bike rack, it's a hitch mount. http://www.quadratec.com/products/92024_1003_07.htm

I don't think I could carry mine behind the Jeep like that with all the road salt and crap kicked up on them. A roof rack still seems the best way to go.

Schnarf... maybe that is a bike rack

 

They make a spare tire mount rack too... which let's you open the tailgate without the equipment in the way.

 

Thanks for the quick replies!

Yeah that one Yakima has if you read it says it is just an attachment for a bike rack.

As far as crap getting on the skis. We currently use a roof rack on my wife's Trailblazer and salt and road spray still gets on them.

A tire mount one would be great...like you said I could still open the tailgate easier than lowering down the rack. Who makes that do you know?

 

the tire mount ski rack is on quadratec, i dont feel like web searching but i know its a ...... yakima hitchski 188.99 for 4 snowboards or 6 skis part number 92024.1003
u can also get it with a bike rack for 408.99

 

I have an Alpine rack on permanent loan right now. Holds a good amount and doubles as a bike rack, only thing is you can not open the gate...

hxxp://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330497513747

may have to look into that spare tire rack myself... I wouldn't mind a roof rack, but I'm only 5'5'' on a good day and trying to reach a pair of skis on a rack with a 2.5 BB and tires is a bit tough...

 

LOL! Whiskeypirate... 5'5" on a good day...do you shrink on bad days?

I'm going to look at the Yakima one. It does say it will fit most 4 bike carriers which I have and looks similar to the Yakima bike rack in the picture.

Searching on the web I found that some people have problems with the tire mounted racks. The spare tire mount isn't strong enough to hold the tire and the weight of bikes/skis hanging off of it. None of those reviews were about Wranglers but I can see that happening to any vehicle. Since I still have my stock spare tire mount I'm going to stay away from them and stick with the hitch.

I'll probably also get some bags to cover the skis and snowboards to keep the gunk off of them.

 

Hidden hitch bike rack with ski/snowboard attachment.

 

Doesn't everybody?

 

I've used my "bike rack" as a ski rack for years. Who sez the skis have to be carried vertically? I just strap them to the arms of my bike rack and head to Colorado. It's a 900 mile drive, it may not look as pretty as a "real ski rack" but I really don't care, and I saved $350 or so in the process.