Ski RV's, who's sleeping in parking lots?

[Trackhead]

Just did 3,000 miles over three weeks. DIY flatbed, DIY bike rack, 30yr old camper all held up just fine. Average of 11.5mpg but what we lose in MPG we saved way ahead of time in no depreciation.

[Hopeless Sinner]

Isn't this a pretty good deal for one of these?

https://www.facebook.com/share/zDJ1k3SsnWXDAtaL/

The weight is probably an issue for many so that limits the buyers.

[Hopeless Sinner]

Just did 3,000 miles over three weeks. DIY flatbed, DIY bike rack, 30yr old camper all held up just fine. Average of 11.5mpg but what we lose in MPG we saved way ahead of time in no depreciation.

Sounds like a great trip.

[Perlhammered]

Question for those of you with slide-in/pop-up campers (like the one pictured below): How are you transporting skis? Rocket box or rack mounted to the roof? Toss em in the camper and get all your shit wet?

[singlecross]

Question for those of you with slide-in/pop-up campers (like the one pictured below): How are you transporting skis? Rocket box or rack mounted to the roof? Toss em in the camper and get all your shit wet?

I put ours on the floor of the camper, but I carry a hand whisk broom with a handle to brush them off before I put them in. It satisfies my OCD.

[pfluffenmeister]

I put ours on the floor of the camper, but I carry a hand whisk broom with a handle to brush them off before I put them in. It satisfies my OCD.

Moisture management is key in #vanlife.

[Name Redacted]

I have been putting them in the front seat, or wrapping them in a tarp in the camper. Still working on a better system though. Would love a box outside on the back, or the side but can't go any higher or it won't fit in my shop garage.

[byates1]

I'm ultra strict about skis in sun apres while I drink coffee and chat up the babes. Skis go in dry everyday. Some storm days not 100% possible but..

[byates1]

Last year on mega storms I would go to the laundry and dry my shit apres. Not as many babes at the laundry. Especially in Logan UT. But hey..

[Trackhead]

Now that I have a flatbed with boxes, they will go in there. Excited for that this winter. So much space in those.

[Andyski]

I put ours on the floor of the camper, but I carry a hand whisk broom with a handle to brush them off before I put them in. It satisfies my OCD.

Same here. Brush off, towel off, good enough.


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[DanoT]

Question for those of you with slide-in/pop-up campers (like the one pictured below): How are you transporting skis? Rocket box or rack mounted to the roof? Toss em in the camper and get all your shit wet?

Why not just mount a scissors type ski rack or other type of rack to the back or sidewall of the camper?

[SchralphMacchio]

That truck is a bit small for this idea, but on wider body trucks I’ve seen a front receiver with cargo box mounted on a cargo tray below the headlamps. Not a bad way to go?

[Andyski]

I'm ultra strict about skis in sun apres while I drink coffee and chat up the babes. Skis go in dry everyday. Some storm days not 100% possible but..

It’s the one upside to hella wind in the lot - natural ski drier.


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[El Chupacabra]

Why not just mount a scissors type ski rack or other type of rack to the back or sidewall of the camper?

Yes, like this. Not my camper. They're going to get messy in winter driving though. Roof top will be cleaner, but unless you have a ladder bolted onto the camper, a PITA for access.

[DanoT]

Yes, like this. Not my camper. They're going to get messy in winter driving though. Roof top will be cleaner, but unless you have a ladder bolted onto the camper, a PITA for access.

It is easy enough to put the skis in a ski bag to keep them clean. I have a ladder on my truck camper and I tie and cable lock skis in bags to the ladder.

[m2711c]

road salt on yer edges eats up skis quick...




fact.

[AirheadD8]

Not to mention turning your bindings into bricks.
I’ve seen a bunch come through the ski shop I worked in years ago.

[Name Redacted]

I feel like I saw a "Ski Condom" one time that protected the skis while in an outside rack. Just roll it on like a condom. (Been so long, do they still work that way?).

But yeah, just use a ski bag on the outside rack, that's what I plan on doing I think.

[singlecross]

Do yourselves a favor and wax or lube the ski bag zipper frequently.

[Iowagriz]

Cross post to fishing thread.

#Vanlife and I'd like something the size of this Yakima rod vault for the top of the van. I don't fish, but I want something for skis and extra stuff up top. The problem I'm facing is getting something under 20" wide (or so) as the AC is mounted in the center of the van and makes it hard to mount a normal width ski box. I did get my normal Yakima box up there, but it was hanging over the back by at least 18", maybe more, die to having to mount it so far back behind the AC unit.

Any ideas? Rod box, 10" tall and 6-7' long would be ideal. But they also seem trendy now, so $$$$, and I'm cheap. This Yakima rod box has terrible reviews, but the dimensions seem right.

[apex dave]

To get the length you need it means a box 7 1/2 feet long so that means mounting across the back. Both the Thule Force XT and Yakima ski box are 24" wide which might work but also require more room than that to hinge open. The Force XT is only 179 cm internal so also too short.
Based on my experience expect to replace the lift hinges on a Thule every 3 years or so.

[El Chupacabra]

Cross post to fishing thread.

#Vanlife and I'd like something the size of this Yakima rod vault for the top of the van. I don't fish, but I want something for skis and extra stuff up top. The problem I'm facing is getting something under 20" wide (or so) as the AC is mounted in the center of the van and makes it hard to mount a normal width ski box. I did get my normal Yakima box up there, but it was hanging over the back by at least 18", maybe more, die to having to mount it so far back behind the AC unit.

How much space do you have off to the side of the AC unit, on either side? Any reason you can't put a ski box on one side, next to the AC? Crossbars can hang off the side of the van some, and so can that roof box.

[Iowagriz]

Unfortunately the current bars are flush with the van sides, so moving them to the side is limited. I think it was approx 20" to the AC, maybe a little more.

One of the old school Rocketbox might work, but as mentioned above, I forgot to factor in the hinge swing.

I'll probably have to go with the box hanging over the back for the winter and skis.

[El Chupacabra]

Unfortunately the current bars are flush with the van sides, so moving them to the side is limited. I think it was approx 20" to the AC, maybe a little more.

One of the old school Rocketbox might work, but as mentioned above, I forgot to factor in the hinge swing.

I'll probably have to go with the box hanging over the back for the winter and skis.

What prevents use of aftermarket crossbars extending off the side of the van? Is there a track on the roof for the crossbars? Post a pic or three?

There are some companies with narrow ski boxes too. Inno makes one.