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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    here and there
    Posts
    18,583

    Cool Looking for a roof box that fits rockered skis plus

    I have been looking at various boxes for the new 4R and was wondering what folks on here are using?

    My basic requirements would be it should hold 4 pair of rocker skis and maybe poles. Right now the biggest skis I have are 184 Billy Goats. Lockable is nice as is ambidextrous.

    In the next couple weeks I will have to get out to the shops with boxes, skis in hand, to test fit various units.

    The old box I have, a no-name brand, has padded metal cross bars inside the unit for the skis to be strapped onto allowing the poles and such to lay in the bottom. This box goes on my VW Jetta wagon. Would be nice to find a box with this feature.

    This one looks good. http://www.amazon.com/Thule-605-Asce...=3T6FSVJCFDJ2G

    Thx in advance for your input.
    Last edited by scottyb; 10-25-2011 at 11:33 AM.
    watch out for snakes

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    my own little world
    Posts
    5,838
    Um. A box that's big enough should fit your skis. I like my Thule Spirit. I liked it more before my wife backed out of the garage while it was open.

    On a related note, I need a 2x4 that's 12 feet long. Any ideas?
    focus.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    PNW
    Posts
    1,633
    been happy with a Thule Spirit 1600.

    + Low pro, ambidextrous, nice finish, tooless removal,meets your carrying capacity

    - cost, no ski shelf as you describe.

    when i was researching boxes over a year ago cant say i remember seeing any with a shelf. seems like you could make one for whatever box you end up with.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Wasatch
    Posts
    7,243
    I put 4 pairs in my Thule 1100. 188 megawatts included
    I need to go to Utah.
    Utah?
    Yeah, Utah. It's wedged in between Wyoming and Nevada. You've seen pictures of it, right?

    So after 15 years we finally made it to Utah.....


    Thanks BCSAR and POWMOW Ski Patrol for rescues

    8, 17, 13, 18, 16, 18, 20, 19, 16, 24, 32, 35

    2021/2022 (13/15)

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Colorado
    Posts
    9,356
    if they are cambered skis, they will not work in this______ brand box......
    Terje was right.

    "We're all kooks to somebody else." -Shelby Menzel

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Where the climate suits my clothes.
    Posts
    5,601
    With careful packing I've fit up to 6 pairs of skis and a couple sets of poles in this one:

    http://www.thule.com/en-US/US/Produc...02-Ascent-1100

    The material seems a little flimsy (to cut down weight I'd assume) but I haven't had any durability issues with it so far and the locks are kinda tricky and take some getting used to, but they work ok once you figure them out. I've heard similar gripes with other boxes, so don't know if you're going to find much better...

    It's also got the nice little adjustable claw clamps to attach it if you already have rails on the roof, which make putting in on and off super easy even if you're by yourself.


    Lots of good info here too: https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...es-suck-so-bad

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Calgary, Alberta
    Posts
    362
    I've been using a Thule 685XT (Atlantis I believe), and can get 4-5 pairs plus poles in there, including 195 S7s and 188 Ninthward CVPs. That said, the S7s barely fit, and I don't think I could get even 2 pairs of them in there. But if the biggest pair you have is the BGs, you'd be golden. I generally stack them upright as opposed to on their side (so I have 4 pairs side by side instead of on top of one another), and seem to be able to fit more that way. YMMV

    Downsides are that it's a bit pricey, not super low profile...and didn't survive without harm when my hungover ass tried to back out of my garage before the door was finished opening. Upsides are it's lockable, ambidextrous, and you can get it open with big ass mitts on.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Stuttgart, DE
    Posts
    139
    Yea,
    I have to agree with the above. I have a Thule Atlantis 1800 for 3 years now...and its the best box thule has put out to date. (use to have a frontier on the 4runner) The biggest improvement is the inside volume, while still maintaining a some what low profile. The locks are also really improved, and installation and removal with the quick grip clamps is really easy. It holds up great too...took it cross country through I-80 a few times and it really doesn't show as much wear as the older boxes did.

    I can fit my pair of 197 SS7's and 188 Rc's w/o issue....plus the gf's skis and the occasional buddies skis/boards...with room for some boxes of food and beer.

    my box:

    http://www.thule.com/en-US/US/Produc...Atlantis-1800#

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    201
    I have a Yakima Skybox16 and it works great. I've fit a bunch of skis and snowboards in it. Probably the most I've fit has been about 4 pairs of skis with three snowboards. It fits really nice on top of my WRX Wagon.

    http://yakima.com/shop/cargo/skybox-series/skybox-16

    It has an awesome mounting system which once dialed in takes 2 minutes to put on the car or take off, by myself.

    When switching cars with different cross bar distances it takes about 20 minutes.

    With a 4R you could probably go a big longer with the Skybox18.

    As far as the boxes go I would go with the rough black plastic which is what I have as it holds up really well to all weather conditions and doesn't really show wear. I throw it on and off of the car a lot and don't have to worry about it at all. My brother-in-law bought the same box, except got the silver one with the "automotive" like shiny finish and you he does the same thing and regrets the color (He has a silver Jetta Wagon) because you can see all the scratches.

    My 177 Mantras fit with room to spare, without having to be on a diagonal. A buddy of mine has a Thule Atlatis 1600 which is roughly the same square footage and is a little less tall. I like the extra inch or two in height as I can throw all my gear on top of my skis and have a bunch of room for my dog in the back of my wagon.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    27
    Anybody have any experience with a really low-profile box like the Yakima LoPro?

    http://yakima.com/shop/cargo/skybox-series/skybox-lopro

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Boise, ID
    Posts
    967
    Quote Originally Posted by Daikon View Post
    Anybody have any experience with a really low-profile box like the Yakima LoPro?

    http://yakima.com/shop/cargo/skybox-series/skybox-lopro
    Hey, did you get any of those low profile boxes? I'm looking into either the lopro or one of the alpine boxes from thule... like the sonic alpine.

    Problem is, for whatever reason those boxes are not supposed to work on anything other then the biggest suvs like yukon! Does anyone have any of those low profile on anything not huge? Like an explorer or a jeep gc? they are low profile but usually longer than the xl/18 boxes...

    have anyone tried a box on a car that yakima/thule says it won't work! The feedback I got from thule is something like "it won't work, but actually you can try, it might work" when I asked about the thule sonic alpine to fit a jeep gc without any hatch interference! It's even worse when they said it would work on my wife's kia sportage which is much smaller than a gc

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    where the beer flows like wine
    Posts
    2,402
    ^^^what vehicle do you have? when thule/yakima says it won't fit, 99% of the time it means the trunk won't fully open, but it does fit.

    I had a thule spirit (discontinued now and most similar to the sonic) on a 2006 Prius. Now I have an even bigger box, the Thule Boxter, on the Prius.

    We just put a sonic XL on a Audi Q5 (medium sized SUV) with the Audi crossbars and it fit perfectly.

    If you have questions, don't hesitate to call the shop.

    Travis
    406.532.7225
    www.backcountryracks.com
    Big skis from small companies at Backcountry Freeskier

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Boise, ID
    Posts
    967
    Quote Originally Posted by mtskier View Post
    ^^^what vehicle do you have? when thule/yakima says it won't fit, 99% of the time it means the trunk won't fully open, but it does fit.

    I had a thule spirit (discontinued now and most similar to the sonic) on a 2006 Prius. Now I have an even bigger box, the Thule Boxter, on the Prius.

    We just put a sonic XL on a Audi Q5 (medium sized SUV) with the Audi crossbars and it fit perfectly.

    If you have questions, don't hesitate to call the shop.

    Travis
    406.532.7225
    www.backcountryracks.com
    it's a grand cherokee and I was looking for either the yakima lopro or thule sonic alpine, the thule XL will fit just fine but I was hoping to get some low profile since I will use only for ski trips

    I see the alpine is a few inches longer than the xl, 6" if I'm not mistaken

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Tetons
    Posts
    630
    I have a Thule ascent 1200 - which I think they renamed to a Thule Force Alpine. I have fit 2 pairs of skis, poles, boots, extra crap and other junk. I will all but guarantee that you can fit 4 pairs in their without other junk... I just lay an old, thick quilt down in the bottom half and wrap it between the skis so they don't rub.

    If you had to go bigger - to the force XXL - that's really a ton of space, but $$$

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    1,484
    Find out the next time the local REI is having a garage sale. Go buy the roof box that you like for >50% off. It might have a small ding or scratch on it.
    I wear crocs for the style, not the comfort.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    where the beer flows like wine
    Posts
    2,402
    you have the atlantis 1200 and I guarantee it will fit 4 pairs of skis + poles. I have one of those too.
    Big skis from small companies at Backcountry Freeskier

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    SLC
    Posts
    1,508
    you could drill a couple holes in your old box to match up with the 4runner cross bars then throw some DIY mounts to secure the box to the bars. cheapest idea i have.
    Perhaps you'd be more comfortable on epicski or Paula's Ski Lovers, AltaNancy.

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    where the beer flows like wine
    Posts
    2,402
    Quote Originally Posted by mfa81 View Post
    it's a grand cherokee and I was looking for either the yakima lopro or thule sonic alpine, the thule XL will fit just fine but I was hoping to get some low profile since I will use only for ski trips

    I see the alpine is a few inches longer than the xl, 6" if I'm not mistaken
    Both will definitely fit your rig. The longer sonic may extend over your windshield a few inches but you will not be able to see it in your field of view.
    Big skis from small companies at Backcountry Freeskier

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    957
    Thule box/racks on sale at LLBean - http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/51306...id=00215409674

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    here and there
    Posts
    18,583
    Update

    Been getting good use out of my Thule 1700, I can cram 4 sets of skis on the bottom(2 sets being rockered) with enough room on top for more skis or gear. The rack fit on my factory racks is ok, could be better if the rails went the full length of the roof. If I play with it I can get it forward enough to have the tail gate open fully and the spoiler just touches the box.

    Its off now for boating/biking season.
    watch out for snakes

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    T-town, CO. USA
    Posts
    2,098
    I can fit four or five pairs of big, fat, rockered skis in my Yakima Skybox 12.
    Leave No Turn Unstoned!

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Posts
    51
    I'm an aggressive, level 9 driver, and need a roof box that will work for fast driving on both smooth pavement and dirt roads. Also need recs on a mounting point. I'm thinking of mounting ahead of the line to get more weight on the front wheels. But will this affect the handling on harder surfaces?

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    here and there
    Posts
    18,583
    If you mount at +57 you will get plenty of bite on the front, its really good on the groomers.
    watch out for snakes

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Westchesta County
    Posts
    934
    I have a Thule Atlantis 1800 for my jeep Gc. I get some trunk interference, apparently you need to mount the box with thule's cross rails and attachment pieces to bit get any interference with the trunk, stock cross rails sit too close to the roof. I just deal with it now cause I'm too cheap to buy more parts. I live the box, I can cram like 4 pairs of skis and two maybe three boards and boots. They fit my buddy's 192mantras?( not 100% on the length but I know they are def over 190. Haven't had any problems

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Big Sky/Moonlight Basin
    Posts
    14,417
    Not a box, but this roof rack is perfect for rockered skis...


    "Zee damn fat skis are ruining zee piste !" -Oscar Schevlin

    "Hike up your skirt and grow a dick you fucking crybaby" -what Bunion said to Harry at the top of The Headwaters

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