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HitchSki is a ski and snowboard carrier that clamps onto your Yakima dual-arm, hitch mounted bike rack. The carrier holds up to 6 pairs of skis or 4 snowboards, features adjustable arms and protects your gear with rubber padding and SKS locks.
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Average Customer Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars (33 Customer Reviews)
HitchSki is a ski and snowboard carrier that clamps onto your Yakima dual-arm, hitch mounted bike rack. The carrier holds up to 6 pairs of skis or 4 snowboards, features adjustable arms and protects your gear with rubber padding and SKS locks.It will, indeed fit six pair of skis back to back. It would be better if the lower bracket on each side could be opened wider to make it easier to slide the skis into position. But I've tried it with four different pairs of skis (kids skis, modern adult skis, and even early 2000s adult skis); they all fit fine.
Mounting to a bike rack is pretty straightforward, and as long as the rack can hang four bikes, with adjustable hanger slot placement, the ski rack accessory should fit onto the bike rack just fine. I added an extra wrap of shock cord at each contact point just to lock it down better, but that shouldn't be necessary.
It is quite sturdy. I do suggest always traveling with the upper brackets locked using the keys that come with the rack. If you want to add a little theft deterrent, hitch bike racks either have a slot for a bike chain, or have one built in. And of course use a locking receiver pin.
For several years I've used a roof-top cargo box for skis, but on taller vehicles that would prevent entry into a garage, on taller cars. I got this because lately I've been using a much taller vehicle for skiing, and a roof rack or roof box just wouldn't have worked out for me. I already had a hitch bike rack, so this was the best solution.
First and foremost, this is my third order from etrailer.com and it is the absolute best online company with which I have dealt...bar none (no pun intended, but I did buy roofbars)! I have installed a trailer hitch and Malone roofbars on my 2011 Volvo XC90. With the Malone roofbars, I lost a rubber piece....totally my fault. I contacted etrailer and they contacted Malone and Malone sent me a replacement piece direct from the factory (even though it wasn't a part Malone sold separately). Outstanding service from both etrailer and Malone. I haven't been able to post this outstanding customer service work until I bought something else, so I thought I'd be remiss if I didn't take the opportunity here. [Side note on the Malone roofbars and the rubber pieces: I have since Gorilla glued all of them to the respective pieces on the bar and they'll never be lost again.]
For this Yakima HitchSki rack, I ordered it at 8:30 AM and it had shipped by 11:38 the same day. I chose this rack for several reasons. First, I have a low garage, so anything on my Toyota Landcruiser's roof would have to come off before driving in and out (I only have a 7 foot garage in my house in Canada, but could drive in my 8 foot garage in Virginia in the Toyota with the roof box). I want to be able to load up all the ski stuff the night before and leave it in the garage so it doesn't get stolen....couldn't do this on the Toyota because with nothing on the roof, I only have about 3 inches of clearance now. In the Volvo, I don't quite make the garage clearance either with the roofbox, so the roofbox becomes less of a convenience (but often a necessity). Second, with five kids, each of my cars is packed with people so I need my roof box (didn't buy it from etrailer because I was overseas at the time and hadn't learned of etrailer yet), so skis on the roof doesn't help me space-wise with all the other crap I have to throw up there. Third, every ski day day is a game time decision on whether to to drive the Toyota or the Volvo depending on what other people in the family are doing that day; the ease of just unplugging the bike rack with the skis all mounted, resting it against the wall in the garage all week and then plugging it in and going in either car was the big sell. Finally, in the off season, I may just be able to leave all the skis in the rack and hang it horizontal from the garage ceiling to keep them all out of the way....not sure, but will certainly try. My bike rack is one I have had for years [again, pre my days of knowing about etrailer, it's an XSport four bike holder] and it did not measure exactly the 17.25" needed, but it was close enough and secured down just fine. I wrapped the HitchSki with foam insulation to add some rubber and grip inside the bike rack when clapped down (and scratch protection).
Now for two big buts...less of a review but more of a consideration for purchasers. I bought this rack because I have 7 in my family. The skis are tall and skinny and hard to fit in the car(s), hence my Hitch Ski rack. But skis are just one piece of skiing equipment. Add helmets, boots, jackets, ski pants, etc. and that's a lot of space. So, in my Volvo XC90 or Toyota Landcruiser, while they both seat 7 people, it's very tight with two teenagers and two car seats (and one pre-teen...just so you know I'm doing the math right). If all seven of us go skiing, I still need the roof box for all the other equipment. If we go on a skiing vacation (overnight), I need other luggage too. Thankfully, Friday night and Sunday ski lessons are just for three kids, so the others will probably not always come. With the back seat down, no problem for all the other stuff. So, a Thule Transporter Cargo Box in my future? Stay tuned.Â
Final, and most important but, I had to return the HitchSki rack because my skis didn't fit. When you have racks on the roof, they are generally 30+ inches apart. For this rack, the distance between the two racks is 17 inches. I could not, for the life of me, get the skis to fit in the racks without going through or over the ski bindings, hence, I was unable to get it closed and secured. I't s product of having so many different ski sizes (from my 4 year old to my 48 year old self). I was disappointed in myself that I didn't forecast this problem as I over thought everything else.
Excellent and unbelievable customer care service and prontly 72 hours delivery on Christmas week.
Easy and timeless installation product, drove all ready 1,000 miles without shacks neither vibration.
Jut make sure the bike's rack screw/lock get well tight.
Oscar
2/14/2014
Till owned it and very happy with the product makes our trips easy skiing and happy also to had found it by you guys.
Easy install.
Michael
12/17/2018
It’s fine. I have only used it twice. A suggestion would be to make the part that goes into the hitch receiver longer by 4 inches. Without it the back door of the Jeep Wrangler will not open fully. The spare tire hits. I bought a hitch extender and that did the trick. If your rack was longer the receiver would not be needed.
I would give it 5 stars if Yakima fixes the binder adjustment to allow for easier lock-in. As this is an issue with previous versions and claimed that it has been fixed, it is not. Even with the highest setting of the locking, it is very hard to close it with 2 pairs of skis on each side. It is meant for 6 pairs of skis, which would require either a vast amount of muscle power to close or you will need to trim the protective rubber to accommodate. My wife refused to use it due to the difficulty to close. Longer adjustment bolts would solve the problem without a need for design change.
Box was completely opened upon receipt. Luckily, all the parts were inside.
Does not hold 4 snowboards. Holds 2.
Sierra K.
10/28/2021
This is supposed to hold two snowboards side by side on each side of the rack, or it can hold 3 pairs of skis on each side, or it can hold 3 skis on one side and 2 snowboards on the other. Do not mix skis and snowboards on one side as the carrier will not close properly.
unit is sometimes loose in the trailer hitch. You really need to tighten a lot and check it twice.
This is an amazing retrofit to our existing Yakima bike rack. We get tons of compliments and inquiries about the rack when we’re unloading our gear and would highly recommend it for up to four pairs of skis. Our only complaint is that if you have a wide range of ski sizes (kids/adults), it may take a few tries before you find the best arrangement of skis to get them all locked down well (locking on ski, not on bindings, for example). Very minor issue and likely a non-issue if you have all adult skis. Never owned another rack but it seems like it makes the skis much more accessible than a roof rack. Highly recommend!
Got the rack on Saturday, but one of the lower bars was defective. I called customer service on Sunday and Monday evening I had the replacement bar in my house. Amazing customer service. Customer reps are very courteous and accommodating. I just can't stop praising them. The product feels and looks like a very good quality. I'll be using it for the first time in a few days. If you don't see follow up review, then the product is worth every penny.
This product can't hold more than 3 pairs of modern downhill skis. It's real a disappointment. I didn't believe other people when they wrote this, and now I'm living it. Unfortunate.
I have been using it for the second season (I know I'm late With the review ). The hitch fits my bike rack and saves space for the kids in the car. Easy to install and worth the price.
Assembled easily. Seems like a solid product. Have not used it yet.
Matt T.
1/29/2019
Works great. Gets easier to install skis after use a few times. The rubber is pretty firm. This combined with a new Thule swingarm style hitch mount carrier makes ski loading, carrying, and security a breeze.
This was delivered fast with great communication from your company as to when it would arrive . I've tried it on my Saris bike rack this morning and it fits fine . Now all I need is snow !! Do you deliver that ?
T hanks for great service.
Adele
Great product
Thanks for the speedy delivery even though the product was back ordered. Still got it here before Christmas. Awesome work!!!!
Easy to assemble, light weight and holds the skis I need for the family
Works awesome!!
.....received it quickly.....easy to put together.....very sturdy...works perfect.....looks good
GREAT SELLER. SUPER FAST SHIPPING. ITEM AS DESCRIBED. THANKS !!!
Quick shipping, very easy to work with. Thank you!
Outstanding service. Quick delivery.
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David
11/22/2023
Ive found some skis with race bindings, and some rental bindings that wont fit back to back. For me that is fine, as I only need to carry four or five pairs. Six works if the bindings arent too thick. This is my second season with this rack, and Im still very happy with it.