Question:

Hi…. Yakima does make a pretty good ski rack that holds six pairs of skis.  This is the same ski rack that Ford puts it’s sticker on.  I bought mine from the dealer because it was actually $10 cheaper than the ski shops…

Response:

I have the Barracraft 4ski carrier that bolts on to the luggage rack. It was only about $50 if my memory is correct. Its a tight fit to get all four on but other than that it seems fine.

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Hi folks!  I’m planning to buy a roof-top 4 pair ski carrier very soon for our 97 Explorer XLT.  I remember a discussion on this last winter (?) and didn’t save the message.  I was looking through the catalog from Performance Products and noticed one designed to mount on the JetRak 2000 (made by Thule).  The set costs about $100 for the locking holder and clamp-ons for the factory rack.   Has anyone purchased this brand ski carrier?  Anyone else have any better recommendations for a 4-pair carrier?  Any further advice on other racks with good locks?  I don’t plan to use it for bikes, nor do I like the hitch mount variety because of rear hatch visibility/ accessibility, and because EVERYTHING gets filthy back there. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.   BGC

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi folks!  I’m planning to buy a roof-top 4 pair ski carrier very soon > for our 97 Explorer XLT.  I remember a discussion on this last winter > (?) and didn’t save the message.  I was looking through the catalog > from Performance Products and noticed one designed to mount on the > JetRak 2000 (made by Thule).  The set costs about $100 for the locking > holder and clamp-ons for the factory rack. > Has anyone purchased this brand ski carrier?  Anyone else have any > better recommendations for a 4-pair carrier?  Any further advice on > other racks with good locks?  I don’t plan to use it for bikes, nor do > I like the hitch mount variety because of rear hatch visibility/ > accessibility, and because EVERYTHING gets filthy back there. > Any advice would be greatly appreciated. > BGC

As a follow-up, I called John Baker and they carry the Mohn ski rack (3 pr. carrier for $52.50, 6 pr. carrier for $99.75).  Anyone have any experience with this brand? I’m trying to find out if Yakima makes a ski rack for the 97 Explorer, but their web server wasn’t working this morning….. Thanks for your ideas! BGC White 1997 Explorer XLT, 4-dr, V6 SOHC

Response:

>I’m trying to find out if Yakima makes a ski rack for the 97 Explorer, >but their web server wasn’t working this morning…..

You didn’t say if you have a factory roof rack on your XLT.  But  my girfriend has a ‘94 Explorer Sport with a roof rack, and we bought the Yakima 6 pair ski rack and the clips that mount it to the factory rack.  Yakima was on sale in December, so we got it all for about $100.  We’re planning on carrying bikes in the future, but we’re gonna get a ball mount, swing away rack for this.  That way, we don’t have to lift bikes to the roof. Also, with the Yakima’s, we can move it from vehicle to vehicle, since their pieces are inter changeable.  All it takes are the mounts for the particular car or truck.  Yakima has the 6 ski, 4 ski, and an angles 4 ski for low clearance between rack and roof.  I was able to mount 4 pairs of skis, and 3 pairs of poles to ours.  Probably could have gotten the other pair of poles, but wasn’t that big of a deal. If you don’t have a factory roof rack, I’m sure Yakima has a setup to mount it, but it’ll start to cost more if you have to buy the towers and bar.  Locking towers are really expensive, so you’d be better off with a rack made to mount to cars without roof racks. Good Luck, Steve

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