Are you planning on taking a trip to the slopes this upcoming winter holiday? Or are you looking to make a quick getaway any time soon? You might be dreaming of a relaxing day by the fireplace, but you have a lot to think about; you need to prepare for both snowfall and sunshine, cold and hot temperatures, and of course, the occasional avalanche.
If you’re looking to make the most out of your ski trip this coming winter holiday or any other winter holiday, you should try building a ski bike rack. You can find a lot of designs for ski bike racks on the internet, but if you want to build one yourself, it’s not that difficult. Especially if you follow our step-by-step guide below.
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Choose A Location For The Rack
The first thing you need to do before starting is to determine where you’ll mount the rack. As a general rule, we recommend placing the rack on top of your car. This way, when you open the doors to enter the vehicle, you’ll see the snowy landscape directly in front of you. You can also choose to place it on the trunk or a storage area inside your car. Just keep in mind that if it’s on the roof, it’ll be easy for people to see it if they’re driving next to you.
Make The Rack Strong
If you’ll be carrying lots of skis and snowboards, you’ll need a strong and stable rack to prevent them from moving around too much when you’re driving. A great way to achieve this is by using heavy-duty metal brackets and crossbars. When selecting the location for your rack, take this into consideration as well. The best place for a rack is next to the windshield, so you don’t have to worry about the snow blocking the view when you’re driving. Avoid choosing a spot near the doors, as this is where most ski racks tend to break down. The best location for a ski rack is next to the windshield and in the middle, so you can see over the top of the vehicle when lifting the bike up to the top shelf.
One of the best things about our Ski Bench tutorial is that it doesn’t require any previous experience. If you’ve never done any sewing or crafting before, this is a great project for you. You’ll just need to follow our instructions and have a little bit of patience. Of course, it would be best if you have either some basic DIY skills or if you’ve previously worked in an environment where you used a power tool regularly. Otherwise, this might be a difficult project for you. But even if you don’t have any previous experience, you can still follow our step-by-step guide below and build a strong and stable ski bike rack, even if it’s not perfect. Just take your time and do it safely. You’ll be happy you did.
Sew The Side Panels
The first step is to sew the side panels for the rack. These panels will be attached to the main panel, which in turn will be attached to the car roof. The side panels should be able to hold four or five bikes and are usually made of a breathable material to prevent any overheating while you’re driving. Make sure you attach them securely so they won’t come off in the rain or during high winds. When choosing your site for the rack, take this into consideration and avoid choosing a spot near trees, as they might end up falling on your roof during a strong wind or heavy rainstorm. The best way to make a secure connection is by using heavy-duty metal staples.
Assemble The Main Panel
Once you’ve sewn the side panels onto the main panel, you’ll need to attach it to the car roof using the provided metal brackets and crossbars. Make sure you’ve attached all the side panels before continuing. If you forgot to attach a panel and realized it after you’ve started, it’ll be difficult to undo the work already done.
Assemble The Top Panel
The top panel is the final step and will be held in place by the provided metal brackets and crossbars. Make sure you’ve screwed these securely into the roof of your car before moving on to the next step.
Mount The Rack On The Roof
Once you’ve attached the top panel, it’s time to mount the rack on the roof of your car. To do this, simply raise the vehicle a few inches off the ground and then screw the provided metal brackets and crossbars into the roof. Make sure you do this securely, as any movement while driving could lead to accidents or injuries.
That’s it! You now have a fully assembled and functional ski bike rack. You can take this anywhere and use it anytime you want. Of course, this is not a perfect solution and if you’re ever planning on taking more than five bikes on an excursion, you might want to consider another option. But for a couple of hours of skiing fun, this will do just fine. Plus, it’ll be easy for you to remove whenever you want.