Travel Options - Toyota Yaris Forums

Tonavi · 01-04-2011, 04:52 PM

I know this has been asked several times but with no clear answer or how to. I am an avid mountain biker (have a hitch rack for that and it works well) and have taken up skiing and snowboarding this season and would like to be able to take three other people on a cross country trip with their gear in comfort in my 3 door. I have a couple options:

1. Get a hitch rack for skis/snowboards. I've seen these go for around $200-300 and it would work with my existing setup, but tall skis could hit the ground on steep approaches. It could also be an invitation to theft potentially.

2. Roof rack. I've seen setups with Q-towers in the door frames and I wouldn't like to tear up the already fragile paint job on mine (almost 4 years old in MN) and I'd need an extender kit to have them far enough apart to carry enough weight with stability. I read about a setup where holes were drilled and footings were mounted on the roof where the crossbars had a good distance between themselves. I have seen no price figures or quotes on this setup and am wondering if it would be worth calling a customizing shop for.

3. Make a travel trailer. I'd start off with a 4x6 or 4x8 ALUMINUM one and make a series of "trays" that can hold bikes, boards, skis, or any combination of them all. Everything would be welded together except for where it would be bolted to the trailer frame so I could use it as a flatbed if I wanted to. The trailer would also have lockable storage where would keep as much gear as possible to free cabin space. I could get a used trailer for around $500 and have welded aluminum before and have access to a metalworking facility. All I would need to do is rig a lighting system for it to the car's taillights.

What would you think is best, and have any of you done anything like this before? Pictures would be welcome, too. Thanks.

Betrivent · 01-04-2011, 05:38 PM

There are magnetic roof racks as well. They are SOLID. They just attach to the roof of your car and are 100% stable. Of course they are easy to remove, but you wouldn't leave them (the skis and boards) outside unattended very long anyway, right? And hwen you say, park and head for the hills you can just detach the racks and toss em in the back of your car until you need them again.

Tonavi · 01-04-2011, 05:41 PM

I've never heard of magnetic ones, but that's a great idea! No holes, clamps, just stick it on! I'm googling for them now, but would you know of any particularly good setup?

Betrivent · 01-04-2011, 05:45 PM

Not sure, I only came accross them when I worked at a car rental place. But I definitely know they exist somewhere.

Tonavi · 01-04-2011, 05:49 PM

I found one here, looking for USA based ones though.

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbv...e=accgen&qty=1

Tonavi · 01-04-2011, 05:53 PM

Found another one, too. This one looks like it's more suitable for interstate and long-term use. For $132.xx it looks like a far better deal than a traditional rack. Wonder why I don't see more of them...

http://www.cargogear.com/OneItemInfo...artnum=INSKIMG

Betrivent · 01-04-2011, 05:55 PM

yeah they are a good option. I may have to look into them in the future too since I go up to the mountains quite often and can't fit everybody and their gear in the back ;(

Tonavi · 01-04-2011, 05:59 PM

I would like to build the travel trailer but don't really have a place to keep it. We really want to do a bike trip to Whistler, BC with all our gear but that's 5000+ miles and I don't think 2 weeks worth of stuff from 4 people would fit all that well inside the cabin.

01-04-2011, 04:52 PM	#1
Tonavi Drives: 2007 Yaris HB Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: die Vereinigten Staaten Posts: 134	Travel Options I know this has been asked several times but with no clear answer or how to. I am an avid mountain biker (have a hitch rack for that and it works well) and have taken up skiing and snowboarding this season and would like to be able to take three other people on a cross country trip with their gear in comfort in my 3 door. I have a couple options: 1. Get a hitch rack for skis/snowboards. I've seen these go for around $200-300 and it would work with my existing setup, but tall skis could hit the ground on steep approaches. It could also be an invitation to theft potentially. 2. Roof rack. I've seen setups with Q-towers in the door frames and I wouldn't like to tear up the already fragile paint job on mine (almost 4 years old in MN) and I'd need an extender kit to have them far enough apart to carry enough weight with stability. I read about a setup where holes were drilled and footings were mounted on the roof where the crossbars had a good distance between themselves. I have seen no price figures or quotes on this setup and am wondering if it would be worth calling a customizing shop for. 3. Make a travel trailer. I'd start off with a 4x6 or 4x8 ALUMINUM one and make a series of "trays" that can hold bikes, boards, skis, or any combination of them all. Everything would be welded together except for where it would be bolted to the trailer frame so I could use it as a flatbed if I wanted to. The trailer would also have lockable storage where would keep as much gear as possible to free cabin space. I could get a used trailer for around $500 and have welded aluminum before and have access to a metalworking facility. All I would need to do is rig a lighting system for it to the car's taillights. What would you think is best, and have any of you done anything like this before? Pictures would be welcome, too. Thanks.

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01-04-2011, 05:38 PM	#2
Betrivent Not quite a noob Drives: e46 325 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: edmonton Posts: 1,408	There are magnetic roof racks as well. They are SOLID. They just attach to the roof of your car and are 100% stable. Of course they are easy to remove, but you wouldn't leave them (the skis and boards) outside unattended very long anyway, right? And hwen you say, park and head for the hills you can just detach the racks and toss em in the back of your car until you need them again.

01-04-2011, 05:41 PM	#3
Tonavi Drives: 2007 Yaris HB Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: die Vereinigten Staaten Posts: 134	I've never heard of magnetic ones, but that's a great idea! No holes, clamps, just stick it on! I'm googling for them now, but would you know of any particularly good setup?

01-04-2011, 05:45 PM	#4
Betrivent Not quite a noob Drives: e46 325 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: edmonton Posts: 1,408	Not sure, I only came accross them when I worked at a car rental place. But I definitely know they exist somewhere.

01-04-2011, 05:49 PM	#5
Tonavi Drives: 2007 Yaris HB Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: die Vereinigten Staaten Posts: 134	I found one here, looking for USA based ones though. http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbv...e=accgen&qty=1

01-04-2011, 05:53 PM	#6
Tonavi Drives: 2007 Yaris HB Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: die Vereinigten Staaten Posts: 134	Found another one, too. This one looks like it's more suitable for interstate and long-term use. For $132.xx it looks like a far better deal than a traditional rack. Wonder why I don't see more of them... http://www.cargogear.com/OneItemInfo...artnum=INSKIMG

01-04-2011, 05:55 PM	#7
Betrivent Not quite a noob Drives: e46 325 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: edmonton Posts: 1,408	yeah they are a good option. I may have to look into them in the future too since I go up to the mountains quite often and can't fit everybody and their gear in the back ;(

01-04-2011, 05:59 PM	#8
Tonavi Drives: 2007 Yaris HB Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: die Vereinigten Staaten Posts: 134	I would like to build the travel trailer but don't really have a place to keep it. We really want to do a bike trip to Whistler, BC with all our gear but that's 5000+ miles and I don't think 2 weeks worth of stuff from 4 people would fit all that well inside the cabin.