How to Mount a Yakima Ski Rack

Transporting snow skis is perhaps one of the biggest hurdles to overcome when participating in the sport. The long skis required to snow ski can prove to be difficult to get from home to the slopes. A common and popular solution to transporting snow skis is a roof-mounted snow-ski rack. The Yakima company makes a wide range of racks designed to help outdoor enthusiasts safely transport their gear.

Things You'll Need

  • Vehicle with factory installed cross bars
  • Yakima FreshSesh ski rack kit (rack with mounts and hex wrench)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Locate the mounting bales with slider top assemblies and the hex wrench in the Yakima packaging. Insert the hex wrench into the base screw and completely remove it to separate the slider top from the bale. Repeat the process for all four bales with slider top assemblies on both racks.

    • 2

      Remove the screw on one side of the bale completely and loosen, but do not remove, the screw on the opposite end. Position the bale around the factory cross bar and adjust the screw length so the bale fits securely.

    • 3

      Place the ski rack carrier on a flat surface and press the elongated button on the end so that it can be opened. Raise the pivoting top up and back so that the mounting holes can be easily accessed.

    • 4

      Locate the mounting hole to one end of the rack and insert a screw down through the hole. Place a slider top on the screw and thread the screw into a bale assembly. Do not tighten the screw at this point. Use the hex wrench to thread the screw into the bale. Repeat the process for the remaining slider tops and bale assemblies on both racks.

    • 5

      Hold one of the racks and move the slider top so that the hole in the bale without a screw is exposed. Position the bales around the factory cross bar, insert a screw into both bales and straighten the rack with the slider tops. Tighten the rack into place with the hex wrench.

    • 6

      Repeat the process to attach the second rack to the cross bars. Take time to align the rack on the front cross bars with the rack on the rear cross bars.