Homemade Cartop Ski Carrier

Carrying skis on top of a car is usually the best option if your car is compact or sedan-sized, as the skis are usually too long to fit in the car itself or will be uncomfortable or dangerous to have them riding unsecured in the car with you. You can make homemade cartop ski carriers quite easily with inexpensive materials and a bit of ingenuity.

  1. Tarps and Rope

    • If you have a roof rack, you can use a tarp and rope or bungee cords to secure skis to the cartop. Lay out the skis diagonally on a 6-foot-by-6-foot tarp. Then tie a long piece of rope around the two skis and run it diagonally off the tarp. Now roll the skis up in the tarp with the rope coming out of one end. Then tie each end of the tarp with smaller pieces of rope or bungees directly to the roof rack. Tie the longer piece of rope that is tied directly to the skis to the roof rack for extra security.

    Inexpensive Plastic Container

    • You can buy long inexpensive plastic containers at container or transport stores which should be the right size to fit your skis. After inserting your skis or sets of skis within the container, stuff it with newspaper or bedding so the skis don't rattle around inside while they are being transported. Make holes in the container large enough for a rope to be run through it and subsequently secured to the roof rack of your car.

    Build Your Own

    • You can build a cartop ski carrier out of wood. Use 2-by-4s for the base and sides of the ski carrier, with pieces of carpet attached to the inside so the skis are protected during transport. Attach a thinner wooden top with small hinges. Sand and stain the wood. Install latches and handles so the carrier can be easily secured to the roof rack with rope and also easily lifted down.