Roof Rack or Tailgate Rack?

[Will733]

What do most people prefer and why?

I just picked up my 4runner this past weekend and would like to get a bike rack and snowboard rack (Or maybe a combo rack that works for both if there is such a thing).

 

[KevinB64]

I use a hitch mounted rack for bikes and a Yakima box on the roof for snowboards and/or camping gear. I also have a Yakima snowboard rack that holds two boards that I use sometimes when the box is on my other vehicle.

 

[li_runner]

Ditto, roof for snowboards hitch for bikes. Yakima Powderhound 6 & Yakima Double-down 4.

Bikes get muddy, why put them on the roof? I always wondered that, plus not having to lift the bike up that high is just so much easier. The snowboards get up there much easier.

 

[Will733]

Ive seen a few hitch mounted bike racks that you can purchase an "adapter" that will convert it to a snowboard rack too so maybe that would be the way to go rather than purchase 2 seperate racks.

Has anyone had bad experiences with those or do most prefer the roof rack for snowboards/skis for a different reason?

 

[bigonenine]

Like the other guys, I use a hitch mounted bike rack and put skis/snowboards on the roof. I have the Thule Doubletrack hitch mounted bike rack for my mountain bikes, and a Thule cargo box on the roof for skis and other gear. My parents used to have a thule hitch mounted bike rack with a ski adapter, but I personally didn't like it just because of all the salt and road grime you get on your gear when driving in the winter. The cargo box is way better at protecting your gear and can be used for other things like camping gear, etc. We even put our food in it on top of the skis when on ski trips and it works like a cooler because of the cold air haha.

Hitch for bikes and roof for skis is definitely the way to go.

 

[Will733]

Like the other guys, I use a hitch mounted bike rack and put skis/snowboards on the roof. I have the Thule Doubletrack hitch mounted bike rack for my mountain bikes, and a Thule cargo box on the roof for skis and other gear. My parents used to have a thule hitch mounted bike rack with a ski adapter, but I personally didn't like it just because of all the salt and road grime you get on your gear when driving in the winter. The cargo box is way better at protecting your gear and can be used for other things like camping gear, etc. We even put our food in it on top of the skis when on ski trips and it works like a cooler because of the cold air haha.

Hitch for bikes and roof for skis is definitely the way to go.

Oh, that makes sense... I never really thought about how dirty the gear would get back there. I also like to go camping so the roof cargo box does seem like a great idea to use in the summer as well.