Still....I continue to transport my skis inside the vehicles. I have decided it is time to get the ski racks for the top of the Escape. This was touched on in my last Transporting thread started nearly two years ago.
Last winter/early spring we bought a nice Thule cargo top box. We though we would use it for putting skis in but I don't like that there really isn't any way to secure them inside. We tried a big piece of foam rubber to keep things from bouncing around the bottom of the box but I don't like it. Besides, it is a pretty good reach up and into the box. The box we bought goes on the Tahoe and is too big for the Escape.
So...time to finally buy the actual ski rack/holder things to put onto my vehicle roof rack. I was looking at the Yakima's and Thule's on Tuesday. I am not impressed with the push button locking mechanism on the Yak's. Really a wierd shaped thing. The Thules have a nice, simple button. Also, I'm not impressed with how the Yak's attached to the cross bars. They seem to be a bit more secure though as far as preventing theft goes.
So my question(s). Which do you like best and why? Are the Yak's a pain in the butt to put on and take off? Do you own the Thule's? Any concerns with theft and those cheesy little locks that keep the knob from turning to release the clamping belt? I understand the rubber strap/belt is rubber coated metal. Any issues with those? I was about to say the heck with the Thules when I learned the hold down strap is in fact metal inside the rubber - I'm writing about the straps that hold the ski rack to the cross bars.
Any other perinant information or opinions on these two set-ups?

I am thinking I am going to go with the 4 place Thules which I think will hold 5 or 6 pairs of XC skis. Any info on that would be great please - how many skis in a ?? place ski holder do you put on your rack?
Thanks all and happy skiing! See you on the trail.

if your skis are exposed to road debris, think of how often your windshield needs to be cleaned, your skis are exposed to the same stuff. a nice fine grit of salt and sand. i am not too sure how fussy you are but this stuff is like anti-wax. this is not a problem if you are planning to rewax your skis but if if have spent time getting your skis just perfect, this will kill the whole effort. use your box, it is a major step up from road salt.

for what it is worth i have a thule ski rack. i haven't used it in years. the skis go in a ski bag inside our SUV or in the back of my truck, in bags. we are going out to colorado this winter, we will carry the skis with the thule rack. before i do this i will prep them with a thick base of soft glide wax. in colorado they will be scraped and cleaned before being waxed.

Or you can carry the skis in a bag tied to the plain rack. My bag fits 3-4 pair if I'm careful. Keeps the debris off them and leaves you space in the car.

Completely understand and agree concerning road verdigris on my skis. I'm planning on putting them in some type of bag and then onto the ski rack. I really haven't looked into them as of yet but was thinking I could find some sort of lighter weight bag that would work in the rack clamps.
Anything out there like this? Guess I better hit the Internet!
Thank you for the input so far.