Any recommendations on the best snowboard rack setup for our X's?

[mcibmw533]

I have OEM crossbars with a Thule box for the winter. The bars are relatively quiet when using the vent mode on the panoramic sunroof. The bars are also very sturdy. I've carried a bunch of lumber on the roof when doing projects on my house. I don't have that confidence in the Thule/Yakima bars that I've seen on the market.

I know not everyone has the ability for the added height requirements of a box (e.g. home garage, car port, parking garages, etc.) but a box is really the best option for your gear in my opinion. I was up riding at my local hill and the guy parked next to me left his pow board on his rack while he was riding in the park. He came out at lunch to find someone had relieved him of his bindings (this is less likely to happen if you put your boards facing down). Also, a box protects your bases and bindings from all the nasty gritty road debris. Have you seen the back window of your X after driving to the mountain and back? Imagine what that does to your gear when it's on the hitch mounted rack referenced above, not to mention your gear is destroyed when that moron texting on his phone behind you doesn't notice your brake lights...

[RFaber]

... nobody even mentioned that the rear seat in some X5's has a "ski bag" built in, and that will hold 2 (or three in a pinch) snowboards. And nobody sees them on the outside of the vehicle when youre parked. ( of course, out here we have had no snow on the local mountains , Vancouver BC, to speak of! season is a wash.
No offence to my eastern friends, who seem to have snow in abundance this year!

[Johnny_5]

Hey all thanks for the replies and sorry for the late responses. So Ive took the consideration and started looking around and ended up pulling the trigger on a set of OEM crossbars. I couldn't pass up the price and condition on it! I haven't installed it yet but Im still needing the snowboard carriers for it. Does anyone know if there is an aftermarket set that will fit or do I have to go oem?

[Joshdub]

Originally Posted by RFaber

... nobody even mentioned that the rear seat in some X5's has a "ski bag" built in, and that will hold 2 (or three in a pinch) snowboards. And nobody sees them on the outside of the vehicle when youre parked. ( of course, out here we have had no snow on the local mountains , Vancouver BC, to speak of! season is a wash.
No offence to my eastern friends, who seem to have snow in abundance this year!

Please show me how you fit 3 snowboards in the pass through. Here is a single 159 snowboard. As you can see, the tip only fits diagonally and only up to the binding, leaving the rest of the board hanging out of the back.

[Johnny_5]

Originally Posted by Joshdub

Please show me how you fit 3 snowboards in the pass through. Here is a single 159 snowboard. As you can see, the tip only fits diagonally and only up to the binding, leaving the rest of the board hanging out of the back.

LMAO!

You got a point I wasn't even thinking about the bindings! Its probably made more for ski's Im sure!

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by Johnny_5

Hey all thanks for the replies and sorry for the late responses. So Ive took the consideration and started looking around and ended up pulling the trigger on a set of OEM crossbars. I couldn't pass up the price and condition on it! I haven't installed it yet but Im still needing the snowboard carriers for it. Does anyone know if there is an aftermarket set that will fit or do I have to go oem?

If you remove the rubber strip at the top of the rack you can use a Thule ski/snowboard rack with the t-slot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15cJbA5nHS0

I looked at the BMW rack that I have and it's just for skis. The later rack can hold ski or boards.