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Powder Journal
The first $25 removable snowmobile ski rack on the planet !!! | 11/29/2010, by canuckonplanks
So, here I am with two shiny new (well, used) Polaris RMK’s, chomping at the bit to get into the local backcountry. I did a search for snowmobile ski racks and - HOLY CRAP – found out I’d need to pay $250 - $300 for a few metal clamps that bolt onto my tunnels. What makes it worse – I have 2 snowmobiles. Not wanting to spend $600 to carry my skis, I came across powderjunky’s $30 ski rack video on the site. A most excellent idea, I said to myself. However, I wasn’t all that keen on drilling into my tunnel, and I would prefer a rack that can be removed. One night I wondered if there were any “holes” in my tunnel that came as a result of the manufacturing process. If there were – I could somehow strap the ski rack bars to my sled, thereby avoiding the hole drilling trauma.
As luck would have it – 4 perfect locations appeared when I pulled the cover of my RMK’s, and the $25, removable ski rack was born. Jimmy (Powderjunky) deserves 99% of the credit for this miracle – I just added the notion of mondo zip ties to the equation. So that’s what is in the pictures - $22 for the ¾” square bar and foam insulation, and $3 for huge zip ties at the local Ace Hardware store. I’ll carry extra zip ties on my sled just in case. When I want to go snowmobiling without the rack on, I’ll just cut off the zip ties and put new ones on when I put the rack back on.
Simplicity is beautiful, dontcha think?
canuckonplanks
PS - the zip ties in the photos were only for test purposes. The final ones are much thicker and are all one piece.
That's Our Opinion. What's Yours?
Troy wrote on 11/29/10 at 10:27:01 pm pst:
Honestly, drilling holes in your tunnel is not a big deal at all. You could drill hundreds with no ill effect. As long as we're talking 1/4" or smaller and not in critical places, there is nothing to worry about. Just make sure you don't also drill through a heat exchanger or wire or something like that! :-)
powderjunky wrote on 11/30/10 at 09:18:50 am pst:
Thats good, I know I was super nervous when i was drilling a couple years ago.
Christopher Hawks wrote on 12/11/10 at 4:14:26 pm pst:
I just made this rack for my 2010 RMK and it took 30 minutes but cost about $35 I'm sure because of price of Box Tubing in Jackson Wyoming. I slipped the tubes over longer bolts for my spare fuel can mount in the channels on the Tunnel so no drilling the tunnel. It works perfectly and will get it's first test in the backcountry tomorrow. Thanks for the great idea.
