This EXO system is perfect for your mountain getaway. Ski carrier secures 5 pairs of skis or 4 snowboards, and enclosed cargo carrier holds clothes and ski gear. System swings away to provide cargo area access.
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This modular system includes everything you need for your skiing adventure. The SnowBank carries 5 pairs of skis or 4 snowboards, and the GearLocker enclosed cargo carrier is perfect for hauling all your snow gear. The two-tier base system swings away, while fully loaded, for rear cargo area access, and the top tier can be removed if you only need to carry 1 accessory.
Because the Yakima EXO system is modular it lets you transform your hitch into the ultimate gear-carrying rig. You can outfit the system with various accessories (sold separately) to carry all your skiing, biking, and camping gear. The system is compatible with a ski rack, bike rack, cargo carrier, and an enclosed cargo carrier, and you can easily swap them out to match any outdoor activity. You can also add base camp accessories, like a camping table. Lastly, because you can carry two accessories on the back of your vehicle, it frees up space on your roof to carry even more gear.
The SnowBank ski and snowboard rack carries 5 pairs of skis or 4 snowboards. It has DoubleJoint hinges that accommodate thick skis and snowboards.
The arms on the SnowBank have sturdy yet flexible rubber grips. The rubber lines the top and bottom of the arms and protects your gear from being scratched or scuffed by the carrier.
Push buttons make the arms easy to open, even when wearing heavy winter gloves. Simply push the buttons and raise the arms to load your gear.
The GearLocker enclosed cargo carrier has 10 cu ft of storage space for carrying poles, clothes, and other gear. It's easy to detach the carrier from the base unit, making it convenient for two people to tote all your gear to your lodge room in a single trip.
The wide-mouth opening makes it easy to load your gear and find individual items. Integrated straps inside the carrier secure your gear so it doesn't slide around when you're on the road. Spring-based levers on each side hold the lid open, so you can use both hands while loading and unloading.
The hinged arm on the base lets you swing the unit away from your vehicle. This provides full access to your vehicle's rear cargo area and eliminates the need to remove your skis or the cargo carrier when you're unloading your vehicle or letting your dog hop in or out of the back.
To open the hinged arm, simply rotate the release knob counterclockwise until it's unscrewed from the arm, pull out on the spring pin, and swing the rack away from the rear of your vehicle. The arm will lock in place when it's fully extended, so your hands are free to open your hatch and remove cargo.
In addition to allowing access to your vehicle's cargo area, the EXO can also provide access to your gear stored in the enclosed cargo carrier. Once the base unit is fully extended, you can swing the top tier back 180 degrees, with your skis and the carrier still attached. This will provide unfettered access to your gear on the lower level.
To close the base unit, just pull the release lever at the hinge and swing the extended arm back into position. Once you hear the spring pin lock into place, rotate the knob clockwise until it's tight.
If you leave the base swung open for an extended period of time, you'll need to install the included jack stand to help stabilize the arm. Turn the rod on the jack to fine tune the height so the system stays level.
To install the EXO system, simply slide the shank on the base unit into your 2" hitch receiver, insert the threaded hitch pin, and tighten it down with the included 24-mm wrench. The threaded hitch pin also reduces noise and movement in your hitch. The second tier bolts to the base to provide the second level of storagee.
Dual arms on each tier have tracks with cleats and SpeedKnobs that secure EXO accessories. To swap the ski carrier or cargo carrier for a different accessory, undo the latches on the sides of the arms, rotate the SpeedKnobs to allow the cleats inside the tracks to free the carrier, and remove it. Next, put the new accessory in the tracks, rotate the SpeedKnobs so the cleats secure it, then close each latch.
This EXO system includes 10 SKS locks to secure the system, carriers, and your skis and gear. The two tiers have locks that secure them to each other and to your vehicle's hitch receiver. Both tiers also have locks in the arms to secure the SnowBank ski rack and GearLocker enclosed cargo carrier. Finally, the ski carrier has 2 locks to secure your skis, and the enclosed cargo carrier has a lock to secure your gear inside. Because the GearLocker only uses 1 lock, this EXO configuration will come with an extra lock core.
The SKS locks for the system come with the 2 base units - 5 with each. Because they are packaged separately, the locks for the top tier and bottom tier probably won't be keyed alike. However, they can be swapped out to match each other and even your other Yakima gear.
Because the EXO System is modular you can add accessories for whatever adventure you have planned, or swap them out for other activities.
The BackDeck camping table (Y84VR - sold separately) is perfect for use at the campsite. It lets you prep meals, lay out your gear, and even mix drinks at the end of the day. Simply remove the accessory on the top level and install the table. It stores conveniently inside the carrier, during transport.
The DoubleUp 2-bike rack has ratcheting hooks that grab your bikes firmly by the front wheel - not the frame. It's perfect for carrying nearly any bike, including bikes with carbon frames, disc brakes, thru axles, or full suspensions. Simply remove the ski rack and install this carrier in its place.
If you want to carry coolers, luggage, and other larger, bulky gear, you can swap out the enclosed cargo carrier for the GearWarrior cargo carrier (Y37VR - sold separately). There is also a wheel kit (Y97VR - sold separately) that converts the GearWarrior into a wagon, so you can wheel your gear to the campsite.
Alternate Instructions
Average Customer Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars (10 Customer Reviews)
This EXO system is perfect for your mountain getaway. Ski carrier secures 5 pairs of skis or 4 snowboards, and enclosed cargo carrier holds clothes and ski gear. System swings away to provide cargo area access.If you are stuck with a trailer hitch rack only option as I was with my ‘06 Ford Camper Van this is the king and the queen of all trailer hitch racks.
You have two tiers so essentially two racks on one hitch and paired with a “dual hitch receiver adapter” you can still pull your snowmobile and other lighter weight trailers. Don’t over load it check your weight ratings.
You can have a good portion of your recreational life all connected to one hitch.
It is engineered appropriately with ease of use.
The one thing that is mildly annoying is when the container is in the bottom tier I cannot fully open the top. You can access a folding chair or two with out repositioning the rack but larger items involve a two process repositioning to fully open container door. I wish there was a easier and still secure way to move and position the top tier to access the bottom tier when the container is mounted there. ( maybe a upward folding top tier???)
If you had a ski rack in the bottom and container on the top that would work but when summer hits and the bike rack goes on it must be in the top tier and this moving the container to the bottom tier.
Also (amateur tip) if you get the “dual hitch receiver adapter” and you get the extra strong one it ends up being an inch or so taller and thus making the back door inaccessible for the most part. Standard mounting position (aka straight to the vehicle) or lighter rated weight dual receivers will allow the rear doors to be opened when swing away mode is initiated.
Considering this is the most expensive rear hitch rack combo you can buy paired with the last little bit I wrote on rear door access issues, is the only reason I gave this a 4 star rating. This rack was thought out with an in depth cutting edge detail in mind they covered so many new grounds of possibilities of a rear hitch rack.
Great product, box is a little annoying since you always need the key to open it, however, overall the whole system is great.
all good. Your services are as good as before, very good. The Yakima EXO system is very good, high quality and easy to install. Greatly appreciated.
Major flaw in the design. When using the box mounted on the bottom rack, You have to rotate the upper board/box rack 180° entirely in order to open the box… this isn’t super difficult but you actually have to swing the entire rack (upper & lower) out to the side to rotate the upper rack. This is extremely annoying if you just need to get something out of the box in a hurry. Additionally the turn knob/handle where you release the rack to swing out to the side, is right where your wheels throw all the mud, snow, dirt etc. so this makes for a messy event if you just simply want to get into box as stated earlier or in the back of an SUV after driving through any type of in-climate conditions. Another flaw was the clip rings should have been made with lanyard as we lost ours day one. Do your self a favor and by extra clips from the hardware store and keep in the box.
Aside from the flaws, the structural integrity is excellent, the mounting pin through the hitch is more than safe and secure, again a bit annoying if you want you remove the entire rack system quickly or even just after a trip. We ended up just leaving ours attached all winter due to the inconvenience. The box is made well, the rack holder’s are also made well. Quality of the product is high, just wish Yakima would have put a little more thought into the ease and accessibility of the rack in the way that THULE typically does. A simple 30° tilt up feature on the upper rack would have been perfect, additionally a 30° tilt down on the hitch mounting point for the entire rack to tilt would have given so much more ease to accessing the back of the vehicle.
We like the overall product and after spending so much money on it we have no choice but to keep it for years to come. Just might have to weld my own tilting brackets to ease the painful transitions.
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