Permanent Racks

• Permanent racks are installed on cars that have no other way to support the rack. In this case, holes are drilled into the top of the roof so the rack can be screwed down. These holes will damage the car, and the roof will need to be repaired if the ski rack is removed. Leaks may sometimes occur while the permanent rack is installed.
  
  

Rain Gutters

• Most racks installed on larger vehicles are installed on the rain gutters of the car. However, larger cars have rain gutters installed on the inside, where the frame of the roof meets the windows. Modern ski racks clamp down on these inner gutters just as they used to clamp on the outside gutters. They are designed with a rubber-based pad to leave the roof unharmed.
  
  

Considerations

• Although clam-based ski racks are designed to leave the roof largely undamaged, there is always the possibility of slight damage when the rack is being installed. Slight scratches in roof paint are common while the rack is being secured. Professionals will be able to install ski racks without as much danger of damage. Placing and adjusting recreation equipment can also cause damage to the roof separate from the racks themselves.
  
  

Vehicle Height Limitations

• One of the most common causes of roof damage linked to ski racks is a mistake in height assumption. The rack and the equipment placed in it raise the height of the vehicle by at least several inches. This can make tight fits, such as garages and car wash stations, too low for the vehicle to enter properly. Damage occurs when the equipment runs into an obstruction and scrapes across the roof.
  
  

Weight and Balance Principles

• Ski racks have their limits and can only hold so much weight. Too much weight, and the rack will compressed, sometimes coming loose or damaging the roof. Balance is also important. Unbalanced racks will shift from side to side as the vehicle moves, often grated against the roof.