A van for skis and snowboards: how to load your gear

A van for skiing pays off from three people upwards

Winter gear is the worst combination: bulky, heavy and wet. Skis, snowboards, boots, helmets, jackets, trousers and, on top of that, luggage for the whole stay. With three people a car is full and a roof box costs extra money. A van for skiing will take the whole group's gear with room to spare.

Inside instead of on the roof

A roof box has disadvantages that show up precisely in winter. It makes the vehicle taller, ices up and its lock sometimes refuses to open in the frost. In the van's cargo area your skis lie in the dry and you can load them without lifting them above your head.

How much will fit

A set of skis with poles is about one hundred and seventy centimetres long and lies along the floor. Next to them there is room for bags and boots. Go through the load dimensions of the individual models in our fleet — for a group of more than five people it is worth going for a larger option.

Wet gear needs its own space

Everything comes back from the slopes damp. Divide up the cargo area so that wet things are not squashed against dry luggage. It is enough to carry them on one side and separate them with a tarpaulin or an old blanket.

When a van doesn't pay off

For two people with one pair of skis it makes no sense. A van pays off from three or four people upwards, or when, besides skis, you are also carrying cross-country skis, sledges and supplies for a whole week. For a day trip to a nearby resort, a car is more practical.

Before you leave for the mountains

In winter the vehicles are equipped in line with the road traffic rules, but nobody will do the driving for you. Plan your journey so that you don't drive into the hills at the worst part of the day, and keep an eye on the forecast.

Book in good time. The spring half-term holidays and weekends in the season are the most sought-after dates. Cancellation is free up to 72 hours before the start of the rental, so you can reserve a date even while you are still working out who is going.

Have two valid identity documents ready, one of which is a category B driving licence. You don't need any registration or account. No deposit is paid and nothing is blocked on your card — so you take your whole budget to the mountains.

All our vans run on diesel and have a manual gearbox. That comes in handy in winter, because you choose the gear yourself going uphill and downhill. However, only the person named in the contract may drive; register any second driver in advance.

Loading winter gear

Skis along the wall, bindings alternating

Lay skis and snowboards along the side wall, not across the van. Turn the bindings and edges alternately so that the individual pairs don't rub against each other. Strap the bases together or use ski straps; this turns several pairs into one bundle that doesn't slide apart.

Boots and helmets separately

Ski boots are hard and heavy. Stack them in crates or bags on the floor so they don't roll around. Helmets belong inside a backpack or among soft things — a loose helmet will get scratched on the first bend.

Allow for melting snow

What you load covered in snow, you will take out wet at home. Line the load floor with a tarpaulin and carry wet clothing in bags. The vehicle is returned in the same condition in which you picked it up, and meltwater with road salt makes a mess in the cargo area.

Winter driving in Czechia

Increase the following distance with a loaded van

On snow and ice, a loaded van takes considerably longer to brake. Drive more slowly than you are used to in a car and avoid harsh braking on bends. Pulling away uphill is easier in second gear with a gentle touch on the accelerator.

Hairpin bends and mountain sections

Going downhill, use engine braking, not just the brakes. Select a lower gear and let the vehicle run on the engine. Long descents from the mountains are exactly where overheated brakes cause problems.

Parking at the slopes

A taller vehicle won't fit into every underground car park. At hotels and resorts, check the height restrictions in advance. In an outdoor car park, remember where you parked — in heavy snowfall all white vans look the same.

Before you set off in the morning

After a night below freezing, don't rush to set off. Defrost the whole windscreen and the side windows and sweep the snow off the roof — on a tall van it will slide onto the windscreen the first time you brake and for a while you won't see anything. The mirrors replace the rear view, so clean them as well.

Return

The van is returned with a full tank to the same location. Fill up on the way down from the mountains, not once you are back in Prague. We operate non-stop, so you can return late on a Sunday evening too. You will find other customers' experiences in the reviews section.