Gear Capacity
Will the Skis Actually Fit?
The question everybody has and nobody asks until the vehicle is at the curb. Here is the honest capacity math, per vehicle.
Six passengers with full ski or snowboard setups do not fit comfortably in a standard SUV. Arion applies a seasonal rule: from November 1 through April 30 the Luxury SUV is booked at five passengers rather than six, which leaves room for roughly seven or eight pieces of luggage inside. Skis and boards ride on an open roof rack or in a covered box; boot bags ride inside. Vans take up to eighteen suitcases with oversized items on the roof.
The seasonal rule, stated plainly
Seasonal capacity rule: from November 1 through April 30 the Luxury SUV is booked at five passengers rather than six. The sixth seat becomes luggage space, which leaves room for roughly seven or eight pieces inside. The Executive SUV is five passengers year round.
This is the single most useful thing on this page, and it is the thing most operators will not tell you until the vehicle arrives. A Luxury SUV that seats six people in July seats five people with ski gear in January, because the sixth seat has to become cargo space and there is no way around the geometry.
Quoting six passengers for a winter ski transfer and then arriving is how a group ends up splitting into two vehicles at Door 511 at their own expense. We would rather have the conversation in advance and lose the booking than have it at the curb.
Where the gear actually goes
Skis, boards and boot bags go on an open roof rack on the SUV, or in a covered box; anything that does not fit comfortably inside goes up top. Boot bags ride inside — nobody wants frozen boots. Exact capacity varies by vehicle, which is why we ask for a gear count at booking rather than guessing. Vans take up to eighteen suitcases with oversized items on the roof.
Three specifics worth knowing:
- Skis and boards go up top. Open roof racks are standard on the SUVs; covered boxes are common as well. A hard ski case is close to six feet long and is never going inside a passenger vehicle with people in it.
- Boot bags come inside. Boots that spend two hours on a roof in February are boots you will regret at 8 a.m.
- Soft bags beat hard cases for everything except air travel. If you have the choice, a soft double ski bag packs into a van far better than two rigid cases.
Exact capacity varies by vehicle, which is why the booking question is not “how many people” but “how many people and how many pieces.”
Vehicle by vehicle, with gear
How to size a group in one question
Count the pieces, not the people. A piece is a ski or board bag, a boot bag, a suitcase or a large duffel. Then:
- Four people, twelve pieces — SUV, skis on the rack. Comfortable.
- Six people, eighteen pieces — van. An SUV is the wrong answer even though the seat count looks close.
- Eight people, twenty-four pieces — Jet Van or Luxury Coach Van, not two SUVs, unless you want two drop points.
- Twelve people with full setups — two vehicles. Twelve is our passenger maximum in any single vehicle, and twelve passengers with twelve ski bags is not a one-vehicle booking.
Tell us the piece count when you book. It costs nothing and it is the whole game.
Renting gear instead
For a short trip, renting at the resort is often the better logistics answer, and it changes the vehicle you need. Four people renting skis at the mountain are a four-person SUV booking with normal luggage rather than a van booking — a meaningful difference in cost across two airport legs.
The trade is fit and familiarity, which matters more to some skiers than to others. We have no stake in the answer; we just size the vehicle to whichever you pick. Mid-trip stops for a rental shop are fine, since everything is booked hourly.
Other equipment we see
Snowboards take less roof space than skis and the same interior space for boots. Golf clubs in summer behave almost exactly like ski bags. Fishing and hunting gear, bike boxes and instrument cases all go on the roof or in a van — tell us the dimensions.
Car seats are $25 per seat and boosters are free, both requested before the chauffeur is dispatched, and they take a passenger seat each — count them as passengers when you size the vehicle. We do not operate wheelchair lifts or ramps; folding chairs and walkers ride in the cargo area.
Rates are hourly and all-inclusive except gratuity, with the first 40 miles of each booking included. Executive Sedan $150/hr (3 passengers, 2-hour minimum), Executive SUV $125/hr (5), Luxury SUV $150/hr, Luxury Coach Van $250/hr (12, 3-hour minimum), Executive/Jet Van $325/hr (9) on a 4-hour minimum. Stretch limousines, party buses and coach buses are quote only. The rate is locked when you book and does not move with demand, weather or the hour of the night.
Questions we get asked
How many people with ski gear fit in an SUV?
Four with full setups is comfortable, five is our published winter maximum. From November 1 through April 30 the Luxury SUV is booked at five passengers rather than six, because the sixth seat becomes luggage space.
Where do the skis go?
On an open roof rack, or in a covered roof box. A hard ski case is close to six feet long and never rides inside with passengers. Boot bags come inside.
How much luggage fits inside an SUV in winter?
Roughly seven or eight pieces once the sixth seat is given over to cargo. Count pieces, not people: a ski bag, a boot bag and a suitcase are three pieces per skier.
How much gear fits in a van?
Up to eighteen suitcases, with oversized items on the roof. The Jet Van at nine passengers has the best gear-to-passenger ratio we run.
Can twelve people with skis travel in one vehicle?
No. Twelve is our passenger maximum in any single vehicle, and twelve passengers with twelve ski bags is a two-vehicle booking. Nine or ten with full setups is realistic in a twelve-passenger van.
Do you have roof racks and ski boxes?
Roof racks are standard on the SUVs; covered boxes are common across the vehicles we dispatch. Anything that does not fit comfortably inside goes up top.
Do you charge extra for ski equipment?
No. Gear does not carry a fee. It changes which vehicle is the right size, which is why we ask for a piece count at booking.
Should I rent skis instead of flying with mine?
For a short trip it is often simpler, and it changes your booking from a van to an SUV, which saves real money across two airport legs. We have no stake in the answer.
Can we stop at a rental shop on the way?
Yes. Everything is booked hourly, so mid-trip stops are fine — rental shop, liquor store, grocery run.
What about snowboards, golf clubs or bike boxes?
Snowboards take less roof space than skis. Golf clubs behave like ski bags. Bike boxes and instrument cases go on the roof or in a van — give us the dimensions and we will size it properly.
Do car seats count against capacity?
Yes, count them as passengers. Car seats are $25 per seat and boosters are free, both requested before the chauffeur is dispatched.
What is the maximum number of passengers you can carry?
Twelve in a single vehicle. Above that we stage multiple vehicles, which is standard for groups and events.
Sources
- Colorado Public Utilities Commission — Transportation permits — regulation of luxury limousine and charter carriers in Colorado
Tell us the piece count.
We will send a vehicle that fits it. Free quote.
Last reviewed: August 24, 2026 by Arion dispatch. Rates, policies and Colorado Department of Transportation rules are subject to change; call (970) 703-4995 for current details.