So I'll be making the big bucks in about a month, the tranny's dying on my little Escort, and it's time for an upgrade to a real, honest-to-goodness fishmobile. I probably won't get a new vehicle before May, but I do want to start my research now so that I can make an informed purchase this time, instead of saying, "It's so cute, and it's such a pretty blue color! Gimme! Now!" like last time.

Does anyone have suggestions as to what to get?

Here's some stuff I'm looking for:

Decent gas mileage for its class
Long enough to fit a 10-foot rod inside (just to stash while I'm fishing other rods...will probably get a rod holder, thus...)
Rod rack-able
4WD not absolutely neccessary, but would be great
Dependable, with oft- and easily-changed parts in accessible areas
Not silly-looking, like a half-pickup/half SUV thing, and no lunchboxes like the Honda Element
American

Thanks in advance!

10 feet inside is the tough part...if you figure 9 foot inside and committ to a locking roof rack there are countless options...

My dream is a 4wd full size 8foot bed VAN...but ungodly $$$ and horrible gas milage.

I would say take a look at the Nissan Exterra. Mjight be all you want for not a ton of dough.

Do locking roof racks lock everything, or do you have to remove your reels? Has anyone heard of any vandalism and/or theft of locked items?

There are some locking raod racks available...The Surfcaster makes one, and I saw another at Captain Don's in Rhode Island. I have always had the philosophy that if I was to spend tens of thousands on a new truck and I am a fisherman, I an going to buy a quality rod rack and be done...once and for all.
Oh yeah, yes is the answer to your question. There have been rare accounts of theft from racks, and also from inside vehicles.

Bassbabe, buy yourself a decent used tacoma extra cab 4x4 and get a good cap with tinted windows and a slider on the front of the cap. You can buy rod holders that mount on the cieling of your cap. that way your rods and reels are up and out of the way..Plus they are inside your rig and out of site.. no one will see them. Theft has been a problem at some of the places in gansett that you have posted pics of earlier this year FYI...

you cant beat a tacoma..

well you no say if you want pick up or SUV?

Suv is nice but you are never going to get rods all the way in!!
I had full size Blazer and use to hand the rods from the celing with the rods inside. This way I could rasie the window to about 1 inch from closed. Now they can't get the reels or rods with out breaking them.

Todays SUV have hatch backs and this will not work for you. so locking roof rack is the only way to go!!

Pick up truck is going to be real tricky to lock your stuff, unless you have a cap, But even then you will have to figure how to lock the back as a large pick up has only a 8 foot bed.
Good luck in your search!

I like the Trail Blazers myself!

thanks guys. im not really looking for a pickup or SUV in particular. the pickup with tinted cap is sounding good to me, based on what's been said. i may have to transport seal/dolphin/whale heads from time to time, so I suppose a pickup would be best, so I can hose the thing down. i wonder if an extra long ranger with the back window open could fit my stuff? im fine with the rod rack idea also, but would probably just try to wedge my unused rods inside the vehicle diagonally to keep them safer when im out fishing and not driving. i guess im a little paranoid?

If you are transporting that stinky stuff you will want a basket to slide into a trailer hitch. That keeps the stink outside and makes the cleanup a lot simpler.:fishslap: Also with your new job you will want 4 wheel drive. I have a wrangler and can store 4 - 10 ft rods inside ( two piece) and my long rods go on top in a locked rack. I do take the reels off when not on the prowel for fish.:rotfl:

"Open the trunk Ma'm". "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!:eek:

I lock rods minus reels in rack. If you are definitely gonna stash inside, bring a 10 footer with you when you shop. Might get some funny looks, but at least you will be sure it fits before you buy.

i agree with NEBE :usd:

For whatever it's worth. I have been driving Chevy TrailBlazers since 02. Decent gas mileage around 20mpg overall. Very reliable no problems with the 3 I have leased and I drive A LOT!! You can fit a 10 foot rod completely inside without bending it.
Now for the roof racks. Back in 92 I bought a pair of Yakama ski racks with the locks. I have had them on 6 different vehicles in 14 years. Same racks and I have done nothing to them except spray with WD-40. Bryan, Spence and I go to the Block and have had 6 rods on the roof with reels, in the racks. This year we eack took 3 rods so we had 9 rods on the roof but we had to take the reels off.
#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& bought a pair of Yakamas for his truck last year and he loves them. You can put the reels seat under the locking part of the rack and then the only way they can steal anything is using a hacksaw.

hib.b.
ever think suburu small suv.4 wheel drive good gas milage, excellent reports in consumer reports? just another option. slow eddie

...i may have to transport seal/dolphin/whale heads from time to time, so I suppose a pickup would be best, so I can hose the thing down.
In 20+ years of offshore commercial scalloping, I have never come across a seal or whale "head". I've seen maybe a half dozen dolphin skulls in all that time. With new, increasingly restrictive days-at-sea regs, I think the chances of getting one are even slimmer now. I don't think it's going to be enough of an issue to let it affect your vehicle purchase.
..just my 2¢
:wavey:

I agree w/ piemma the ski racks work out great and you can find them for ALOT less then the locking rod racks from the mail order.

In 20+ years of offshore commercial scalloping, I have never come across a seal or whale "head". I've seen maybe a half dozen dolphin skulls in all that time. With new, increasingly restrictive days-at-sea regs, I think the chances of getting one are even slimmer now. I don't think it's going to be enough of an issue to let it affect your vehicle purchase.
..just my 2¢
:wavey:

hey meng, i was told if there are any marine mammals as bycatch that die, the company either wants the whole animal, or i need to at least remove the head and bring it with me. cant blame a girl for being excited to hack the head off a seal, eh? :happy:

I can't recall if I could get my 10'er in my old explorer or not (I aways kept them on the roof) but I can get my 11'er inside my Yukon XL. It is no reason to buy that vehicle though unless you need to also transport a full family or two a large dog a bunch of gear and also pull a heavy boat. The gas will kill you driving to work.
The pick up is less money but I think you wold like a mid size SUV that has 4wd. It is really nice in the snow and gives you the option to explore some sand. Also, you can take a few friends in it in comfort. Pick ups are great for hauling stuff but not people. Also, the 2WD pick up models suck in bad road conditions unless you fill the back with sand.

I would go for something like a 4wd explorer. The toyota's are also solid vehicles (but I am only buying american these days), my first and second fishing vehicles or "suvs" (they were not called suvs then) were the old style boxy land cruisers until the yuppies addopted them and tricked them up the ultimate soccer-mom vehicle and put a price tag that was out of sight. The old ones were unkill-able simple vehicles with poor gas mileage that could do anything. Took them everyplace you would never take a vehicle today. Whenever you see a snorkle as an "optional accessory" for a vehicle, that is a clue that it can take some abuse.:hee:

IMO, get a lightly USED low mileage road worthy 4wd SUV.

A 10-foot interior, guts transporter, stinkable, fishmobile...hmm...
How about.....
http://warnerreprise.com/artist_newsletters/mychemicalromance/HEARSE.jpg

A 10-foot interior, guts transporter, stinkable, fishmobile...hmm...
How about.....

You all laugh, but that used to be my dream vehicle when I was a black-wearing, angsty, I-hate-everyone, Marilyn-Manson-loving little 6th grader. :hidin:

cant blame a girl for being excited to hack the head off a seal, eh? :happy:
Or maybe any seal I come across, I could just remove the head and say that I'm doing " fisheries research". ;)
As a federal fisheries observer, I assume that you'll be making trips on finfish draggers and long liners as well as on scallopers. Undoubtedly, draggers and longliners have far more interactions with marine mammals than do scallopers, although I'm not sure if there are enough interactions that result in a dead animal that has to be placed in the back of your shiney new sand sled.

:sled:

I can JUST fit a 10'4" blank into my explorer, my 11ft Arra didnt fit.
Good fish truck, I keep the seats down, and keep tools etc.. where the back seat would be and the rest of my crap in the back

I know of a toyota t 100 for sale .

I can fit a 10' rod diagonally into my 2002 Grand Cherokee. I would look for a used one from the 1999-2004 model year series, with the SelecTrac 4wd system and the 4.0 straight 6. With the 6, you have an engine good for 250,000 miles with reasonable care, and you can expect 20-22 mpg on the highway. The SelecTrac system allows you to run in 2wd most of the time, in "full-time" 4wd mode for wet roads or snow, or "easy" beaches, and "part-time (locked axles) 4wd Hi and Lo range for tough beach conditions. Being able to switch out of 4wd helps gas mileage and saves wear on your drive train.

My second choice would be a 2000 or 2001 Ford Explorer with the old standby 302 V-8. Another engine built to last. The only drawback is that the 302 is only available with "full-time" 4wd (Ford calls it "all wheel drive" but it is really just full time 4wd, without an available low range or the ability to lock the front and rear axles to turn at the same ratio). It's "4wd lite" but still good enough to get you where you want to go on the sand as long as you air down properly.

:hihi:

hey meng, i was told if there are any marine mammals as bycatch that die, the company either wants the whole animal, or i need to at least remove the head and bring it with me. cant blame a girl for being excited to hack the head off a seal, eh? :happy:
Hey ya know we always send apprentice carpenters for the boardstrecher or a box of toenails...

How bout one of these. I know you could fit a 10 ft rod in one.
I recently rented one and fit 5 bundles of 10 ft 3/4" pvc pipe
in it.

How much are you looking to spend? I have a fleet full of options for you if we can narrow down the price range.

You could always look into an Escape Hybrid 4x4 luxury and economy all in one package

BB I used to have a f 250, gas mpg sucked, but you could get a 12' rod inside the cap on racks through open window from cap into driver compartment. Now I have a ranger w/not the full extra cab but the one in the middle w/cap and 9' rod fits inside perfectly. I think a 9 1/2' rod would fit without hitting the windshield also. Can't see the rods at all. Holds all kinds of stuff. Gets my brother and I over to the vineyard for ten days chock full including the alcohol no problem. Have rod racks on top also. Gas mileage is o.k. something that anyone could live with.

Houndster -- I'm not quite sure what my price range is gonna be, as my living expenses and salary will be changing as of the end of this month. Just drove Rob Rockcrawler's new Blazer this week in the snow, and now I know that I HAVE to get 4WD. I don't know how I've ever driven without it. A little Ranger with a cap might be nice. Better on gas than the bigger trucks. But I'm not in a rush, as I need to figure out adult budget type stuff and save up for a down payment. I feel like I should have been a perpetual student, and then I never would have to grow up and fend for myself. Right now, I'm guessing that I could swing a $300 or less payment per month. And that's if I quit smoking. Ah, the perils of no longer being a kid.

I feel like I should have been a perpetual student, and then I never would have to grow up and fend for myself. Right now, I'm guessing that I could swing a $300 or less payment per month. And that's if I quit smoking. Ah, the perils of no longer being a kid.

If you think thats what grad school is like think again.....
unless your talking about being a 7th year sr. undergrad; there are lots of those running aorund

Ten footers fit in an old style Durango, Maybe even ten and a half footers. I have a 2000 with 102,000 on it. It still thinks it is new.Real comfortable too, and, with the third row seating it'll carry you and seven friends, or you and :wiggle: a whole bunch of grocerys.

New rig for me tomorrow afternoon! Pre-owned, dressed out Tahoe. Psyched cause the 1265-2 Allstar didn't quite fit in the 97Blazer, so was constantly breaking it down. But the extra car payment will keep the VS/Saltiga from my reach for this year I think.