I'm looking for a way to put a rod rack on my pickup that is reasonably safe for my rods. It needs to be highway safe too. I just don't have the $$$$ to pay for a Trac Rac system.

I have a 2002 F-150 super cab. Neither Thule or Yakima have a fit kit for my modes.

Any suggestions?

I am pretty sure Fishaholic made one up for his truck...

I am pretty sure Fishaholic made one up for his truck...

yeah. I should have looked first. I found this but any other ideas are still welcome.
http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripertalk/showthread.php?t=22479&highlight=rack

I'm trying to find the same thing for mine....also don't have the bucks for the Trac-Rac.

There's a guy here in NJ that makes some nice racks for truck beds:


http://www.striped-bass.com/gallery/files/3/3/6/bed.jpg
Just so ya get an idea :)

what's wrong with pvc cannon's strapped to both sides of the truck. that's 2 rods, 4 if you marry them together. and the cut pvc in the crates are fine for spot changes at night. probably cheaper than any other rack you'd buy. the ratchet straps are the deal.

what's wrong with pvc cannon's strapped to both sides of the truck. that's 2 rods, 4 if you marry them together. and the cut pvc in the crates are fine for spot changes at night. probably cheaper than any other rack you'd buy. the ratchet straps are the deal.

I'm getting sick of looking at it.

There's a guy here in NJ that makes some nice racks for truck beds:


http://www.striped-bass.com/gallery/files/3/3/6/bed.jpg
Just so ya get an idea :)

Do you know who the guy is. That would be perfect.

Put some tie downs on the end of your bed rails near the tailgate, stretch a bungie between them, then get some velcro, rest the rods on top of the bungie and wrap the velcro around the rod and the bungie at an angle. Shouldn't cost more than $10. Its like a shock absorber for your sticks.

Put some tie downs on the end of your bed rails near the tailgate, stretch a bungie between them, then get some velcro, rest the rods on top of the bungie and wrap the velcro around the rod and the bungie at an angle. Shouldn't cost more than $10. Its like a shock absorber for your sticks.
SWEEET!!! thanks PI guy...I am gonna try that...if not that something close....and I got all that stuff...already in the bed of my truck!

Dave S.....Do those come lockable by any chance....that is a sweet rod rack

I have a 2003 F-150 ext cab with 2 Thule Load Bars on top. I use the Thule Castaway for the rods and J's and pads for the yaks. The Castaway gets kinda crowded with more then 3 set ups and won't hold large spinning reels well. Conventional reels not a problem. I use Stradic 4000-5000 and just move the handle parralel to fit in it.

The Thule bar model # is 455. It says it fits up too 2001 but it fits on my 2003. 2 455's will fit on ext, super cabs from 97-03.

I attached a thule ski rack to the top of my tailgate and put the rods in there...ill take pix this afternoon.

5/0 made me a rod rack for my truck (03 silverado extended cab) that works the same way as the one in daveS' pic. i'm sure if you did a search you could find the thread...

I have a 2003 F-150 ext cab with 2 Thule Load Bars on top. I use the Thule Castaway for the rods and J's and pads for the yaks. The Castaway gets kinda crowded with more then 3 set ups and won't hold large spinning reels well. Conventional reels not a problem. I use Stradic 4000-5000 and just move the handle parralel to fit in it.

The Thule bar model # is 455. It says it fits up too 2001 but it fits on my 2003. 2 455's will fit on ext, super cabs from 97-03.

Thanks. This is really helpful. do you know the piece numbers for the other parts?

Here is what I use...sorry for the late reply.

As you can see I cut a hole in the rack , slid a strap through, wrapped the starp around the tail gate and it works great.

I think I had 8 rods in there at one time so it holds a good amount of stuff.

BigFish built one for his truck- maybe he could post some pics.

Do you know who the guy is. That would be perfect.


Dont know the guy personally, but he posts alot on stripersurf.com, goes by the name stripasaurus.

This is a nice rack but its for transportation only.It'll deter no thievary whatsoever.Don't forget your rods will be sticking out possilble 1-4' past the back of your bed depending on size of rod.

http://www.rodmounts.com/BedMount.ivnu

There's a guy here in NJ that makes some nice racks for truck beds:


http://www.striped-bass.com/gallery/files/3/3/6/bed.jpg
Just so ya get an idea :)

that is pissa :drool:

Yeah thats nice, but, one of my favorite places, I'd have to have that mounted on the floor of the bed.. , looks like that would have the rods to high to get through the entrance to undisclosed location.
I have to take them out of my front rack there, that is why I made my jury rigged bed rod holder.
A few of you have seen my homemade from dump scraps bed mount, when it pukes, I already have a better idea..
Macojoe posted some pics of the one he made, a while back. I remember that one was pissah too.

Yeah thats nice, but, one of my favorite places, I'd have to have that mounted on the floor of the bed.. , looks like that would have the rods to high to get through the entrance to undisclosed location.
I have to take them out of my front rack there, that is why I made my jury rigged bed rod holder.
A few of you have seen my homemade from dump scraps bed mount, when it pukes, I already have a better idea..
Macojoe posted some pics of the one he made, a while back. I remember that one was pissah too.


I know what ya mean about it being high. Mounted on the floor would be better.