transporting rods in a pickup - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

lurch · 03-29-2005, 05:01 PM

When you folks transport rods in the back of a pickup does anyone cover their rods so the sand and gravel from the highway does not mark up the fishing rods?

If you cover the rods what rod cover do you use? With my luck I have a feeling that a rock will fly up and break the rods.

redlite · 03-29-2005, 05:07 PM

Before I put the cap and "rod" racks on on my truck, I used to just hang them out the back (10 ft rods/ 8ft bed) Only problem I ever had with rod damage was when I was backing out of a spot in a particular T. beach and stuck the rod tip into the dune behind me and snapped it off. Oops.
If you're lookin for the setup to hold them in the bed, talk to Bart and 5/0 as they just made one.

Never had a problem with stuff kickin up and harming my rods though, and I was traveling 150 miles each way, round trip, a couple of nights a week. But then again I was driving so fast that I think I created a vaccuum around the truck.

fishaholic18 · 03-29-2005, 05:31 PM

Heres mine. Simple but effective.

taJon · 03-29-2005, 05:33 PM

That design is very similer to one that I saw in saltwater journal, i think? Hope it was your design that won you the reel

lurch · 03-29-2005, 06:04 PM

I have a buddy who will be making the holder for me but do you cover each individual rod with a rod cover?

The rod holders like these http://www.sunrae-ent.com

snake slinger · 03-29-2005, 06:32 PM

fishaholic nice rod rack.do you put that in the front of the bed faceing back and do you use something to saport the other eng of the rod? thanks snake

t.orlando · 03-29-2005, 06:33 PM

Lurch, I've never covered any rods in transit and no damage ever.

thefishingfreak · 03-29-2005, 06:51 PM

lurch,
go up to fishermans outfitters in glosta.

when they get custom rods in they come in this fancy tsunami pleather case that fishermans just throws away bye the dozens. there like 8' long and can be cut to fit.
spend a little doe in there and ask jon white about the rod sleeves.
or look in the dumpster

lurch · 03-29-2005, 06:58 PM

Now that is one hell of a tip!!!

I will swing up there this weekend or maybe even call them.

Just recently I ventured into the longer surf rods and with the cost of these Lami rods I would like to keep them as long as possible.

Thanks for the info!

MAC · 03-29-2005, 07:19 PM

Before I put the cap on my truck I carried them in the back in a homemade rocket launcher. Never had a problem and they traveled many, many miles like that. The thin wrapping won't stop a rock and would be a hinderance I think. I wouldn't want them whipping against the blank as it could mar the finish. Plus the wind will want to rip them off.

5/0 · 03-29-2005, 07:23 PM

Lurch
I don't think you'll get or put any damage to you're rods in the back of a pick up while in transit.VS a front mounted rack system.Roof mounted,IMO I don't care for I think that roof mounted rod rack systems could take a hit from a bird or debrise I also don't care for the way you're rod(s) tip shoot forward I know that most people have been doing this for decades and have never had a problem but I just don't feel safe in doing so.

I think the only way you could damage them is if;
1. you back up into a structure.
2.drive though a sand storm.
3.Hit a VERY LOW BRIDGE.
4.get into an accident and role your truck,which would really suck!

I dont think you really have to worry about the safty of your rods getting miss faced or damaged in transit.I've been doing it for years and have had no problems @ all I have a rod rack system simlar to fishaholic18 and never had a problem.
It's kinda dark out side now but I'll take a PIC tommorow of my set up I'll post it.

Bob

tpoliti · 03-29-2005, 08:59 PM

I have been using a roof mounted ski rack for the past 6 or 7 years. Tips pointed backward and I have never had a problem. Throw some reel bags on it and you're all set. The big plus for me is that they lock.

Tony

Stewie · 03-29-2005, 09:45 PM

I have a Berkley horizontal rod rack( 6 foam lined slots in black plastic) screwed to the top of my tailgate. the butts of the rods are in the front of the bed under the toolbox. Ten footers only hang out about a foot. Been doing it this way for years, never had a problem. Two racks are about ten bucks. Conventional reels ride 3 or 4 inches from bed, spinning reels might hit bed?

Swimmer · 03-29-2005, 10:33 PM

Fishaholic18,
Nice job man. Looks very professional.

BigFish · 03-29-2005, 10:48 PM

My buddy JoeG sometimes just puts that foam pipe insulation you buy at Homies on his rods...cuts it to fit and its cheap!

Gotofish · 03-29-2005, 10:50 PM

My old truck had a 6.5' bed....I just strung a bungee from across the rack holes at the tailgate and never had a problem. Have seen the Berkly rod holder setup and its sweet, but not as sweet as a homemade rocket launcher...

fishaholic18 · 03-29-2005, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snake slinger

fishaholic nice rod rack.do you put that in the front of the bed faceing back and do you use something to saport the other eng of the rod? thanks snake

Thanks, the rod face rearward, no need to support them.

Clammer · 03-29-2005, 11:33 PM

[[rearward]] what the @#$%%^

basswipe · 03-30-2005, 06:23 AM

My solution is different.I use the Rod Saver.
www.rodsaver.com/04_rodsaver/vrc.html

Since I have sliding rear window on my club cab I hang the front strap from my garment hooks and put the mounts for the rear strap towards the tailgate leaving enough room to accomadate the rod butts.

Cheap and effective.

bart · 03-30-2005, 08:38 AM

5/0 makes a mean rack

Krispy · 03-30-2005, 09:01 AM

Before I put the cap on, I bolted 2 pvc pipes to the sides of a truck box, figured out the angle to keep the tips below the roof line and it was fine.

chief10 · 03-30-2005, 11:22 AM

Lurch- IMO I wouldn't use those covers to transport rods. too much wind resistance on the blanks. I brought home a rod blank that was wrapped with plastic , had it out the back of a sliding window in my pickup and had to pull over a couple miles down the road to remove it. the wind kept getting a hold of it. the homemade rack is the way to go.

Aqua-man · 03-30-2005, 03:12 PM

A little overkill but what the heck

redlite · 03-30-2005, 03:14 PM

Aqua-man,
That's a pretty rack. Probably the nicest one of that style I've seen. Good idea to just drop it into the rack holes on the bed rails. easy on/ off, plus looks real good.

Aqua-man · 03-30-2005, 03:29 PM

2" 316lL stainless steel tube, .062" wall, it only weighs about 15 pounds. It also pivots so you can stand the rods straight up.

Iwannakeeper · 03-30-2005, 04:57 PM

Aqua-man,

Is that something you did yourself, or something you purchased? I have not previously seen this 'model' so I assume you built it yourself.

Wish I knew a welder. But then again, I don't have a pick-up yet. My SUV has plenty of room for rods, even 10 ft'ers fit in the suburban.

-IWK

Fungus · 03-30-2005, 06:02 PM

I have a pickup with a rack on the back. I use a 10 foot piece of 6 inch PVC pipe with an end cap on one end and a screw in cap on the other end. This is mounted on the top of the rack. The screw cap has a locking latch on it. I can transport 10 foot one piece rods no problem and keep them locked in the tube if need be. It is not elegant but it works.

5/0 · 03-30-2005, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bart

5/0 makes a mean rack

Thank's Bart

Here's a rack I made out of steel & plastic with a lock last spring,it took a while but it works for me.

5/0

Rob Rockcrawler · 03-30-2005, 11:22 PM

5/0 that looks great, i need to make something like that this year, i have a ranger so things are tight. I bet you could make a killing selling those things, you could even make them and trade em on here for pluggage... Just an idea.

Aqua-man · 03-31-2005, 12:31 AM

thats sweet, i like the lock. looks like it will work on just about anything you can slide in the tube