New Fishmobile

[BasicPatrick]

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.

[Nebe]

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..

[macojoe]

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!

[Bass Babe]

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?

[gone fishin]

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. 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.

[Pt.JudeJoe]

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

[t.orlando]

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.

[MoroneSaxatilis]

Originally Posted by Bass Babe

...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¢

[Bass Babe]

Originally Posted by MoroneSaxatilis

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¢

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?

[MoroneSaxatilis]

Originally Posted by Bass Babe

cant blame a girl for being excited to hack the head off a seal, eh?

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.

[Pete F.]

Originally Posted by Bass Babe

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?

Hey ya know we always send apprentice carpenters for the boardstrecher or a box of toenails...

[Mr. Sandman]

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.

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

[Joe]

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

[Bass Babe]

Originally Posted by Joe

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.