Are you in a dilemma on protecting your fishing rods and keeping them accessible from the back of your truck? Fishermen know the hassle of transporting them from storage to the perfect fishing spot. We will round up quick, cheap, and easy ways to carry your rods safely in your truck within the article.
Fishing rods can be transported either in or on the truck roof/bed safely and securely. Some of the safer options include using rod wraps, using portable rod storage tubes, using interior roof racks, using roof-mounted rod tubes, and customizing truck bed rod holders. More so, you can craft DIY rod tubes and racks for your truck bed to ease transportation.
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Whenever engaging in an arduous fishing trip across the country, an angler must ensure the fishing rods reach their intended destination safely and effectively. Failure to transport the fishing rods properly will ruin a fishing trip; hence, keep intact as we provide a comprehensive guide on how to transport fishing rods effectively.
Best Ways to Transport Fishing Rods in a Truck
Transporting your fishing rods securely in a truck may entail either transporting in the truck itself or on the roof rack. Either way chosen depends largely on how much space you have inside the car plus whether the rod containers will fit properly. Some truck roof feature racks made specifically for fishing rods.
Fishing rods transported on the roof rack, should be situated lengthwise. They should not be hanging off the sides of the truck. Secure the rods with two durable bungees, one on each end to prevent the rods from shifting around during transportation. An example of a roof mount is the Rhino rack ski carrier.
When transporting the rods in the truck, it is crucial to wait until everything else is packed.determine the spaces left to work with and try to put the rod containers lengthwise angling from the front windshield to the back windshield.
Below are more tips that work well for moving your fishing rods!
Rod Wraps
Rod wraps entail a way to bundle fishing rods together for accessible transit to and from a location. Wrap around the base of the combos to hold them securely together. The use of rod wrap is suited for the transit of many rods at once.
The length of the fishing rod is exposed to other fishing gear within the truck bed. For SUVs, the rod tips are up by the driver’s center console. The demerit to using the method is that it poses a strong possibility for breaking a rod; thus not recommended to travel with only a rod wrap.
Interior Roof Racks
The Interior roof rack method offers a perfect way to transport fishing rods without the worry of breaking a rod. Fishing rods are placed on the interior of the vehicle. Bungees spanning the width of a truck are hung up and secured. Then, the rods rest on top of the bungees.
It is an excellent option to get rods up and out of the way when driving. Additionally, you get space to put other fishing gear in the truck. Trucks with little roof cab space may not offer an adequate area for storage.
It is crucial to consider the length of the rods, especially Muskie fishing rods and off-shore rods, as they feature over 9 feet of measurement. Roof cab space may not be feasible. Hence, anglers should find an alternative way of transportation.
Portable Rod Storage Tubes
Rod storage tubes entail hard shells that are great for the transportation of rods. The tubes provide ample protection while in transit and against water elements. They offer long-term storage when transporting.
When these storage tubes are used in truck beds, they tend to roll around; hence make sure to find a way to mount it securely. The use of the hard-shelled storage tubes in trucks may depend on the length of the rod tube in relation to the size of the truck bed. The tailgate may be left down as the length varies.
Roof-Mounted Rod Tubes
They are cylindrical tubes affixed to the roof rails of the truck securely. Roof-mounted rod tubes eliminate the need to repeatedly secure the tube in a truck bed or leave the tailgate down.
Roof-mounted rods provide an ideal way to protect valuable fishing rod combos.
Customizable Truck Bed Rod Holders
Truck bed rod holders provide the safest way to transport fishing rods. They are cost-effective and durable elements that are held in place by tension. The secure holders do not require you to drill into the truck bed.
Customizable truck bed rod holders allow you to add more holders as needed. It can adjust the angle of the rod holder. They free up space minimizing the possibility of harming your fishing rod.
DIY Method To Carry Your Fishing Rods Safely On The Truck Bed
If you don’t own a rod pod for your truck, you can make your own instead of buying one. Here is a guide on how to craft a fishing rod pod to integrate into your truck transportation system;
Materials required
- Reese conduit carrier kit
- PVC tube (6” diameter and 8 ft. long)
- Spray paint for PVC tube
- Gun drill
- Silicone
- Screwdriver
- Padlock
- 2 Straps
Procedural Steps To Follow For DIY Fishing Rod Tube
Cut the PVC Tube: Make a mark with a marker and cut the PVC tube to ensure it’s 8 feet long. Cut the tube using a PVC cutter, handsaw, or an electric saw.
Paint the PVC tube: Prior to painting, ensure the pipe is completely dry. You can opt to carry out the work indoors or outdoors. When outdoors, hold the PVC tube vertically using a piece of wood stacked on the ground then the pipe inserted in the hole. When indoors, lay the tube on a table and paint while ensuring minimal messiness.
Put 2 layers of paint onto the tube. Upon spraying the first layer, wait for 12 hours, then apply the second coat. Wait for another 12 hours to completely dry. The tube hardens to be rock solid.
Attach both caps to the PVC tube: Caps have holes on the sides, which screws go in to lock. Without using glue, place one cap at the end of the PVC. Drill the holes on the tube through the holes on the caps. Repeat the process on the other end of the cap. Ensure firmness when drilling to keep the holes in position.
Apply silicone on the inside of the caps and let it dry a bit. Ensure the holes on the tube are aligned with the caps. Everything is still and intact; place the screws on the holes for extra resistance. You can use your lock to secure the fishing rods further.
Attach the new fishing rod pod to the truck bedsides: Cut the inserts on the truck’s sides and use the holes to tie the fishing rod tube to the sides with a strap. Additionally, you may put rubber gaskets on the truck’s surface so it won’t get damaged.
Updated: October 28, 2022
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