Looking for a tip: How to transport rods in a truck bed safely?

robrdavis · July 11, 2011, 05:00:15 PM

Being one of the (seemingly) few of the boatless members here, I don't have a large floating rod holder to tow behind my truck when I'm headed out to go fishing.

I'm looking for some suggestions as to how to safely transport my rods in my truck. I've been breaking them down and stashing them behind the seat, but they usually get tangled in the cargo net and other assorted things I have stashed back there. I just set them in the bed on the way back home from the water today, but didn't care for how much they slid around. I'm driving a GMC Sierra without an extended cab, so the window's right behind my head

The problem that I see with mounting a rod keeper to the bed liner is that it'll get broken when I haul stuff, which is relatively often.

Bass Pro has a setup that will suction cup to your window... Yeah, right. I mean, my rods might be K-Mart specials, but I'd still like to have them when I pull up to the shore! The V-Lock looks like it would offer some interesting mounting options, but that's a bit out of my budget at the moment (thinking V-Lock and rod holder cost) as I've very limited funds.

So... Any suggestions? Any other land-locked members out there who've solved this same problem?

dallicis · July 11, 2011, 06:02:20 PM

I also dont have a boat, I use this http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Extreme-Combo-Caddy-Rod-and-Reel-Carrier/product/15114/-1524984 to put my rods in and put in the bed of my truck. I have had it for a couple months. It seems to protect the rods and reels well, its just a little of a pain the rear to get them in out, just takes a little extra time.

copnjax · July 11, 2011, 06:19:11 PM

Why not lay them with the rod butts against the back of the cab, then use two bungy cords. One on the butt end and the other across the tip ends of the rods? It would keep them from bouncing around and possibly breaking?

cd1 · July 11, 2011, 06:37:21 PM

I just lay my six rods in the bed and go. Nothing is damaged. No bungees...no nothing. When i get to the lake i put them in my boat.

robrdavis · July 12, 2011, 01:00:25 AM

Thanks for the suggestions all.

copnjax: That sounds like a good idea, but I don't have anything at that level to bungee them to. My bed liner is slicker than snot and it covers any tie-downs that might be in that range.

cd1: That's what I did on the way home today, but they were rolling around like crazy back there. I'd hate to have to explain to my 6yo that he can't fish today since daddy snapped the tip off of his rod on the way to the lake.

dallicis: I like that carrier. That might be a good way to go as it'd keep them contained when we got back home as well. Right now, they're just all propped in the corner of the entryway closet.

Any more suggestions are welcome too. I'm not calling this one beat just yet.

Canesfan · July 12, 2011, 08:31:04 AM

I am also a non-boater and just lay them in the back of the truck. They don't "roll around" on me and I use a bungee hord to possibly keep them from blowing out. Probably wouldn't but I lost a real expensive combo years ago when I did have a boat by not securing my rods, etc.

Camden · July 12, 2011, 08:59:51 AM

i use a rod holder mounted to the bed. but not to the floor. to the sides of the bed. this way they are tucked under the rail cap and i can still haul stuff. i'll see if i can find the tip i posted on it. man that was a bit of time ago

.
wow that was easier to find than i thought.

http://www.ultimatebass.com/bass-fishing-forum/index.php?topic=69369.0

robrdavis · July 12, 2011, 02:08:19 PM

Canesfan: Do you just bungee them together, or do you tie them to something?

Camden: That's like what I was originally thinking about doing, but I have a slide-in bedliner. It runs smoothly up from the bottom of the bed and up over the rail caps, leaving me nothing to protect the rod holder. I still like this idea the best (especially at a sub-20 dollar price) but I need to come up with some sort of quick-release system so I can take them out when I need to carry a washing machine or fridge to the shop.

I'm also wondering if something like this would work, slung between the tie-downs in the bed: http://www.cabelas.com/product/Boat-Buckle174-RodBunk-Deluxe-Rod-Carrier/703644.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Drod%2Bcarrier%26x%3D0%26y%3D0%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=rod+carrier&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products

Camden · July 12, 2011, 03:58:40 PM

i would think that would allow the rods to bounce to much. And it doesnt look like they are very secure individually. Let me do some thinkin on a quick release. I got an idea but i wanna test it out first

Sc Bassin · July 12, 2011, 04:33:31 PM

This will work.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/Rod-Reel-Storage/Fishing-Rod-Tubes-Cases|/pc/104793480/c/104812380/sc/104541480/Cabelas-Advanced-Anglers8482-Pro-Rod-Bags/732130.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Ffishing-rod-reel-storage-fishing-rod-tubes-cases%2F_%2FN-1102356%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104541480%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104793480%253Bcat104812380&WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104793480%3Bcat104812380%3Bcat104541480

robrdavis · July 13, 2011, 02:05:25 AM

Camden: I can't wait to see what you're cooking up!

Sc Bassin: I'm considering something like that too. )From Cabella's description: 8-Rod Bag – Holds approximately eight rod and reel combos depending on reel size or 20 rods... 20 rods? Who needs to store/carry 20 rods?)

fishinfranklin · July 13, 2011, 07:02:03 AM

you could take Camden's way and put two large head bolts on the backside and then drill holes into the bedliner and slot them down. Then you would be able to install and remove in a second.

Wildcat26 · July 13, 2011, 09:56:21 AM

For real long trips or flying I will put rods in a 4" pvc pipe, stuff paper in the ends and then duct tape the ends closed. Worked great, might be a bit much for short hauls.

ronalddipietro · July 13, 2011, 02:47:24 PM

the pvc pipe is a good idea..I would go with smaller 2 " and depending on how many at time to carry (5 or 6) I would tape the tubes together...simple..cheap..effective...

chf8500 · July 13, 2011, 03:43:43 PM

Niffty little trick that works like a charm, rod wrap with velcro above the reel seats then about a 3 to 4 inch piece of soft rubber hose up around the 2nd 3rd eyes, I have bundled 6 rods, bait and spinning together this way for quite sometime when my partner takes his boat and have yet to damage any. make your tip sleeve hose loose enough to easily slip over the rod tips.

Wildcat26 · July 14, 2011, 09:26:47 AM

4" pvc pipe holes 8 rods

DelaWhere? · July 15, 2011, 10:33:40 AM

This is a rod holder that I built a little while back........

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jocko · July 15, 2011, 04:07:42 PM

I have a short bed Dodge Ram - so my rods are too long and have to go from corner to corner. Otherwise - the kayak is in the bed and the rods are in the kayak - which is most of the time. Still, with the rods loose in the bed, I never have any issues. Of course I don't travel too far and I'm not driving all crazy either.

If I make a stop somewhere and I am afraid they will get stolen out of the bed, they come up front to the passenger seat and lay between the seats into the back seat. (quad cab). I usually don't like them in the cab for fear of hooks grabbing into the seats or headliner.

bassindude · July 15, 2011, 07:42:29 PM

I'd buy a set of these, mount them to a 1X12 and be done with it. even if it slides, as long as the rods dont extend past the board, they should be safe. plus it is easily removed. Jim

robrdavis · July 16, 2011, 01:42:20 AM

Lots of great suggestions here! Thanks for all the input!

Wildcat26 and ronalddipietro: PVC looks like a great way to store rods in a bomb-proof manor. That's what I should have done when leaving my gear at my in-laws house. My favorite rod suffered a near-fatality at the hands of a non-fisherman. Glue on an end cap to one side and a service cap to the other and I bet that they'd be safe even around my father-in-law!

DelaWhere?: That looks really nifty. I might steal your idea and adapt it to hold a rod or two while bait fishing. That'll let me sit back in my chair and enjoy a nice cold... soda.

chf8500: Maybe it's because it's late, but I'm not quite following you. Can you post a picture? I bet that as soon as I see it I'll get exactly what you're doing.

fishinfranklin and bassindude: I'm really liking both ideas. I think that one or the other is the way I'll end up going.

tepponogu · July 16, 2011, 04:27:41 PM

I have a little hatchback car that I take fishing and I've been using the pvc pipes for a while now. A little more work (I had to cut the pvc short enough to fit in my trunk so I can only use two piece rods and break them down), but its better than dealing with bent guides and broken tips.

Camden · July 17, 2011, 12:27:06 PM

here is mine for when I drive the explorer. i take the reels off and store them in a tackle bag and then I can fit like 6-8 rods in it
my missle launcher as DB calls it

robrdavis · July 19, 2011, 09:47:33 PM

Camden: That looks like what I was talking about if I ever have to store my rods in my in-laws garage for more than 5 minutes.

I'm thinking that I might take that design and change it up a little bit for use in the truck if I can't find a rack for cheap. I'm wondering if there's a way to slot the pvc so I can keep the reels on, yet slide them in and put a cap on it to keep them secure. That way I don't have to assemble/disassemble every time I go fishing.

tepponogu · July 19, 2011, 11:31:37 PM

Quote from: robrdavis on July 19, 2011, 09:47:33 PM
Camden: That looks like what I was talking about if I ever have to store my rods in my in-laws garage for more than 5 minutes.

I'm thinking that I might take that design and change it up a little bit for use in the truck if I can't find a rack for cheap. I'm wondering if there's a way to slot the pvc so I can keep the reels on, yet slide them in and put a cap on it to keep them secure. That way I don't have to assemble/disassemble every time I go fishing.

That's a heck of an idea!