Rod Holder In Car/suv

[stk]

Hey guys, I have been curious to know how you guys transport your rod's in your car/suv.  I've seen things like rod buckle or rodmounts.com, but I was wondering if there was a DIY solution people were using and were happy with?

 

thanks in advance.

 

[MarkH024]

I bought two 1.5" thick adjustable bungee cords from Target and strung them up on the hooks in the SUV. One in the way back, and across the ones in the row seats.  I tightened them down good and basically laid the rods up there. I transport 6-8 rods normally and it works. It is by no means the best scenario but it keeps them off your other luggage/stuff in the way back.  Not sure it would work in a car but I have an Explorer.

[skeletor6]

Interesting topic. I travel with 8 rods in an older model chevy impalla. Longest rods being 7'5''. I could go longer if I wanted to. I've found a holder unnecessary for my situation. However, reel covers, rod gloves, and caution sure go a long way. I would be interested to see the solution to this. I've read threads in the past on this subject and some people are crafty and are able to work out something pretty neat. Not sure if there is anything in the market at this moment for said situation.

 

Just thought I'd give my 2 cents. Good luck!

[bluezed]

This is how I currently transport my cheap rods.  I am going to start getting a little more spendy with my equipment so I need to come up with some way to better protect them from damage.  I might make a clamp-on rod holder/separator that I mount to the rear strut tower brace which would route the rods between the seats, with the tips ending up near the rear view mirror.  We'll see.  

 

 

[stk]

Thanks for the input guys, I've found this solution:

 

https://www.rodmounts.com/rod-up-for-suvs/

 

but it is pretty pricey at 129.99. 

 

I drive a Honda CRV, and there is space overhead, I might look into doing something like this:

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/46798-SUV-Home-Made-Rod-Holder

 

Looks like I have a project this weekend.

[Goose52]

I started a thread a while back about the box I built for transporting rods in a car/SUV.  Here's a cut-n-paste of that post:

 

I recently posted this photo of my rod box in another thread and there seemed to be some interest in this rig. It's raining here now (and might snow later) so I thought I'd take the time to post some details about this rod box.  I took photos of the final box upon completion of construction last summer so will post those up as well.

 

 

When fishing from the bank I drive around and hit multiple lakes, with sometimes different presentations at each lake, so I end carrying a number of different rods. When fishing from the boat (car-topped canoe), I needed a way to carry 5 or so rods to the lake, organized, and leave room in the trunk of the car for the other boat gear.  Answer for both needs?  A rod box.  I made a prototype box out of cardboard and ended up using it for three years. I finally made the "production" box out of wood last summer.  Result? Rods are organized, don't slide around, and the two-level feature lets you carry five rods in a narrow width.  Get home from fishing and all you have to do to "unpack" is to lift out the entire box and you're done.

 

Some design considerations:

• Upward inclination of the rods - you have to do some measuring to assure that the rods will clear the folded-down rear seatbacks in the car.
• "Tapering" of the rods in the box. The rods should have enough lateral separation at the rear for the reels to clear each other, but the rod tips have to be angled inward so they fit between the front seat backs.
• Left-handed or right-handed reel handles (primarily for spinning reels).  If you plan on carrying one or two spinning outfits, you want to offset the rod position in the box to assure that you end up with enough room for the handle. Example: my spinning reels have handles on the left side; I would set the rod position for the first spinning rod close to the right side of the box, leaving enough room for the rotor to clear the inner box wall (this will be clear in a following photo).
• Height of the rod supports at the rear of the box - you have to take into account the size of the spinning reels that you use to assure that the rod is supported high enough so the reel will clear the bottom of the box.

I fish from three different cars so that meant some measuring to assure that the final box design would work in all three.  Here's some photos that show the details.

 

The prototype box - made of cardboard; used for three years. A cardboard box is recommended as the first step since you can easily change dimensions and angles (and if you make a mistake, just get another box ).  Note the upward inclination of the rods.

 

The final design, made out of wood. Note the divider across the width of the bottom of the box - the area in front of that divider is for the reels. Some measurement needed here to determine placement of that divider based on the size of the reels.  The compartment at the right-rear is dimensioned to hold four 3500-size boxes vertically (or an alternate configuration shown in the next photo). On the right-rear inner wall of the box, note the double-ply cardboard - this is an area to hang single-hook baits like spinnerbaits and buzzbaits (if the cardboard wears out, cut the zip-ties and replace the cardboard).  Note the grab-handles on each side of the box.

 

The left-rear compartment is dimensioned to hold bags of soft-plastics. The right-rear compartment alternate configuration - one 3500 box, one tray for tossing in used plastics, used baits, etc.  Note the "notch"/rod support position on the right side of box; it is offset as far as possible to the right to give clearance for the spinning rod handle on the left side of the reel.

 

Test fit in the Z-Car with three rods - good to go here. The right and center rod positions are set to provide clearance for spinning reels. Note the tips of the outer rods are angled inwards to fit between front seat-backs.  Also note here the two (empty) "upper-level" rod positions.

 

 

Test fit in the Toyota - good to go here as well.  Now with two more rods on the top level. The top two rods must be BC rods; the BC reels DO end up resting on the lower rods, but no issues with damage/abrasion to either the reel or rod.  Note here the spinnerbaits hanging from the cardboard.

 

 

Finally, when you get home from fishing, lift the box out of the car to unpack. Note again the upward inclination of the rods.  I'm fortunate to have a tackle bench where I can place the rod box.  Here, I can check all the rigs for frayed line, trim-back, and re-tie all knots.

 

There you go. A carboard box, a knife, and some measurements will get you a usable box.  Have some time on your hands? Make it out of wood.  I made my wood box from scraps left over from other projects, even had the screws on-hand so my direct cost was $0.00...

[ClackerBuzz]

i live in the city so i need to hide, transport and protect all together. i use an old, plain rod tube (not one that has *** written all over it).  i also use rod gloves b/c it keeps the lines from tangling and they slide in/out very easily.  i can slide 4 baitcasters in one tube.  i taped 2 tubes together and slide 2 spinning set ups into the second tube.  funny part is the 2 tubes together lay perfect on my arm rest (honda accord) so i just rest my elbow on them.  and the tubes go thru the hole/hatch into the trunk.  had an old rubbermaid in the trunk that just happened to be the right height to support all the reels and/or cork handles while in the trunk (similar concept as Goose52 but not near as COOL as his box!). 

[Chris007]

Real simple......( The Rod Glove)  I travel every weekend with my fishing equipment.....and I've found this is the best way to go for me to store and protect my investments...

 

Good luck..

[Crappiebasser]

When I fished as a co angler I bought a rod tote em and it works pretty good. It came with a mount to attach it to a wall, truck bed, or whatever. You pul a lynch pin and it comes off. I added a Velcro strap to the bottom of mine to hold the handle to my tackle bag. It makes it easy to carry all my gear from the truck to the boat. It wouldn't be too hard to cut one out on a scroll saw for a cheaper option.

http://www.amazon.com/Taco-Metals-Poly-Reel-White/dp/B0000AXW7H

[OkeechobeeAngler]

Goose, thanks for posting. Going to do something similar in GC jeep tomorrow. 

[thehooligan]

I took my back seat out and can fit 5-6 rods easily. I dont usually take more then 3 anyway so theres always plenty of room. I put some tacky material down, the stuff you put in the bottom of cabinets and my rods dont move, especially if i have to make a quick stop.

 

[SirSnookalot]

When I was go offshore with my partners we have about 9 or 10 rods, only 7 footers, we have a rod rack on the roof of the car, everything else goes into the trunk.

When I'm alone my car has a trunk pass thru, 8 foot rods easily fit in, usually will have 3 or 4.  Like Goose I have a box in my trunk, it's a little different and works very well for my needs.  It's a plastic box 22" x 16" x 5" high.  I have 4 small cardboard boxes, 1 for spoons, feathers, hard lures and plastic jerk shads, lures of the same size are put in individual lure boxes and labeled.  There is room for accessories as well, my daily use fanny pack just rests on top.  I have a small bag for freshwater lures too.

[Fishes in trees]

Don't stress yourself trying to re-invent the wheel. Rod Saver makes a vehicle rod carrier for around $20.  I've got one in my SUV.  It works great, suspending the rods from the roof.  Product description on their web site says it will hold 7 rods.  I can put 20 on mine and they stay organized.

[cdr]

1 inch pvc with 4 way connectors. My subaru forester has tie down hooks in the roof in the back that I attached it to bit I've seen people use rack that is meant for hanging clothes that you can extend and wedge between the sides of the vehicle. I then used a bungee that attaches to the handles on the roof of the car. I have room to put 7 rods comfortably. My 7 ft rods hit the sun visor so I imagine anything bigger then that would be hard to fit, (in a subaru foresterbur anyways) but 7ft is manageable.

[flyfisher]

I have a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and i use http://www.basspro.com/Rod-Saver-Vehicle-Rod-Carrier/product/15989/

 

I don't use the back section because i decided to use a bungee wrapped around the rear roll bar to hold the rod handles instead.  In the Front i do place the rod tips above the visors though to keep them out of the way.  Keeps it pretty easy and cheap.