Best option for rod storage inside your car?

[JFlynn97]

I just recently sold my ol' Chevy Blazer which was great because the rear seats would sit flat with the cargo area so my rods could lie totally flat and out of the way. To replace it I picked up an '05 Honda CR-V which has been great so far, but folding the seats down leaves the rods sitting up at an angle inside the car taking up a lot of space. I'm considering getting some of those straps that go between the handlebars above your doors, does anyone have experience or recommendations for these? Most of my rods are 7' and under (longest rod is 7'3" which isn't insanely long) but I'm worried that they won't fit well. Also, are there any problems with using this setup with a sunroof? This is the first time in my life having one of those so I'd like to be able to use it too, hahah.

 

Thanks!

[Bankc]

Perhaps you could build a jig to hold the rods straight when you lay down the back seats.  It could just be a block of wood with some velcro, or perhaps something made of PVC pipe.  Just something to keep them level.  Maybe stick some small nails out of the bottom so they grip the carpet in the trunk.  

 

This is why I only fish two piece rods.  I'd rather use one piece, as there's a lot more selection in one piece rods, but a one piece rod won't fit in my Miata without hanging them out the window or dropping the top and sticking them out the top.  I can fit them in my Altima coupe, if drop the back seats, but then they're sticking up over my gear shifter.  That, and they bisect my trunk, effectively take up a lot of precious trunk space, making it hard to pack much else.  

[Fishes in trees]

My trow vehicle is a 98 Ford Explorer Sport ( the 2 door version of the Explorer ).  I have one of those rod saver kits that suspend your rods kinda over our head, beneath the roof.  In my case, the front strap was easy to install - just remove the handle, insert the holder and re- install the handle.   The rear strap was a challenge.   There is a channel along the edge  of the roof, which holds the plastic push pins that keep the liner snug.   You have to find that channel and install a ringed lag screw, screwing it into the channel.   It will take a fairly thick lag screw.   Once installed though, my rod saver straps have held up under a load of 28 rods & reels (stacked on top of each other ). A normal load is 15 to 20 rods and it holds that fine.    Even then, my tow vehicle is basically a 2 seater because, even with the rear seats folded down,  with the tools, tackle and other stuff, the cargo area is FULL.   Call me paranoid, but I keep the truck spare tire and the trailer spare tire inside the vehicle.

[LCG]

I put a steel rod with angle joints zip tied to the bar and wedged into the plastic support piece of the car. I put the rod handle on it, secure it with a rubber band and put the tip in a piece of braid that is secured to the sun roof slider. Works great. The rods sit across the roof line. 

 

Some people just put bungee across the grab handles but I have a kid in the back seat so don't want to risk the bungee snapping back on him. 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

2 hours ago, Bankc said:

Perhaps you could build a jig to hold the rods straight when you lay down the back seats.  It could just be a block of wood with some velcro, or perhaps something made of PVC pipe.  Just something to keep them level.  Maybe stick some small nails out of the bottom so they grip the carpet in the trunk.  

 

This is why I only fish two piece rods.  I'd rather use one piece, as there's a lot more selection in one piece rods, but a one piece rod won't fit in my Miata without hanging them out the window or dropping the top and sticking them out the top.  I can fit them in my Altima coupe, if drop the back seats, but then they're sticking up over my gear shifter.  That, and they bisect my trunk, effectively take up a lot of precious trunk space, making it hard to pack much else.  

If I'm in my Wrangler I put my rods in the front passenger seat on somewhat of an angle between the 2 front seats.  Did the same thing with my old Passat.  4 combos can fit with room between each rod.   6 or 7 is the maximum even with rod socks and reel cases.   I have an F150 but my rods and reels are less likely to be damaged in the Wrangler then in the bed of the truck.  When I pick up one of my buddies up to fish they know there gonna have to sit in the back lol.  

3 hours ago, Fishes in trees said:

Call me paranoid, but I keep the truck spare tire and the trailer spare tire inside the vehicle.

I do the same thing with the spare trailer tire

[soflabasser]

A 2 piece rod will easily fit in the trunk of most cars.

[Boomstick]

You should be able to put a few in the passenger's seat floor and the tips will be pointed at the back driver's side window. I have also put rods over the console in my girlfriend's CRV - could probably use a small rod tube (or a larger one) to help protect them if you do that.

[fishwizzard]

On 9/18/2020 at 1:07 PM, Bankc said:

Perhaps you could build a jig to hold the rods straight when you lay down the back seats.  It could just be a block of wood with some velcro, or perhaps something made of PVC pipe.  Just something to keep them level.  Maybe stick some small nails out of the bottom so they grip the carpet in the trunk.  

 

I did something like this for my car.  I have an '17 Outback where the seats fold flat so I can run the rods from the back straight up into the front, but what I was worried about was other stuff shifting on the flattened seats and smashing into the rods.  I made a U trough out of plywood with foam on the bottom.  The rods can lay in it and my huge tub of kayak gear can't slid into them if I have to do a break check or evasive maneuver.  

[schplurg]

Buy a different car!

 

When my Tacoma died I bought a mini-van (go ahead and laugh). All the middle and rear seats come out or fold flat, it has more space than most SUVs I see, and it is more secure than the open bed of my truck. I love it.

 

When purchasing a new vehicle it absolutely had to be something I could use for fishing. That's why I say kind of jokingly to buy a new car  

 

As for a storage idea - I really don't like laying them on the floor. I'm thinking of some kind of interior ceiling setup, maybe stretch some straps across the ceiling attached to the "oh ****" handles and keep the rods up high so I can put more gear in the van.

 

There was a thread maybe 8 months ago that talked about such an idea.

[JFlynn97]

15 hours ago, schplurg said:

As for a storage idea - I really don't like laying them on the floor. I'm thinking of some kind of interior ceiling setup, maybe stretch some straps across the ceiling attached to the "oh ****" handles and keep the rods up high so I can put more gear in the van.

That's what I ended up doing, so far it seems to be doing well! 

[ChrisD46]

On 9/18/2020 at 12:49 PM, JFlynn97 said:

I just recently sold my ol' Chevy Blazer which was great because the rear seats would sit flat with the cargo area so my rods could lie totally flat and out of the way. To replace it I picked up an '05 Honda CR-V which has been great so far, but folding the seats down leaves the rods sitting up at an angle inside the car taking up a lot of space. I'm considering getting some of those straps that go between the handlebars above your doors, does anyone have experience or recommendations for these? Most of my rods are 7' and under (longest rod is 7'3" which isn't insanely long) but I'm worried that they won't fit well. Also, are there any problems with using this setup with a sunroof? This is the first time in my life having one of those so I'd like to be able to use it too, hahah.

 

Thanks!

Two - piece rods 7' or under (unfortunately) ... I like longer one piece rods but they are a determinate in the car .

[greentrout]

Drive a 2012 Honda Accord ... only fish with 2 piece rods ... as good as 1 piece rods ... true ... they fit well in the back seat ... 7', 6'6" ... 

 

good fishing ... 

[schplurg]

On 9/21/2020 at 10:42 AM, JFlynn97 said:

That's what I ended up doing, so far it seems to be doing well! 

Cool. I'm going to look into making something.

[onenutinthewater]

Ratcheting tie down strap on the handles- rubber coated twist tie to secure them- Works great for 4 9' 6" + steelhead rods.

Current fishing vehicle is an older Jeep cherokee which did not have anything towards the back so I removed headliner & installed some eye bolts to secure the strap to.

[Kev-mo]

you could also hang/rig a strap between the grab bars in the back seat and put the butt ends in the storage area above the mirror. Two rods fit great, if you go with third you'll want to weave a towel or something in between them so they don't bang together

 

nevermind - was thinking element not crv. what you you did was the best i've seen for crv

[GaryH]

Starting on the rear side windows 3M make stick on hooks that hold some impressive weight, Then use the hooks above the 2nd row seats. Attatch line or cord across both and use PVC piping for how ever many rods you wish to carry. Secure the pvc to the cord/line with a figure 8 wrap so they don't slide. At the rear of the pvc secure a pvc strap so it will hold the reel against the opening so it can't move. Almost forgot on the rear with the adhesive hooks I used muliply hooks with each having it's own line. They can hold 8lbs each.

Hope this helps. I used to do this with my truck cap. 

[MidwestBassAttack]

Love this topic!  You all should see me driving my Nissan Altima with my 4 combos and with the three kids in back. What a cluster!

 

I know I need to get a truck. I just fear having transportation capable of towing a boat will lead me down the path of visits with “the boat monkey”