Tracker Pro Team 175 Rod Locker Problems

[colefarrow_]

We got a Tracker Pro Team 175 18ft and have been having trouble with getting our rods in the rod lock in front of the drivers seat ,picture of it Here. My dad uses 5’6 zebco combos and and it’s still a pain, and for sure no way anything above 6’6 could possibly fit in there . Does anyone have a solution for this? Thanks -Cole

[12poundbass]

What year is your boat? I thought the rod locker was in the middle on the 175? 

[colefarrow_]

4 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

What year is your boat? I thought the rod locker was in the middle on the 175? 

I’m pretty sure 2020, maybe a different model?

[12poundbass]

Judging by the picture I see you have a seat pedestal above the rod locker I’d guess you have a 175 TF but looking at the specs it says it should fit 7’ rods. So I’m not sure why you’re having issues. 

[T.J.]

I have a 2020 175 txw with same lockers. No problem with 7’ rods. Just have to bend / arc them once the tip is in the rod tube. Make sure guides are facing up. Might not be the best design. I need to do this on both sides but more bending to is needed to miss control. 

[gim]

10 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

I thought the rod locker was in the middle on the 175?

That’s what I thought too. According to the layout on the website it’s not there anymore as of the 2020 model. That’s pretty bush league

[colefarrow_]

21 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

Judging by the picture I see you have a seat pedestal above the rod locker I’d guess you have a 175 TF but looking at the specs it says it should fit 7’ rods. So I’m not sure why you’re having issues. 

Maybe since it’s a multi-species, made for lighter power rods. I use mainly medium-heavy to heavy for jigs

[bluzharp]

On 12/19/2020 at 9:51 AM, 12poundbass said:

What year is your boat? I thought the rod locker was in the middle on the 175? 

2018 was the last year for the middle locker. The 2019's were out when I bought my '18, for this exact reason.

[colefarrow_]

3 hours ago, bluzharp said:

2018 was the last year for the middle locker. The 2019's were out when I bought my '18, for this exact reason.

If only we would have know lol. Why did they change it?

[mrpao]

It seems like some of the newer layouts are not as user friendly. Not sure why tracker would change a good design for one that's not as easy to use.

I have a tracker 170 with the rod locker in the middle. It fits my long rods with no issues.

[T.J.]

9 hours ago, colefarrow_ said:

If only we would have know lol. Why did they change it?

Center rod locker is easier to access but that’s puts the tackle storage at the sides and in theory much harder to access with rods laying on the deck at the sides. From what I read, the thought was once rods are out less access is needed to rod lockers but tackle storage is continually accesses. When tackle storage is on the sides you need to move your rods on deck to open. Like I said above, I have no issues with 7’ rods in either side locker. Same layout as the TF. 

[volzfan59]

Exactly which 175 do you have? The TXW has the rod locker up the middle of the front deck and only one place on the to place a butt seat or fishing seat. The live well is on the back deck. The T/F has a rod locker on the front deck, passenger side. It has three places to put fishing seats. The T/F also has a live well on the front deck.

 

Edit, I stand corrected. I just saw a TXW tournament edition's front deck. Looks completely different than the TXW's I was thinking about.

Edited December 25, 2020 by volzfan59

[NorthernBasser]

On 12/21/2020 at 7:26 PM, T.J. said:

Center rod locker is easier to access but that’s puts the tackle storage at the sides and in theory much harder to access with rods laying on the deck at the sides. From what I read, the thought was once rods are out less access is needed to rod lockers but tackle storage is continually accesses. When tackle storage is on the sides you need to move your rods on deck to open. Like I said above, I have no issues with 7’ rods in either side locker. Same layout as the TF. 

I'll never understand why some companies still continue to put rod lockers in the middle, for the reason you mentioned. Most people keep tackle in the deck's side locker(s).