Minimal rod travel case for 3pc rods

[RipHair]

I've built 3 7'0 travel rods and now I need a hard case I can use for airline travel or strapping it to my adventure motorcycle.

 

I have one of the St Croix cases already and it's pretty nice and you can buy them individual for $30/ea: https://www.tackledirect.com/st-croix-traveler-rod-case.html but I don't really want to spend $90 for 3 cases if there are other options to group all of the rods together into ***" case perhaps.

 

I went to hope depot to check PVC but even schedule 4 has super thick walls (probably overkill) and it's really heavy. Getbitoutdoors when I ordered my Rainshadows sent me the blanks in ASTM D2241 pressure pipe that is much lighter and has 0.06" walls instead of triple that for schedule 40 but I can't find where to buy it anywhere online... Also they shipped me 1.5" I.D. (inner diameter) so it won't fit my Fuji SK2 trigger that is around 2" nor my spinning stripper guide that is 2" high. I think I would need a 2" I.D. pipe that would fit 1 rod or perhaps a 3" might fit all 3 rods. Anyone know where to buy this pipe?

 

Alternatively, the Plano airline looks good but it's minimum collapsible size is 47" which is too long (my sections are 28"). Sage has a ballistic case with either 4" or 6" I.D. that may work: https://www.flyandfield.com/products/sage-ballistic-bulk-6-rod-tube-10 this looks like the best "ready-made" contender.

 

Some threads here mentioned architect drawing cases but it seems the quality and safety isn't consistent unless someone here knows a particular model that they'd trust going through TSA and airline handlers?

 

[MickD]

I like the Temple Fork Triangular case, not too expensive and has worked for many trips.  It will hold multiple rods, even when some have tall spin guides like Fuji KLH.  Make sure you pack the rods so they don't shift and don't contact each other.

 

https://www.southernreeloutfitters.com/products/triangle-rod-case?variant=13495222632483&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqPGUBhDwARIsANNwjV6Esavp9PjHcuIh_ZPVFXn29_ttidgdRdjWSJo5vD0ay9mS6-xNzxcaAnlsEALw_wcB

 

While this source doesn't give its length, the case is available in different lengths, check around to find the one that will work for your rods.

[RipHair]

15 minutes ago, MickD said:

I like the Temple Fork Triangular case, not too expensive and has worked for many trips.  It will hold multiple rods, even when some have tall spin guides like Fuji KLH.  Make sure you pack the rods so they don't shift and don't contact each other.

 

https://www.southernreeloutfitters.com/products/triangle-rod-case?variant=13495222632483&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqPGUBhDwARIsANNwjV6Esavp9PjHcuIh_ZPVFXn29_ttidgdRdjWSJo5vD0ay9mS6-xNzxcaAnlsEALw_wcB

 

Thanks Mick! I see there are multiple versions of this: https://www.amazon.com/TFO-Triangular-Rod-Case-TF-RCT-94/dp/B00JJ6O0N4/ including a "MULTI" that I presume would fit more than one rod but it looks like the page you linked is for the single 9/4? Do you know your particular model you think will fit all of my 3 x 7'0 3pc w/ KLH 16/20 + SK2 triggers? Not that I don't trust you but just wanted to be sure before buying.

 

[bulldog1935]

You can get some pretty nice leather document tubes on Etsy for reasonable cost. 

They'll hold up to 3 rods (3-pc) and get great respect at TSA

 

My kayak bow hold multipiece tube came with my TackleDirect $100 multipiece back-up, and it keeps 3 rods in socks for me.  (looked for a photo, can't find it)

[RipHair]

6 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

You can get some pretty nice leather document tubes on Etsy for reasonable cost. 

They'll hold up to 3 rods and get great respect at TSA

 

That's a beaut!!! I didn't think about checking on Etsy.

[Dwight Hottle]

Loomis made a case for their travel rods. That might be a solution. Also you can make one out of PCV materail to your specs regarding length & diamater & weight and add a strap for carrying. Fixed end cap glued in place at one end & threaded cap on the other. 

[MickD]

3 hours ago, RipHair said:

Do you know your particular model you think will fit all of my 3 x 7'0 3pc w/ KLH 16/20 + SK2 triggers? Not that I don't trust you but just wanted to be sure before buying.

Mine measures 4 inches on a side, 33 inches long.  I carried a 7 foot 3 piece spin rod + a spin rod made from an 8 1/2 foot 4 piece fly blank + 2 8 wt fly rods, 9 foot 4 piece.  It's too bad they don't just give the dimensions.  I would call a source that carries the different sizes and get the length you know you need and verify it has about 4 inch sides.    My spin rods have the tall Fuji guides. 3 piece 7 foot rods are about 30 inches long, I think.  84 / 3 = 28 + the ferrule overlap would give about 30 inches.

 

I know that some of the suggestions you're getting will not carry the spin rods with tall guides, even one of them.

[MickD]

I think you need the 9-6 to 10 foot 4 piece model.  But I would call.

 

https://www.reelflyrod.com/tfo-triangle-rod-tube.html?variant_id=16452&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3fTXj5CX-AIV-UFHAR2_4AMbEAEYASABEgIidPD_BwE

[RipHair]

1 hour ago, MickD said:

I think you need the 9-6 to 10 foot 4 piece model.  But I would call.

 

https://www.reelflyrod.com/tfo-triangle-rod-tube.html?variant_id=16452&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3fTXj5CX-AIV-UFHAR2_4AMbEAEYASABEgIidPD_BwE

Thanks, I'll check into these

[RipHair]

Got both the MULTI and regular sized TFO triangular case. Regular sized is around 2.5" on each side, MULTI is much larger at 4.5" each side.

 

Interestingly, I got 2 7'0 casting rods and 1 7'0 spinning rod to fit (although very tightly and not too easily) in the smaller one. MULTI you can prob fit 6-8 rods in. I'm tempted to go with the smaller one but if I ever need to travel with more than 3 rods I'll be out of luck...

[RipHair]

Here's a photo of all 3 rods in the smaller one. I think I'll stick with this because it'll increase my chances of not having to check this thing in - I highly doubt I'd get away with being able to bring a carry on plus the MULTI one.

Was trying to see if I could remove the material from inside the tube to give a few extra mm of room and thought what I found inside was pretty funny. No idea how this has anything to do with ladies footwear! Hope it's a legit TFO product and not some Chinese knockoff (I did order form Amazon).