Yakima TopWater Rod Box

[Koz]

I just ordered this today along with some crossbars and the attachment kit.

 

But I thought that I would pass along that the other day I started to order it and then aborted the order before entering my payment information.

 

The next day Yakima emailed me a promo code for 10% off my order. 
 

I thought I would pass that along.

[Standard]

A lot of online sites do that, especially if you haven't ordered from them before.  I got 10% off my micro power pole order the same way.  If it's not something I need right away and I'm just 'window shopping', I'll punch in everything short of my CC info and see what happens.  Unfortunately that also tends to get me signed up for their mailing list but it's usually easy enough to unsubscribe.

[Koz]

I received the rod box and crossbars the other day. I also bought a 3-step stool to make it easier to load and unload.

 

For $600 it seems pretty flimsy. It also takes a little bit of jostling the top to get it to lock.

 

I brought seven rods this morning and they fit just fine. It has room for one or maybe two more.

 

There was no wind noise or buffeting sound, but holy cow it impacted my gas mileage. I normally get 31.5 - 32 mpg, but with the rod box I’m getting just over 26mpg. I don’t know why they went with a flat front instead of a wedge shape.

 

It serves a purpose and is useful, but it’s not worth the $1,100 it cost me for the box, crossbars, and the crossbar mount. 

 

It comes off easily, so I probably won’t use it anymore for day fishing trips. But it will come in handy for overnight and multi day trips when I’m bringing luggage or choose to sleep in the truck.

[Motoboss]

I just about pulled the trigger on one last week,,,,then I read a lot of reviews. Pretty much the same assessment as yours. Kinda flimsy, springs pop off the sides, some rods combinations won’t fit and a fuel mileage hit were the main complaints. With one center lock it doesn’t seem it would take too much to pry the ends up either. But I do find them to be……….attractive.

 

Instead I went with a “conduit carrier” kit in 8” ($100). The big surprise there is finding an 8” pvc pipe, which are sold commercially in 20’ lengths at $200 to $250 a stick! But $300 sounded much better to the Wife than the near $700 for the box, but not near as low profile or as good looking.

 

Please do a long term review on it.

[Standard]

I purchased mine early 2023, and although I used it all last season, I never bothered to put it on the truck this year.  I also bought it for half price, and I feel that's an acceptable amount.  No way would I drop $700(after shipping / tax) on it, although even then it's on the less expensive side of rod boxes.

 

It does feel flimsy, but I never had any functional issues with it.  I didn't have any combos that wouldn't fit, and I liked that the box is deep enough to throw my waders and wading boots or other gear underneath the rods.  I didn't notice much added wind noise or buffeting.  As for security, it latches at the front and back, I think it would take some work to pry into it.  I'm more worried about someone with a cordless angle grinder cutting the clamp brackets and just taking the whole thing away.

 

It really only stayed on last year because I was doing more shuttle trips with a buddy.  Getting the rods out of the cab and throwing my yak on the bed rack just made that easier.  But he moved away, and I've been doing more solo / camping trips.  The MPG hit with both the rod box and kayak on the rack is just too much for the longer trips, and I'd rather have my tonneau cover on to keep the box covered when my truck is at a landing overnight.

 

Overall, if it retailed in the $350-450 range it would make more sense. 

[Koz]

1 hour ago, Standard said:

I purchased mine early 2023, and although I used it all last season, I never bothered to put it on the truck this year.  I also bought it for half price, and I feel that's an acceptable amount.  No way would I drop $700(after shipping / tax) on it, although even then it's on the less expensive side of rod boxes.

 

It does feel flimsy, but I never had any functional issues with it.  I didn't have any combos that wouldn't fit, and I liked that the box is deep enough to throw my waders and wading boots or other gear underneath the rods.  I didn't notice much added wind noise or buffeting.  As for security, it latches at the front and back, I think it would take some work to pry into it.  I'm more worried about someone with a cordless angle grinder cutting the clamp brackets and just taking the whole thing away.

 

It really only stayed on last year because I was doing more shuttle trips with a buddy.  Getting the rods out of the cab and throwing my yak on the bed rack just made that easier.  But he moved away, and I've been doing more solo / camping trips.  The MPG hit with both the rod box and kayak on the rack is just too much for the longer trips, and I'd rather have my tonneau cover on to keep the box covered when my truck is at a landing overnight.

 

Overall, if it retailed in the $350-450 range it would make more sense. 

I contacted them via Facebook but have yet to receive a response. My price tag on the current version would be about $275.

 

I bet the plastic they use gets very brittle in the winter.

 

I took it off yesterday and I will no longer use it for day trips. But I will use it for extended trips, especially if I plan on sleeping in my truck,

[Standard]

On 9/23/2024 at 12:28 PM, Koz said:

I contacted them via Facebook but have yet to receive a response. My price tag on the current version would be about $275.

 

I bet the plastic they use gets very brittle in the winter.

 

I took it off yesterday and I will no longer use it for day trips. But I will use it for extended trips, especially if I plan on sleeping in my truck,

 

I've used it below freezing without issue, but not a ton.  Yakima has been making cargo boxes for a long time including plenty marketed to the ski / snowboard crowd.  They wouldn't use a plastic that couldn't handle the cold.

 

I'd recommend trying to get in touch through their website.  They generally have very good customer service.