Vehicle Rod Rack
- Thread starter nater
- Start date
flywgn
Explorer
I'm assuming that by "roof not an option" you mean the exterior roof.
I didn't buy a 'product' as such. In our Excursion, Suburbans, Cherokee, and Volvos I suspended clothes rods from the stock hooks near the roof. The clothes rods are encapsulated in foam insulation tubes, and I wound an elastic cord the length of the rear one.
The tips go forward and the reels prevent the rods from slipping forward. I use the elastic cord to retain the butt ends in place.
I'm not sure what I'll do in the Dakota we now have. Unless I open both the window in the truck cab and the forward window in the camper shell, I can't suspend a rod from the roof area. I do have a couple of carryiing cases that let me leave the rod partially assembled, i.e. leave the reel on, the line through the ferrules, but separate the rod at a convenient joint and insert the now-two-piece rod into the case.
If I'm just moving from one spot on a stream to another, the exterior magnetic mounts I have work fine, but I wouldn't want to drive at speed with the rods outside.
Years ago, I used large-diameter PVC (held three assembled rods/reels) mounted on the roof of the vehicle. This worked beautifully and was really great protection for the rods. I may try something like that again on this Dakota, but I'll try to find thinner-walled pipe.
BTW, I'm describing fly-rods that can be broken down into two, three, even four pieces.
Allen R
I didn't buy a 'product' as such. In our Excursion, Suburbans, Cherokee, and Volvos I suspended clothes rods from the stock hooks near the roof. The clothes rods are encapsulated in foam insulation tubes, and I wound an elastic cord the length of the rear one.
The tips go forward and the reels prevent the rods from slipping forward. I use the elastic cord to retain the butt ends in place.
I'm not sure what I'll do in the Dakota we now have. Unless I open both the window in the truck cab and the forward window in the camper shell, I can't suspend a rod from the roof area. I do have a couple of carryiing cases that let me leave the rod partially assembled, i.e. leave the reel on, the line through the ferrules, but separate the rod at a convenient joint and insert the now-two-piece rod into the case.
If I'm just moving from one spot on a stream to another, the exterior magnetic mounts I have work fine, but I wouldn't want to drive at speed with the rods outside.
Years ago, I used large-diameter PVC (held three assembled rods/reels) mounted on the roof of the vehicle. This worked beautifully and was really great protection for the rods. I may try something like that again on this Dakota, but I'll try to find thinner-walled pipe.
BTW, I'm describing fly-rods that can be broken down into two, three, even four pieces.
Allen R
nater
Adventurer
You are correct in that the outside roof is not an option. I would like them tucked up on the roof on the inside of my 4runner. My rods are 7' 1 piece rods, so breaking them down is not an option, and they need to be inside for security when I leave my vehicle. I have spoken to the gentlemen at reel innovations and rod vault, and they both say the others product is flawed (of course). I may just fab something up at this point.
KLAKEBRONCO
Adventurer
If you slip then all into a rod sock you can store them about anywhere. This will keep the line from getting tangled, and the guides from hanging up on everything. That's all I'm going to do on my bronco. I'll probably make something that's removable so it's not in the roof all the time.
Normally there is plenty of interior room in anything but a regular cab truck for most rods. Mounting in the roof adds a little more security. Which depending on your gear can be really important. Most people can't believe what some rods cost.
Normally there is plenty of interior room in anything but a regular cab truck for most rods. Mounting in the roof adds a little more security. Which depending on your gear can be really important. Most people can't believe what some rods cost.
nater
Adventurer
You are right about rod costs, I just ordered a Loomis GLX, lets keep that quiet from the girlfriend, lol.
The reason I want the rods off the floor is so that I can sleep in the back without worrying about them. The rear portion of the hanger is the biggest issue as I have nothing in the rear cargo area to hang the rods from (no hooks, handles, etc). The front bar is easy as I have grab handles to loop through. I may just end up "installing" some clothing hooks from another model car in the rear so that I can hang from them and keep it looking fairly stock.
The reason I want the rods off the floor is so that I can sleep in the back without worrying about them. The rear portion of the hanger is the biggest issue as I have nothing in the rear cargo area to hang the rods from (no hooks, handles, etc). The front bar is easy as I have grab handles to loop through. I may just end up "installing" some clothing hooks from another model car in the rear so that I can hang from them and keep it looking fairly stock.
UNI
Adventurer
We did something similar to what you've done in the past. I wanted the pipe to be black to match the Jeep and I didn't want to paint it. Polyethylene black corrugated pipe has the color all the way through the pipe. I used Dual Wall Corrugated Pipe, smooth inside wall and corrugated outside wall. This Dual Wall pipe also has great rigidity. Because glue will not stick to polyethylene pipe, I went with Chernie Expansion Plugs. Slide the expansion plug into the end of the pipe, spin the wing nut and you have a water tight end cap that won't come off. The size/length we used was 6" ID x 78" long (Pipe comes in 20ft. lengths), so it easy to get the custom length needed. We haul fishing poles and a expandable fiberglass antenna mast (72" Closed/144" Extended) that we use on our trailer when base camping.
rpearlberg
New member
I have the same issue in my 01 4Runner. No hooks in the rear cargo area. I'm trying to figure out what to do, maybe some hooks with double sided adhesive? I just have one 7' rod to keep for now. Let me know if you come up with anything and if you can post pictures.
Thanks
FAW3
Adventurer
The simplest rod holder I ever came up with is on my truck now...
Sections of 1" nylon webbing looped in about a 3" loop and secured. A series of 3 aligned loops front to rear hold the end of rod, middle of rod, and final loop goes over the handle. In my use they are double loops (visualize two drooping bunny ears) allowing 1 to 4 rods to be stored. They are up, out of the way and sort of out of sight (due to tinted windows).
My installation is in my truck cap...but could you not do something like this along the side up high in your Runner..say attaching the strap by existing clothes hanger bolts or similar to avoid making holes in head liner?
Good luck!
Sections of 1" nylon webbing looped in about a 3" loop and secured. A series of 3 aligned loops front to rear hold the end of rod, middle of rod, and final loop goes over the handle. In my use they are double loops (visualize two drooping bunny ears) allowing 1 to 4 rods to be stored. They are up, out of the way and sort of out of sight (due to tinted windows).
My installation is in my truck cap...but could you not do something like this along the side up high in your Runner..say attaching the strap by existing clothes hanger bolts or similar to avoid making holes in head liner?
Good luck!
rpearlberg
New member
Yeah. Thinking of using velcro straps or some sort of straps/hooks to run along the inside corner.
hhog4dc
New member
Hey Nater,
See if this would work for you.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46798
I built this for my 4 runner and it works great.
Doug
See if this would work for you.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46798
I built this for my 4 runner and it works great.
Doug
rpearlberg
New member
That is awesome, but not sure i need something that big.
rpearlberg
New member
Thinking about using some leftover trim adhesive to put velcro straps along the side/corner and then using the velcro straps to hold the rod...
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
KLAKEBRONCO
Adventurer
That's a great idea!
I'm having a family style cage put in my Bronco so I can take the top off. (the rear shoulder straps are bolted to the roof-and I want to maintain those)
I think adding a two U sections to the cage, one on each side would be perfect. Then I could build the crossbar section like yours, and set it in the U's one on each side.