I've been doing a lot more fishing trips out of San Diego the last few years and have been looking for a better travel solution for my 8' rods then just squeezing them into the cab of my truck. I'm always concerned I'll close the door or window on one so I finally built a lockable XL Rod Pod. The parts cost me just over $100 and it took me about 4 days working on it a few hours at at time. There are commercially available rod pods but the cost is around $500!!!!!
The end caps and hardware came from Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/REESE-Carry-Power-7054900-TransRack/dp/B00B2HP1A4/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1JZIHU3PAIWY&dchild=1&keywords=reese+conduit+carrier+kit+6&qid=1614278740&sprefix=reese+co%2Caps%2C216&sr=8-3
The pvc can be bought from any home improvement store as well as silicone to seal the ends and stainless steel rivets to secure the end caps.
I chose to use rivets to secure the end caps instead of the included screws to make it harder for someone to dismantle in case they wanted to steal anything inside. I understand they could just undo the nuts on the u-bolts as well as use a Sawzall to cut it open but the rivets made me feel better. Plus if you rivet the lockable end from the inside out it creates a smoother surface on the inside so the rods don't have anything to rub on. If you rivet the solid end the rivet nubs are on the inside so I suggest your keep your rods in their rod sleeves when you use this....
I very happy with how it turned out!!!!!!
PJ
Looks great!
Looks good and sturdy.
PJ, that looks sturdy and secure. Although, if I were a thief I would wonder what was being transported in such a secure looking carrier. ;D Dominick
I leave for San Diego in the am so it'll get its first test run tomorrow!!!!!
Quote from: Dominick on February 25, 2021, 07:27:00 PM
PJ, that looks sturdy and secure. Although, if I were a thief I would wonder what was being transported in such a secure looking carrier. ;D Dominick
This is the exact reason why I will leave it unlocked and open once i get to the landings so that would be thief's can see its empty....
That's a sweet carrying solution! Good luck on your trip! - john
What you have here is a very nice way to pack rods !
One thing I would recommend is that you use a leash with load rated carabiners on both ends to safely secure it when braking hard or God forbid during wreck.
Multiple Running Bowlines or half hithes with proper rope would be better than nothing!
I was in a SUV overseas with equipment fastened to top of vehicle. A crash, equipment was launched into another vehicle, killing two innocent children. I am still saddled with the sting of this situation today.
I have no way of knowing how tightly / secure the tube is. If your confident with it, so be it... Jeff
That's a pretty sweet tube PJ. I may have to consider something that that for my 9' rods.
Ok, so how did you rivet the end cap on the front with the flat on the inside of the tube?
A couple of years ago, I built something similar for my wife and the rest of her surf angling team that were travelling down to South Africa with their one piece 14'long surf rods. We used UPVC drain pipe, and the solvent welded screw on access caps, The solvent welded caps saved the issue of rivets inside the tubes. The we used a simple hasp and staple for padlocks to secure the caps. The whole units were mounted on the roof rack with U-bolts and roped for added security, and a simple piece of studding off the front bull bar to support the tubes where they extended beyond the roof in the front. Worked well for 10No, 1 piece surf rods being taken down some 1500 miles each way, no casualties on any of the rods.
Brian, the flat cap is hinged & uses a lock to keep it in place... Jeff
Quote from: Bryan Young on February 26, 2021, 12:05:22 AM
Ok, so how did you rivet the end cap on the front with the flat on the inside of the tube?
You can't rivet that end cap in the front from the inside so that end is riveted from the outside so that the nub is inside the tube at the front.... This is the reason I suggest you keep the rod in their rod socks/sleeves so the nubs don't scratch or nick the rods..
Oh,...it looks like you riveted it from the inside when I enlarged the photo. I though you had some ancient Chinese secret or something like that.
Quote from: Bryan Young on February 26, 2021, 02:50:09 AM
Oh,...it looks like you riveted it from the inside when I enlarged the photo. I though you had some ancient Chinese secret or something like that.
I did rivet the end that opens (with the lock) from the inside....
Good job ! I think I see something similar, in my future !
If I's a would-be thief, I'd pass on that one. Sometimes it's mostly about slowin 'em down and havin 'em make too much noise to break-in.
I don't leave anything in my car when I part overnight in San Diego at a hotel or at the landing. That pod would protect your rods great on the road or when you go into a restaurant (remember those days!) for lunch on the road.
Sweet set up! 8)
I see a project in my future. THANKS for the info!! It looks great.
Mike
Looks good !! Nice and secure. I went for the other option ..................... I got the truck with a regular 8 foot box.
Cheers:
Todd
Stocked up!
What, no mint/white?
I'm going to second Mark on the Minty Jig - one of my go-to's. And the only jig I have more than one of because I have been burned before by losing the only one I had! Good luck on the trip! - john
Great job PJ.....I was wondering about something like that. I like the lockable end cap. Would it be better to place the rods in butt first? Wouldn't hard braking force the rods forward potentially damaging the rod tips? Years ago I witnessed a contractor braking hard while getting off the freeway and all the shiplap siding he had on his lumber rack slid off barely missing the car in front of him.
Good luck on the trip, hope you slay 'em.....Bill
Quote from: Hardy Boy on February 26, 2021, 10:41:54 PM
Looks good !! Nice and secure. I went for the other option ..................... I got the truck with a regular 8 foot box.
Cheers:
Todd
Todd, is yer 8'er a newer P/U? And is it a 4-door(one a those 20+ footers)? Been searching for a 8 ft. bed P/U, but a standard, non-extended' 2-door type. Do they even make these anymore? A"real" P/U for a guy(not a crew) is a 2 door with a full size bed, or a lifted short-bed for serious 4x4'in.
Yeah, Slay Bill, not me!😊. Foam on the end caps works good in onea those, Bill. Need an 8' bed for my 12' yak...
I have a 2008 crew cab 1 ton diesel with 8 foot box. Its long so its a pig to park in the city but I don't live in a city. They should still make they but most of the ones on the lot all are short boxes. I cut fire wood so I like to be able to get a load. They must still make them ??
Make sit easy to though rods in there also.
Cheers:
Todd
Classy job! I think about rod transport every time I see a plumber's van go by with the big diameter PVC carrier on the roof rack to transport smaller long pipes
Classic American ingenuity there.
An 8' bed is why I kept my 1971 C10 all these years. Sometimes you need a real truck bed. And I never worry about a computer going out, because there aren't any.
start a pool on how long it takes to get hassled by a rookie LEO, lookin' for RPG's
Quote from: MarkT on February 27, 2021, 01:01:58 AM
What, no mint/white?
I picked up 2 mint/white after reading this but it didn't seem to matter because we never found the yt!
Quote from: Bill B (Tarfu) on February 28, 2021, 05:33:14 PM
Great job PJ.....I was wondering about something like that. I like the lockable end cap. Would it be better to place the rods in butt first? Wouldn't hard braking force the rods forward potentially damaging the rod tips? Years ago I witnessed a contractor braking hard while getting off the freeway and all the shiplap siding he had on his lumber rack slid off barely missing the car in front of him.
Good luck on the trip, hope you slay 'em.....Bill
Bill i keep the rods in their rod sleeves so i'm not too concerned and the tube is only a few inches to a foot longer than the rods so there isn't a whole lot of room to gain speed. If you really want to pack it full of rods you would need to put half in butt first anyway...
Quote from: Rancanfish on March 01, 2021, 03:22:16 PM
Classic American ingenuity there.
An 8' bed is why I kept my 1971 C10 all these years. Sometimes you need a real truck bed. And I never worry about a computer going out, because there aren't any.
I appreciate everyones comments but I just want to be clear....I stole this idea off the internet so I can't take credit for the design
Update....
I'm building a longer version of the pod this weekend to fit my new 9' jig stick....
This 8'4" rod pod is up for sale if anyone is interested....
I'm doing the same thing. Mine will be long enough for my Plano bazooka with wheels. More a way to keep it out of the Pilot than a way to carry rods. I'm doing a good bit of beach fishing this year. Westport and La Push off the rocks, 9ft fast rods for swimbates will be the norm. I can't WAIT to use my old gold PENN levelwind from Alan.
The Man