Cheap Rooftop Fly Rod Carrier

nice use of a 3D printer, I like the idea of just buying the box and the nose cone and I can get 2" PVC in any length I like
 
TheDuke44 said:
I like the one you posted, not to mention it's a great deal compared to the outrageous price of the name-brands.

I've seen some DIY's online attaching PVC tubes to the Harbor Freight protective case below, and that would probably be a decent way to go if you're trying to save some $.

https://www.harborfreight.com/2800-weatherproof-protective-case-medium-black-64551.html
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Dear TheDuke,

I've seen them built using this case which is a lot less than the one you posted. It's pad-lockable and easily painted. The guy I watched on YouTube built a first class two rod holder for less than $ 50.00 for everything, including the mounting brackets. https://www.harborfreight.com/050-caliber-ammo-box-57766.html

I miss having a pick-up with an 8-foot bed and a cap. You could criss-cross dozens of assembled 9 1/2-foot rods in it. I like my current truck a lot, but the stubby 5 1/2-foot bed is not it's best feature. 😉

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂
 
I used to just drop them into a ski carrier and drive from one place to the next. I don't know if I'd go barreling down a highway at high speed like that, but for short hops it worked just fine. Also, I could use it to carry skis if I were so motivated. Win/win when it comes to impressing snow bunnies.
 
tjsingle said:
Seems like a good route to go. My only concern would be potential sagging in the PVC.
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if Schedule 80 fits and you have it supported with 2 points of contact on your roof rack, I think that would be pretty solid even at 11', maybe?
 
TimMurphy said:
I've seen them built using this case which is a lot less than the one you posted. It's pad-lockable and easily painted. The guy I watched on YouTube built a first class two rod holder for less than $ 50.00 for everything, including the mounting brackets. https://www.harborfreight.com/050-caliber-ammo-box-57766.html
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Mine is built out of this box and cheap PVC, and it's been running probably 5 years without problems - and year round many years.

@tjsingle I built mine modular so I can detach and flip the tubes every couple years to deal with sagging, which definitely happens. I've found it's really only an aesthetic concern, though.

Lots of folks talk trash on vaults, but I've loved mine so much that I would almost consider spending all that money on a legit one. Almost...
 
Millsertime said:
Lay the rod on front windshield, The reel goes under the wiper. Drive away. FREE !
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I actually tried something like that when I drove off with all of my equipment on the rooftop of my car.
 
Does anyone think that I could use aluminum tubing rather than PVC.
 
salmo said:
Does anyone think that I could use aluminum tubing rather than PVC.
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Dear salmo,

I can assure you that 2" schedule 40 PVC pipe will never warp or get weather damaged. I had my bird feeders outside for 5 years and the main support pole and the crossbar suffered no ill effects despite being knocked down repeatedly by bears. I finally just gave up trying to cobble it back together, but the pipe stayed straight and true all the time.

10' of 2" schedule 40 PVC is less than $ 16.00 at Lowes. Unless you have aluminum pipe laying around from a previous project, I'm sure it will be considerably more expensive to buy.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂
 
That’s a nice find!

TimMurphy said:
I miss having a pick-up with an 8-foot bed and a cap. You could criss-cross dozens of assembled 9 1/2-foot rods in it. I like my current truck a lot, but the stubby 5 1/2-foot bed is not it's best feature.
Click to expand...

I just went back to an 8’ foot bed with a folding lockable hard cover after not having a long bed for over twenty years. I would take my Murano or Subaru fishing because you could carry fully assembled fly rods in either but not in my 2500HD crew cab short bed that was twice as long as my other two cars. The bed was 6’ of useless space. It’s so nice to be back.
 
I was thinking of getting something custom cut at 1O.5 feet for my Euro rod.
 
Nocktavius said:
They go out the back window of my truck, no goofy assed vault required
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I still have a couple of double-barreled DB Dunn cases. I can carry strung up 2- and 4-piece rods with reels up to 9' long in them no problem. I don't often use them because I mostly take one rod, but when I need them, they still work fine.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂
 
salmo said:
I was thinking of getting something custom cut at 1O.5 feet for my Euro rod.
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Dear salmo,

A plumbing supply store will probably have 20' sections of 2" schedule 40 pipe that they will cut for you. Again, it's much cheaper than aluminum. If you build it with the cheap ammo case you may not even need more than 10' because the reel does not go inside the rod tube and case is more than 6" deep. You could also get an external coupler and glue an additional section of pipe to the 10' section if need be.

Measure things first before you buy and build.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂
 
poopdeck said:
That’s a nice find!



I just went back to an 8’ foot bed with a folding lockable hard cover after not having a long bed for over twenty years. I would take my Murano or Subaru fishing because you could carry fully assembled fly rods in either but not in my 2500HD crew cab short bed that was twice as long as my other two cars. The bed was 6’ of useless space. It’s so nice to be back.
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Dear poopdeck,

When I bought my used F-150 2 years ago I searched high and low for a 4wd truck with an 8-foot bed. I wasn't about to spend $ 60 G's plus on a new one and every used one under $ 20 G's was some hammered to Hell work truck.

I'll buy an 8-foot bed truck again one day! For now I can get by with my stub-nose and my Nissan Rogue.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂
 
I leave the rod strung pull off the tip and put it in through the trunk after folding the rear seat down on my WRX. There's room enough for a short rod between the seats but after breaking a rod a long time ago I don't push my luck anymore.
 
poopdeck said:
That’s a nice find!



I just went back to an 8’ foot bed with a folding lockable hard cover after not having a long bed for over twenty years. I would take my Murano or Subaru fishing because you could carry fully assembled fly rods in either but not in my 2500HD crew cab short bed that was twice as long as my other two cars. The bed was 6’ of useless space. It’s so nice to be back.
Click to expand...
The 8' bed seems like it's almost a thing of the past. Back in the day, the short bed was unheard of and the 8' bed ruled. I just bought an F150 XLT crew cab 4x4 short bed to replace my stolen Silverado 1500 extra cab. With the extra large cab area, I believe (haven't actually tried) I could fit a strung up 8' rod diagonally inside of it.
I was able to keep my strung up 7' Saint Croix in my Silverado.
 
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