Cheap Rooftop Fly Rod Carrier

[poopdeck]

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 waited 3 months to get an allocation for a long bedI 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.

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 🙂

Yes the crew cab and short bed has largely replaced the 8’ bed as the standard. The pick up truck is more a family car than a work truck. I had the crew cab with a short bed and loved the crew cab but hated the short bed. This time around I got everything I like and bought a crew cab with a long bed. Best of both worlds. I waited three months for a long bed allocation that ended up carrying over into the next model year. All told it was a 5 month wait to get the truck.

This is why we all need rooftop carriers but can’t stomach the $600.00 cost. I may build an ammo box version just to throw in the bed to protect the rod from bouncing and sliding around.

 

[TimMurphy]

Yes the crew cab and short bed has largely replaced the 8’ bed as the standard. The pick up truck is more a family car than a work truck. I had the crew cab with a short bed and loved the crew cab but hated the short bed. This time around I got everything I like and bought a crew cab with a long bed. Best of both worlds. I waited three months for a long bed allocation that ended up carrying over into the next model year. All told it was a 5 month wait to get the truck.

This is why we all need rooftop carriers but can’t stomach the $600.00 cost. I may build an ammo box version just to throw in the bed to protect the rod from bouncing and sliding around.

Dear poopdeck,

In January 2000 I bought a 4WD 2500 quad-cab Dodge with a long bed, the HO Cummins, and a 6-speed manual. I unfortunately wrecked it in February 2010. Had I not had the accident, I'd still be driving the SOB. It was the best vehicle I have ever owned.

I would have needed to spend some dough to rebuild the front-end steering geometry, but I wrecked it with 178,000 miles on it. I guarantee you that the Cummins that was in it is still providing reliable service. It may be in a woodchipper, or some other adaptation, but that engine was absolutely bullet-proof once I dealt with the stupid HE Bosch injection pump. It would get 20 plus mpg on a 4-hour cruise at 70 mph and then settle in and get 25 plus mpg bombing all over mountain roads in State Forests at idle in third gear.

I'll die missing that truck!

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[wildtrout2]

That was the HO 6.7L Cummins, right? My buddy once told me that was THE best engine made. He said they just wont die. This guy knew his stuff too.

 

[TimMurphy]

That was the HO 6.7L Cummins, right? My buddy once told me that was THE best engine made. He said they just wont die. This guy knew his stuff too.

Dear wildtrout2,

It was the 24 valve 6BT5.9L. Ran straight diesel, or heating oil or kerosene with no issues. Diesels today make 650 HP in a pickup truck. In 2000 when I bought mine savvy diesel techs were getting over 1000 HP out of the bone stock engine block with injector, fuel pump, and propane modifications in race trucks.

I bought my truck because of the engine having sold construction equipment powered by it for over a decade. It was supremely reliable. The suggested overhaul interval was 400,000 miles when used in a pickup under anything less than severe conditions.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[wildtrout2]

Dear wildtrout2,

It was the 24 valve 6BT5.9L. Ran straight diesel, or heating oil or kerosene with no issues. Diesels today make 650 HP in a pickup truck. In 2000 when I bought mine savvy diesel techs were getting over 1000 HP out of the bone stock engine block with injector, fuel pump, and propane modifications in race trucks.

I bought my truck because of the engine having sold construction equipment powered by it for over a decade. It was supremely reliable. The suggested overhaul interval was 400,000 miles when used in a pickup under anything less than severe conditions.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

Gotcha Tim. I had 253,000 miles on the 5.3L Vortec engine in my 2002 Silverado that got stolen. The mechanic at my local Chevy dealer told me I'll likely get 400,000 miles out of it the way I take/took care of it. He said it was Chevy's best ever motor. I'll die missing that truck too!