Looking for ideas on transporting my rods going to a pond.

 

Currently drive an F150 long-bed with truck cap, canoe goes on the roof rack or the Bass Raider goes in the bed, rods in a rod holder on the inside side of the cap.

 

The 11 yo truck is having major steering issues at 120k so I’m thinking about a new midsize truck as I no longer lug around a 5th wheel. The thing is the beds are all short, like 5-6’, a foot or 2 shorter than the rods. Figure I’ll get a cap for the replacement so I can still put the canoe up there, but when I do what do I do with the rods. No problem when I take the Raider as it goes in the truck bed and would hold the rods, but it might be with just the canoe, hitch is way too long for the truck bed. At the moment I’m thinking a Honda Ridgeline with 5’4” bed. If I could get a mid size that had an 8’ bed I’d already own it.

 

Anyone else run into such? I’m thinking most of you trailer your boats so it’s not an issue.

How about some Rod Pods for your new A.R.E truck cap ?

https://www.4are.com/rodpods/

 

A-Jay

Buddy keeps a rod box up on the racks.  Bit pricey, but has worked great for him. 

I've seen guys use 6" PVC drain pipes with caps on the end to transport rods.  You also might be able to fit them diagonally in bed, if you don't have other stuff back there to roll over on them.  A bed that's 5.5' long by 5' wide will have a 7' 10" diagonal.  

Or, just get yourself a real pickup!

If you have the roof rack already, the rod pods are a good choice. You can make some yourself out of 8” pipe and some fittings. Lots of surf and fly guys do that for travel. If you’re traveling alone (like me) they go in the passenger seat.  I have a 5’7” bed and a 6’10” is the longest I can fit diagonally in the bed (which doesn’t work with a kayak in the bed). Funny enough, the shortest rods I have are 6’10” so it all goes up front. 

Thanks all, guess I have a non problem.

 

Perhaps reconsider the need for a pickup.  A car with a roof rack will allow you to car top and have plenty of length inside for gear. 

Then I'd need a trailer for the boat, but I've thought about it.

1 hour ago, padlin said:

Then I'd need a trailer for the boat, but I've thought about it.

I forgot about the bass raider. I don't even like putting my 8 foot pond prowler in the bed of my F150. That thing is heavy but I do it.

2x4 or 2x6 ramps help a lot.

i stuff the handle end into the footwell of the passenger side, and the rods go kitty (catty?) corner to the drivers side back.  all bets are off if i have a passenger.   we all usually meet at the boat launch.  but with gas prices, i may soon start splitting fuel cost.  in that case, i have a 6' bed.  all my rods are in sleeves cinched together with a rod mule.  i run them alongside my kayak with a carpenter clamp pinching them onto the same strap that ties my boat in.  i can never leave my truck unattended.  so no lunches.  

In the trunk of my honda civic for the 2 piece and the 1 piece rides inside the car from back window to the front windshield between the wife and I.