DIY Fly Rod Roof Rack

[flyrad10]

Has anybody made a sturdy and dependable fly rod roof rack or even a combination fly/spin/conventional. Are manufactured rod racks or ski racks better and more dependable?

[flyrad10]

Should have searched first but I saw “car carrier for fly Rods, August 4 2015, nedakjohn

[HillTop]

Fly,

 

I bought a pair of these.   Two seasons now.    They work great.

 

 

[flyrad10]

I made this: https://currentseamsflyfishing.com/25-diy-fly-rod-rack-carrier

but I put a freshly built one on a vertical window to test the suction and it fell off after about a day crashing into a wooden chair and carpet, breaking between the Ts so fyi-ers beware pvc can be brittle and more so upon exposure to sunlight. In addition,  the suction is strong but you need a perfectly flat surface the width of the mount so that both suction mounts hold tight, which is almost impossible to find on most vehicles. It was eventually fixed and successfully tested with an old surf rod on it for about a week but I wouldn’t trust it with cherished equipment considering my track record with diy racks. The sumos are better in that the suction mounts articulate around a ball joint conforming to varied surfaces.

Edited December 1, 2018 by flyrad10
Insert photo

[HillTop]

Fly,    Since you've already built something you may want to take a look at the SeaSucker Vacuum Cups.     They look terribly powerful but you pay for that reliability and by the time you're done you've probably already paid the price of a commercial setup.    If I were to build my own I'd use the SeaSucker system for sure.

 

https://www.seasucker.com/collections/vacuum-mounts

 

HT

[flyrad10]

HillTop, I checked it out and they are a bit expensive so a sumo would be more economical. Have you ever used the sumos for long trips doing speeds over 60 mph?

Edited December 1, 2018 by flyrad10
Address reply to HillTop

[HillTop]

I primarily use the Sumos when fishing with Mike and the gang on the Cape in the spring.  Probably nothing over 50 mph for any length of time but for the most part this last trip I put them on and left them one for two weeks, checking each day to insure they were well attached.     Once in awhile I got paranoid for no particular reason, released the suction, cleaned the surface and re-attached.    Probably no reason to do so.

 

I keep a small spray bottle of windshield washer cleaner in the car with a roll of paper towels and use it to clean the area I'm fastening to before setting them in place.    With a clean surface no issues so far.   Obviously you need a vehicle with a decent paint job as well   

 

HT

 

[ccb]

I just don't trust them?    Although the glass guys use them all the time?  

[nedakjohn]

Flyrad-

 

I still use the holder referenced in my posting but as the wise old salts pointed out, I tested on the highway for security but DO NOT use it on the highway,  It is great for spot jumping but not for distance.  

 

Since that post, we picked up a RAV for my kids that I use for fishing at the beach.  I salvaged a rod holder and added a bungee and pipe strap that to the  back cross bar.  On the front cross bar,  I match it with a pvc pipe lined with foam to transport distances on the highway.

[Mike Oliver]

Partial vacuum based designs work very well. One caveat they need lots of care mounting on a vehicle and they can lose their vacuum. Mine have two suckers per horizontal bar. Usually it’s only one sucker that backs off when there is a glitch.

 

Like Hilltop I check mine every day. It makes a lot of sense to,do that.

 

I can have up to four expensive TH rods on mine.

 

I use them as I can easily transport them over the pond. But none of the vacuum designs could in my book be classified as 100% reliable.

 

You are blessed in the US with a great many car top rod holders that mechanically fix to the vehicle. Some I am guessing are not cheap but what cost to replace rods that are carried up top.

 

If you do use sucker types it is imperitive that your car paint work is in tip top condition. If it’s scratched or flakey they won’t stick. You have to clean the paintwork and dry it off immediately before mounting  them.  You also need to clean the suction pads.  You do not want washing up liquid residue on the cars paint or the suckers . So if you use this to help clean rinse it off very thoroughly.Then check before each journey. You would have to be unlucky if you were to lose more then one suckers vacuum.

It is also a good plan after a week to take them off clean car and suckers and remount.

Good designs enable you to adjust the height of each sucker to fit curves on your car. The Sumo is the best in that dept.

 

Been using these for over 25 years never had a rod come off but have had a sucker come lose now and then.

 

I travel at 70 mph. Never put rods in rod bags as that will cause too much drag.

 

Mike

Edited December 1, 2018 by Mike Oliver

[crazy larry]

Question for the car toppers: Have you ever heard of a rod coming apart at the ferrules due to vibration? Do you check them prior to travel? I can't count how many times I've had them come loose on the water. 

 

I'm secretly (slowly) designing a rack for the back of a pickup but fear that vibration might loosen the rod sections resulting in unintentional short stix.

 

I built a rack for use inside my 4runner for fully rigged rod transport. It did require permanent addition of some parts, but it's my fishing mobile first, daily commuter vehicle second. Gotta have priorities.

 

[Mike Oliver]

No.  I think it highly unlikely.

 

MIKE

[marchese12]

I built this for my Subaru Forester. Carried up to 4 9wt rods without any noise or vibration. Reels have to be covered if you carry more than 2 rods but I can leave my gear there for days and they won’t be on the way. Only issue is heat if you let the car out in the sun. The tips of the rods at touching the windshield and they are mounted with heat glue.

[fshng2]

marchese12 nice setup.

Where did you find the suction cups?

[marchese12]

30 mins ago, fshng2 said:

marchese12 nice setup.

Where did you find the suction cups?

I built this for my Subaru Forester. Carried up to 4 9wt rods without any noise or vibration. Reels have to be covered if you carry more than 2 rods but I can leave my gear there for days and they won’t be on the way. Only issue is heat if you let the car out in the sun. The tips of the rods at touching the windshield and they are mounted with heat glue.