Fishing is a great way to relax and release your stress. You can enjoy it alone or with family or friends. But packing and transporting fishing gear can be a little troublesome.
Especially if you are inexperienced, to begin with. Without proper packaging and placement, fishing rods can be damaged. So, when you need to transport your fishing rod, how can you pack it cost-effectively and safely transport in a car?
To transport a fishing rod safely, you should wrap it in bubble wraps and pack it in a carrier box. Fishing rods are strong and sturdy. They can take an immense amount of pressure when you pull the big trophy fishes in.
They are made to tackle that kind of stress. But it’s a whole different kind of stress they face while transporting. The simplest solution would be to buy a rod carrier. They are sturdy, well-polished, and good-looking. They nail the job but also costs a good deal of money.
Transporting rods is not a thing an average angler does a whole lot. So, in my opinion, it is slightly over expending. Alternatively, you can make a transporting carrier for only a fraction of the budget and still get the job done.
How To Make A Fishing Rod Carrier?
Since we are going for a hand-made fishing carrier, you need a few materials and tools to build it. Most of them should be already available at home, but if not, you can pick them up from the local tools shop. Here’s what we will need:
- Bubble wrap
- Cardboard tube or a PVC pipe
- Packing tape
- Packaging paper
- A measurement tape and a saw, or a similar type of cutter
Here, the cardboard will be used as the main framework. Alternatively, a PVC pipe and a couple of end caps also do the work.
To absorb and reduce any potential impact, the bubble wraps will work as a cushion layer. You will need plenty of packaging paper and tape.
How To Pack Your Fishing Rod?
Once you have all the materials, it’s time to start packing. To make it simple, we will approach the task step by step. Here’s the breakdown:
If You Have Foldable Fishing Rods
For foldable fishing rods, simply fold them, wrapping them properly, and put them inside a box.
Transporting a foldable fishing rod is considerably easier and safer than normal rods. It takes way less space. So, you can put it anywhere inside your car. Foldable fishing rods are way more convenient in this sense.
If You Have Non-Foldable Fishing Rods
Foldable fishing rods are convenient for transporting, but not everyone owns them. Non-foldable fishing rods are slightly quirkier but nothing too hard to accomplish. For an ordinary fishing rod:
1. Checking The Fishing Rods
Before packaging, make sure to check your fishing rods. If they are not in good shape, take your time for maintenance. Having the fishing rod clean and dry is essential. Packing a wet fishing rod may result in a rusty fishing rod. You also can sell the old fishing rods and reels and buy a new one.
2. Fishing Carrier Framework
If you want to use cardboard, then you will need planks with a width of 5-inches or more and a length more significant than your fishing rod. The thickness is not super important as long as it is strong enough to take a hit and not break. If you decide on a PVC pipe, then get a pipe with at least a diameter of 4-inch.
3. Preparing The Carrier Box
Next, measure the length of your longest fishing rod. For PVC pipe, measure and mark it with a length of at least 4-5 inches more than the rod. After that, cut both ends carefully using a saw or a blade. You need two end caps that fit the pipe to seal it.
For cardboard, the process is slightly more complicated. You need 4 planks of the same length as the PVC pipe with a width of 4-5 inches. Now, you will need to glue them or nail them together and form a box-like structure. Furthermore, you will need two more 4 x 4-inch square pieces to seal both ends later on.
4. Packing The Rods
Now, remove the reels from all of your rods. After that, wrap every rod individually with bubble wrap. It will act as the first layer of protection. After wrapping, don’t forget to secure them by tapping.
Next, Put your fishing rods inside the box/pipe. Don’t forget to arrange them properly inside the box/tube. The best way to put them is by placing the two longest rods in opposite directions and following the step again for other rods.
5. Testing And Finishing Touch
Before calling it done, it’s always a good idea to test your arrangement. I will recommend you do a jerking test. Pick your box/tube up and shake it. If your packing is secure, then you won’t feel anything moving.
But if you hear or feel movement, you will need to put in some extra effort. You need to add a layer of bubble wrap or cloth again to fill the extra gap inside the box/tube.
Now, seal both ends of the box/tube. Use caps for PVC pipe and cardboard pieces for the box. Secure them properly by using tapes, glue, or nails. Your rods are packed and ready for transportation.
Transporting Fishing Rod In A Car
Two main methods of loading the rods in the car are –
- Inside carry or place the package inside the car.
- Outside carry or placing them in the rooftop rack or at the back of your truck.
Which one you want to choose will depend on your car and its inside space. If you are rocking compact foldable rods, you can throw the carrier anywhere you want that is convenient. For a regular rod, you will need to think and consider your options.
If your car is a private car or a compact car, chances are, the carrier will be longer than the space inside. So, you will need to tie down or zip down the carrier on top of your car. Rooftop racks are a great help. But if your rods are on the shorter side, you can manage to put them inside.
Lean the front passenger seat all the way down. After doing that, put your box/tube lengthwise, angling from the front windshield to the back one. Now, you are all done, and all that’s left to do is just to drive to the destination.
Conclusion
Safety is obviously one of the main concerns when transporting any goods at any distance. The safety of your fishing rods depends on how carefully you pack them and place them inside your car or rooftop rack.
You also need to be careful when driving. If you can place the carrier inside your car, then it’s good, no need to worry about shifting outside. You can just drive moderately and reach your destination. But if you place them in your rooftop racks, then tie them or zip them carefully.
You should also park the car and take a look every once in a while if the destination is far away. If they shift from the right place, then move them to the right place again and secure it.
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