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A while ago, someone started a post about how to store one-piece fishing rods in their vehicle without damaging the rods or having tangles. Various solutions were suggested. I am planning a three-week driving trip to Florida at the end of the month. I plan to bring five or six 6' or 6'6" spinning rods with me. I want to store them in a way that avoids tangles or damaged rod tips, and minimizes rattling noises. In keeping with my philosophy of looking for homemade, inexpensive solutions first, here is my solution for the trip.
I am using thick cardboard tubes cut to 45" long. Most are 2.5" or 3" diameter. You can get this type of tube at a tackle shop (some of the rods they purchase come in those tubes) or at a carpet store (the tubes are placed inside a roll of carpet). Generally these stores will give them to you for free. The first photo shows one I got at Marty's Tackle Shop this morning. It was longer than I needed, so I cut it to length.
2020-08-11-001.jpg
To keep the tubes from rolling around, I placed one end in a cardboard box of a size that holds the tubes securely. I slid a second cardboard box with the bottom folded back onto the tube bundle to keep the outer ends from flopping around. I may modify that design and use a strap instead. The second photo shows the boxes and tubes in place on the floor of my minivan.
2020-08-11-007.jpg 2020-08-11-002.jpg
I slid the spinning rods inside the tubes. The 45" tube length covers the tip and all the guides. At the time the photo was taken, the white tube was a few inches too long. I cut it to the correct size a moment later. It has only a 2" diameter and will be used for one of my smaller rods.
2020-08-11-004.jpg
That takes care of the rods, but does create a scratching and rattling concern from the reels. I can lay some type of padding between the lower three reels and the upper two reels. It could be a towel, or as shown in the picture, my gel seat cushion.
2020-08-11-005.jpg
I used a similar system two years ago and found it to work well.
I am using thick cardboard tubes cut to 45" long. Most are 2.5" or 3" diameter. You can get this type of tube at a tackle shop (some of the rods they purchase come in those tubes) or at a carpet store (the tubes are placed inside a roll of carpet). Generally these stores will give them to you for free. The first photo shows one I got at Marty's Tackle Shop this morning. It was longer than I needed, so I cut it to length.
2020-08-11-001.jpg
To keep the tubes from rolling around, I placed one end in a cardboard box of a size that holds the tubes securely. I slid a second cardboard box with the bottom folded back onto the tube bundle to keep the outer ends from flopping around. I may modify that design and use a strap instead. The second photo shows the boxes and tubes in place on the floor of my minivan.
2020-08-11-007.jpg 2020-08-11-002.jpg
I slid the spinning rods inside the tubes. The 45" tube length covers the tip and all the guides. At the time the photo was taken, the white tube was a few inches too long. I cut it to the correct size a moment later. It has only a 2" diameter and will be used for one of my smaller rods.
2020-08-11-004.jpg
That takes care of the rods, but does create a scratching and rattling concern from the reels. I can lay some type of padding between the lower three reels and the upper two reels. It could be a towel, or as shown in the picture, my gel seat cushion.
2020-08-11-005.jpg
I used a similar system two years ago and found it to work well.
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