"Goldilocks" solution for carrying surf rods outside JLU?

[QwikKotaTx]

I am going to make a cradle of sorts for the spare tire that can also be attached to the hitch on my Ram. 4 rod holders bolted to a plate that can adapt to other mounts.

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[ekimgnuj]

Thanks, that looks like a solid solution

 

[Rustynail11]

I have tried a couple of things. 1st was the few times when I made it to the coast without the hardtop once I got on the beach I could bungee the rods (usually a 10ft, 12ft, and maybe a 15ft) to the roll cage when traveling to different spots on the beach. I did try to make a harness for a rod holder to mount to the spare but couldn't make it work. Finally ended up with a hitch mount. I don't travel with rods assembled since i have to drive 6-7 hours to get to the coast but once I hit sand I don't leave it for several days as I camp on the beach. The hitch mount works well and only a minor inconvenience when needing to open the tailgate.

Heading to Padre Island National Seashore this weekend for the 1st time since August 2019. COVID and lack of 4 wheel dr vehicle kept me away so looking forward to trying the JL on the beach. Hopefully the fishing is good but if not my 21 yr old son with be with me and we will have a great time relaxing and camping on the beach.

 

[Dgr401]

If you have 12 and 14 foot surf rods mounted on a spare tire rack watch out for low hanging branches, etc. The rack that @Ronwho shows looks like an ideal solution for you. I mount my rods on a roof rack attached to Yakima round bars, not an inexpensive solution but it works great.

 

[kermitjewel]

aussie style

 

[Centurion07]

I have tried a couple of things. 1st was the few times when I made it to the coast without the hardtop once I got on the beach I could bungee the rods (usually a 10ft, 12ft, and maybe a 15ft) to the roll cage when traveling to different spots on the beach. I did try to make a harness for a rod holder to mount to the spare but couldn't make it work. Finally ended up with a hitch mount. I don't travel with rods assembled since i have to drive 6-7 hours to get to the coast but once I hit sand I don't leave it for several days as I camp on the beach. The hitch mount works well and only a minor inconvenience when needing to open the tailgate.

Heading to Padre Island National Seashore this weekend for the 1st time since August 2019. COVID and lack of 4 wheel dr vehicle kept me away so looking forward to trying the JL on the beach. Hopefully the fishing is good but if not my 21 yr old son with be with me and we will have a great time relaxing and camping on the beach.

That's awesome - good luck! I'm anxious to get my paddleboard out the for some fishin'.
All my rods are one piece, so they get strapped into the paddle carrier on the roof rack.

 

[rhocking]

Something like this where the carrier swings out so you could access the tailgate. Couldn't tell if there was a version for a Jeep with a hitch or whether it would swing out far enough to allow opening the Jeep tailgate.
Expensive...https://www.stowaway2.com/stowaway-in-action/hunting-fishing

 

[dcmdon]

You guys are way overthinking it. I've done this for decades.

Put a ski rack on the top with the rods facing forwards. If you already have a ski rack, its free. And you can still access stuff in back.

or put a front hitch receiver on it and get a rocket launcher rack.

 

[ekimgnuj]

Thanks, that looks like a solid solution

Hey, were you out at Ft Fisher yesterday?! Saw this exact rig, with poles, go by, but only after it was too late to flag you down!

 

[Oncorhynchus]

Had a jeep pass me yesterday with a roof rack and the long surf rods lashed to it pointing forward. The tips of the rods was almost at the front bumper. It looked kind of like

this if you imagine its a real jeep and imagine the long surf rods.

Those will not fit surf rods. Those are fly fishing rod holders. I made my own fly rod holder and describe it in this thread.

I also fish surf rods and many of the ideas from the fly rod holder would apply.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/fly-rod-holder-for-roof-rack.78744/

 

[Oncorhynchus]

For surf rods, you can use 4” diameter pipe attached to a cargo rack or cargo bars with this kit:

https://www.amazon.com/Products-Universal-Conduit-Drilling-Required/dp/B08CR8SPCX

 

[Oncorhynchus]

Seriously, I can't believe there aren't any solutions, what are other fisherman doing? Breaking down surf rods to fit inside is a pain in the arse, as is having them stick out the rear window in bad weather. I may need to get a front receiver hitch, but that is a pain to install and requires cutting a notch out of the (air dam? protective plate?) under the bumper. Which could hurt on resale, especially if trading it in.

If you are only interested in driving short distances from one beach to the next the hitch mount is probably the best.

Or get yourself the cheapest cargo bars and then buy one of these:

https://www.etrailer.com/Fishing-Rod-Holders/Yakima/Y04089.html

 

[Oncorhynchus]

Not clear exactly how it’s mounted, but if the OP wants to avoid getting rooftop cargo bars, then how about getting a bull bar on the front bumper and using this:

https://www.amazon.com/Scotty-339-BK-Power-Holder-Clamp/dp/B001444XGS

which should clamp onto up to 2” diameter bars.

 

[Ronwho]

Not clear exactly how it’s mounted, but if the OP wants to avoid getting rooftop cargo bars, then how about getting a bull bar on the front bumper and using this:

https://www.amazon.com/Scotty-339-BK-Power-Holder-Clamp/dp/B001444XGS

which should clamp onto up to 2” diameter bars.

https://www.amazon.com/Nilight-9002...t=&hvlocphy=9010381&hvtargid=pla-783252148247

Not clear exactly how it’s mounted, but if the OP wants to avoid getting rooftop cargo bars, then how about getting a bull bar on the front bumper and using this:

Thanks, that looks like a solid solution

https://www.amazon.com/Aluminium-Fi...cphy=9061284&hvtargid=pla-1244152495856&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/Nilight-9002...t=&hvlocphy=9010353&hvtargid=pla-783252148247
I used stainless steel hardware to attach the rod holder to light clamps, also needed to drill new holes in aluminum holder to line up with clamps. Then simply mounted to front bar.
If your rods have a thick end cap like some of mine do, i used a 2" wood spade drill bit to ream the plastic liners to a larger bore. Kind of a pain but rod holder works great.
I have been on interstate and have had no damage to rods or reels at all.
they do make reel covers but so far so good.

 

[Ronwho]

https://www.amazon.com/Nilight-9002...t=&hvlocphy=9010381&hvtargid=pla-783252148247

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