As the title says, I've been looking for a rod rack to mount to the front of my Ranger. I know it wont win any contests, but I like to fish and I intend to take my Edge out on the NC coasts to go surf fishing, and I wanted to rig up a 4-rod rack on my front bumper. The rules/criteria:

- All metal hardware must be stainless steel
- Must not interfere with front tow hooks
- Removable preferred
- Affordable and able to be duplicated (if folks want one for themselves)
- Must not involve cutting the bumper or valance
- Must not screw up the bumper valance to badly

The only one I ever saw on a Ranger was many moons ago. I realize it will probably be made out of pressure treated lumber and PVC piping (I'll probably have the wood piece line-xed or something along those lines so at least it is black).

I know I could install some sort of rubber bumpers where the rivets are for the front license holder, and I could make two of the rod holders removable for the two outer holders (to access the tow hooks). Probably some big u-bolts will hold it to the truck's bumper or some sort of brackets for mounting in holes already in the bumper. Beats me, but all ideas are appreciated, and photos would rock.

 

how about a front hitch and you make a bracket that fits into that? It'll be removable then right? and the rods don't weight too much

 

Heres what i see alot of people with, but i havent seen one on a ranger.



http://www.cabelas.com/products/Cpod0030775.jsp

 

I like that thing, but if you read the discription it states that its for wranglers or vehicles built prior to 93...or late models with at least 12" x 3" of metal...so I imagine that you have to bolt it to that metal piece....but then again it says its removable with the hitch...so who knows...other than i like its looks

 

They look nice, they also cost a pretty penny...front hitch...I've thought about it, but I want to keep the cost reasonably low on this.

 

Im not too familiar with surf fishing, but is this going to be used to hold the rods while the lines are out in the surf or is just to transport them? Here in MN we use boats to fish...and some shore fish, but they are laughed at because we all know that the biggins are around structure like sunkin islands which are usually not near the shore....unless your dock fishing...which is like our "pre-game". PS we usually fish for walleyes and smallies so you need to get out on the water to get-em, they dont come to you.

 

You use them to carry the assembled, rigged rods to the beach. You then remove the rod, case out the line, and hold the rod while you fish (yes, I'm being somewhat of a smart donkey here). It's just to transport them. The wind can make rigging them at times a pain, plus you don't want to have to put your reel close to the sand if you can help it. I don't need a WAAG or push bar up front, and the rod rack would be more useful for me.

 

Ok thanks for the clarification... Um to be honest, when i go fly fishing in order to transport my 9 foot 1 piece rod i just put it under the windshield wiper when driving at slow speeds, which i imagine you would be doing with a rod holder.

Would a rear mounted rod holder work? Ive seen some on rv's before.

 

My rods are too long to mount assembled inside my truck cap, hence the front rod rack. They are a handy item to have on the NC coast and in the front is the way to go. With larger SUVs people mount them inside hanging from the ceiling, but my rods are too long for the inside of my truck cap. The front holder is so I can drive along the shore, find a spot to fish, hop out, grab the rod and not have to spend time connecting the pole sections, stringing up the line, attaching the snap swivels, etc. etc. I can just FISH. Nuff said.

 

Something like this minus the huge spread and the board.

 

Well yeah thats why i put my 9 foot fly rod under the front windshield wiper, but would a rear mounted holder work better? If so you could use your 2" reciever(that is if you have one) and get a piece of 2" square tubing for a post, then tack a 12" long piece of flat steel with some 1.5 or 2" pvc piping rivited to that steel, and to protect it, prime the metal and use some bed liner stuff.

 

I'm no welder so this has to be made with bolt up parts. :( Down the road, perhaps I'll get a nicer one. I prefer having the rods up front, as opposed to being in the rear.

 

Why dont you jus go to your garage and "Create". I'm sure ya can think up something.

Aaron

 

Tis what I plan to do. Going to take some measurements and go to Walmart's fishing section to get ideas.

 

buy light tabs and bar from Bob and kris and then just attach some cuts of pvc to that you're looking at like $30 total, 1 hour to assemble 20 mins to install or take off whenever

 

I'm contemplating that as well. That way I also could mount some lights up front. I don't want/need to spend money for KCs, so I might go with some cheapo driving lights to turn on when fishing at night.

 

dude you should have asked, i have an aluminum 6 pole at the shop......

 

Talk to me.

 

its the same as in the cabelas picture earlier in the thread, 6 rod holder, anodized aluminum, in great shape, i could let it go for $50 its just sitting around at the shop.

 

^ Thats a way good price

 

Could you send a pic?...I'm curious.

 

its exactly the same as the one in the cabela link earlier in the thread, i dont have a pic of this actual one, handy

 

I would go for some sort of rear, side , or roof mounted design. Rods are delicate in front at 50 + mph. One piece of road debri and there goes your pole. its also annoying having it in your line of site while driving.

I've been thinking about mounting some sort of rod holder on top of my camper shell which is good for long poles.

I have some rods that are just slightly too large for the bed and for those i thought about a j hook between the top of the bed and the camper shell that extends out to the side. I see big pipe racks attached between the bed and the shell so i'm thinking a j hook should be easy. the problem wiht side mount is a really long pole will hit the door.

 

put some crossbars onto your cap and then just tie them to the bars... or build a horizontal holder to mount to the cap...

 

yeah thats just what i was thinking.