How to Build a Fly Rod Tube Roof Rack

When you’re out fly fishing in an area like Yellow Stone, changing spots during the day is the norm, and it often involves a bit of a drive to a new part of the river. Breaking down your fly rods to transport them whenever you change spots is a bit tiresome.

You think splitting your fishing rod in half and dropping it in the back is fine, but this can lead to broken fly rods. It happened to me once, and that was enough.

The solution is a rod vault or rod carrier mounted to your roof rack, but shopping for these online is expensive, so how about making a cheap DIY fly rod holder to protect your fly rods when changing fishing spots on the river? Here is how to build a fly rod tube roof rack at home.

Materials You’ll Need For Your PVC Fly Rod Holder

Before starting, you will need a vehicle with a roof rack to make this project work. If your car has one, you’re good to go.

Now, you will need to build one of these DIY fly rod holders per fly rod you want to carry in your rod rack. Here is what you’ll need.

• 1 x 2-inch diameter PVC pipe in a 10ft length (up to 11 ft if you fish with long euro nymphing fly rods) – this is where your fly rod will go
• 3 x 6-inch lengths of 2-inch PVC pipe insulation – this will protect your fly rod
• 1 x Lock-able Tupperware box or ammo can – this is where your reel or reels will go
• 1 x 2-inch PVC coupler threaded – this will connect the reel box to the PVC pipe
• 1 x 2-inch O ring – to seal the connection between the reel box and the PVC pipe
• 1 x 2-inch PVC cap – this is to seal the front end
• Some cuttable foam insulation – for the reel box
• PVC cement – the glue that seals and holds it together
• 2-inch hole saw
• Sandpaper
• Drill

Once you have all this gear ready, you can start your project. You can add as many DIY fly rod holders as you like and increase the number of PVC pipes – if you plan on making multiple rod holders, you could search for a single box for your reels that all the pipes will fit into. It would make the idea and design a lot better.

How to build your DIY fly fishing rod holders for your car

Now it’s time to build the plastic fishing rod racks for your vehicle, and to do so, follow this system.

Step 1

Take the 2″ PVC foam insulation cut to the length of your pipe and insert the insulation into the inside. This is so your rods don’t break inside and are secure in the carrier when you’re driving your car.

Now, take the 2″ PVC cap and use the PVC cement glue to seal it closed on the front of the pipe, soon to be your rod vault.

On the back end of the pipe, secure the male or female end of the threaded coupler with the cement glue.

Step 2

If you’re making a full vault for multiple fishing rods, take your reel box and drill a 2-inch hole into the reel box in the center or in the appropriate place per rod holder. Once you have drilled the hole or holes, smooth the edges with the sandpaper so it looks sleek and free of rough spots.

Now, check the coupler fits by slotting the coupler end of the PVC pipe through the reel box and attaching the other end of the coupler with the O-ring. If it all lines up, you’re good to attach it forever. Before doing so, line the reel box with foam inside so that they don’t break when you store them inside.

Slot the coupler end of the pipe through the reel box. Add some of the cement glue to the threads and screw in the other end of the coupler, male or female, depending on what you did in step 1.

You’ll now have assembled a single rod carrier system for your car – how easy, cheap, and almost free was that! Next comes mounting the plastic racks to your vehicle, which are light and easy.

Step 3

Before you add your fishing rod storage vault to your roof rack, ensure you can open and close the reel box and that it’s lockable if desired. You might have to tinker with the open and close mechanisms, but if you used a suitable ammo or Tupperware box, then it should be fine.

Step 4

Your fishing rod rack is now ready to be mounted on the roof. The weight shouldn’t be an issue, but you should check your roof rack and devise a plan before mounting it. Using essential cable ties can work, but if you go to a DIY retail store, you’ll find things like large pipe clamps that might work a bit better.

Once mounted, you have a secure place to keep your rods while searching for fish at different spots along the river. This design can be improved quickly; it’s pretty much the bare bones.

Extras

If you’re making a roof rod rack for multiple fishing rods, you’ll want to create supports between each PVC pipe before putting it on your car. This will ensure all the pipes remain in line and will be much easier to fit onto your rack when ready.

How much does it cost to build?

Outside of the time it’ll take you to assemble, the design for the fishing vault above shouldn’t cost you more than $100 for two rods or even less for 4 rods. Plus, it’s quite fun and quick to make.

How much do rod tube racks cost at a shop?

For a reliable rod vault that holds two rods, you’re looking at spending around $400, and for a 4-rod setup, you’ll spend around $700. It’s pretty expensive, which makes creating your DIY solution a lot more inviting.

How safe will my rods be in the DIY version?

This all comes down to the lockable box you have used for your reels. If it’s not lockable, then using it down at the river won’t be an issue as chances are, people there aren’t going to steal your things.

Regarding protection on the road, each rod will be super safe in the above design. The pipe, combined with the padding in the form of insulation, makes it safe to drive on the highway with your sticks. Plus, when you park next to the river, things like falling branches or anything else that comes out of the sky won’t damage your sticks either.

Storing Out

Thanks for reading my article, I hope it does you a solid service in getting your gear to, from, and around the river, for a very affordable price.