I’m going to address right away what so many people are probably about to say about the A.R.E. Truck Caps Rod Pods: it costs $500 (per tube). I can’t imagine how many comments there will be on Facebook saying the exact thing, which shows how many people voice their opinion before even checking the facts and reading the article. Trust me when I tell you though, there’s a reason for the high price and no your jury-rigged DIY PVC pipe monstrosity on your truck is not the same thing. No matter how many memes you use to try and convince me.
Even if it’s covered in cool stickers, your DIY solution will never keep your rods as safe and secure as a Rod Pod. Yes, the Rod Pods are constructed from a PVC pipe just like yours, but they’re also paired with high-end fittings on each end, with cool details like padded ends to protect your rod tips and corrosion-resistant stainless steel hardware. The system is also covered in truck bed liner to make the tube more rigid and also, nearly bulletproof. A loop in the end of A.R.E.’s system also lets you throw a padlock on there to secure your rods overnight or in a sketchy launch spot, so you can fish or sleep with piece of mind. I do wish there was a more clever solution than just a padlock there, like a lock embedded into the back plate of the Rod Pod so some determined theif can’t come along with a pair of bolt cutters and ruin your day.
Photo: I was able to fit five spooled rods into the ARE Rod Pod, but you can fit more than 20 without reels.
Still though, the premium fittings and padding make this form of rod storage really stand out. The system is designed to let you store up to 17-25 rods without reels, which is good for those anglers that have more rods than I could every dream of, like B.A.S.S. pros. For the normal angler that has a healthy quiver of five or six, you’ll probably be able to get all or close to all your rods in there without reels, as long as you’re patient and put them in there carefully. I was able to fit five rods, (two baitcasters and three spinning), by alternating which end I slid into the tube. Good rod socks also make storage much easier, so you don’t have a tangled mess if you choose to leave your rods spooled up like I did.
With the right rod socks and the right assortment of rods though, the system is seriously good. Often times I like to pull up to a spot real quick when determining where to put in and throw out a few casts. This is also good for those times I only have time for a few casts between interviews or post-work errands. With the A.R.E. Rod Pods, I can pull up to a spot and before my engine has started to cool off I can be fishing. No other solution I’ve tried for storing rods in my truck bed has allowed me to fish that fast after pulling up to a spot. To me, that makes these worth it right there, while the rest of the good features just add on the love.
Watch The Video Review Of The A.R.E. Rod Pods:
The Rod Pods were designed by Bassmaster Elite Series Top 100 Pro Britt Myers, which explains why they fit so well with the serious angler crowd who have way too many rods to fit in their truck. The system can be mounted to any style roof rack and took me about 20 minutes to install. While I had a little trouble installing them on my truck while the racks were on the roof (there was about five inches of fresh snow on my roof that I was dealing with), if you remove your racks and install the tube on the ground, you can probably be done in as little as five minutes.
With a length of 8′ 4″ long and 6″ in diameter, you can store any baitcaster or spinning rod you’re likely to use from your fishing kayak, excpet fly rods. The end tubes are also fitted with a spring-loaded closure so your rods won’t come flying out on the highway if you choose not to throw a padlock on there. The end cap is fitted with rubber that, aside from protecting your rod tips as I mentioned earlier, will also ensure a proper seal to keep out weather. I opened the tube after heavy winds and rain and it was completely dry. I’m not sure that it’ll be dry in there all the time, but that’s a good sign to say the least. Each Rod Pod weighs 25 lbs.
Photo: ARE Rod Pods make carrying a bunch of rods a breeze.
For more information about A.R.E. Truck Caps or their Rod Pods, check out their website, 4are.com.
