I have been envious in the past for anglers that just have every set up right and in working order. Maybe I still am. With my new ride I am going to try and turn over a new life. Of course no everything bagels are going to be ingested inside, yeah right, and my "stuff" and gear will always be neat and organized, yeah right.
Early this spring I took the ride out to see our and friends and hit the Long Island Fly Fishing Expo. It was there I scored a bunch of stuff including two different RodMounts fly rod holders. At that time I didn't need them for my pickup but for $10 for the pair I well hoarded them in for potential future use.
In was in July that I took a back seat in Joe Armenti's Yukon and saw the new RodMounts set up he had. You can see the backrest portion of it above. I took a look at the RodMounts website and saw what they had listed for sale. They still offer the Sumo rod carriers for the exterior of your vehicle. The thing
I really like about their company is they sell replacement parts. If you recall last spring I refurbished my SUMO suction rod carriers for a fraction of the cost it would have been to replace. You would think my thoughts on the company would lead me to just go ahead and order a new interior set but, sorry, I can't.
The last thing Theresa wants to see, and already warned me, are deductions showing on the bank website from places like WeatherTech, Amazon, Jeep lovers, or yes, RodMounts, as I go and outfit my newer Jeep. I did take a look online and see what a brandy new in the box set would cost. Their Rod-Up line was on sale for $199.95, let's just say $200, plus tax and shipping. Seems fair enough for a solid product from a solid company.
I already had the rear component from the rod carrier it's just the suction cups are a tad old. I looked on Amazon, I hate Amazon but how can you get around it. Imagine trying to find suction cups without Amazon. Drive to six different store? Is there a suctionworld.com website? I found a few possible ones that would work but just decide to soap and water them and give them a shot.
When I was at the show I probably could have found the headrest section that most likely was sitting there. I was so surprised they only wanted $10 I just paid and ran thinking the two parts I had were it. I haven't looked close enough but these two may make up one set, just an older version. The second one looks like it would hang of a garment hook but back to the headrest section.
I went back on the RodMounts site and found they offered just what I needed. It listed for $84 plus tax and shipping. I almost pulled the trigger but in the back of my mind I could hear Theresa giving me the business, "I told you don't order anything else". You see, buying the Jeep kinda came out of the blue. Not like mentally ill impulsive blue, but not budgeted blue.
I decided to go back to the arch nemesis of everything, well one big thing, that is wrong with out country today. Keyboard shopping. There's no RodMounts store where I can go and talk with a sales person and get sold on why I should drop over $100 for it. Yes, I could look online and find a dealer and see IF they carry it and then add my gas, tolls, and time driving and seeing one in person. Most retail places carry just the exterior SUMO mounts in suction or magnet lines.
I found the above option. It's a headrest rod holder that looks like it would do the trick....all for $21.99, let's say $22, with tax and free delivery. In this day and age of "I want it now" and "I'm not paying that much", this I am sure satiates many anglers needs. What I can tell you is I didn't see anywhere the proud "Made in America" sticker. I looked on the RodMounts website and didn't see one there either, which you usually do if things are made here at home, although their base is in Eugene, Oregon. And where would my Littlemole product be coming from or at least originated from, yep,
Yuyao Zhejiang, China. I feel like a lot of people do. I hate, harsh word, I despise that we support overseas manufacturers and can't make our own stuff or just do without. So if take this order from Amazon which gets this from China there is money going overseas. Amazon employs a ton of people over here and pumps a ton of money into our economy. RodMounts, with a home here in America, may outsource there stuff overseas or at least get the parts from abroad. So really is there a difference?
So I clicked on "Buy Now" and the next day it was on my door step. Easy peasy directions and the finished set up looks great. It might not be RodMounts great but I think it will work. One little glitch, to me, if there is no way to secure the rod tips into the headrest section. It just kind of lays in there where the better system has foam where the rod tip section is secured by.
So in the end I laid out $35 for my rod carrier set up. A new one would have been about $225. I am sure somehow, just by my history, it will up short, or better yet somehow cause my truck to catch fire. But for now no more fly rods banging around in the back of my pick up truck.
And during the beautiful fall day yesterday, and yes it is fall, I had the pleasure of being pulled over by an Upper Makefield police officer. It was me and the wife with the sunroof open driving through Buck's County on the way back from Lauren's house. She did a once over on the Jeep and gave it a thumbs up.
But little did I know, how would I, that my truck was in violation. "You're third bake light is out", the officer said. He added, "It's a ticket-able offense". He said he was going to give me a written warning but "let me go" with a just a verbal.
As I spun around, I pulled off the main road for his safety, he waved me down again. "And just so you know I could write you another ticket". Now what did I do?. "You're front blinker speed is too fast". "Alrighty bud, I'll get on that".