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hickroots07

I've recently purchased a new to me truck. The question isn't whether or not to have rod holders, but more specifically, how do the basket/holders combo work for you vs. Just rod holders. Most front baskets are made of aluminum and I was wondering how they hold up to a loaded ice chest plus rods and reels. Keep in mind I'm usually traveling down the beach with shark gear so all those reels definitely add up to a substantial amount of weight. Should I abandon the basket idea and just go rod holders or are the baskets sturdy enough for what I plan on using it for?
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Great captains, the stuff of legend, are made not by what they have caught, but by what they have given back.

Rebecca of Sunnybrookfarm · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 3973

hickroots07 · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2015 10:43 am Post subject:

Ya... thats what I was afraid of. I can just see my AVETs rolling down the freeway through my rear view mirror. Not cool. So do you think stainless would be better? It's also heavier if I wanted to make it removable.

What do you think about removable vs permanent?

And if you aren't for front receiver holders due to blocking lights/radiator, what would be a better option?
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Great captains, the stuff of legend, are made not by what they have caught, but by what they have given back.

ironmanstan · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2015 11:18 am Post subject:

attached to a brush guard or similar.
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hickroots07 · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2015 11:38 am Post subject:

txscrambler · Horse Mullet Joined: 12 May 2012 Posts: 144

I had a full replacement ranch hand on my last truck with a hitch receiver and I wound up bending the bolts and the front of my brush guard was slightly tilted forward. I also overheated my truck once going though the upper teens and my truck overheated more easily after that. The transmission died and that was that. I had a custom hitch put on the truck I have now and still use the basket with rod holders but I dont put a cooler in it. I keep it for light stuff like a bucket with my cast net or some container with light camping gear and keep the heavy stuff in the bed. No problems yet.

Rebecca of Sunnybrookfarm · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 3973

Rebecca of Sunnybrookfarm · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 3973

hickroots07 · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2015 1:59 pm Post subject:

ok here's another question. Did you find the basket portion as convenient or useful as you thought it would be? From what I've heard an ice chest is going to be out of the question due to the weight, but I do like the idea of a bucket with a cast net ready to go.
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Great captains, the stuff of legend, are made not by what they have caught, but by what they have given back.

Skillzzz9 · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2015 11:20 pm Post subject:

Wow. I've been rumbling down the beach with my Surf Mat Jr. for three years now. Shark rods in tow with a cooler in the basket. Never had any of the problems described. I have an e-trailer front mount reciever hitch.
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ThomasCarpenter · Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2015 10:12 am Post subject:

I realize I am not there all the time and that my opinion is leaning twards lackluster to you all at best. However, I have fabricated numerous quail hunting seats and front load racks. Not to mention overcoming the issues that present after blocking the cooling area of your vehicle. My suggestion-'s as follows.
-Fab from stainless or steel (3/16 2x2 for male and 2.5x2.5x3/16 for female). Finish in gavl if steel ( will gray with exposure and loose luster remedying the glare). Stainless, Powder coat with a matte finish.
- If possible drill the receiver and male insert at the same time. Use a bolt and lock washer to mount for travel. May tack to male insert a washer to take up any slack/play.
-Cooling system. There are a number of plug and play front mount radiator fans on the market. These can be wired for toggle operation or left factor with a wire into the thermostat for its operation. Secondly, Back flush your system once every other year. Ranch trucks that we use here in the hill country and out in west Texas respond very well to this. If there is an issue it will present itself much sooner.

Predapex · Horse Mullet Joined: 06 Sep 2013 Posts: 181

I made mine from scrap one inch and wrapped it in a piece of galv sheet. I bought some cheap rear hitch off CL and cut it to fit as a front hitch. I then got one of those 6 inch drop trailer balls. Took the ball off and inverted it to raise 6 inches. I run a Nissan Frontier and nvr overheated. You can add lights to it too. Mine is pretty rusted and needs to be ospho and por 15 but it's 10 years old. I wouldn't do aluminum...as previous said. Many seasoned breachers have run over theirs.

joejoe7716 · Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2015 3:17 pm Post subject:

2" front reciever, 2" OD 12 ga square tubing for the frame. 1 by 2 12ga for cross bars. 1 1/2 emt for rod holders. 1 1/2 rubber hose on the tops of the holders for reel protection. And I cut the hose at an angle so you can face the reels forward or backward and they stay that way. Hope this helps

hickroots07 · Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2015 9:25 pm Post subject:

Thanks for all the replies! I may see what it costs to have something fabbed out of stainless. If it's gonna be too much I may go with the aluminum and watch the weight, and probably find ways to beef it up somehow. Still have a lot of ideas to consider.
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Great captains, the stuff of legend, are made not by what they have caught, but by what they have given back.

jc · Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2015 2:53 pm Post subject:

we have had front hitch cooler basket rod holders for over 10 years. after seeing a couple break, I just had the "L" frame member replaced with stainless steel and the whole setup is rock solid. the convenience of having a cooler in the basket cannot be over emphasized in my opinion, we love it