Roof rails and cross bars for fishing

I have a 17’ DC TRDOR with no roof rails. I’m looking to setup a fishing rod setup on my roof using most likely a ski and fishing pole carrier. The poles need to be on the roof due to local parkway regulations. I looked at the OE roof rack is about 300 plus another 150 for the ski setup and it’s a bit much. Anyone have any ideas that can be cheaper? Can I mount cross bars to the roof without the rails like some other manufactures do? Thanks

 

There are cross bars you can add without the factory rack. They have a bracket that wraps around into the door sill area. I'm not a fan but they'd be good for using occasionally.

Why is there a law saying they need to be on the roof?

 

There are low overpasses so they don’t want anything sticking up. Do you know which cross bars would fit the truck?

 

Could you just put the rods in the bed so they angle up a little out the back? When I did that with a 12 foot surf rod the tip of the rod didn't even come close to the roof line.

 

I have a setup like that now and it’s really close. Plus I like the idea I can like the rods on the roof

 

That's fair. I added a OEM roof rack this summer, mainly to give the truck a better look. It was a pain to install, but I liked how it turned out.

 

What did you pay for it

 

You can mount thule foot pack directly into the threaded holes in the roof under the rain gutter, then stick crossbars on those. I did this for a while until i put rhino rach ditch track in there so i can slide the crossbars to where I need them

 

$300 bucks, did the install myself

 

Are you driving highway speeds or is this just low-speed stuff (around the lake, slow driving)? There are a few companies making magnetic mounts. More popular with the flyfishing crowd... They're not highway speeds, but they're great for when you're moving from spot to spot around the lake/stream/whatever. Or from the campsite to the water!

https://www.google.com/search?q=mag...ufHkAhWcFTQIHbHYCGwQ_AUIEigB&biw=1099&bih=655

 

That’s an awesome idea but I need to go highway speeds.

 

If you get a rack to put it on, this works really well for carrying your rods at highway speeds.
(Looks a little like carrying a rocket launcher)

$65 Flambeau Outdoors 6990BC Bazuka, 63"-87" Portable Fishing Rod Storage Holder, Black

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EDVT30/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

There are suction cup mounts ive seen where one end is on the hood and the other on the roof, seen guys blasting down the highway with them too

 

I can fit my 8' rods diagonally across the cab (reels down in the passenger foot, tips behind the driver at the roof). If I've got passengers, I just drop them in the bed and run the rod tips through the rear window into the cab. (not the answer you're looking for, I know)

 

Roof clips, nylon strapping and rod holders maybe? All in about $50.

$17 Rightline Gear Replacement Car Roof Clips for Attaching Rooftop Cargo Carriers Without A Roof Rack

https://www.amazon.com/Rightline-Gear-100600-Replacement-Carriers/dp/B007WR25KW

Rod holders
https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/bo...m3Q0lEAQYAiABEgJqpfD_BwE#repChildCatid=140702

 

Update
Bought an aftermarket roof rack system identical to the OEM one for $100. Hoping this will be fine. Has good reviews.

 

Silicone everything underneath, especially around all those bolts that connect to the roof. I put some around the brackets, too, just to be safe. I dunno if all of that was necessary, but mine's been through a few rainstorms and hasn't leaked.