Quad Rod Mount - Ford Bronco (Gen6)

Fishing Rod Holder for Gen6 Ford Bronco, TrailSight-Mounted 

A couple disclaimers first, gotta CY(My?)A:

1. This is my intellectual property. I have recently seen a few variants of these, made from metal, listed for sale online and have heard word of disputes between sellers. However, I independently designed this kit (specifically to be 3D printed) about two years ago now and have been using it for my own purposes since. I’ve finally got around to posting the design so others can enjoy it too.  
2. Use at your own risk. I cannot be held liable for damages or injuries as I have no control over your choice of filament, print settings, layer adhesion, print result, etc. I recommend using this only for short trips and not on highways. Also, please be sure to check that this is legal in your state/jurisdiction before mounting to your Bronco and using on public roads.
3. This mounts to the “trail sights” of the Gen6 Ford Bronco only. No, this will not work on a Bronco Sport or any other vehicle. 

With that being said: I have had these mounted on my Bronco for the past two summers, in the Carolina heat, day in and day out, hit 85mph+ on the highway with 4 rods in, and used ultralight UglyStiks up through heavy 10’ surf rods with no issue, no breakage. and no reprints. I also have yet to find a rod that doesn’t fit in this (tube inner diameter is 1.25in), however if you would like a modification made, please message me with details.   

Print Specs:

Use ABS or ASA only, and please use my print profile settings. 

>PETG is not sufficient. It will deform and degrade in the sun.

Start with default “.20mm Strength” profile (6 walls). Then: switch infill to 35%, infill type to gyroid, and enable normal tree supports, checking  “for critical regions only”.

>Printed in the orientation shown in pictures I have posted. This is the default orientation in the .3mf file. I printed the rod holders flat on their back during testing, but the tubes were prone to splitting down the middle along layer lines when a lateral force is exerted, so don't do this.

Print List:

> Keep in mind that this is a mirrored set, and you will need to print all 4 rod holder brackets as each is unique. 

RS = Road Side = Driver's Side

CS = Curb Side = Passenger Side

• 1x Rod Holder Bracket - RS, Outer
• 1x Rod Holder Bracket - RS, Inner
• 1x Rod Holder Bracket - CS, Outer
• 1x Rod Holder Bracket - CS, Inner
• 4x Hex Nut Thumb Knobs
• 4x Concentric Spacers, 1/4” to 8mm

Add'l Bill of Materials (ANSI/Imperial Hardware):

>Use stainless steel, zinc-plated, or other environmentally protected hardware, especially if you fish saltwater.

1. 4x Hexagon Head Screw, 1/4"-20 Thread Size, 3" Long, Partially Threaded

   McMaster Part Number: 92198A554

2. 4x Nylon-Insert Hexagon Locknut, 1/4"-20 Thread Size

   McMaster Part Number: 91831A029

>PLEASE USE LOCK NUTS to prevent loosening due to road vibration. Use of washers +  lock washers + normal hex nuts stack (torqued until the lock washer is flattened) may be acceptable, but I have not tested and do not recommend. 

Assembly: 

See documentation for assembly PDF. 

>Thumb knobs should be oriented facing outwards from the vehicle. 

>You will need to glue 4x locking hex nuts into 4x hex nut thumb knob cavities. Use a few drops of Cyanoacrylate Adhesive (most superglues are CA)  or an adequate two-part epoxy. 

Additional Notes

Fold reel handles in while rods are mounted. Not doing so will cause the knob to spin FAST due to airflow while driving, and this may unscrew the knob or damage the reel.

>The long 3" bolts were specifcally chosen to allow thumb knobs to be used while clearing interference with the hood/fender.

>Reels or reel handles may come into contact with the hood or fender, depending on the model. If this is the case, place masking or painters tape at this location to avoid damage to your Bronco's paint. 

>Do not use these as line-in-the-water rod holders. These are not designed for that purpose.

>> Optional, but Recommended:

Buy a large pack of black hair ties to loop from the “nubs”, over the necks of the reels, and back around to the nub (keep the pack of hair ties in your glovebox as the sun will deteriorate these quickly). These are not strictly necessary, as the weight of the rod itself creates a lever force where the handle meets the bottom of the tube, keeping the rod place. Air flow when driving serves to increase this lever force, so no captive system is required even at highway speeds. 

>I currently use two Velcro zip-ties to hold each of mine in place mainly as a sort of theft-deterrent. These Velcro zip-ties last longer but can occasionally be a pain to remove. If desired, I'm sure a cable lock could be used to better deter theft.

Future Build Notes

1. I’m working on a redesign that uses Metric (M8) hardware, which will eliminate the concentric spacers and theoretically create an even stronger design. 
2. Working on replacing the nubs with a hole for a threaded (heat-set) insert to be used for attachments; will also eliminate all supports.
3. Planning design of a sunshade to reduce weathering of line on reel; this is a tricky design because it needs to have a large surface area but also still stand up to road forces.

 Thanks for your appreciation! More to follow!