I usually just leave my rods in the truck bed but with the constant heat I'm worried they are getting damaged. Anyone know what the effects are if any?

You must live somewhere that everyone is honest. Leaving graphite rods in the open back of a truck, I am assuming open and/or not locked cover, most places is an invitation to have them stolen. That concern aside, heat can have a effect on just about everything, why chance it?

Elevated temperatures such as an open aflame will certainly effect the integrity of a graphite rod but it takes several hundred degrees before any damage occurs. Sorry I don't have exact numbers, but lying in the 100+ sun will not have a detrimental effect even if the black surface exceeds the ambient temperature.

Thank you both for your replies. I don't own top of the line rods but I like them and would hate to see them melt (or get stolen but that is a different problem). This is exactly the info I was looking for.

I think your line would weaken first from being in the sun.

I agree, line, handle, decals will probably be damaged, and maybe even faded wrapping thread may result from heat and exposure to sunlight , but the graphite rod blank itself should stand up to it ok. But who wants all the other parts ruined?

You'll do a lot more dmaage to those rods riding around with them in the bed of your truck than this heat will. Little knicks and dings that will eventually turn into a failure of the blank.

Thank you all for the advice. I mounted a horizontal rod holder to the side wall and covered the whole thing with an old tarp. Hopefully that will cover all my bases if I have to do something dangerous like keep them back there

+1

I take my RR into my house and place them in a vertical rod rack. You can micro fracture the rods hauling them around in a truck bed. You won't know the rod is fractured,till you set the hook.

I would normally leave them at home until I know I'm going fishing, however, as a carpenter that works all over the DFW area I'm in different places on different days all the time. If I didn't have gear with me I would never have a chance to fish.

I have been thinking of getting a collapsible rod but then I would never use my favorite gear. If I can keep my rods safe I would prefer to use what I have instead of buying new gear. If I can't come up with something good I'll change.