Fishing Pole Holder
My first year of college, I knew I wanted to build something using the knowledge gained from my coursework. I found a problem that bugged me daily, so I started measuring vehicle interior dimensions, drawing hand sketches, and modeling in CAD. A few prototypes later and I had myself a custom fishing pole holder for my car.
The rattle in the trunk
Every fishing trip ended with me tossing the pole into the trunk. As soon as I started driving, the rattling of the fishing rod in the back would make itself known. It rolled and tumbled at every bump and turn, making a constant noise like a poorly designed interior trim. Unlike a car's interior trim however, which usually comes faulty straight from the manufacturer, this was entirely self-inflicted. I got tired of my talkative fishing pole and decided to fix it myself.
The design constraints
My solution had to be portable, in case I wanted to maximize storage for a large item, so no fasteners were allowed. Durability was also important in the event of any harsh driving conditions. Additionally, I wanted it to be quick to use, and keep the pole suspended high enough so the trunk floor underneath stayed free for other storage. And most importantly, it had to be cheap.
With that in mind, I measured my car's interior and came up with a design. My Honda Civic Hatchback came with a privacy cover that rested on two rails on either side of the trunk. When removed, it left the rails as potential mounting points for my holders. I just needed to make these holders long enough to securely hold my 2-piece fishing pole. I made necessary measurements, drew up some hand sketches on the spot, and translated them into CAD.
Prototyping
I modeled the holder in SolidWorks and went through three versions. V1 was a quick prototype, and it taught me plenty. The holder was too short to reach the end of the pole, and the indent cut was too small. V2 fixed those issues, and did the job, but after some testing (repeatedly driving over parking lot speedbumps), the pole jumped right out of the holder. V3 added taller walls to address this, with tighter cuts to create a secure interference fit onto the rails.
3D printing was the ideal method for fabricating the holders. Iteration was easy, and the Bambu Lab X1C at ISU's makerspace was free to use. The only cost was the PLA filament, which totaled about $2.87. With only 5% infill, the parts were plenty durable. The holders were two unique designs, because one end of the pole was the large handle, while the other was the small rod end.
Results
The holder was a success. I just open the trunk, place the pole into the slot, and drive. There's no rattle, plenty of space below for groceries, and it's easily replaceable. When I need to store a large item, I can remove the holders in seconds, because they're held in place with the help of gravity and friction. I used it for over 10 months, until summer arrived. A warped holder made me switch over to PETG, which is what you see below. I wish I had black PETG at the time, so I could get that OEM look, but clear PETG does the job.