Professional bass anglers spend plenty of time behind the wheel, trailering their boat across the country to the next event. Their truck is essential for getting them there safely and effectively and they are subject to anything the road throws at them. Brandon Palaniuk is known as one pro whose truck stands out with style, but it is also built with function and safety in mind.
In fact, at the time of this interview, Palaniuk was on the road traveling from Florida to Texas for the upcoming 2017 Bassmaster Classic. Palaniuk got his truck "Classic ready" with Crossed Industires.
He believes there are seven products all truck owners should have to make their life easier.
Tow Hitch
A tow hitch is a requirement, but Palaniuk prefers an adjustable model ball mount. “It ensures that your trailer is riding as flat as possible. It reduces the tongue weight and you won’t get as much of the bouncing,” he begins and says that it could also help you save on fuel mileage and improve handling.
Adjustable Ball Mounts
BOLT Lock System
Securing all of your equipment is another issue we have to worry about in today’s world. “People do steal trailer hitches and if that happens you are in a bad place. I don’t like to have a bunch of keys so I use the BOLT lock system because it programs to your truck key. You buy the one for your manufacturer and then key it to your truck key and can use that for all of your BOLT locks,” he says. He uses the same key for his Receiver Lock, Coupler Pin Lock, and padlock for his rod storage tubes.
Bolt, Receiver and Lock
Coupler and Pin
Bolt and Padlock
Rod Storage in Rod Tubes
Traveling with all of your rods can be difficult and dangerous for the rods. A rod storage system that attaches to the top of your truck can hold 12-15 rods each. “Almost all tournament anglers have rods over seven feet long and you can’t just put that size rod in the back of a truck. I’ve tried doing it and have broken a bunch of tips,” begins Palaniuk, who prefers a rod tube to protect his rods. “They are also great for co-anglers who aren’t towing a boat to tournaments.”
Rod Tubes
Fog Lights
Adding fog lights to your truck can help in many ways, says Palaniuk. “They give you great light to see while towing and I have noticed that it also lessens eye fatigue. You can focus more, stay safer and be more awake.” He uses an SAE compliant set from Rigid Industries so they are legal for use while on the road. “It’s an easy retrofit if you already have fog lights or you can have them installed as well.”
Rigid Industries SAE Compliant Dually Fog Light Set
Good Tires
Tires are essential and having the right size and thickness can save a headache in the long run. “I highly recommend an 8 or 10 ply tire. This is probably the most important thing while you are on the road because you will get a lot fewer flats, and nobody wants to deal with flat tires,” says Palaniuk. He says it also prevents dangerous blowouts and the wear will be better as well. “You won’t get as much of the flex and stretch.”
Tires
Jump Kit
Nobody wants to be stranded with a dead battery. There are several jump kits on the market and Palaniuk never leaves home without one. “You can get then with a battery jump and small air compressor. This helps with slow leaks, so you can limp to the next gas station,” says the Idaho pro.
Tackle Storage System
With as much tackle as pro anglers take with them on the road, it makes sense to have a good tackle storage system to maximize the space they have in the bed of their trucks. “I like the DECKED system. It is very user-friendly and is also among the least expensive options available,” Palaniuk begins, and says that it also doubles for work storage. “You could also store your tools in it and then when you go fishing you can swap out your work gear for fishing gear.” No matter how you plan to use it, it will keep your equipment secure, organized and protected from the elements.
“Another good thing about it is that you can pack 2,000-pounds on top of it, so if you are headed out with your four wheelers you can still have them loaded above it,” he says and adds that it is very user-friendly and easy to install. “There is no drilling, it connects to the tie-downs inside the bed of your truck.”
Decked
No matter if you are towing to the lake for a weekend trip or traveling across the country for a major bass tournament, having the right equipment for your truck is essential. Touring pros like Brandon Palaniuk have learned that having the best equipment helps keep you safe and protected on the road.
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