Ha! Well, I did have an issue with a PVC fishing rod holder once before. I'd done just as is being recommended here. I used a big box store standard 3" x 6' pipe plus end caps. All was fine and it returned home fine, just not at the same time as our arrival. AA couldn't fit in into the cargo hold of the old EMB-145. It took a different routing on its way home. Not sure if this still a problem, but something to think about.