kayak sticking out truck bed?

this is probably a common question, didnt get any real clear answrs on my google search.. I hear people put 18' kayaks in 6' truck beds with a some type of bed extension.. So how far leagally can it stick out??

There is some kind of hitch-extension that looks like it may be worthwhile. 

I ran my 14'4" X-Factor out the bed for four years before CHP finally pulled me over and stated that he thought that 4' past the bumper is prohibited - flag or not.  The key here is THOUGHT - he didn't know for sure...  That was the same story with a retired CHP captain who's my in-law's neighbor up in Tahoe - he "thought" something like that too.  After getting pulled over on it (no ticket) I got a rack.

 

PS:  It also messed with my yak to be hauling it with lots of weight on a cantilever - best to stick with a rack.

I use the goal post mount all the time. Never an issue. 13 foot boat 6 foot bed (8 ft with tailgate down). less then 1/2 the boat is sicking out.

looks like lights or a flag will work.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc24604.htm

http://www.amazon.com/Extend-A-Truck-944-Truck-Bed-Extender/dp/B00008BKX5/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1341856280&sr=1-1

Harbor Freight Tools has one for about $55. In-store only according to their website. If anyone at the store says they don't carry it, have them check their website. Their in-store part numbers and online part numbers don't jive. That's what happened to me.

thanks guys 

Hojoman--

   Can you post the P/N's?  Thanks!

Your load is not allowed to extend from your last point of support more than 2/3rds of your wheel base:

35410.  The load upon any motor vehicle alone or an independent load
only upon a trailer or semitrailer shall not extend to the rear
beyond the last point of support for a greater distance than that
equal to two-thirds of the length of the wheelbase of the vehicle
carrying such load, except that the wheelbase of a semitrailer shall
be considered as the distance between the rearmost axle of the towing
vehicle and the rearmost axle of the semitrailer.

A hitch extender counts as a support, so would be required due to your boat length.  Just make sure you have your flag during the day, and two red lights at night.  I have seen some folks put a set of brake lights on their hitch extender and have it positioned very near to the rear most projected portion of the load.  This complies with the spirit of the law and is normally accepted.  You can also plug into your lighting harness and hang some lights off the back of the kayak, a couple side bungees can keep the lights from spinning.

The four feet extension from the taillights only applies to the flag/light requirement on the load, your load is allowed to project farther.  A load is not allowed to extend more than 3 feet from the front of the vehicle.  This may have been what the officers you spoke to were thinking off.  If you look at the current 2012 vehicle code, it is about impossible to know all the junk, I mean laws in there, LOL 

Hope this helps.

Matt

Hojoman--

   Can you post the P/N's?  Thanks!

Here's the link. The employee was probably referring to the item number.
http://www.harborfreight.com/truck-bed-extender-45830.html

So Matt just to be clear, I use a 4' extender and my kayak goes past about 6" from that. Do I still need a flag during the day, and lights at night, and if so can the lights
be attached to the extender, or do they have to be on the yak. I thought with the orange kayak that would be enough.
Thanks,
Jeff

Hi Jeff,

Yes, you still need a flag or extender if the load projects more than 4 ft from the rear of your vehicle.  The 4 ft measurement starts from your taillights.  The extender counts as a support or vehicle extension, but the load is still an extended load.  The lights or flag need to be placed on the rear most projection of the load or extension of the vehicle.  If you place lights/flag on the extender which would be an extension of your vehicle, and your kayak only extends 6" past that you would be legal.  I see a lot of folks place the magnetic lights on the hitch extender at night, and then a flag on the end of the kayak during daylight.  I think that is perfectly adequate.  Now if your load extends another 3-4 feet past the hitch extender, then the rear most projection of the load would be more reasonable for the flag/lights.

The reason is more apparent at night.  You see the brake lights ahead but most people don't realize they need to increase their stopping distance due to the load length.  People have a lot of trouble judging distance without visual reference, this is most common at night due to the reduction of those references.  Two lights are required in case one goes out.  During the day, the flag requirement is more of a shotgun approach to cover all extended loads if they are easy to see or not.  It is mainly for the low visible load, but removes any guess work.

It is not a bad idea to carry a copy of the laws in your glove box.  Most officers are professional enough to admit when they don't know something for sure or made a mistake.

Matt

Thanks, Matt.
Making some lights this weekend.
Jeff

I have the "Extend-A-Truck". Added a HB light kit and reflective stickers to it.

http://www.extendatruck.com/

I don't use much it anymore. Plan on selling it in the near future.

Al

Paul, just opened one of those coupon packs sent in the mail. One of the coupons is for 20 percent off any item at Harbor Freight Tools. So don't toss that packet that you may have received in the mail.

Thanks a lot fellas, lots of great info here wont be long now and ill be in business.. Hojoman, i do get the harbour freight tools coupons, thanks for pointing that out

Bed extensions....I've been driving like this for years with no hassle from the man.