@SailingSpark correct. I put mine on the right, because it’s the side of the truck closest to the launch. Boats don’t have to be centered. Agree also that the ones that hook into the hitch and rely on a roof mounted rack are too much like work. The side mounted rack is good for one boat, because it has nothing to climb under while slinging rope. I like rope, because it adapts to any boat. You just need to know knots. Trailers are smart, but some places charge tolls by axle, or charge to lauch or park the trailer, and it took effort to park the trailer. Its whatever floats the boat.
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If you look at something like the canoe above with a large overhang what happens to the end when it makes a hard right? The end of the canoe arches out into the lane next to it. That’s why there is a formula based on wheelbase of vehicle and overhang.
Just because you don’t get pulled over doesn’t make it legal. I had a 36’ x 11’+ wide Skater offshore race boat my partner took it on Southern State Parkway . Cops would stare as we went by. He never got a ticket I wouldn’t drive it because I had a CDL. Otherwise you have to go through Brooklyn to get to NJ and south.
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How far can you hang something out of a truck?
California. California allows cargo to overhang a vehicle by 4 feet beyond the rear, 3 feet beyond the front and 4 inches beyond the side of the vehicle.Nov 15, 2021
How far can a kayak hang out of a truck?
The United States Department of Transportation has also implemented a law aimed are regulating the size of a kayak sticking out the back of a truck which states that cargo can overhang a vehicle at the rear by a maximum of 4 feet, at the front by a maximum of 3 feet and the sides by a maximum of 4 inches.
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@PaddleDog52 there’s iron in your words of truth. Because it’s possible to violate legal limits without challenged for years doesn’t mean future odds will be as favorable.
That’s an important message when operating nail guns without eye protection (missed the eye - saftey glasses?), standing on the top step of a step ladder, or not taking advantage of other safe practices. The more often we get away with the odds, the more confident we may feel. Accidents are compounded when a series of events line up, so why not stack the odds in your favor.
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The actual Federal law is that no state can make a law that allows less than 3 feet of overhang in front or less than 4 feet of overhang in the rear of any vehicle.
Florida law is less than 3 feet in front of any vehicle. Rear overhang for trucks is 9 feet(10 if a tree), and 4 feet for cars.
That’s what I said.
Many jurisdictions measure overhang from the rear axel, not from the back of the vehicle.
that’s a bit silly, especially on a long bed truck. Drop the tailgate and you are already over 4 feet of length past the axle.
edit
I just looked up my Land Rover, a Discovery from 2003. From the rear axle to the towball is 52.5 inches. That is 4.5 inches longer than 4 feet. Somehow I do not think that anybody measures from the Rear Axle.
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Put a motor on that and you won’t need a truck.
There is 8’ of “overhang” from the rear axle on my box truck camper, probably 9’ all the way to the tow ball. (But I carry my kayaks and canoe inside so “overhang” is moot.)
This is a great picture. Now, if folks read my post and imagine a rack made from wood ---- with only a few changes. #1 the forward cross bar is about 1/2 as high as this one is over the cab. #2 the rear cross bar is about 10" lower then the front one, so the hulls of the kayaks are slanted uphill. This makes the loading and the unloading much easier. On those that carry the kayak level you may need a step stool to get it on or off. Slant it down in the rear and it’s a lot easier.
Also ----- I always tie off to the front and the rear, not just in a downward direction.
Here in Wisconsin, I have only heard of a rule that if your load extends 4 feet or more beyond your rear tail light , then you need a red flag. Never heard of a overhang length beyond the rear axle. This is what was quoted to me by an officer {State Patrol} as he measured my yellow over yellow kayak with the red keel strip. I was parked and in a building, he had pulled in to the lot just to measure it. Talked to him when I came out to the car and saw him measuring. He dropped a string from the stern of my kayak to measure to.
It looks like Wisconsin is 3’ front, 4’ rear beyond the end of the vehicle but, it may extend beyond that if there is a red flag or red light (at night) attached to the extreme end. And, as long as the total length of vehicle and load does not exceed 45’.
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Yes I moved the kayak a few inches forward anyway…made Him happier.
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Picked it up using the extrnder and over the cab. Not a fan, too much movement
Getting a bed rack.