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Is it legal to drive with Kayak sticking out of the truck by 8.5 ft #10851130 05/17/15 11:17 PM
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YakRider Offline OP
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I have a 13 ft kayak that weights 87 lbs, although I am able to load it car top but it's quite some workout. I am currently seeking an alternative way of tansporting it.

I am thinking about buying a truck bed extender which would allow me to tranport the kayak with part of kayak inside the Pilot and of course, I would have to tie down the SUV's hatch. Now, if I just fold down the third seat row it would give me 4.5 ft of space inside the SUV which means 8.5 ft will be sticking out of the truck and supported by the extender. Is it legal to drive in Texas with a cargo stickinng out that much? I'll have to fold the 2nd row if it's ilegal to drive but then I would not be able to take my kids with me.

Re: Is it legal to drive with Kayak sticking out of the truck by 8.5 ft [Re: YakRider] #10851162 05/17/15 11:40 PM
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Tallgrass05 Offline
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If Texas is like most states, you'll need a 1 square foot red flag at the end of the kayak. Lights if you're driving at night or low light conditions.

Re: Is it legal to drive with Kayak sticking out of the truck by 8.5 ft [Re: YakRider] #10851227 05/18/15 12:11 AM
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J Barlow Offline
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I believe that the truck extender is considered an extension of the truck so the distance the kayak sticks out begins at the end of the extender. Just be sure to have the proper flag and lights on it. Please note that I am no expert on this but I use an extender and have never been pulled over because of the length of my kayak sticking out.

Last edited by J Barlow; 05/18/15 12:12 AM.
Re: Is it legal to drive with Kayak sticking out of the truck by 8.5 ft [Re: YakRider] #10851272 05/18/15 12:34 AM
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Depending on the municipality either the tail gate or the bumper is the rear of the vehicle and if you exceed 4 feet you have to have lights and reflectors. Most cops won't mess with you if you light up the extender and put reflective tape on it.


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Re: Is it legal to drive with Kayak sticking out of the truck by 8.5 ft [Re: YakRider] #10851898 05/18/15 05:30 AM
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pelican Offline
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This got kicked around a while back.
Do a search for "Flag & lights, something to think about" it might have the info you're looking for.

I'm running a bed extender with 2 red LED lights that are visible from the rear and both sides.

Last edited by pelican; 05/18/15 05:33 AM.


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Re: Is it legal to drive with Kayak sticking out of the truck by 8.5 ft [Re: YakRider] #10852436 05/18/15 02:53 PM
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You need both flag and lights for the extender? I thought flag is sufficient. How do you setup the lights? It's would be a pain that you have to connect/disconnect the wire to the break every time you use the extender.

Re: Is it legal to drive with Kayak sticking out of the truck by 8.5 ft [Re: YakRider] #10852800 05/18/15 05:15 PM
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I'm using a very simple LED two wire system that I just plug into my trailer light plug on the truck.
I can send pictures when I get back in town later this week.



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Re: Is it legal to drive with Kayak sticking out of the truck by 8.5 ft [Re: YakRider] #10852948 05/18/15 06:12 PM
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Originally Posted By: YakRider
You need both flag and lights for the extender? I thought flag is sufficient. How do you setup the lights? It's would be a pain that you have to connect/disconnect the wire to the break every time you use the extender.

Lights are required from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise marking the extended load length and width.

Originally Posted By: Transportation Code Title 7 Subtitle C Chapter 547 Subchapter H Lighting Requirements in Special Circumstances
Sec. 547.382. LIGHTING EQUIPMENT ON PROJECTING LOADS.

(a) A vehicle transporting a load that extends to the rear at least four feet beyond the bed or body of the vehicle shall display on the extreme end of the load at the times specified in Section 547.302(a):
(1) two red lamps visible at a distance of at least 500 feet from the rear;
(2) two red reflectors that indicate the maximum width and are visible at nighttime at all distances from 100 to 600 feet from the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps; and
(3) two red lamps, one on each side, that indicate the maximum overhang and are visible at a distance of at least 500 feet from the side.

(b) At all other times, a vehicle transporting a load that extends beyond the vehicle's sides or more than four feet beyond the vehicle's rear shall display red flags that:
(1) are at least 12 inches square;
(2) mark the extremities of the load; and
(3) are placed where a lamp is required by this section.


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Re: Is it legal to drive with Kayak sticking out of the truck by 8.5 ft [Re: YakRider] #10853022 05/18/15 06:38 PM
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There's your answer. I have trailer lights on my bed extender that plug into the trailer plug-in on my pickup. When I haul my Commander 140, the back of the kayak is about 2' past the bed extender. Law enforcement hasn't bothered me, and I've used it day and night like that for well over a year. If your kayak projects 4' past your bed extender, that may not be acceptable. In the daytime, a red flag of the proper size is sufficient, tied to the rear of the kayak. At night, you will attract attention eventually if your get out too often. Or cross paths with the wrong officer.


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Re: Is it legal to drive with Kayak sticking out of the truck by 8.5 ft [Re: YakRider] #10853103 05/18/15 07:11 PM
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Tallgrass05 Offline
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A detachable light rig is easy to make. If you don't already have a plug for trailer lights, you can buy a simple harness to splice into your system.



Re: Is it legal to drive with Kayak sticking out of the truck by 8.5 ft [Re: YakRider] #10853143 05/18/15 07:25 PM
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Re: Is it legal to drive with Kayak sticking out of the truck by 8.5 ft [Re: Tallgrass05] #10853323 05/18/15 08:58 PM
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Originally Posted By: Tallgrass05
A detachable light rig is easy to make. If you don't already have a plug for trailer lights, you can buy a simple harness to splice into your system.




Nice rig on the light, Tallgrass05. Since I am new to kayak fishing, I will probably fish at ponds near by and will probably travel duing the daytime. I'll have to come up with my own detatchable light rig once I am comfortable with kayak fishing and venture out to lakes.

The extender that I am getting is exactly as yours. How do you like your extender, would you recommand it?

Re: Is it legal to drive with Kayak sticking out of the truck by 8.5 ft [Re: YakRider] #10853698 05/18/15 11:21 PM
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Yes, it's very nice, heavy duty and solid. I like having the upright arms at the end, and have even carried 2 kayaks on it.

Re: Is it legal to drive with Kayak sticking out of the truck by 8.5 ft [Re: YakRider] #10859249 05/20/15 10:58 PM
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Just put a red flag on it and it's fine.


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Re: Is it legal to drive with Kayak sticking out of the truck by 8.5 ft [Re: YakRider] #10859265 05/20/15 11:05 PM
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Law apparently says lights and flags.

I took a grease rag and attached it with some staples to the rear of my yak and have had no issues.

Driven past many cops, day and night, without issue. No guarantee that will always be the case though


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