Extend-A-Truck

I've been trying different ways to hual my Yak around lately. 

I like to carry it on top of my truck, but since I usually go out by myself, I don't really have the energy at the end of a long day to put it back up on top.  I also tried using my snowmobile trailer to haul the Yak around.  While this made it really easy to load, my gas bill almost doubled with the extra weight.

I decided to give the Extend-A-Truck a try.  I ended up ordering online from www.austinkayak.com  I ordered Monday and Received it on Friday with Free Shipping.  The only modifications I made involved a pool noodle and some Red reflective tape.

Here's a few photos.  A simple design that just takes moments to install into your receiver.


Here it is installed.


Here's the Yak, and my dog OJ loaded up.  Notice the pool noodle cut in half to put a pad between the Yak and the steel crossbar. This worked great.


And here is the setup after i fished on Saturday. 

Sliding the yak in the truck bed is pretty easy, but I can't stand the sight (in my mirrors) of cars coming up behind me. I am convinced that my stern is going end up in some moron's grill or windshield, despite it being 30" wide x 18" tall and bright yellow with a red flag. That gives me extra motivation to get my yak up and clear of other's front ends.

  I'm not sure about Oregon's laws but you might check about having a red flag attached to anything extending 4' past your bumper.Don't need to have any "legal issues" with the law.

I use one of these as well....the one from Bass Pro Shops....and I really like it.  Loading / unloading is a snap and so far have not had any issues with inattentive tailgaters.  I have an F-350 long bed dually so my T13 does not extend out quite as far.

On the way home Saturday afternoon I was passed by a Sherrif's Truck.  He waived at me but didn't seem to worried about it.  I think that the red reflector cover the flag issue.  I should go talk to them today just to make sure.

Hey, that is a great way to do it! At last, the answer!! I have a Ford F150 and find it very difficult sometimes (who am I kidding- most of the time )  to get the beast up on the roof!

Thank you!

I went and spoke to the Sheriff, not a deputy, the actual Sheriff at lunch today.  He tried to explain the laws about hauling things and even printed out the laws the cover it for me......

not good news.

Under Oregon Vehicle Code 818.080 there is a table that explains it (poorly).

Apparently in Oregon, while using a vehicle by itself (no trailer) the maximum length you can extend past your rear axle is equal to 3/4 or the distance of your wheel base.

What does this mean?  if you have a wheel base of 10ft. your load can only extend 7.5ft past the axle of your vehicle.  I think I'm a little over that but will need to measure once i get home. if you are pulling a trailer the law is way different. 

This isn't the news I was hoping to get.  I might end up having to put the Yak on top of the truck or pulling an f'n trailer anyways.... I'll need to find out.

What's the wheelbase of your rig??  Here's for my GMC:

" The short-bed had a 117.5-inch wheelbase and 6.5-foot bed. Long-bed trucks rode a 131.5-inch wheelbase with 8-foot bed. Extended-cab models had a 141.5-inch wheelbase with 6.5-foot bed, or a 155.5-inch wheelbase with 8-foot bed.   "

  I've got an extend-a-bed with my GMC, which is a 2500 with 8 foot bed. MY Hobie Adventiue sticks out about 8 feet from the taillights. Was overtaken and  passed by the sheriiff, he never gave me a second  look, and I did not have a red flag.
Maybe I was just lucky!  I live only 1.5 miles from the beach, though, and it's pretty much rural secondary street.

I believe the truck extender you have was designed to be used upright as well.  Just add a kayak rack to the forward end of your truck cap, at the same height as your truck extender sticking straight up.  You only have to lift one end of the kayak at a time.

  Calculated Risk..

 On both of my trucks my kayaks stick out past the bumper/tailgate more than 4'.short bed or long bed it doesn't matter.
  We/I guess that I just take that chance that a law enforcement person is not so bored or pissed that he would ticket me for having an "illegal" cargo.But you never know---that person could be out there.........

  Those extenders are a nice way to go .

My kayak sticks out about 4.5 feet beyond the lowered tailgate, so I just run a couple of thumbcam cargo straps up to the upper bed tie-downs to the end of the kayak (which provides plenty of support...finished off by a couple of big bungees going around the mid-point of the kayak to prevent any sideways movement).....and loop one of those reflective bright colored construction vests through the kayak end handle.  I've traveled many of hundreds of miles, sometimes with all sorts of police behind me, and never a problem.

I throw my outback in the bed of me tundra double cab. I leave a red handkerchief tied to the rear handle.  I tuck it under the keel holder while on the water. The laws about overhang past the rear axle apply to commercially licensed trucks - not my passenger vehicles.  I do not believe there is a restriction on passenger vehicles unless you were considered reckless. Take this with a grain of salt since I am not speaking in any official capacity. I do not even play a lawyer or police officer on tv

I throw my outback in the bed of me tundra double cab. I leave a red handkerchief tied to the rear handle.  I tuck it under the keel holder while on the water. The laws about overhang past the rear axle apply to commercially licensed trucks - not my passenger vehicles.  I do not believe there is a restriction on passenger vehicles unless you were considered reckless. Take this with a grain of salt since I am not speaking in any official capacity. I do not even play a lawyer or police officer on tv

It varies from state to state.  Here in Washington they can cite you if it extends more than 4 ft beyond the back of the vehicle (even non-commercial) and you don't have a red flag of a certain total square inch minimum.  I don't think most cops care as long as you have something bright back there.  I worry more about some inattentive dipshit pulling up too close behind me, smashing my kayak into the front of his radiator.

Sorry if I was not clear. I was only referring to the axle stuff. I am a under 4 ft from the rear of my tailgate but I still proudly fly the red flag. I think it only makes sense.

The law and rules are so obscure that I don't know it the average police would know it by heart anyways.  I think I'll just continue to use it as is but add a flag.

I think I'm about 1.5ft beyond the limit though.  My back hurts just thinking about getting the Yak to the top of the truck....