Driving with tailgate down
5 Year Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 9,099
Likes: 3,211
From: Kentucky
Do NOT put a load of 12ft boards in your 6.5' bed, or 10ft in your 5.5' bed. Boards will bow when not supported at the ends and place pressure on your tailgate that exceeds it's rating. When hauling a significant load of wood, even if the load stops at the end of the tailgate, there can be a heavy load on the gate. Get the DG supports or a hitch extender if you are going to load a lot of material over the gate.
"Most states" echo 393.87, for non-commercial vehicles. Although the reg is for commercial vehicles, it makes sense that we'd follow the same rules with private vehicles, as these are just common sense rules.
It is not illegal to carry a load in a bed that extends more than a few feet past the tailgate.... you are permitted three feet beyond the front of the vehicle, four inches beyond the sides, and four feet beyond the rear of the vehicle (that being the bumper, not the lowered tailgate) BEFORE proper marking is required.
What IS illegal is exceeding these limits without proper marking:
Proper marking is an 18" square orange or red flag if the load width does not exceed 2', two flags at the edges of the load when it does (day use only), or two red lights to the rear at the edges of the load, and a red reflector to each side (day or night). The lights must be lit during the daytime if no flags are present. 6 candlepower minimum requirement for said lights. Good luck finding a light rated in candlepower that's not for spotlighting deer at night (which is also illegal).
"Most states" echo 393.87, for non-commercial vehicles. Although the reg is for commercial vehicles, it makes sense that we'd follow the same rules with private vehicles, as these are just common sense rules.
It is not illegal to carry a load in a bed that extends more than a few feet past the tailgate.... you are permitted three feet beyond the front of the vehicle, four inches beyond the sides, and four feet beyond the rear of the vehicle (that being the bumper, not the lowered tailgate) BEFORE proper marking is required.
What IS illegal is exceeding these limits without proper marking:
Proper marking is an 18" square orange or red flag if the load width does not exceed 2', two flags at the edges of the load when it does (day use only), or two red lights to the rear at the edges of the load, and a red reflector to each side (day or night). The lights must be lit during the daytime if no flags are present. 6 candlepower minimum requirement for said lights. Good luck finding a light rated in candlepower that's not for spotlighting deer at night (which is also illegal).
5 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 13,851
Likes: 2,739
5 Year Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 9,099
Likes: 3,211
From: Kentucky
Ya'll need to switch to tires that don't throw rocks!
Seriously, the tailgate is partially in line with the rear of the contact patch of the tires. If you leave it down and your tires throw sizeable debris, you're going to get paint damage, it's just a matter of time. If you're worried about doing truck things with your truck, there are a billion brands of pain protection film available for your tailgate protecting pleasure. Or Line-X.
Seriously, the tailgate is partially in line with the rear of the contact patch of the tires. If you leave it down and your tires throw sizeable debris, you're going to get paint damage, it's just a matter of time. If you're worried about doing truck things with your truck, there are a billion brands of pain protection film available for your tailgate protecting pleasure. Or Line-X.