Haulin' LONG stuff - What Markers?
03-03-2019, 06:50 AM
#11
Senior Member
With the tailgate down 8' 2X4's only extend 3". With the tailgate up only about 2' and will be above any vehicle behind you. Anyone would hit your trucks bumper and never hit the boards. I wouldn't worry about an external brake light until I started hauling stuff 12' or longer. The legal purpose of attaching a red marker, or light to a load is to prevent it from going through the windshield of a car that rear ends you. It isn't any more problem to haul lumber or kayaks up to 12' in the 5.5' bed than an 8' bed. Longer than that and the 8' bed helps. The 6.5' bed isn't enough longer than 5.5' to matter.
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Ur Lzn (03-03-2019)
03-04-2019, 09:52 AM
#12
Senior Member
The few times that I've had to haul long stuff in my truck I've simply tied or duct-taped the little battery-operated red flashing light from the rear of my bicycle. Not sure if this is strictly DOT legal but admittedly the Orange store is only a couple of blocks away 
03-07-2019, 12:35 PM
#13
Senior Member
Long is Relative
I have a Super Cab with the 8' box. On more than one occasion I've found that I can fit 16' aluminum angle. I have a cap, and it will fit inside with the rear sliders open. There's about an inch or so of clearance before it hit's the windshield, so this won't work with larger objects but worked fine for the size I got.
03-07-2019, 12:37 PM
#14
Senior Member
it's not legal, but not exactly illegal, either. I think a cop might say using a bike blinky can confuse other drivers, and may make you remove it, but I don't think it will result in a ticket as long as you have the required red cloth attached.
Unless it's after dark, when rear and side markers would be required. Still not exactly legal, but mounting trailer lights that have rear and side visibility to the rearmost area of the lumber might keep you out of trouble.
Whatever your state's limit for things beyond the bumper, doesn't matter if it's flat in the bed or 6ft in the air, you have to flag if you exceed that limit, because cab-overs are a thing. 13.5ft height for semis, IIRC, more for those with wind deflectors. Garbage trucks are lower, but still up there.
Unless it's after dark, when rear and side markers would be required. Still not exactly legal, but mounting trailer lights that have rear and side visibility to the rearmost area of the lumber might keep you out of trouble.
Whatever your state's limit for things beyond the bumper, doesn't matter if it's flat in the bed or 6ft in the air, you have to flag if you exceed that limit, because cab-overs are a thing. 13.5ft height for semis, IIRC, more for those with wind deflectors. Garbage trucks are lower, but still up there.
Last edited by Flamingtaco; 03-08-2019 at 11:58 AM.
