Lights for transporting yak in truck bed

[Mongo Johnson]

Humbly offered:

I've had a couple yaks in my bed with flags with no trouble for the last 2 years. But I've heard of night tickets and expect I'll get a set of lights soon. I've got the trailer plug on the truck.

I suppose it's better to not tempt CVC fate on an otherwise fun trip to/from the sea . . . and considering distracted drivers too . . . and in a bender, not having lights might be a liability issue.

But, I've not seen the need for a bed extender. The 13' Revo sits stable in the bed/tailgate with a bow line and 2nd line run through the rear scuppers. I don't over cinch the cam locks. I use 3" pool noodles under the boats so the rough Line-X bed liner doesn't scuff up the hulls. Seems to keep everything snugged and not slipping but not over stressed. (I might add a third line across the boats/tailgate on a long trip.)

California V C Section 24604 Lamp or Flag on Projections
Lamp or Flag on Projections

24604. Whenever the load upon any vehicle extends, or whenever any integral part of any vehicle projects, to the rear four feet or more beyond the rear of the vehicle, as measured from the taillamps, there shall be displayed at the extreme end of the load or projecting part of the vehicle during darkness, in addition to the required taillamp, two red lights with a bulb rated not in excess of six candlepower plainly visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the sides and rear.

At any other time there shall be displayed at the extreme end of the load or projecting part of the vehicle a solid red or fluorescent orange flag or cloth not less than 12 inches square.

Amended Sec. 18, Ch. 828, Stats. 1998. Effective January 1, 1999.
Amended Sec. 28, Ch. 1035, Stats. 2000. Effective January 1, 2001.

V C Section 35410 Projections to the Rear

Projections to the Rear

35410. The load upon any motor vehicle alone or an independent load only upon a trailer or semitrailer shall not extend to the rear beyond the last point of support for a greater distance than that equal to two-thirds of the length of the wheelbase of the vehicle carrying such load, except that the wheelbase of a semitrailer shall be considered as the distance between the rearmost axle of the towing vehicle and the rearmost axle of the semitrailer.

Rough calculations for an 2005 F250 crew cab wheelbase 156.2” = 13.2’

2/3 of 156.2” = 102.96” = 8’ 5” is the rough distance I can extend a projection (yak tail)
(156 X .66 = 102’)

Revo is 13’ 5”= 161”

Bed length 6’ 9” . . . bumper . . .

Roughly, 6 feet of yak is sticking out, so I suppose I'm OK with flag/lights rigged.

[Mongo Johnson]

I'd welcome and links to a decent, durable light kit that I can put on the yak projection.

[Raskal311]

Two $5each bike light zipped zipped tied to the back of the yak.

Done deal.

I was going to wire up a harbor freight kit awhile back but since I would only need it once or twice a year i figured it wasn't worth the trouble.

[StinkyMatt]

I forgot....


I did use a red glow stick for a while....until my kid stole it from me.

[GR6RR]

lol i quoted! woohoo! kidding.

Update to my case. I beat it. Didn't have to pay a cent. I got a 2nd violation on the same ticket for following too closely to the car in front. (tail gating in car pool lane.) can't really call it tail gating when traffic was less than 20 mph....

Judge dismissed both charges.. It was day time and I had a flag. Night time I would've got into trouble being I didn't have any lights.

I pass by cops many times, only that one time I got pulled over... dude even pulled out one of those ruler wheels thing to measure. But I'm just happy I didn't have to pay anything. Would have been an expensive lobster trip....

[Iceman]

I have been lucky, never looked at in 15 years of throwing kayaks in the bed. Most of the time without a red flag.

Good thing I did not catch a fish this time at LJ, it would have been riding in the passenger seat

[ful-rac]

HOLY CRAP ICEMAN!!!

That can't be legal....?