I was speaking with someone that sold Rhino Racks recently and they told me that the longest bar I can use on my vehicle is the 59" Vortex Bar. Unfortunately, 59" bar isn't long enough for what we need. The 79" bar would better suit our needs, offering us a lot more versatility as our plans evolved. When I asked why, they couldn't really answer the question. They gave me a number to speak with someone at Rhino Rack, but their customer service didn't know either. I assume its because the extra 10" on each side will act like a lever, creating greater forces on the tower/cap/cab than what was intended. When speaking with Rhino Rack and from what I've read, their bars can hold a substantial amount of weight. Far more than the 300lb's my shell is rated for. Has anyone installed a longer bar than what was spec'd for their vehicle and did you have any issues? We'd be mounting a batwing to the edge of one side and most likely a kayak or gear box will be hanging out on the other.
How long of a cross bar can you go on a roof rack?
- Thread starter Pilotamis
- Start date
tatanka48
Active member
the company's answer IMHO is directly related to liabiity in case someone hits an object in passing or someone hits their head while walking by the vehicle
i have 72" wooden x-bars on my Cherokee(the same as the distance from tip > tip of my mirrors) and yes someone has hit his head on them and yes i have slapped the tar out of some limbs as i drove by
BUTT i can carry 2 full sized canoes side by side on them
i might suggest considering the width of the vehicle and making them no wider than the distance tip > tip of your side view mirrors which will keep you from snaging on something you get really close to
T
i have 72" wooden x-bars on my Cherokee(the same as the distance from tip > tip of my mirrors) and yes someone has hit his head on them and yes i have slapped the tar out of some limbs as i drove by
BUTT i can carry 2 full sized canoes side by side on them
i might suggest considering the width of the vehicle and making them no wider than the distance tip > tip of your side view mirrors which will keep you from snaging on something you get really close to
T
Agreed on the liability comment. My initial thought is that you can go as wide as the width limits for a vehicle in your state. Drivability will suffer, for the reasons already mentioned, and noise, but it will work.
Realistically, I personally wouldn’t go more than 3-4” wider than each side of the roof.
Realistically, I personally wouldn’t go more than 3-4” wider than each side of the roof.
DaveInDenver
Middle Income Semi-Redneck
FWIW, in Colorado (only as it applies to me, but as example) the law is:
"No passenger-type vehicle, except a motorcycle, a bicycle, or an electrical assisted bicycle shall be operated on any highway with any load carried thereon extending beyond the line of the fenders on the left side of such vehicle nor extending more than six inches beyond the line of the fenders on the right side thereof. Any person who violates this section commits a class B traffic infraction."
Elsewhere it says:
(1) The total outside width of any vehicle or the load thereon shall not exceed eight feet six inches, except as otherwise provided in this section.
...
(5)(a) The total outside width of vehicles as included in this section shall not be construed so as to prohibit the projection beyond such width of clearance lights, rearview mirrors, or other accessories required by federal, state, or city laws or regulations.
(b) The width requirements imposed by subsection (1) of this section shall not include appurtenances on recreational vehicles, including but not limited to motor homes, travel trailers, fifth wheel trailers, camping trailers, recreational park trailers, multipurpose trailers, and truck campers, all as defined in section 24-32-902, C.R.S., so long as such recreational vehicle, including such appurtenances, does not exceed a total outside width of nine feet six inches.
(6) Any person who violates any provision of this section commits a class B traffic infraction."
So it seems to me load bars can only be 6 inches wider than your truck or camper shell width. Now that said, I see people with very wide roof rack bars all the time and I'm not aware of it being a highly enforced rule. Around where I live you see river rafts on top of trucks riding on 78" and 86" long Yakima bars the extend a foot beyond the edge on each side.
"No passenger-type vehicle, except a motorcycle, a bicycle, or an electrical assisted bicycle shall be operated on any highway with any load carried thereon extending beyond the line of the fenders on the left side of such vehicle nor extending more than six inches beyond the line of the fenders on the right side thereof. Any person who violates this section commits a class B traffic infraction."
Elsewhere it says:
(1) The total outside width of any vehicle or the load thereon shall not exceed eight feet six inches, except as otherwise provided in this section.
...
(5)(a) The total outside width of vehicles as included in this section shall not be construed so as to prohibit the projection beyond such width of clearance lights, rearview mirrors, or other accessories required by federal, state, or city laws or regulations.
(b) The width requirements imposed by subsection (1) of this section shall not include appurtenances on recreational vehicles, including but not limited to motor homes, travel trailers, fifth wheel trailers, camping trailers, recreational park trailers, multipurpose trailers, and truck campers, all as defined in section 24-32-902, C.R.S., so long as such recreational vehicle, including such appurtenances, does not exceed a total outside width of nine feet six inches.
(6) Any person who violates any provision of this section commits a class B traffic infraction."
So it seems to me load bars can only be 6 inches wider than your truck or camper shell width. Now that said, I see people with very wide roof rack bars all the time and I'm not aware of it being a highly enforced rule. Around where I live you see river rafts on top of trucks riding on 78" and 86" long Yakima bars the extend a foot beyond the edge on each side.
Ducky's Dad
Explorer
There is a reason that Yakima sells their heavy duty bars in only one length, 86". Use them at 86" or cut to whatever you need for your vehicle.
jeep-N-montero
Expedition Leader
My common sense answer would be, "as long as you can get without tearing it off by hitting a branch or other obstacle", pretty simple logic but works!
slowtwitch
Adventurer
The Yakima 86" bars are sweet. They also substantially thicker wall than all other Yak bars. I've loaded mine up not only with canoes in heavy winds, but also used them as a stop gap lumber rack and have hauled some heavy stuff. A good tip is to put an Al ladder across them if carrying long/heavy materials like 16' lumber, etc. This is all on an old second hand Glasstite fiberglass shell with bolt on gutters.