Loads on Roof Racks by James Fitness

The bare facts are;

New Zealand Regulations on overhanging loads;

If a load extends more than one metre beyond the front or rear, or 200mm beyond the sides of your vehicle, during daylight you must attach:

• flags (coloured white or fluorescent red, orange or yellow, at least 400 mm long by 300 mm wide)

or

• standard hazard warning panels (coloured yellow/green with an orange stripe, at least 400 mm long by 300 mm wide).

During the hours of darkness, you must have lights on the load visible in clear weather for at least 200 metres:

• at the rear and facing backward, coloured red (if the load extends sideways or to the rear)
• at the front and facing forward, coloured white or amber (if the load extends sideways or forwards)

 

Suggestions

• Before you buy a roof rack, check the weight your vehicle can safely carry on its roof. (Look in the vehicle’s manual) Check the roof rack’s safe load. Consult your roof rack specialist to find the system which best suits your vehicle and the accessories needed for your specific load.
• While weight may be a problem, bulkiness and length are also very likely to cause trouble.
• When a load overhangs, and regardless of the accessories used to mount it, you must tie the load to the front and rear of the car to prevent the load from lifting in the wind. There is huge leverage at the end of a load which could well rip your roof rack off! And no, this will not be covered by warranty.
• The normal spacing of roof racks is about 700mm. Any further apart and your load may touch the roof between the bars.
• The accessories you’ll need will depend on the type of load to be carried.
• If you are carrying composite kayaks, for example, you should invariably use a set of kayak cradles. These 4 pads hold the kayak firmly in place without the need to over-tighten the load straps and cause compression cracks. There is often space on the roof rack to fit two cradles alongside each other for two kayaks, or to hold one kayak and a box and bike carrier for the multisporters.

Obviously, the more you have on your roof, the sturdier the straps will need to be.  Bungy cords are NEVER substantial enough.

 

Remember that ...

• the more weight on the roof, the less weight can be carried inside your vehicle
• roof racks increase wind resistance and buffeting
• you may need to travel more slowly and your vehicle will use more fuel.