The short answer
For the four states currently verified by Overhangers, Texas has a standard four-foot rear maximum unless another law permits the load; North Carolina generally allows up to 14 feet beyond the bed or body; Washington measures its 15-foot maximum from the center of the last axle; and California generally uses two-thirds of wheelbase beyond the last point of support. Each rule has separate limitations and exceptions.
A common four-foot figure often tells you when a flag, lamp or reflector is required. It is not automatic permission to carry the load and it is not a nationwide maximum.
Measure two different lengths
For a straight, horizontal load aligned with the bed's front wall, physical unsupported length is cargo length minus bed-floor length minus the total additional rearward support reach. Count overlapping tailgate and extender reach only once. Legal rear projection is measured from the point named by the state rule to the end of the load. The two numbers can differ.
- Measure the cargo and every support surface in the loaded position.
- Find the state's legal reference point before measuring rear projection.
- Select daylight or nighttime because the boundary and equipment can change.
- Treat axle, wheelbase, total length, special cargo and permits as manual checks.
Cargo type can change the review
A kayak, ladder, lumber bundle, canoe or pipe can all be a projecting load, but specialized cargo, commercial use, unusual width and vehicle combinations can invoke additional provisions. Do not reuse a recreational-kayak result for poles, forestry products, utility work or commercial transport without checking the applicable exception and securement rules.
How far can lumber stick out of a truck bed?
Use the same state-specific process rather than treating four feet as a nationwide allowance. Measure the physical bed-floor support, open-tailgate or added support, total board length and the separate legal rear projection from the point named by the state rule.
A retail lumber bundle is not automatically covered by an exception written for poles, forestry products or another listed load. Confirm the exact cargo language, securement, total length, route and permit provisions before relying on an exception.
- Keep loose boards aligned and follow the vehicle, cargo and securement-equipment instructions.
- Check whether the projecting load blocks lamps, the license plate or the driver's rear view.
- Run the daylight and after-dark visibility checks separately.
What about a ladder extending behind a pickup?
A ladder still requires the state-defined rear-projection measurement and visibility check. Do not infer a legal distance from the ladder length or from how much of it rests on the tailgate. Confirm the ladder manufacturer's transport guidance, support span, rated tie-down points and every applicable vehicle limit.
Work through a 16 ft board example
Assume a board lies straight and horizontal with its front end at the front wall of a measured 6 ft 6 in bed. An open tailgate adds 2 ft of actual support. The calculation is 16 − 6.5 − 2 = 7.5 ft, or 7 ft 6 in beyond the last support.
That is not a recommended carrying arrangement. The legal projection must be measured from the state's origin, and the board's support and restraint need their own assessment. A long unsupported span may lead you to compare delivery, a suitable trailer or a rack arrangement instead of assuming a warning flag solves the trip.
This example fills physical dimensions only. The calculator's prefilled legal projection is an unrelated sample, not a measurement supplied by this example. Replace it with a measurement from the selected rule's origin.
Open the lumber measurement example →Unequal boards, ladders and pipes: find the furthest endpoint
A bundle can have several lengths and rear endpoints. Identify the item that projects furthest rearward and measure that endpoint from the legal origin. Do not average the lengths, and do not subtract shorter pieces from the longest projection. Recheck if the alignment changes.
| Cargo | Measurement detail | Separate transport question |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed-length lumber | Measure the furthest board, plus the bundle's widest point | How are individual pieces prevented from shifting or escaping? |
| Extension ladder | Use the length in its actual transport position | Are sections secured and supported as the ladder maker specifies? |
| Pipe bundle | Record the longest end and any side projection | How does the approved restraint arrangement prevent rolling and movement? |
Checks that still need human review
- The exact state and route
- The state-defined rear reference point
- Wheelbase, last axle and total length
- Cargo, commercial-use and permit exceptions
CHECK YOUR NUMBERS
Turn the measurements into a state-specific review.
Enter the physical support length and the state-defined legal projection separately. The result keeps marker rules, projection limits and manual checks distinct.
Measure my load →Continue planning the load
Read the covered state rules
Frequently asked questions
Can something hang four feet out of a truck bed?
Sometimes, but four feet is not a universal safe or legal allowance. The state may measure from somewhere other than the bed and may impose a separate maximum, marker requirement or exception review.
Do I measure from the tailgate or bumper?
Only if the applicable provision names that point. The verified rules on this site use several different origins, including the vehicle rear, bed or body, taillamps, last point of support and center of the last axle.
What if I drive through more than one state?
Check every state on the route and plan for the most restrictive applicable setup. Overhangers does not yet provide a multi-state route determination.
OFFICIAL SOURCES
Rule information was last checked on Sep 8, 2026. Official pages control if this guide and the current law differ.
California Vehicle Code § 24604 · flags and lights ↗California Vehicle Code § 35410 · rear projection ↗Texas DPS · Extended Loads ↗Texas Transportation Code § 621.206 ↗Texas Transportation Code § 547.382 ↗Texas Transportation Code § 547.302 · lighting times ↗N.C. General Statutes § 20-117 ↗N.C. General Statutes § 20-116 · dimensions and loading ↗Washington RCW 46.37.140 ↗Washington RCW 46.44.034 ↗Washington RCW 46.37.020 · lighting times ↗