Hi, if I buy a Sportrac, it'll hold my YZ straight in but radius of rear wheel will stick out PAST the lowered tailgate. So, I can't even use a bed extender because it must sit on the footprint of the tailgate. I think the police would love to target this but am unsure of laws. Over the past months I've asked police, called police stations and even asked a lawyer - got very conflicting answers meaning yes I can be ticketed EVEN IF it's legal because no one seems to know, and I'm not sure anyway if it is. Any ideas short of choosing different truck?
Thanks all.

Here in Wash State, we just tie a red flag on anything that sticks out past the bumper and we're legal.

Cant you just kick the rear end out diagnoly? That should fit all the way in.

Try putting the front wheel in the front corner of the bed(let's say, driver-side) and pull it down straight. Now, pull the back-end of the bike to the passenger side so that the bike is "Diagonal" in the bed. You may need to pull the left tie-down a little more to make the bike secure. The bike should not be portruding out the back as much as when it's straight in.

Good luck,

Manny

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Exactly what I meant. Thanks

Thanks but maybe I should have stressed the word STRAIGHT IN. I carry one bike now easily on the back of my Bronco's bumper but the purpose of a four door pickup for me is to carry two bikes and passengers. Diagonal is probably ok but I need the option of straight in. I'll probably end up buying a 4 door Frontier - it's long bed is quite nice even though the truck itself is not too comfortable. Anyway I was wondering if anyone knoew NY laws regarding an open tailgate, no extender. Maybe just a net across the back is ok????????????? Thanks.

NYSP here. Without actually consulting the 2003 Vehicle and Traffic handbook, my experience tells me that any item extending beyond the rear of the vehicle by more than 4 feet must have a red flag attached. It wouldn't hurt to tie one on the rear regardless; that way you're giving traffic a heads-up about the additional length.

I know Darryl721 uses a sporttrac to carry 2 bikes. He posted a few pics of it a while ago--Here's one:


I seriously doubt you'd have a problem. That'd be really obnoxious of the cop to give you a ticket for that, assuming everything is tied down and nothing can fly out.

I have a Ranger with a 6 foot bed, and no bed extender. I couldn't see spending $300 on one, but I did spend $20 on a cheapo tailgate net. Now I can put my bike (or bikes) in straight with the tailgate down and wrap the net around the rear tires and still load up the bed with stuff without the worry that'll it'll slide out.

Thanks. That's food for thought. I had thought about using a net but couldn't see wrapping it around the tires - I want to avoid hassle - just load, tiedown and go. If there's no law against having tailgate open, that pretty much settles the issue.

I picked up a Sport Trac when they first came out. I carried 2 bikes in it every weekend for a year. Had no problems with the law, tail lights are clearly visible. I even drove it to "Kalifornia" and had no problems . I don't think you will have any problems.

Ride On!