I drive a small Mazda2 and just went out to measure what 2.5 metres looks like on the roof... it sticks out a fair bit on both the front and the back of the car. Does anybody know what the law is regarding this? Is it unlikely carrying a windsurf board would break the law? How do you guys secure and transport your gear?
Now I need to find a roof rack!
No rules as far as I know. If the overhang is too much get some red or yellow cloth and tie it to the back so someone driving behind can more easily see the produding board or mast or whatever. Builders and tradesmen often do this and to my knowledge none have ever been pulled up by the police for having a dangerous load.
Does the Mazda 2 have roof rails? If not you may have to get racks riveted to the roof. I did this for a Mitsubishi Mirage I owned with Rhino roof racks. It's permanent but worked out well.
If you really enjoy windsurfing there is only one vehicle for you, a van.....
That's interesting, the addition of a trailer doesn't allow for a greater overhang on the towing vehicle.
Have to check and see if the same applies in south aus.
Oh, so it looks like it would be fine, thanks. Basically it will stick out just a tiny bit (maybe 20-30cm) from the roof on the back, but not from the rear of the car itself (i.e. beyond the bumper). It will also stick out 70cm or so on the front, but overhanding the windscreen, not the road.
My car does have rails for fixing a roof rack to, yep. You can buy a roof rack that goes on and comes off without marking the vehicle.
www.qld.gov.au/transport/vehicle-safety/transporting-loads/projecting-loads
The above is a link to a PDF with the QLD Laws. I learnt a few new things I could have been getting in trouble for.
