The 60% overhang law refers to regulations limiting the rear overhang of vehicles. Here are the key points about this law and how it relates to Rola vertical bike racks:
1. The 60% overhang rule states that the rear overhang of a vehicle must not exceed the lesser of:
- 60% of the vehicle's wheelbase, or
- 3.7 meters
2. The rear overhang is measured from the centre of the rear axle to the extreme rear of the vehicle, including any load or attachments.
3. This law applies to most vehicles, including cars with bike racks attached.
4. For Rola vertical bike racks:
- When installed on a vehicle, the bike rack and bikes become part of the vehicle's rear overhang.
- The total overhang (including the rack and bikes) must comply with the 60% rule.
5. Compliance depends on:
- The vehicle's wheelbase
- The length of the bike rack when extended
- The size of the bikes being carried
6. Smaller vehicles with shorter wheelbases may be more likely to exceed the 60% limit when carrying multiple bikes.
7. While the law was originally designed to limit vehicle design, it is now applied to temporary attachments like bike racks as well.
8. Exceeding this limit could potentially result in legal issues, as the vehicle would not meet required specifications.
To ensure compliance when using a Rola vertical bike rack, you should:
- Measure your vehicle's wheelbase
- Calculate 60% of the wheelbase
- Measure the total overhang with the rack installed and bikes loaded
- Ensure the overhang does not exceed either 60% of the wheelbase or 3.7 meters