Legal limits for strapping longboards to a rented Tuk Tuk roof rack
4 Answers from travellers
According to Sri Lankan Motor Traffic regulations, cargo on the roof of a three-wheeler cannot protrude more than 1 meter beyond the front or rear chassis of the vehicle, and it must not obscure the driver’s vision or the rear brake lights. A 9-foot longboard on a standard Bajaj RE tuk-tuk usually pushes this absolute legal limit. You must tie a bright red cloth or flag to the back tip of the boards.
I strap my 9-foot log to my rental tuk-tuk all the time. The trick is to position it so the bulk of the overhang is at the back, not over the front windshield. If it hangs too far over the front, the wind catches it at 40km/h and lifts the front wheel of the tuk-tuk up!
Make sure you rent a tuk-tuk that has a proper, welded metal roof rack. Do not try to strap longboards directly to the soft canvas roof, or you will crush the frame and lose your security deposit.
If you drive through Matara town with boards overhanging without a red flag, the traffic police will definitely pull you over. Always carry heavy-duty ratchet straps, not just bungee cords.
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