Abstract: A retractable load carrier for the cantilever support of loads from the rear of a vehicle, consisting of a pair of spaced-apart, elongated channel supports, disposed from the rear of the vehicle in the direction of travel. Each support consists of a plurality of elongated, hollow, rigid channels which nest one within the other, and are supported on a pair of brackets which are mounted within the rear of the vehicle. The brackets are detachably secured to flanges, which are bolted to the frame of the car. The individual channels can be telescoped outwardly, so that when fully extended, either shear pins or snaps will prevent adjacent channels from becoming disengaged. Lamps can be disposed either on the channels or the channels can be provided inside the vehicle behind each of the taillights, so that the taillights can be pulled out, thereby pulling out the channels.