Utility Cycling - width of the rear rack/deck?

i'm playing with a cargo bike idea and have a chance at some material for the rear deck that there's some extra of at work. there's only enough to try it once so i'm wondering how wide (about) they are. i was thinking about 8" but after measuring a couple of normal racks they were about 5.5" wide. seems like wider would be better, up to a point at least.

could i get a couple of measurements if anyones willing? thanks.

Rear racks with sole intention of just panniers don't necessarily need to be very wide for they're purpose. Some the light weight racks are only 2" wide. More standard racks are made a width that seemed necessarily to accommodate a trunk bag. After that you get into more the Utility based cargo racks that are much wider to where strapping down boxes or other stuff is made easier.

My rack on my Redline R530 is 6.5" at the back and 6" at the front. It is a copy of a dutch style city rack. My Jandd's are 6" wide the full length of them.

Aaron :)

thanks. i went with 8". it was as wide as i could get out of the scrap piece and i figured i could cut it down more if i want. better than cutting it narrow and wishing i hadn't. i do most of my builds on freakbike nation (or starts of builds anyway. i've got project add), but if i get further along i'll post a pic over here. thanks again.