A warning about hitch carriers (2 Viewers)

[Mauser]

I'm sure most of you that use a hitch carrier basket thing know this, but I am trying to warn those that don't.

If you use one be sure that everything is kept away from the exhaust.

On Saturday we left our home early in the morning headed to Florida for my son's wedding. We had loaded our luggage and 2 inflatable stand up paddleboards onto our hitch carrier. After about 2 hours into the trip a car pulled alongside me to let me know something was wrong, as soon as I got stopped I could see flames in the back window. I got out and everything was on fire. I was able to get all the burning stuff off the rack, so there wasnt much damage to the car, but we ended up losing all my wife and daughters clothes and both brand new paddleboards.

Learned a couple lessons, keep stuff away from exhaust, and carry a fire extinguisher always. If I would have had an extinguisher i wouldnt have second degree burns all over my hands.

 

[GXO]

I cut off my resonator near the turn and have it dump into the wheel well for just this reason (and I don't smash it on rocks).

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Wow. Thanks for sharing your story and a speedy recovery.

Sometimes we forget to check mods for safety and forget the reason why we need to carry fire extinguishers. Like thinking we won’t need it.

 

[GXer04]

Dan's idea about a turn down is optimal, but until then, I added a piece of metal as a heat shield on the right side of my carrier. Luckily for me, my learning experience only included dragging a suitcase with melted wheel through the airport. It's incredible how hot the exhaust is at idle, so I can only imagine the temp at around 2k rpm on the interstate.

 

[half k cruiser]

I can vouch for this as well. The wife and I were headed out to CO last summer with a basket on her GX. Made it about 20 miles into the Flint Hills when I see smoke rolling off the back of the rig. My $130 sleeping bag literally went up in smoke. I was so pissed I vowed to never use a hitch mate again. We have a trailer now !

 

[Bluetribal]

FYI the heat shield will still melt any plastic on the luggage. My wife drove from San Diego to LAX with a carrier full of luggage and one of our bags got a little melted. Also lost some hooks from the spider net.

Now my exhaust turns and comes out behind the rear tire so no more worries.

 

[stevezero]

I melted the imprint of the expanded metal basket into a cooler on a long road trip to the outer banks in my 80s series.

 

[Sleepy]

That is one reason I went with a Stow Away swing out. Very solid and mounts high. No heat/exhaust issues on 4,000 mile road trip through Southern Utah and Grand Canyon at the end of July. Plus I have a bike rack that mounts to it while keeping the basket on. Very useful.

 

[hatchtrikk]

Melted a corner of my Yeti on our first trip with it

 

[Travis 76]

Mine worked great, but it was in the middle of winter. I will defenately pay close attention to this. Thanks for the post

 

[Cannon88]

I use this higher mount carrier when needed. Keeps it up and away from the heat. Works fine, $50 from harbor freight.

 

[alia176]

I melted a camp dry food bin container and overheated two 1lb propane bottles inside it! I'm not sure why I stopped but sure glad I did. The propane bottles were simply hissing due to over pressurizing but if those relief valves weren't working, I'm not sure I'd still be here today.

 

[theferg]

I too melted a storage bin strapped to a hitch rack. On the back of my '05 LX470. Melted the bottom of it straight through all into the expanded metal of the hitch rack. I think I was carrying bottles of water in it at the time, iirc. No big deal. But, taught me what I wouldn't be doing next time. And then the next time I did need the hitch rack, I was kinda in a pinch so I ran out and bought one of these from HF and mounted the hitch rack up higher. Worked a treat other than sticking out another 6" or so to the rear.

Not sure this would work on the GX470 though with the back door...I'll try it out and report back.

Multi-Use Ball Mount and Hitch Receiver

 

[James C]

Wow I'm surprised by all the carnage in this thread!

I was also surprised that it only cost me $80 for a proper resonator delete:

Resonator delete

• James C
• Mar 5, 2018

Although our hitch rack is up high it still gave me peace of mind. Plus, like Dan said, harder to smash on rocks!

 

[Docwyte]

Wow I'm surprised by all the carnage in this thread!

I was also surprised that it only cost me $80 for a proper resonator delete:

Resonator delete

• James C
• Mar 5, 2018

What's the truck sound like with the resonator delete? Can you post a clip?

 

[James C]

Best I can do with a phone:


It's definitely a little throatier, but not even close to unreasonable. I think it's very pleasant.

 

[drnls]

I had mine turned down for trip this past summer.

 

[Docwyte]

I may do a turn down as well as I have a swing away for my bike rack and the exhaust is making that plenty hot....

 

[burtoncr]

Exhaust clamp and a 90 degree exhaust elbow has works for me.

 

[Jason S]

I had mine turned down for trip this past summer. View attachment 1816229

Is a turn down enough to keep the heat away?