Hitch Basket

[markdrm1]

Thinking about buying a hitch mounted cargo carrier or a hitch basket. Does anyone have any good or bad experience with any of these? I like the idea of the fold type but im wondering if the non-folding may be more stable. Anyone?

 

[Dr Gil]

Here's what I haveHitch Racks | Hitch Rack | Hitch Mount Rack | Hitch Cargo Rack



I love it. I've had it for well over 5 years. Very durable. I think it can hold 200lbs. So cool to have it swing out of the way. Fits just perfect when the tailgate is open.

 

[Itchy Sides]

I can't speak of the folding ones, swing-outs, etc., but those would seem like practical options if they are sturdy.

We have one of these: 20x48 Cargo Carrier Fits 1-1/4" Trailer Hitch Receiver Hitch Draw-Tite Hitch Cargo Carrier 6500 that we've put on our lowered Passat wagon (only) and it's been fine for road-only trips. Super simple and sturdy. I reckon I'd consider using it with our 80 since it does rest higher than the hitch, though it would kill that departure angle.

 

[hkeller]

I had an expensive steel one. It weighed a ton! I bought a cheap aluminum one at Harbor Freight and love it. Whatever you buy, make sure it is aluminum.

 

[cody c]

I have a non folding one and it rattles a bit, it works fine but has a bit of slop from the play between the basket and reciever hitch.

If rattle is a concern, I would suggest running a couple tie downs off the ends to your frame or tow points.

Though now that I have a swingout it has interference problems.

 

[Jetboy]

Have you ever driven with one? If you put 200lbs or something like that in one, you can really feel it back there. I don't like the feel of a rear basket, especially when cornering at higher speeds. I can't accurately describe it, but I'd take 2,000lbs of trailer over 200 lbs of rear basket any day.

I do see people with them, and some people like em. I'm not a big fan.

If you have a buddy with one, try it out before you buy one to see if it's acceptable to you.

Good luck.

 

[e9999]

I have one.
Practically never use it.
Not very suitable for off-road besides graded dirt roads.
The few times I could have put it to good use for bigger things I didn't want to put inside or on the roof or in the trailer, the rear spare tire was in the way.

 

[Mace]

I have one that I got at SEMA a couple of years back. It has a bit of a jog to it so it does not drag at all.

I think HF sells them as ATV racks.

 

[Trollhole]

I use mine all the time. Mine is extra heavy duty. It will hold 1000 lbs easy. I had almost a whole pallet of bricks on it at one time. The vehicle and safety are the limiting factor not the carrier. I would never screw with one of those expanded metal ones. I've wheeled with it on the 40 before and had no problems dragging it over rocks. It's heavy but I have no problem with taking it on and off. Weighs maybe 80-90 lbs.

 

[SWITAWI]

Thinking about buying a hitch mounted cargo carrier or a hitch basket. Does anyone have any good or bad experience with any of these? I like the idea of the fold type but im wondering if the non-folding may be more stable. Anyone?

Everybody has different needs and therefore will give you a different answer or opinion. None of those are wrong because what they have works for them. You will be best served by considering how hard and how often you will use a hitch carrier before you commit yourself to buying one.

I have had a very good experience with the ROLA 59502. It is a heavy duty (+60lbs) steel unit with spots for trailer lights and to relocate your license plate when it get s covered up by a load. It has a 2" rise so I've never had it drag the ground on pavement. I use a Hitch-Vise to keep it from moving around too much. I love it because it works for my needs.



I definitely agree about the statement that you can feel a couple-hundred pound load back there, because you can. No vehicle (except maybe a 1-ton dually pickup) is immune to that weight so far off the vehicle's center of gravity. And yes, I would also rather have several tons of trailer behind me (with only a couple hundred pounds of tongue weight at the hitch) than 500-600lb on my cargo carrier on my still-stock suspension. It is what it is, and a hitch carrier is no replacement for a pickup bed or a trailer. Just figure what works for your needs and don't go overboard. Stay safe and don't get in a bind.

 

[Tools R Us]

Be careful of how you load it in relationship to the exhaust. One of the local forest fires this year was caused by the exhaust catching cargo in one of these on fire, the motorist tossed burning stuff off, starting the forest fire. Another local melted a big hole in his cooler.

 

[Trollhole]

Be careful of how you load it in relationship to the exhaust. One of the local forest fires this year was caused by the exhaust catching cargo in one of these on fire, the motorist tossed burning stuff off, starting the forest fire. Another local melted a big hole in his cooler.

Yeah one more reason not to have dual exhaust out the back. Another bad point about them is if you carry anything on them in the rain expect everything to be filthy upon arrival.

 

[SWITAWI]

Yeah one more reason not to have dual exhaust out the back. Another bad point about them is if you carry anything on them in the rain expect everything to be filthy upon arrival.

x2. Another good reason to have one with a raised basket. No exhaust issues with mine. And when the weather's iffy don't put anything back there that you're worried about keeping pristine. Road scum from a couple hours on the wet highway run will completely coat everything that's not well-covered, just like the upright back window of every SUV/Minivan. Things on a roof rack 'just' get wet in comparison. I have considered buying a large cargo bag, but mostly I just carry coolers, Action Packers, and other things that I already don't mind leaving out in the rain at a campsite. Basically it's for overflow (I like to see out my back window), and for any dirty/grimy/bloody/oversized things I don't want in the cabin. I do in fact have a small 4'x7' trailer, but my apartment complex gets cranky about me keeping it there so this is waaaay more convenient at a moment's notice.

 

[Bogo]

Yeah one more reason not to have dual exhaust out the back. Another bad point about them is if you carry anything on them in the rain expect everything to be filthy upon arrival.

Heck, just driving down my road when it's dry will do that.