Hitch Mounted Cargo Racks
What is The Best Hitch Mounted Cargo Carrier For You?
Welcome to our article on Hitch Mounted Cargo Racks.
When looking to pack up your vehicle for a road trip or vacation you may need the expanded cargo capacity to accommodate all of your belongings. Most people don’t want to sacrifice their seats for cargo space so a cargo rack may be the solution you are looking for. Particularly if a rooftop carry rack is not practicable or is already fully utilized.
A hitch-mounted cargo carrier can increase your vehicle’s carrying capacity by as much as three times and make your road trips easier by having your luggage at a more convenient height.
Hitch-mounted cargo carriers are towed using a receiver hitch located at the rear of your car, meaning that all of the gear you store on the cargo carrier sits at the back of your vehicle.
Some vehicles have receiver hitches pre-installed on them. Still, you can outfit it with an aftermarket offering if yours doesn’t.
How did we decide which is the best hitch cargo rack?
A good hitch cargo rack is great for carrying anything from outdoor sports to your dirty work boots and tools. They are versatile and tough, greatly expanding your stowage capacity. But versatility isn’t the only thing you should look for in a hitch-mount cargo carrier and this might have you thinking about which is the best hitch cargo rack for you.
No one wants to buy something and spend hours on customer care and return policies. We decided to pursue only the best cargo rack carrier manufacturers that are household names and known for their quality, practicality, and most importantly sturdy and solid construction. This doesn’t mean the hitch-mount cargo carriers on this list will be expensive. There is something for everyone on this list!
Taking into account product ratings and customer reviews with personal road trip experiences, we compiled this quick list that can help you decide which is the best hitch cargo rack for you.
5 reasons to buy a hitch cargo carrier
Minimal wind resistance: A key advantage of hitch-mounted cargo racks is that they perform well aerodynamically, which means they will not create wind resistance. This will help reduce gas consumption which is a huge benefit with escalating gas prices.
- No issues with overhead clearance: A hitch-mounted cargo carrier can comfortably go under places with low overhead clearance. Low overhead clearance is usually a no-go area for roof-mounted luggage carriers.
- Easy to load and unload: Hitch-mounted cargo carriers are easy to load and unload since they are attached to the rear of the vehicle. You won’t need to exert much effort or spend time loading or removing your cargo from the top of the car.
- Quick access: When you need something on your travels, you want to be able to get it quickly without much ado. A hitch-mounted carrier allows you to get to that piece of luggage or equipment effortlessly.
- If you are like most people who love to go on trips and pack a lot of gear, a hitch-mounted cargo carrier can help provide extra storage space for a variety of gear that may not fit into a luggage or cargo carrier. Also, you will find it more fuel efficient than a roof box.
Best Hitch Mount Cargo Carriers
Yakima Exo System SwingBase Cargo Rack, Exo GearWarrior Basket or Gear Cargo Box.
We’re starting our list with the Yakima Exo System. Yakima easily got the top spot with their Exo cargo rack carrier line.
This hitch-mount cargo carrier is for anyone looking for one purchase that will carry everything. Buying the Yakima Exo SwingBase and Exo GearWarrior will test the hip pocket, but you’ll never need to buy any rack or system again.
The Yakima Exo SwingBase is a versatile cargo rack designed to carry any gear from road and mountain bikes to hard case cargo boxes and cargo trays. The construction is rigid and it’s made from thick gauge steel to support all the hardware.
An anti-wobbling bolt and the hitch mount carrier ensured that the connection is secured by a clever design of two halves.
One is attached to your car and the other is part of the rack and holds your cargo. The second half can swing out of your way when accessing the trunk.
Designed so that the two arms are designed to hold any compatible rack like the Exo GearWarrior, and are easy to use and fold shut towards the rack giving a short profile when driving without any cargo.
The entire assembly is tool-free and has quick-release levers supported by anti-wobbling bolts for extra security. The Exo GearWarrior is a steel basket with cleats underneath, designed to slide onto the hitch mount rack.
Once in place, you can turn the speedknobs to create tension and hold the basket in place.
As the entire rack system is lockable you can carry up to 250 lbs of cargo with the Yakima Exo GearWarrior. On top of this, you can easily switch the basket with a hard case cargo box from Yakima.
Pros
- Sturdy and secure
- Powdered steel construction for corrosion resistance
- Lockable Assembly
- Tilts out of the way
- Versatile
- Folds shut when not in use
- Easy to install
- Supporting side rails to hold everything in place
Cons
- Expensive
- Versatility is limited to Yakima products
- Heavy
- Blocks license plate and lower tail lights
CURT Basket Hitch Cargo Carrier
Curt cargo carrier is a durable bar-design basket that can expand your stowage capacity many times over. The basket is made from tubular steel and can haul up to 300 lbs of cargo. The dimensions are 48” long x 20” wide and there is a 6” high encasement. The cargo basket can install to both 2” and 1 ¼” hitch receivers and installs using an anti-rattle bolt. There’s also a hitch pin for added safety.
The cargo basket is extremely sturdy and once installed correctly does not sway or have any play in the hitch. Curt added a few reflectors as a safety measure for night travel and this does not block your rearview camera or license plate. You can upgrade to a mesh on the base and a net around the basket to carry smaller items, but the 500 lb capacity is truly remarkable for carrying something huge. Similar upgrades can also get you angled shanks which place the basket high up from the exhaust heat and give a folding feature when idle.
Pros
- Easy to assemble
- Comes with rear reflectors
- Impressive 500 lbs load capacity
- Great for hauling things like lawnmowers or scooters
Cons
- Requires tools to assemble
- No folding capability
- No tilting capability (blocks trunk access with luggage loaded)
- The base model does not support many features
MaxxHaul 70107 53″ x 19-1/2″ Hitch Cargo Carrier
If you’re looking for something at an entry-level budget that is built for durability and has a simple design, MaxxHaul’s cargo carrier might do the job. This cargo carrier has one of the simplest assemblies which for the most part is just repetitive. The basket is an all-steel construction and has a powder-coated finish to resist corrosion. It’s fairly large with a 53” length and 19” width. The cargo carrier comes in a polished black finish and has a rated carrying capacity of 500 lbs. It only works with 2” hitch receivers and sits right at the exhaust, so make sure you put all your heat-sensitive things on the passenger side away from the exhaust. There are two red reflectors for some extra safety.
We weren’t big fans of the connection as there’s just a cotter pin holding the bolt, but overall it feels like a solid carrier. There is a little wiggle room between the hitch and the shank, but that isn’t a sign that the pin will give in. It’s a great basket for carrying heavy bags and chillers or using it on the ranch to transport heavy rucksacks.
Pros
- Easy to assemble
- Comes with rear red reflectors
- Impressive 500 lbs load capacity
- Lightweight
Cons
- Requires tools to assemble
- No folding capability
- No tilting capability
- Sits close to exhaust
- Only fits 2” receivers
- Some cargo baskets aren’t properly leveled when assembled
Few Tips On Buying Hitch Mount Cargo Carriers
When buying hitch-mount cargo carriers pay close attention to the reputation of the manufacturer. Good cargo carriers cost almost a left limb and it would be better to deal with a well-known company that has great after-sales service for any shipping or mounting troubles.
Try to stay within budget, but do not compromise on features. You’ll be using your cargo rack for many years and paying a few extra for a tilting feature and versatility will help you gain quick rear access and carry more gear than you possibly thought you would.
Weight and assembly are more important factors in this decision-making process, so invest in a lightweight yet sturdy rack which has a friendly assembly without any tools like the Yakima Exo SwingBase.
Additional Considerations:
- Cover license plates and vehicle lights: An issue with hitch-mounted cargo carriers is that they can block the license plates and taillights, thus constituting risks on the road. However, you can easily fix this problem by adjusting the carrier until both features are visible.
- Extra length: A hitch-mounted luggage carrier extends the length of a vehicle. You just need to be aware of this extra length and adjust for it when driving and particularly when parking.
- Rear visibility: Because of their positioning, you may find it hard to get a clear view out of the back window. As mentioned above they may also cover your plate and taillights. Be aware of trunk accessibility issues.
Some Questions:
How Much Weight Can You Put On A Hitch Cargo Carrier?
All hitch cargo carriers have different load capacities, but generally, steel-constructed hitch carriers can support between 300 lbs. – 600 lbs.
Are Hitch Cargo Carriers Safe?
Hitch cargo carriers are one of the safest cargo-carrying options as they have a bolted assembly and most have another quick-release pin for further safety.