rear hitch cargo carriers,,, good or bad?

[Huntindave McCann]

Someone mentioned using a “rear hitch cargo carrier” in another thread and it got me to thinking about some cargo carriers I’ve seen while driving down the road.


Not all of the time, but many times, when I see these carriers I see them piled high with cargo. So much so, that I and other drivers cannot see the tail lights of the vehicle. I wonder if anyone has ever gotten pulled over and received a ticket for this?


I did see a carrier one time that had tail lights installed that plugged in just light trailer lights. Seems like maybe all carriers should be required to have working tail lights.


What are your thoughts on this?

 

[Capt Rich Geminski]

Most carriers I have seen are over loaded and bent to the sides or back. Most are made for light stuff. Never saw one really wide to cover tail lights. Great idea...

 

[Dave Diefenderfer]

I have one that I use rarely... we bought it when the kids were little and we traveled in the minivan.... I installed trailer tail lights on it. I only used hard totes or coolers on it, something I could ratchet strap down. I won't trust a bungie cord for anything of any weight or value! I had to weld up a unique adapter for it... had to go from 1 1/4" to 2" and also move it back and up to use on the minivan. I wanted to be able to raise the back hatch with the shelf on. And the minivan was so low I needed the shelf up higher. If anyone has a use for the adapter... let me know. It is heavy!

 

[Ed L.]

I've seen many go down the highway that I don't want to be behind. I have a heavy duty one I like. It also has a 2" receiver with a 2000 lb tow capacity so I can pull my boat behind the carrier. When I use the carrier alone. I fabricated a light bar that attaches and plugs into my trailer light connector.

 

[tod osier]

Someone mentioned using a “rear hitch cargo carrier” in another thread and it got me to thinking about some cargo carriers I’ve seen while driving down the road.


Not all of the time, but many times, when I see these carriers I see them piled high with cargo. So much so, that I and other drivers cannot see the tail lights of the vehicle. I wonder if anyone has ever gotten pulled over and received a ticket for this?


I did see a carrier one time that had tail lights installed that plugged in just light trailer lights. Seems like maybe all carriers should be required to have working tail lights.


What are your thoughts on this?

We have done a couple trips with ours, but never had a problem, but it didn't completely block the lights. I would want additional lights if they were blocked, but our config. didn't have much of a problem. On smaller vehicles they can block the lights.

A lot of them are really wimpy, ours is pretty stout and we have routinely carried 320 pounds on it on rough forest service roads. It seems like they need and anti-rattle hitch pin to keep them from clanking around, that is a nice addition.

 

[Cody Williams]

I welded up one for myself last spring, it's pretty stout with the frame being built out of 1/4" angle steel. In the end it cost me less than $100 to build ($75 of the cost was the action packer). I sized mine to fit the largest size action packer container, so it is underneath our taillights and the cargo is in a waterproof box. It's easy to remove the action packer though if I wanted to carry a bigger load. I did have a cop tell me that it shouldn't cover my license plate though. It's been pretty handy to have, I would recommend one if you can find one stout enough.

 

[tod osier]

I welded up one for myself last spring, it's pretty stout with the frame being built out of 1/4" angle steel. In the end it cost me less than $100 to build ($75 of the cost was the action packer). I sized mine to fit the largest size action packer container, so it is underneath our taillights and the cargo is in a waterproof box. It's easy to remove the action packer though if I wanted to carry a bigger load. I did have a cop tell me that it shouldn't cover my license plate though. It's been pretty handy to have, I would recommend one if you can find one stout enough.

Mine for sure covers the plate.

 

[Scott Farris]

Only time I got stopped with mine was at a time CT didn't require a front plate and the gear in the carrier covered the back plate. Officer couldn't tell if I was an unregistered vehicle or what. I offered to move my plate up into the rear window but when he heard I was on a straight line out of NH he said not to bother. After that I scanned and printed a colored paper copy of my plate to put in the back window. Since then we now have front plates and I've never been bothered. The hitch is very useful with the SUV for carrying gas cans and tanks. Massachusetts has signs all over their gas pumps that it's illegal to transport gas cans inside the passenger compartments. A hitch carrier is pretty much my only option. Mine is a cheap powder coated steel carrier that's got to be pushing 15+ years old. Never sat perfectly horizontal but it's still kick'n.

Scott