Anyone have a good receiver hitch cargo carrier they use? Going cross country with 4 adults and two kids this summer and will probably need a bit more carrying capacity.

 

I use this one to haul 5 gallon gas cans. Aluminum Hitch Cargo Carrier - 500 lb. Capacity

 

They all work, but a cheap one if you don't use it often. I added LED light strips to mine for nighttime driving.

 

The lights are powered by the trailer hook up?

 

Can you open the doors with the carrier full?

 

Yes I plug it into the trailer wiring. It depends on what I have on the rack it I have smaller items tot he back I can open the barn doors but when I'm loaded up for a week they will not open. Just hope not to get a flat tire. The lift gives you OK access to the back I keep a 12v cooler back there and have no issues getting to it.

 

I got one made for 4 bicycles at northern tool. Lay the bike hoops down and its a typical hitch carrier. There is a pic of it in my album I think. It is very sturdy and holds engine blocks just fine, but its also very heavy so if your moving/using it a lot, maybe aluminum would be better. I used it on the wife's Mountaineer for a vacation and it worked great as it sits far enough back to let you stand there and open the hatch.

 

This:

how do you power them from the trailer hookup wiring? Is there a connector/etc?

 

On my dirt bike carrier, I just wired the lights to a normal trailer plug (with the Ex I need a 7 to 4 pin adapter)

 

Be careful if it is a "Folding" carrier. My B-I-L had one and the hinge point was sloppy from day1. The result was horrendous rattling & clunking whenever it was used.
If it'd been mine, I would have welded it solid.

 

Got one we use quite a bit 24" x 60" 500 lb capacity think its pro com or something like that off of eBay for around 100 bucks added lights to it. it works great I can post a pick if you want

 

I picked one up from walmart for about $100, it's worked well for a few years now.

 

I use the Curt ones. 24x60 inch with the 6"or so railing. They have some that come straight out of the hitch. I prefer the one that comes out and kicks up about 4" or so. It folds up as well.

 

They work great; trailer out back; firewood up front.




Watch for sales at Trailer.com or Harbor Freight.

 

I am definitly thinking the larger 60", I am still on the fence about the folding option. I also like the 6" rails.

Any experience with luggage getting overly dirty if not in wet, muddy, snowy conditions?