How to Choose a Cargo Carrier That Will Clear a Rear Mounted Spare Tire or Bumper

Many SUVs carry a spare tire on the back of the vehicle. If you want to use a hitch-mounted cargo carrier on such a vehicle, you have to make sure it will clear the spare. The following information can help you find a carrier that will work with your vehicle and spare.

You need to know two measurements:

Vehicle clearance - center of hitch pin hole to outer edge of spare tire
Carrier clearance - distance from center of hitch pin hole to the front edge of the cargo carrier. If you want to be able to fold up a folding carrier, you'll also need to know the distance from the center of the hitch pin hole to the closest edge of the carrier in the folded position.

Vehicle Clearance

To determine the amount of clearance required for your vehicle, you need to measure it. You will need a measuring tape and a straight edge, such as a dowel rod or a yardstick.

Step 1

Hold the dowel rod or yardstick vertically against the back of your spare tire, making sure that the end of the straight edge extends lower than your hitch pin hole.

Measuring Vehicle Clearance with a Yardstick

Step 2

Measure the distance from the center of the hitch pin hole to the straight edge. Be sure to form a 90-degree angle between your tape measure and your straight edge. This measurement is the minimum clearance your cargo carrier will need to clear your spare tire.

Measuring Hitch Pin Hole to Yardstick Image

Cargo Carrier Clearance

To determine if a carrier will work with your vehicle, you need to know the distance from the center of the hitch pin hole to the front edge of the carrier. If you want to be able to fold up a folding carrier, you also need to know the distance from the hitch pin hole to the carrier in the folded-up position. At etrailer, we list these distances in our product specs for each cargo carrier.

Cargo Carrier Measurements

Measuring from Carrier's hitch pin hole to edge of carrier image

Distance from the center of the hitch pin hole to the front edge of the carrier in the down position

For carriers that fold, the distance from the center of the hitch pin hole to the front edge of the carrier in the up or stored position

Compare Carriers

Keep in mind these points when considering whether or not a cargo carrier will clear your spare tire:

Cargo may contact your spare when it is stacked onto a carrier
Lids of enclosed carriers usually tilt toward the vehicle when you open them. This means that your spare might prevent the lid from opening all the way.

To easily compare the clearances of our cargo carriers, you can use the tables below, which list all our hitch-mounted carriers. If the clearance given for a particular carrier is greater than your vehicle clearance, that carrier will clear your spare tire. Choose one of the following links to see a comparison of cargo carriers within a specific category.

Folding carriers that store up close to your vehicle
Fixed, or non-folding carriers
Carriers with ramps for loading heavy, wheeled items such as wheelchairs, lawn mowers, and snow blowers
Enclosed carriers that keep your cargo protected and secure

Folding Carrier Clearances

Folding carriers can be folded up when not in use. When folded up, the empty carrier is out of your way, which makes parking easier and helps prevent bruised shins. A folding carrier can be especially convenient when you have to leave the unloaded carrier on your vehicle, such as when you go on vacation. In this situation you would normally unload your luggage when you arrive at your destination, but you have no place to store the rack. If you can fold it up, it's out of your way until you need to load it up again. To use a folding carrier on a vehicle with a rear-mounted spare tire, make sure that the cargo that is stowed on the rack will clear the spare and that the rack will clear when folded up.

Folding Carriers

Part Number

Manufacturer

Distance from Center of Hitch Pin Hole to Closest Edge of Carrier When Folded Down

Distance from Center of Hitch Pin Hole to Closest Edge of Carrier When Folded Up

Fits 2" Hitch

Fits 1-1/4" Hitch

e98874

etrailer

19-1/2"

9-1/2"

B86VR

Benton

19"

7-1/2"

B38VR

Benton

19"

7-1/2"

C18151

Curt

16-1/4"

C18100

Curt

10-1/2"

B42FR

Benton

11"

10"

M2205

Carpod

13"

M2205-01-02

Carpod

13"

M2205-2201

Carpod

13"

C18109

Curt

11-1/4"

Fixed Carrier Clearances

Fixed carriers without cargo usually won't interfere with a rear-mounted spare because they sit lower than the spare, but stowed cargo could. You can check here to see the distance from the hitch pin hole to the front edge of all of our fixed carriers.

Fixed Flat Carriers

Part Number

Manufacturer

Distance from Center of Hitch Pin Hole to Closest Edge of Carrier

Fits 2" Hitch

Fits 1-1/4" Hitch

C18152

Curt

11-1/4"

FHG49ZR

Flint Hill Goods

8-1/2"

CC-100

Stromberg Carlson

FHG87ZR

Flint Hill Goods

6-1/2"

C18150

Curt

7-1/2"

C18110

Curt

6-3/4"

Curt

Carpod

Carpod

Carpod

Clearances of Carriers with Ramps

A carrier with a ramp makes it easy to load and unload heavy, wheeled items, such as scooters. You can check the clearances of our cargo carriers with ramps here to make sure cargo will clear your rear-mounted spare.

Carriers with Ramps

Part Number

Manufacturer

Distance from Center of Hitch Pin Hole to Closest Edge of Carrier When Folded Down

Fits 2" Hitch

Fits 1-1/4" Hitch

UF48-979033

Ultra-Fab

15-1/2"

Clearances of Enclosed Carriers

Whether the box of an enclosed cargo carrier is full or empty, it will take up the same amount of space. For this reason, you should be sure to check the clearance of an enclosed carrier to make sure it will clear your spare. Some enclosed carriers allow you to remove the box and fold up the platform. Check the folded-up clearance if you want to use this feature.

Enclosed Carriers

Part Number

Manufacturer

Distance from Center of Hitch Pin Hole to Closest Edge of Carrier When Folded Down

Folds Up

Distance from Center of Hitch Pin Hole to Closest Edge of Carrier When Folded Up

Fits 2" Hitch

Fits 1-1/4" Hitch

B66VR

Benton

11"

10"

Y62VR

Yakima

4-1/2"

Y74ZR

Yakima

4-1/2"

M2205-01-02

Carpod

13"

M2200-01-02

Carpod

Updated By: Holly R.

Last Updated: 8/13/26

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