This hitch-mounted cargo carrier tilts away from your vehicle - with gear loaded - for easy cargo area access, and it folds up for storage when not in use. The spacious basket has side rails that help contain your cargo and provide tie-down points.
Features:
Specs:
This cargo carrier lets you transport your gear on the back of your vehicle. It tilts down for cargo area access even when it's loaded with gear, and you can fold it up against the back of your vehicle when it's not in use. It has raised side rails that help contain your gear and provide tie-down points, and the steel mesh floor offers stability for your cargo.
The carrier tilts down - even when it's loaded with gear - so you can easily access your vehicle's rear cargo area. Before you tilt the carrier make sure your cargo is strapped down and secure. Simply support the front edge with one hand, remove the pins (standard 5/8" or 16 mm diameter 2" hitch pins) located in the upper and center shank holes, and gently lower the carrier.
When the carrier is not being used, you can fold it up against the back of your vehicle. This lets you fit into your garage and other tight parking spaces without removing the basket. To fold the basket up, just remove the pin from the center shank hole, fold the rack up toward your vehicle, then reinsert the pin into the bottom shank hole.
The carrier has raised side rails that help keep your cargo in place. The rails also provide multiple anchor points for a cargo net, bungee straps, or other tie-downs.
The shank on this carrier is raised to improve ground clearance, and to make it easier for you to load and unload your cargo. It also extends the basket away from your vehicle, which helps prevent contact with your bumper or rear-mounted spare tire when the carrier is folded up.
The carrier is easy to assemble. Simply bolt it together with the included hardware. The basket is made of heavy-duty steel with a rust-resistant black powder coat finish, and it has an easy-to-clean mesh floor. Reflectors (sold separately) are available to increase the carrier's visibility at night. You can also add a light kit (sold separately), which is required if your gear blocks your vehicle's tail lights.
The stop collar automatically aligns the pin holes on the shank and your hitch every time you install the carrier. It prevents you from having to get on your hands and knees to check for pinhole alignment. It's quick and easy to install, just slide the collar onto the shank, insert the carrier into your hitch, align the pin holes, slide the collar up against your hitch, and tighten down the bolt with included hand knobs. Once it's set up you never have to adjust it again.
An anti-rattle, threaded hitch pin is included for securing the carrier to the hitch receiver. Align the hole in the shank with the hole in your vehicle's hitch, screw the pin into the hole, and secure with the clip. This will reduce noise and movement of the carrier in your hitch.
Average Customer Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (445 Customer Reviews)
This hitch-mounted cargo carrier tilts away from your vehicle - with gear loaded - for easy cargo area access, and it folds up for storage when not in use. The spacious basket has side rails that help contain your cargo and provide tie-down points.Great luggage rack! 4,500 miles in 3 weeks on the first trip and it performed exactly as intended. It didn't sag or rattle. We used a Rola bag with ratchet straps for extra stability. We loaded luggage, too many other bags and fishing gear for a family of four. Better than buying a bigger vehicle. As the picture shows, it also makes a great tailgate/table for fishing or camping.
Jimmy - 05/06/2022At this time, we do not have replacement shanks available for this cargo carrier. If the bolt was left on the vehicle for a long period of time, it may have rusted inside. In that case, some lubricant can be used to try and penetrate the rust. If that does not work, you can drill it out with a bit.
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Sierra K - 6/21/2022Step 1 of assembly, the holes do not line up between the basket halves and the connecting bars. This is integral to the structure’s assembly, making it impossible to do. That and the hardware was loose all over the package but luckily seemed to all be there by chance. Seems there was no QA before shipping…makes me quite nervous about installing this on my vehicle.
Sierra K - 06/10/2022Easy Assembly, easy install. Put it on my draw tight 2in hitch and a 2019 Nissan pathfinder. While tilted up, you will be unable to open the hatch very far. But tilt it down or if loaded, tilt it down further and hatch can open. No issues so far. Going on the first trip with it this weekend.
This carrier worked out great. The tilt down feature is helpful to have but I didn't really need it. However, the fold up feature was helpful when driving around, so I recommend that as a convenience.
The only thing I had trouble with was the hitch bolt. I have a Thule bike rack that I've used with my truck hitch receiver and never had a problem, but this rack's hitch bolt was a real pain to get in at first. Don't be dismayed. With the rack off of the vehicle, I used some WD-40 and some lithium grease on the bolt and then used an adjustable wrench to screw it in and out a number of times. I noticed a bunch of either paint or metal shards gumming up the threads on the bolt each time I removed it. After about 5 times of screwing it in and out, wiping off the bolt with a towel, adding some more grease once in a while, it got to the point that I could screw it in and out by hand pretty easily. Problem solved.
I'm really happy with this rack. It fit two big coolers of food and beer plus beach umbrellas and other stuff. It's really strong and sturdy. The biggest issue was not the weight on the rack, but whether the rear suspension on the Highlander could hold it with our other junk in the back plus passengers. :-)
Swithin - 07/25/2021This will work on a Jeep Library if you add a hitch extension. I welded an 7” extension to the receiver opening. (No rattling) If you weld it, make sure it’s level or the carrier won’t be. With the spare on the back of my Jeep the carrier wouldn’t fold up. Does now with room to go. I have a Motorhome and this is my tow vehicle. Carrier is used mainly for bikes.
I was tired of booking up my small boat trailer with spare in the way. Now ball is accessible. This is a well built carrier. Doesn’t move or rattle at all. Thanks etrailer.
James - 04/12/2021A great, sturdy rack that is just wide enough for my small engine tools, grill, camping gear and garbage cans with a 24in depth interior. It folds up tight to the back of my SUV so I can still just leave it on when parking in the garage. It was easy to assemble EXCEPT for the threaded pin. I could not use a wrench or the tool they provide to put in the bolt, rather I had to use a socket wrench in order to exert enough force inward while screwing in bolt. No rating deduction as this is the part which you want a snug fit. Also I should have purchased the locking pin anyway since I now know that I will be leaving the carrier on the truck most of the time.
Given the great, close fit to my tail bumper, the tilting feature has actually come in handy to get into the rear when I have gear on the carrier. If you have a exterior rear door mounted spare, you might near an extension, but I love the close fit.
I would recommend to a fried.
Very well made! Chelsea provided the best customer service I have ever experienced. etrailer is by far the best company I have ever encountered!
The product itself seems very durable. The one MAJOR problem is the threaded hitch pin that attaches it to the receiver. It has a very small hole in it to fit the cotter pin to hold it to the car. The hole is too small for even the smallest lock. It will not fit a standard receiver hitch pin so your only option is to buy their $xx locking hitch pin. First of all $xx? Second, fine if thats what I have to do but it would have been nice to know when I bought it. I leave tomorrow using this product for the first time and have no way to lock it to my car. Ill either have to remove it and find a place to store it in the camper(unlikely) or just back the car up to a tree so nobody can pull the carrier out of the receiver.
Arrived looking like it was used, scratches on every piece. Due to time constraints, I could not exchange in time. Were I to do it again, I would not get this model, but would get the model that does NOT tilt. It puts incredible stress on a single pin to hold the whole thing up.
While I've only used it for one trip, you wouldn't want to stack things super high which is why I'm questioning the need for the tilt.
Brooke M - 06/24/2022Once again etrailer came through with a quality product at a fair price, carrier was carefully packed, promptly shipped, and arrived without damage.
Took about 30 minutes to assemble and mount on vehicle. I also purchased a led light kit and installed it. etrailer thought the design out well. The steel used to join the left and right halves were pre-threaded in addition to supplying bolts washers and lock nuts as a backup. I used the ani-sway bolt to secure it to my hitch and eliminated all wobble.
My wife even commented on the quality of the carrier.
Bolts holding baskets together are too short. Self-locking nuts require threads to penetrate plastic insert. Neck of tubing holding basket appears to be crooked. Basket sits significantly farther from vehicle on drivers side than passengers
Products by Etrailer are usually 5 star, however, this cargo carrier is about 3.5. My 1st observation is the lack of paint in areas. Also, when put together per their instructions, it is at least an inch lower on one side. Tried to adjust but cannot. 3rd, is the excessive wiggle at the folding point even after torqued down. The mesh could be a heavier Guage.
Jenny N - 04/11/2022The holes aren’t even and I can’t tilt the basket up.
Jenny N - 04/14/2022
This hitch has been very useful to increase our ability to move items between our rural country retreat and our home. Since we always bring a week's worth of home cooked meals with us, we were taking up so much space inside our SUV with a big cooler. Now we put it on the hitch along with our garden tools and other small items in bins. On our return trip, we avoid the unpleasant smell of a week's worth of garbage we have to bring back to dispose of at home. The reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because we had no idea there were different size hitches and the one we bought was for a larger hole than what came with our SUV as standard equipment. With the converter, it cut in half the weight we can carry. (500 versus 250). Make sure you know what hitch size you need. Also, the basket is very low to the ground so if you have an incline on your driveway you better load it on the flat street or it will scrape when you pull out. My vehicle manual says I could carry up to 2250 Lbs, so I could have bought something bigger. The basket does fold up when not in use and you can read the license plate. I have seen other brands that don't, so be aware of that. Overall, I am pleased with the purchase. I just wish I knew about the hitch sizes, I thought they were all the same. Goes to show "city folk" need a little more hand holding before purchase. Just call and talk to customer service before ordering. I suggest etrailer should mention this on the item.
Also, it's easy to remove and store for the winter. So until it warms up again, it will remain in the garage.
Sierra K - 12/29/2021The box arrived open but nothing was missing. Assembly was easy. It is actually long enough that the rear hatch of the Explorer clears it without tilting. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is because there are no brackets for adding taillights, I had to make these myself.
Jenny N - 02/21/2022etrailer has fantastic customer service! There was some package damage incurred in shipping, and a couple of small parts apparently fell out, but etrailer quickly replaced the parts and followed up to make sure there was no other damage. The items are as advertised, and service is responsive and professional. I'll look to etrailer first in the future should I be looking for any products they may offer.
Lenny - 02/11/2022Carrier arrived missing one of the M10x70 bolts. When assembled the basket is not quite perpendicular to the main arm so it is tilted to the side, and I’m unsure if this is because of welding or that the threaded holes on one of the connection bars are about 3/8” too far apart and as a result the basket halves don’t quite meet. There were an extra flat and lock washer included that I could not find in the parts list or assembly diagrams. They will fit either the threaded hitch pin or the M16x80 hex bolt. Otherwise looks good. Will be trying it out for holiday travel in a few days.
Jenny N - 12/20/2021My first unit arrived damaged and etrailer was great with shipping out a replacement. A+ customer service.
The finish on mine is not great. Chipped easily when tightening hardware and the metal below looked poorly prepped. I imagine this item will rust quickly. The bottom grate of the carrier is weak and flexes easily. The unit is a lower priced option that works, but the finish quality lowers my rating to 3 stars. The fold up function is really nice. I ordered a locking hitch pin for this item to deter theft.
Sierra K - 12/01/2021Does what I need and happy for the most part. Added reflectors for safety. And was disappointed that it does not sit flat [level].
Sierra K - 11/22/2021Solid carrier, definitely built to last. Assembly was more difficult than I expected, mainly due to the microscopic pictures on the one-page instruction sheet. It was difficult to tell exactly where each bolt should go and the correct direction, which is where a larger picture or zoom view would help. The exact hole for the M16 bolt is not clear, and I had to take this out and move it after trying to fold up the carrier. For parts, I only got 4 of the M8 washers instead of 8. Not a big deal, but I expected to have enough if not an extra. Another point of confusion for me was the inclusion of an M16 lock washer and an M16 flat washer. These were not listed on the parts nor the instructions, but I did use them anyway.
A little more attention to detail on the parts and instructions will make this a 5-star product.
I’m totally psyched this came earlier than expected. We are going on a trip next weekend with our Jeep Wrangler to Barnstable Beach out in Cape Cod. It took maybe half hour 45 minimum to put together and was very easy. After assembling of course I had to see how it fit and couldn’t be any happier it is perfect. I have an oversized tire and had concerns of it fitting past the spare tire but thankfully Etrailer has the measurements online and I took measurement prior to ordering. I just have one problem my spare tire is big so it doesn’t let the rack fold up enough to allow pin in to secure it in the upward position but I can easily modify and drill the hole a little bigger, I literally need 1/8 - 1/16 of an inch to get pin in. I guess I could try letting air out of spare tire that may work. I can’t wait to try it out it will definitely make a huge difference in packing up the Jeep. Thank you etrailer for the speedy delivery and and the great information about the product online. It’s great to have good info prior to purchasing.
Cargo carrier bounces excessively causing items and straps to loosen and move.
Should have had cross bracing
Jenny N - 03/01/2022The basket is too low; things can jump out easily. Also the hitch conector is a little too long. But overall good item.
Jenny N - 03/01/2022We really like the concept of this cargo Rack. It folds up to sit flat and it sits back far enough so we can get the doors of our Sprinter. The down side and the thing that has us most concerned is that it wont sit level when in the loading and travel position. In fact it seems to tilting back more and more with age. We do not over load it I am guess but I don’t think we ever put more that about 200 lbs on it. Also it seems to be rusting a bit from the inside but then we do live in the NW where is rains a lot. I have inclosed some pictures below
Overall, really pleased. Works as advertised. Only used it once, but never noticed it behind my vehicle even in super windy conditions (west Texas) at highway speeds (about 150 lbs on it in an etrailer bag that is also really nice). The tilting function is nice to have, but in reality it only allows my tailgate to open 3-4 inches further and its a 2 person job with any kind of weight on it...so doesn't really accomplish what I wanted it to, but I wouldn't slam the whole carrier over that.
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