| Every year I swear, "We're never doing this again!" | | | | option that allowed access to the rear of the vehicle. |
| And, every year, exactly 12 months later, I find | | | | Many provided clearance for spare tires and optional |
| myself in the same bad situation: struggling to fit all | | | | racks for bikes. Most carriers came with one of two |
| the presents, all the suitcases and all the toys into | | | | platform types: a metal mesh platform that is easy |
| the family van to make the trip to Grandma's for | | | | to clean, or a full floor that keeps road spray off |
| Christmas. This past Christmas was especially bad | | | | your cargo. You might want to look for a light kit as |
| because now three out of my four kids are old | | | | the carrier could block your tail lights. Most cargo |
| enough to ski, so we took all their skiing gear too. | | | | carrier manufacturers also put out a line of high |
| We ended up with an extremely large duffle bag, | | | | quality, weather resistant cargo bags that fit |
| two sleds, one suitcase and a cardboard box | | | | perfectly and secure snugly to their platforms. |
| strapped to the roof. It was a wonder we ever hit | | | | If you opt for the hitch mounted cargo box, be sure |
| 75 mph. | | | | the material is UV resistant and that the box comes |
| Once we got on the highway, I noticed we weren't | | | | with a good lock and comfortable handles. The box |
| the only ones with too many people and too much | | | | should allow adequate clearance from your vehicle so |
| stuff to fit it all in the car; lots of families seem to be | | | | that it can open completely for loading and unloading. |
| in the same situation near the end of December, but | | | | Finally, check if you need a light kit or a license plate |
| some of them manage it a little better. A lot of | | | | mounting kit, as both may be blocked by the cargo |
| people have roof top carriers. Those are a nice | | | | box. Note that the weight capacity in the cargo |
| option; they look good and can carry a lot of gear. | | | | boxes is generally lower than the platform style |
| They do have a couple of drawbacks though: their | | | | carriers as the weight of the actual box has to be |
| weight limits tend to be rather low, and there is | | | | taken into account. |
| always the possibility that they will blow open mid | | | | If you can think of any other feature you need in a |
| ride (this has happened to my friend a couple of | | | | cargo carrier, it's probably available on one of the |
| times!) Plus, they are awkward to load. A few people | | | | models out there. Anything you need to carry from |
| are starting to solve their cargo problems with hitch | | | | garden supplies to golf clubs to camping gear will ride |
| mounted cargo carriers. I like those! And they're very | | | | smoothly on your hitch mounted carrier. And the |
| simple: a platform on a hitch mount! | | | | next time we're headed "over the river and through |
| Looking at hitch mounted carriers on the web, I | | | | the woods," the family will be comfortably riding in |
| found prices ranging from $185 for a good size, 500lb | | | | the car while our excess stuff is securely stowed |
| capacity cargo carrier to almost $1300 for a top of | | | | behind us on our new hitch mounted carrier! I can't |
| the line, fully enclosed, hitch mounted cargo box. | | | | wait! |
| Basically, you can get a nice cargo carrier for under | | | | Remember, anytime you are buying a trailer hitch |
| $250, and a hitch mounted cargo box for around | | | | accessory you need to make sure your hitch is the |
| $500-$600. | | | | right size for the accessory. Most of the hitch |
| Some features to look for include side rails to help | | | | mounted cargo carriers fit a class III (2 inch) receiver |
| hold onto your stuff or to use as anchor points for | | | | hitch, a few, with a lower weight capacity, are made |
| tie downs or cargo nets. You may want a folding | | | | for class II (1.25 inch) hitches. You can get a |
| shank that will allow you to fold the carrier up toward | | | | conversion kit, but a class II hitch is not |
| your vehicle's rear end when not in use. Other | | | | manufactured to support the weight that a class III |
| carriers fold in the middle one or two times for easy | | | | hitch is, so check your owner's manual and don't |
| storage. A few of the carriers had a swing away | | | | overload your hitch! |