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