The 10 Best Hitch Cargo Carriers
Updated by · How we research
Steel, aluminum, folding and ramp hitch carriers compared on build, warranty, liftgate access and what your hitch can hold. The CURT 18151 fits most drivers. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Nearly every hitch cargo carrier is rated for 500 pounds, yet that number rarely sets your limit. Your hitch's tongue weight rating does, and the carrier's own weight counts against it. A common rule of thumb puts it near a tenth of the vehicle's towing rating. This guide is for drivers hauling coolers, camping gear, firewood or a mobility scooter.
Editor's Notes
October 23, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
The CURT 18151 moves to the top. It folds out of the way when empty, it comes from one of the biggest hitch makers, and CURT backs the frame for life. The Reese Explore Rambler, MaxxHaul 70275 and the old Apex UCC500, now sold as the Elevate Outdoor UCC500, stay too.
The rest of the old list didn't hold up. The Rola Vortex is currently unavailable, and the Apex BCCB-1169 and MaxxHaul Compact 70422 are gone. We dropped the Northbound Aluminum Hauler, the TMS Haul Basket and the Rage Powersports Apex F6020 DLX because newer baskets do the same jobs with more owner history behind them.
The best evidence here was a 2026 Car and Driver road test that graded assembly, drove loaded carriers over rough roads and hosed down the bags, which put the Mockins Heavy Duty Kit and the MaxxHaul 70107 on this list. We also added the Ultra-Tow Aluminum Basket for rust-free hauling and the Mockins High Rail for firewood and other tall loads.
February 12, 2021:
Unfortunately, we had to remove the Rage Powersports Apex 3-Bicycle due to availability issues during this update. However, we were big fans of the design that allowed you to take a few bicycles along with other cargo on your trips, so we replaced it with the Apex BCCB-1169, which also offers that ability. Other than that, we did make a few changes to our rankings based on functionality and overall convenience of the carrier which saw some models, like the Rola Vortex getting a stronger recommendation, and others, such as the Northbound Aluminum Hauler, getting a bit less favor. We appreciate the former for its sleek style and license plate attachment point, while we felt the former's industrial look can detract from a vehicle's appearance, not to mention it lacked reflectors and had squared rails that could potentially scratch a person or equipment when loading it onto the unit.
August 20, 2019:
While much of our last ranking has remained intact, a few superior models have come along to oust a pair of underperforming options from the list. The first newcomer landed at number one in the form of the Northbound Aluminum Hauler, which is an extremely heavy duty option. The second landed at number four in the form of the Rage Powersports Combo. That's a unit with an extended arm capable of toting a trio of bicycles with you in addition to whatever you can fit into it large mesh rack. Out old number one item is one of the two that bit the dust, as it began to wobble a bit too much when approaching its maximum weight limit, likely a result of its welding design. The other was the Tow Tuff model previously at number ten, which presented a few assembly issues and was prone to rusting if left out for extended periods.
Special Honors
PakMule Pro This welded aluminum carrier is made in the U.S. and rated for 650 pounds, more than any basket on the list. Car and Driver named it the premium pick in its 2026 test, and its threaded locking pin keeps it from rattling in the receiver. It is sold by the maker and at farm-supply stores. pakmule.com
Yakima EXO SwingBase Yakima's swing-away base pivots the whole load to one side so the liftgate opens with the carrier full. Add the GearLocker, a hard lockable box, for gear you need to leave on the car. It costs far more than an open basket and is heavy before you load a thing. yakima.com
Hitch Or Roof: Why The Back Usually Wins
Loading is easier too: a basket sits about waist high, so a heavy cooler or a bag of firewood never has to go over your head.
A hitch carrier rides in the car's slipstream instead of on top of it. In a side-by-side run at 75 mph, Car and Driver measured 25 mpg with a hitch carrier on a Toyota Grand Highlander and 21 mpg with a rooftop box, a drop of about a fifth on the roof. Loading is easier too: a basket sits about waist high, so a heavy cooler or a bag of firewood never has to go over your head.
The roof still has its place. A rooftop box leaves the hitch free for a bike rack or trailer, keeps the rear lights and plate clear, and is sealed and lockable, while a basket is open to rain and to anyone walking by. If you carry luggage you won't touch until you arrive, a roof box works fine. If you haul dirty, heavy or bulky gear, such as firewood, coolers, tools or a scooter, the hitch is the better spot.
Receiver Size, Tongue Weight And The 500-Pound Label
Almost every carrier on this list needs a 2-inch receiver, the size used by Class III and larger hitches. Cars with a 1.25-inch Class I or II receiver have fewer choices, and an adapter doesn't raise what that hitch can hold. The CURT 18151 and most rivals carry a 500-pound rating, but that is the basket's strength, not your vehicle's limit.
The limit that matters is tongue weight: how much load the hitch and vehicle can take pressing down on the receiver. Look for it in the owner's manual and on the hitch's own label. Car and Driver offers a rule of thumb of about 10 percent of the vehicle's towing capacity, so a 5,000-pound tow rating suggests about 500 pounds. The carrier counts against that number, and the ones here weigh from roughly 22 to 87 pounds empty.
Leave a margin. Bumps and potholes push the load down harder than it sits at rest. rucRak, which sells lighter-rated carriers, argues that a 300-pound load can briefly act like 450 pounds or more over a sharp bump. Treat that figure as a seller's claim, but the advice to load well under the limit is sound.
Loading, Locking, Lights And Weather
Put the heaviest items closest to the bumper and strap everything down with ratchet straps; thin 1-inch straps can stretch or slip with heavy loads, a weakness Car and Driver found in one bundled kit. A cargo net helps with loose bags but isn't enough on its own at highway speed. Recheck the straps and the frame bolts after the first stretch of driving.
An open basket is not waterproof. A zippered cargo bag keeps luggage dry, and an enclosed locking box is the only real answer for tools left overnight. A locking hitch pin stops someone from pulling the whole carrier out of the receiver, and a hitch tightener or stabilizer stops the clunk and wobble that most carriers develop in the receiver.
Check your lights and plate before you leave. A loaded carrier can hide the taillights or license plate, which can earn you a ticket, so many kits include a plate bracket or plug-in lights. Rules vary by state. A folding shank lets an empty basket tilt up, but CURT notes that a spare tire mounted on the rear door can get in the way, and no basket lets you open the liftgate once it's loaded.
How we researched this
We compared 17 hitch cargo carriers from 12 brands, read CURT's spec pages and the sellers' specs for each finalist, used Car and Driver's 2026 road test of hitch carriers, screened owner feedback for repeated problems, and searched the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall database for every brand on the list, finding no carrier recalls.
Frequently asked questions
How much weight can I put on a hitch cargo carrier?
Less than the carrier's rating, in most cases. Check your vehicle's tongue weight limit in the owner's manual and on the hitch label, subtract the carrier's own weight, and leave a margin for bumps.
Will a hitch cargo carrier fit a 1.25-inch receiver?
Most need a 2-inch receiver. A few small carriers fit 1.25-inch hitches, and adapters exist, but the lower tongue weight of a Class I or II hitch still sets the limit.
Are hitch cargo carriers legal?
Yes, but the load must not hide your taillights or license plate. Rules vary by state, so use a plate bracket or add-on lights if the carrier blocks either one.
Steel or aluminum: which is better?
Steel costs less and takes rough use well, but its paint can chip and rust. Aluminum costs more, weighs less, and won't rust, which leaves more of your hitch's limit for cargo.
Can I open my trunk with a cargo carrier on?
Not with a loaded basket. A folding shank lets an empty one tilt up out of the way, and swing-away bases let the door open with a load on, at a much higher price.
Are hitch cargo carriers waterproof?
Open baskets are not. Add a zippered waterproof bag, or choose an enclosed box for gear that has to stay dry and locked.
