Bajamatic
Senior Nomad
Posts: 571
Registered: 8-31-2006
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Hitch Mount Cargo Carrier Advice
Has anyone had any experience with these things? How do they hold up in the back country? Are they noisy?
yuletide
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BajaWarrior
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Posts: 2307
Registered: 9-27-2006
Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
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Mood: Anxious to get south
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I bought one through Cabellas.com. It is Aluminum, 4' wide, 2' deep. Has short sides and many hold down points for your tie downs. It even has a fold
up feature if necassary. The steel version of this is very heavy to load, the aluminum one is easy to move around and is very sturdy, it has a #500
rating, and I have loaded it to maybe half that with no problem. I think it was around $200. When loaded it doesn't make any noise. Camping World has
them too, but not aluminum.
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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Sharksbaja
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Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
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I musta got ripped
| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaWarrior
I bought one through Cabellas.com. It is Aluminum, 4' wide, 2' deep. Has short sides and many hold down points for your tie downs. It even has a fold
up feature if necassary. The steel version of this is very heavy to load, the aluminum one is easy to move around and is very sturdy, it has a #500
rating, and I have loaded it to maybe half that with no problem. I think it was around $200. When loaded it doesn't make any noise. Camping World has
them too, but not aluminum. |
I spent more like $400 but that was with shipping. I took it down and had gussets and substantial bracing welded on it. So far no probs on many bad
roads.
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads\' Sunsets
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bajaguy
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Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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I have had one for several years and really like it. You can get the fold up model (gonna get one next time) and also a bike rack. I also use mine to
carry gas cans....keeps em outta the camper or the vehicle
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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on boat trailer?
I would be interested in one that mounts on top of the front of a boat trailer. If anyone knows of such a thing (or know how to build it) let me know.
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Barry A.
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Mood: optimistic
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skipjackjoe-------
-----if you use a rack on the tongue of a boat trailer I would not take it too far on dirt roads if there is any weight in it----------the constant
flexing will crystalize the tongue at the most inopertune time----------happened to me 100 miles from anywhere-----very embarrassing, and the trailer
was ruined. The boat trailers are not engineered to carry much weight on the tonque.
Just be aware, and be careful.
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Skipjack Joe
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Barry
Thank you for your reply. I suspected that and it's great to read about a personal experience because it puts to rest the whole thing in my mind.
I have been looking at those carriers for some time now, the ones that fit in the hitch, and the ones I saw didn't look sturdy enough to me to handle
any offroad driving. I would say they would be fine for the highway and perhaps the washboard roads but not much else.
Too bad, because I could really use the additional space.
[Edited on 10-2-2006 by Skipjack Joe]
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Capt. George
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Bajamatic
Got a rack from Draw-Tite (on line) 500lb capacity. I have it mounted on front of vehicle F350 Diesel Have been from FL to Alaska and on down to
Baja...plenty of rough roads!No overheat problems, but truck is diesel.
Did however, weld rack into hitch acceptor...need to remove just unweld. Has made it much more secure and less bouncy..price was right.
Capt George
\"The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men\" Plato
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Hook
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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I have a Hitch Haul
which has to be the largest selling variety of these hitch carriers. It's the steel one with the metal mesh "flooring". Rated at 500#, they are
selling most anywhere for about 88.00. They have since come out with an aluminum one for more dinero but I dont find this one to be very heavy at all
and it's shown little signs of rust, even though I live about a mile from the ocean and we get decent overcast most of the time. I store it outside.
I have no complaints. I've carried outboard engines, a generator, gas cans, firewood, propane tanks, the Weber, even my EZ-UP up there. Well, not all
at once, mind you. It's nice to keep dirty or heavy or bulky items out of the Lance so you have immediate access to the living area.
I do use two pieces of plywood over the mesh flooring to spread out the weight if I'm carrying something heavy.
I think they're absolutely indispensible........so much so that I installed a front hitch on my F-350 so I could continue to use it when towing a
boat. Hidden Hitch makes one that is custom for many full sized truck.......dont know about the rice burners. 
Hitch Haul also makes optional bike racks that bolt onto these to allow you to carry two bikes.
Great product........no matter whose you get.
I never hear it making ANY noise...........but then I lived through the 60s and I drive a diesel. I dont hear as well these days.
[Edited on 10-3-2006 by Hook]
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Bajamatic
Senior Nomad
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thanks for the tips - I'm in - all welded, 1k lbs, should do the trick. Do you guys use one of those little doo-hickeys that raises the platform up
6"?
yuletide
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Hook
Elite Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajamatic
thanks for the tips - I'm in - all welded, 1k lbs, should do the trick. Do you guys use one of those little doo-hickeys that raises the platform up
6"? |
Holy chit! That sounds permanent.
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Bajamatic
Senior Nomad
Posts: 571
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I take it to the next level.
yuletide
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westy
Junior Nomad
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Registered: 9-16-2003
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Mood: some people call me the Space Cowboy
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....if you make it yourself, you can make it strong enough to tow your trailer.
Only a few bucks more for the good, thick stock at the local steel supply store.
[Edited on 10-6-2006 by westy]
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Mexray
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Westy...
...I did the same thing, I got some 1/4 inch wall steel tubing to replace the one that came with the rack. I made it long enough to slide way into my
hitch receiver as far as it would reach, about 10 " fwd of the pin hole - now it's really stout and will hold gobs of weight, and I don't have to
worry about the thing breaking, etc.
I just got one of those cheapo trays from Harbor Freight, and welded on the heavy wall tubing noted above - I've loaded two small motorcycles back
there without any problems.
According to my clock...anytime is \'BAJA TIME\' & as Jimmy Buffett says,
\"It doesn\'t use numbers or moving hands It always just says now...\"
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westy
Junior Nomad
Posts: 41
Registered: 9-16-2003
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Mood: some people call me the Space Cowboy
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Hey Mexray, good to hear from you. Hope all is well for you!
[Edited on 10-6-2006 by westy]
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