The hitch-mounted cargo carrier industry is booming, with more and more individuals attaching these additional storage spaces onto their vehicles. But despite these becoming more popular, are hitch cargo carriers any good?
Hitch-mounted cargo carriers are excellent for anyone looking to increase their storage capacity inexpensively. Out of all the carriers available, it costs less in terms of a physical product and fuel consumption. In addition, they’re the largest and allow for awkwardly shaped items.
I believe these cargo carriers are ideal for anyone looking to boost their storage space. However, to make this decision more valuable, I will break down the pros and cons of this product. Below we discuss this to determine whether hitch cargo carriers are good.
Advantages and disadvantages of hitch-mounted cargo carriers
Whether it’s a job, product, or service, everything in life has its advantages and disadvantages. However, these can differ from individuals because of their lifestyle or experiences, which is the same as determining whether hitch-mounted cargo carriers are good or not
Because of this, I’m going to break down the fundamental “pros and cons” so you can gain valuable insights into whether these cargo carriers are suitable for your application. Here’s what you need to know:
Advantages of hitch-mounted cargo carriers
Before we get into the disadvantages, let’s discuss the advantages. We briefly discussed these above, but the following dives into this more in-depth:
Most inexpensive cargo carrier option
Firstly, the most prominent advantage to hitch-mounted cargo carriers is their affordability. In most circumstances, a medium to premium range carrier of this style is around $100 to $500. If we consider other alternatives like physical trailers or cargo boxes, these are more expensive.
Including this, it doesn’t reduce the aerodynamics of a vehicle because of its placement. It’s known that cargo carriers like boxes or bags can increase fuel consumption by 10 to 25%. Therefore, making it a cheaper alternative in terms of product price and transportation.
Offers a large additional storage location
Additionally, they’re larger than other available cargo carriers. Most roof-related storage systems can’t pack awkwardly shaped or heavy items. However, with a hitch-mounted cargo carrier, it’s possible.
For instance, let’s look into this hitch cargo carrier from OKLEAD. The dimensions of this are 60” x 24” x 14.4” and a weight capacity of 400 lbs, which is more than enough for most transportation applications. Also, because of its nature of not including closed or lockable storage, it’s possible to transport items such as lawnmowers, air compressors, scooters, etc.
Relatively easy to mount and dismount
Hitch-mounted cargo carriers are relatively easy to mount and dismount, which is another advantage. Most storage attachments that follow this style weigh around 10 to 30 kgs. In addition, it’s typically attached to the vehicle via a hitch and pin. Therefore, you’ll need to pull the security pin out of the hitch and remove the cargo carrier. It’s a straightforward process and doesn’t require a degree.
Disadvantages of hitch-mounted cargo carriers
As mentioned, all advantages come along with disadvantages. To determine whether Hitch-mounted cargo carriers are “good,” let’s expose their flaws.
It doesn’t offer adequate protection to cargo
Unlike bags and boxes, hitch-mounted cargo bags are open storage, meaning they don’t have sufficient protection from the outside environment. Therefore, your cargo could become damaged during transportation if you’re not careful.
However, not all hope is lost with this negative. You do have the option to purchase hard-shelled cases and waterproof covers, but it’ll all be at an extra cost. Because of this, if you’re looking to protect a small selection of goods, a cargo bag or box might be a superior option.
Makes the vehicle less functional
In today’s automotive industry, various pieces of technology are located at the trunk. Features such as reversing cameras, sensors, and more, will all be useless when you have a hitch-mounted cargo carrier attached to a vehicle.
Including this, it adds extra length to the vehicle. Therefore, you’ll need to account for this when reversing or packing. The additional storage length will depend on which you opt-in for, but some span outwards of 25”, which is quite a considerable amount.
Again, there are solutions to this disadvantage, but it depends on how you utilize the cargo carrier. Perhaps it’s a permanent attachment. If so, great. To regain the once lost function, you can rewire the camera and sensors onto the hitch-mounted cargo carrier.
Uneven weight distribution
Cargo boxes and bags are located around the vehicle’s center, not affecting weight distribution. However, with a hitch-mounted cargo carrier, this is much different. Instead of the weight being evenly distributed, it’ll be towards the rear wheels and suspension.
Having this on your vehicle can lower its performance, such as its acceleration, deceleration, and turning. In some situations, this uneven weight can cause catastrophic consequences if it isn’t managed or thought about correctly.
Now you’ve read the above, you should understand a hitch-mounted cargo carriers primary advantages and disadvantages. This information should be possible to determine whether these are considered “good” for your application.
Overview
Advantages of hitch-mounted cargo carriers | Disadvantages of hitch-mounted cargo carriers |
Most inexpensive cargo carrier option | It doesn’t offer adequate protection to cargo |
Offers a large additional storage location | Makes the vehicle less functional |
Relatively easy to mount and dismount | Uneven weight distribution |
After evaluating the pros and cons, I thought it’d be best to express my own opinion about the subject. The hitch-mounted type is an excellent storage unit for a cargo carrier. Although it showcases some flaws, the advantages it brings to most motorists are much more substantial. Therefore, I’d categorize a hitch cargo carrier as good and recommend it to many road users wanting to expand their storage capacity.
Conclusion
The above shows the advantages and disadvantages of a hitch-mounted cargo carrier. After becoming knowledgeable on these, you should be able to decipher whether it’s a good storage option or not. So, after knowing this, will you be considering the investment for a hitch-mounted cargo carrier?