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