I have this one too. Very sturdy, and decent angle of exit due to the bent main tube
It is pretty heavy though. Rock solid.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...500_em_1p_0_ti

I use one similar to this. I believe I got it from harbor freight. it worked great. we use it for camping, hauling bins, or coolers.


one thing I would suggest for anyone using a hitch mounted ANYTHING. use a quality ant-rattle hitch pin. something that will not allow the load to move at all.

something like this,





basically just a bolt. but it securely attaches the load to the hitch, so it cannot move. an added bonus, it acts as an anti-theft device also. because unless someone has the proper size tool to remove it, its not coming out so easily.

Not sure if OP ended up making a purchase, but for anyone else out there looking for this same thing I would highly recommend StowAway. I purchased it for my FJ that I just traded in and have had great luck with it. One of the things that makes it different is the hitch tightner that locks it down and prevents movement. Anyways, take a look for yourself. https://www.stowaway2.com/hitch-cargo-carrier.aspx

i have been recently looking into these as the roof rack i would want to spend my money on is just too much right now. my big concern, or preference, in the design of these is the incorporation of support beams to minimize torsion on the carrier.

typically these get loaded up pretty well, and driving with a load will shift everything around a lot. you want to minimize the effects of your load torquing about the receiver.

check out the two images i have attached. One is just about a flat platform bolted to the hitch. the other is similar, but has support beams that sure up the unit about the hitch. this reduces the length your load will push on the hitch, thus reducing the torque and hopefully making a unit last longer.

Attached Images

   

Same one I got. works perfect, used for logging fire wood or coolers.

I bought one from Cabela's a few years ago to haul stuff while I'm hunting. It works great and is the tubular style so you have more room to attach bungee cords and stuff. It's rated to 500 lbs and I've had pretty close to that on it without issue. I used it to haul bags of mulch from Home Depot and it saved a lot of time. I didn't notice any problems with the weight on the tongue. It only cost around $80, so I consider it worth the $$.

I grabbed a platform from the Cabelas bargain bin for $40 one day. Labeled "missing part" - turned out to be one bolt! Haha, .23 fixed that. I welded a brace on the underside from left to rignt just under the square tube receiver to stiffen it up. Worth the little effort. Load it with firewood, rocks, salt for the driveway in wintertime. Something silly like a 500lb rated capacity. If you can get one cheap enuf it's worth a try.

I use them when going camping. Works great.

Both of them are from Harbor Freight. If you get them from Harbor Freight, be sure to use locktite and a little extra care when assembling it. Their hardware is crap.

Anybody have any issues with ground clearance off road? I'd like to buy one that's raised several inches but the only one I can find doesn't look as secure as the level ones. I'm mainly on logging roads and trails that branch off, not doing any hill climbs or anything, just don't want to buy something and run into issues when I get up in the mountains...

I understand that if its raised, it might interfere with opening the hatch but that's why our windows roll down, right?

Just thought I’d throw in my .02. I just bought this carrier https://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Cargo...ese/63153.html. It worked out great. I put two large heavy duty totes with ratchet straps, and fit a chainsaw in between. They don’t cover the license plate or taillights. The carrier comes out far enough to open the door with the totes attached, and the dogs have room to jump in the back. It rises, so it gives the ground clearance for the trail. I bought the anti rattle pin, and it doesn’t move at all. Also, most importantly, no melting cargo, that seemed to be a concern for a lot of people. There are videos of this one on the e trailer site, and the demo vehicle is the 4Runner.

Hitch-Haul...WalMart. Laugh if you want, but i've abused mine for more than 10 years and it's still going strong. No rust, no breaks- although the finish has dulled. It's not the sexiest looking thing out there, and it's simply designed, but it's survived 5 cross-country moves and two camping trips deep into Anza-Borrego (attached to my FJ, and I also load out the roof rack). I've used the matching cargo bag for just as long (helps to cube out when packing/loading, and it's waterproof), which has only started wearing out in the last year, though admittedly I think I doomed the bag to death when I used it to hold too many cubic feet of mulch. The supports are weakening and the seams are stressed and starting to tear, but that's due to abuse, not use.

Save a few bucks and grab one from Harbor Freight/Northern Tool/WalMart...it'll last longer, and be more functional, than you initially think.

HTH

I used one to carry some of my DJ gear around...
before I got an enclosed trailer.
Can't recommend one or the other...
but as with most things...the cheaper the price, the cheaper the quality.

Just wanted to let everyone know I just got this carrier at Northern on sale plus I had a $5 coupon from their mailer. They price matched the online price so I was out the door for around $35. I have assembled it and it isn't the most heavy duty one but has like a 500lb capacity which is way more than I will load on it. Not bad for $35.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...3836_200623836

I have used my versahaul (almost 100 lbs) to haul my 500cc bike (430lbs) in the past on my 4th gen with little noticeable difference in handling. (non v8 hitch on a 4th gen).

Wouldn't take it off roading, but it worked well when moving it 2 hours over country highways.