Tail hitch storage boxes - experience anyone?
 

Hey everyone, the family and I are getting prepared for a summer road trip from SOCAL up through Nevada and Utah to Denver to visit some family.

It's going to be in an interesting trip. We have a smallish Mazda 5 micro-van which is generally a very comfortable ride but we're also thinking of taking our dog with us for the trip and she's about a 70lb silly Golden Lab.

Well this means our storage in the van will be far more limited so I was considering either a roof top storage box or a tail hitch box.

Here are some examples of the tail hitch box:

http://smile.amazon.com/Thule-665C-Transporter-Combi-Hitch-Mount/dp/B00152VYLQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1435612724&sr=8-1&keywords=tail+hitch+storage

http://smile.amazon.com/Basket-Style-Bumper-Carrier-Capacity/dp/B00EF3VOSU/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1435612724&sr=8-2-fkmr0&keywords=tail+hitch+storage&pebp=14356127441 64&perid=14T32KZ5GPDJMYQ15ZQ8

I dig the second one a lot as it is simple and fairly light weight and would be easy for me to store when not in use. I can get a waterproof soft sided container for all of our stuff to go into. We don't anticipate having to leave things unattended and even if we do we can throw the box in the car for those times when we are away from the vehicle. I can see a lot of ways for me to use this outside of the trip this summer as well.

I wanted to get a feel of any experience other folks might have on the topic.

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I bought a wrought iron "custom" made version of the 2nd link. It was made at a custom trailer and trailer hitch shop and is very heavy. I won't ever have to worry about over-loading it with the class 3 hitch receiver, but it is a pain to install and remove - and since it is so heavy - it is awkward to move around to put it into the storage area. When we use it on trips with the Expedition, I just leave it on the hitch and make sure that where-ever I park that it is easily seen to avoid having anyone run into it. I double fold a large tarp, lay it down on the tray, and then load up suitcases, rubbermaid containers, beach chairs and whatever else on top of the tarp - then fold the tarp up and over and around the collection. Then I use about 3 or 4 ratchet straps to tie it all up and down to the tray. I've never had an issue with rain-water or any other problem with the load shifting.

No experience, but I think it's a good idea. Harbor freight has some aluminum versions for about the same price. Cargo Nets, Cargo Carriers & Cargo Accessories - Harbor Freight

For about $25 worth of steel & a welder you could make a custom basket style carrier. Build it to fit a cooler/ice chest. Use it to put your stuff in. Duck tape the lid seal to keep it dust and water proof.

I have the HF aluminum basket. We use it on trips to the beach when we are carrying a lot of extra crap w/ us like coolers which take up room in the car.

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Not sure if anyone is still in the market for one of these hitch trailer carriers - but I happened to notice on the Grizzly tools site today that they have a model on clearance. It's only $39.95, 500lb capacity - class 3 hitch, and it has a hinged tongue which allows it to fold upward to reduce vehicle length when not in use.

Shop our H6165 - Cargo Carrier 500 lb. at Grizzly.com

I have used one from a friend for a camping trip. I had so much firewood stacked on that thing that I can see through my rear window. The only down side with those racks is that they can scrape coming out of a drive way. If I had to pack lots of stuff, that's what I would have in the back of our 4runner. Strap luggage to that thing and save interior room for people and dog. I have a top mount plastic box. A low profile one for much better aerodynamic and no wind noise. Ours is almost as long as the truck itself, about 7 feet. Jackets boots, and other bulky items goes up there.

Be careful, my exhaust melted one of those Home Depot buckets sitting on that rack on your second link going up a long mt road at about 30mph. I wouldn't buy that plastic box mounted to the hitch.

If I ever had a chance to make one, it would be angled up about 8-10 inches with a little bit wider platform and some rings for tie downs.

I'd put a small flag , or something on it to make it visible. I smacked my buddies pretty good ,and bent the snot out of my bumper . It was 100% invisible from the cab of my truck , parked in close quarters .
Just a thought. I want one also

What could go wrong?

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i JUST bought one.

took it camping in AZ. i bought it from Harbor Freight since i do not expect to use it much. the young lady working there was getting a strange vibe from me, bent over and clicked some coupon code and the entire thing cost me $60 out the door. downside, i get Harbor Freight Emails hourly.

here's the deal. it was so easy to put together. it wobbles side to side a bit when inserted into the receiver. i quit caring about it, since it wasnt going to pitch my load off. they do make a clamp to tighten it down, but it was half the cost of the damn basket (on Amazon). the hitch pin from HF is JAAAANNNKY! i ziptied it closed to make me sleep better. my shin hates it.

turned out, i didnt even need it..no extra load coming home as i had hoped. hell, if you lived closer..i'd give it to you, or loan it to you. haha.