Best Hitch Cargo Carriers (2026)
November 8, 2026 · 15 min read
You packed the car, ran out of room, and now you are staring at the empty square of your tow hitch wondering how much it can take. This guide ranks five hitch cargo carriers sold on Amazon, from a steel basket to a Thule hitch cargo carrier box, and works out the number that decides which one fits your vehicle.
Updated — first published
Quick answer
Your hitch’s tongue-weight rating, not the carrier’s 500 lb label, sets what you can haul. A Thule hitch cargo carrier — the Arcos Box L on its platform — puts 66.5 lb on the hitch before you load it and is rated for 110 lb of cargo, so a receiver labeled 350 lb has room to spare.
CURT 18153 Basket Hitch Cargo Carrier
The biggest floor here at 60 by 24 inches, and the shank folds flat when empty.
MaxxHaul 70108 Aluminum Cargo Carrier
At 24.8 lb it barely touches your tongue-weight budget, but it does not fold.
Thule Arcos Box L
Lockable, weatherproof, 14 cu ft — and the required platform is a second purchase.
Who this guide is for
This is for you if your car has a tow hitch, your trunk is full, and you are about to buy a rack without knowing what the hitch is rated to carry.
This is for you if
- Your trunk gives out before your seats do
- You cannot lift a cooler over your head onto a roof
- Your garage door is too low for a roof box
Look elsewhere if
- Your car has no tow hitch — fitting one costs more than any carrier here
- You need the tailgate to open at every stop and will not buy a tilting mount
Hitch carrier vs roof box
Get the hitch carrier if lifting is the problem, and the roof box if drag is. A hitch carrier loads at waist height, but adds 2 to 4 feet behind the bumper and usually blocks the tailgate. A roof box costs fuel and needs crossbars.
A roof load also spreads across four mounting points, while a hitch load hangs off one square tube. For the roof side, see Thule cargo boxes compared for 2026 and Yakima cargo boxes compared for 2026.
Hitch class and tongue weight
Tongue weight is the downward force your hitch can take, and it is the only limit that decides what you carry. The carrier’s 500 lb rating describes the steel, not your vehicle. The lower number wins, and on most cars that is the hitch.
The class chart is reliable for one thing: receiver opening size. Tongue-weight figures vary widely between makers inside one class, so read the column below as a published range, not your rating. Your number is stamped on the hitch — the US EPA’s worksheet notes the tongue weight limit is often given right on the hitch frame.
| Class | Receiver opening | Tongue weight, commonly published | Left after a 70 lb basket | Typical vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class I | 1-1/4 in | 100–200 lb | 30–130 lb | Compact sedan |
| Class II | 1-1/4 in | 200–350 lb | 130–280 lb | Mid-size sedan, minivan |
| Class III | 2 in | 350–600 lb | 280–530 lb | Crossover, mid-size truck |
| Class IV | 2 in | 500–1,000 lb | 430–930 lb | Full-size SUV, half-ton truck |
| Class V | 2-1/2 in | 1,000 lb and up | 930 lb and up | Heavy-duty pickup |
Then do the subtraction most buyers skip. Thule rates the Arcos Box L at 110 lb on the Arcos Platform 906301 and 88 lb on the tilting 906310 — one box, two numbers, in Thule’s fitting instructions. Box 43 lb plus platform 23.5 lb means 66.5 lb gone before a bag goes in.
On a Class I receiver labeled 100 lb, a 70 lb basket leaves 30 lb: one suitcase.
Basket or a Thule hitch cargo carrier box?
Buy the open basket if your gear is dirty or awkward, and the enclosed box if it is clean, soft and worth stealing. A basket takes a generator, firewood or muddy bikes. A box keeps out rain and thieves.
The box costs more than money: the Arcos Box L holds 14 cu ft at 43 lb empty, while a basket of the same footprint carries several times its load. Most families take the third route, a basket plus a waterproof bag. On brands, Thule vs Yakima: which brand for your roof covers the difference.
Rear lighting and plate visibility
A loaded carrier that hides your license plate or brake lights is what gets you pulled over. Every state requires a legible rear plate, and a basket holding a cooler and two duffel bags covers plate and lamps on most sedans.
The law is not uniform. Washington wrote an exception into its plate-visibility statute for cargo-carrying devices, if the device is fitted to the maker’s specifications and the plate reads from some angle when parked — the bill report sets out the conditions. Michigan did the same in 2018. Many states have none, so buy a plate bracket and a light bar.
How these picks were chosen
Cedar Buy ranked these five on the weight they add to your hitch against the cargo they carry. That ratio decides whether a carrier works on your vehicle.
Our selection method
- Thule’s Arcos specifications and fitting instructions were read in November 2026. CURT, MaxxHaul and Mockins publish no spec sheet for these models, so their figures come from distributor product data.
- Carrier dead weight was weighted most heavily: it comes off your allowance and nothing gets it back.
- Swing-away systems were excluded: they solve the tailgate problem at a weight and complexity that does not suit a general guide.
- Specifications come from manufacturer documentation. Cedar Buy does not physically test products — see our editorial policy.
Quick comparison
Carrier weight decides your shortlist. It is the part of your hitch rating you never use.
| Product | Carrier weight | Rated load | Best for | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CURT 18153 Basket Hitch Cargo CarrierBest overall | 70 lb as shipped | 500 lb | Bulky, dirty loads | Amazon → |
| MaxxHaul 70108 Aluminum Cargo CarrierBest value | 24.8 lb | 500 lb | Tight tongue-weight budgets | Amazon → |
| Thule Arcos Box LPremium | 43 lb plus 23.5 lb platform | 110 lb on platform 906301 | Gear that must stay dry and locked | Amazon → |
| Mockins Folding Cargo Carrier Set | 63 lb as shipped | 500 lb | Cars whose plate the load covers | Amazon → |
| MaxxHaul 50149 Folding Cargo Carrier | Not published | 500 lb | Folding without the steel weight | Amazon → |
What the table does not show
None of these numbers tell you whether your tailgate still opens. On most sedans a loaded basket blocks it outright. Measure the hatch swing before deciding against a tilting mount.
CURT 18153 Basket Hitch Cargo Carrier — Best overall
It takes the top slot on usable floor area, and the folding shank keeps the empty basket tucked in.
CURT 18153 Basket Hitch Cargo Carrier
Best for bulky, dirty loads on a Class III hitchA welded steel basket with a mesh floor and 6-inch rails, for a 2-inch receiver. The shank folds, so the empty basket swings up flat. The plainest product here, and the right one for most people.
Price and availability change often — check the current listing.
Check price on Amazon → Paid link.Strengths
- Largest floor area of the five
- Folding shank stows the empty basket
- Mesh floor drains, so no trapped mud
Limitations
- Heaviest here at 70 lb, straight off your allowance
- Capacity drops to about 350 lb with a hitch extender
Editorial opinion
Buy it if you have a Class III hitch and haul awkward, grubby things. Skip it under a 200 lb receiver, where 70 lb of steel takes a third of the allowance empty.
If you have a 2-inch receiver and a garage to park in, this is the one.
See it on Amazon →MaxxHaul 70108 Aluminum Cargo Carrier — Best value
It wins on the number this guide cares about most: 24.8 lb, a third of the CURT’s weight.
MaxxHaul 70108 Aluminum Cargo Carrier
Best for lighter vehicles and tight tongue-weight budgetsAn extruded aluminium basket on a steel frame, 49 by 22.5 inches, for 2-inch Class III and IV receivers. Aluminium is the point: no rust, and more hitch rating left for cargo.
Price and availability change often — check the current listing.
Check price on Amazon → Paid link.Strengths
- Lightest carrier here at 24.8 lb
- Aluminium will not rust
- One person can fit it alone
Limitations
- Does not fold: it stays on the car or comes off
- Needs assembly, and the instructions are thin
Editorial opinion
Buy it if your receiver is a Class II or low-rated Class III, or if you take the carrier off between trips. Skip it if it lives on the car year-round: a non-folding basket is a shin magnet.
If you are nervous about your hitch rating, start here.
See it on Amazon →Thule Arcos Box L — Premium pick
The enclosed option, and the only one here that locks. It earns the premium slot on weatherproofing, not capacity.
Thule Arcos Box L
Best for clean gear that must stay dry and lockedA hard-shell hitch cargo box giving 14 cu ft of lockable space, with a SlideLock closure that shows when the lid is latched. Know this first: the box cannot be used alone.
Price and availability change often — check the current listing.
Check price on Amazon → Paid link.Strengths
- Weatherproof and lockable, unlike any basket here
- Low profile makes loading easy
- Rated to 80 mph by Thule
Limitations
- The Arcos Platform is required and sold separately: two purchases
- Lowest rated load here at 110 lb, or 88 lb tilting
Editorial opinion
Buy it for clothes, bedding or anything you would not leave uncovered overnight. Skip it for firewood, coolers and bikes: a premium for weatherproofing, and a quarter of the capacity.
If your gear must arrive dry and still be there in the morning, get this.
See it on Amazon →On the two-part purchase: Thule states the box must be used with the Arcos platform. Budget for both, and note that the tilting version trades 22 lb of capacity for tailgate access.
Mockins Folding Cargo Carrier Set — Best for blocked plates
It is here for one reason: it ships with the plate bracket every other carrier makes you buy separately.
Mockins Folding Cargo Carrier Set
Best for cars whose plate and lamps the load will coverA folding steel basket sold as a set, 60 by 20 inches, bundled with a plate bracket, hitch stabilizer, lock, straps and a waterproof bag. The set is the value, not the basket.
Price and availability change often — check the current listing.
Check price on Amazon → Paid link.Strengths
- Plate bracket and cargo bag included
- Folding shank stows against the bumper
- Hitch stabilizer cuts the usual rattle
Limitations
- Owner reports note no pre-drilled holes for the plate bracket
- Mockins sells lighted and unlighted versions, so confirm which this is
Editorial opinion
Buy it if you drive a sedan or low crossover and the load will sit in front of your plate and lamps. Skip it on a tall SUV where the plate stays visible.
If your plate will disappear behind the cargo, start here.
See it on Amazon →MaxxHaul 50149 Folding Cargo Carrier — Also worth a look
It folds and it is aluminium, which no other pick here manages at once.
MaxxHaul 50149 Folding Cargo Carrier
Best for folding storage without the steel weight penaltyA folding aluminium basket, 50 by 22 inches, for 2-inch Class III and IV receivers. The compromise between the CURT’s folding steel and the 70108’s fixed aluminium.
Price and availability change often — check the current listing.
Check price on Amazon → Paid link.Strengths
- Folds and is still aluminium
- Rust-resistant for wet climates
- Fits the same receivers as the 70108
Limitations
- MaxxHaul publishes no carrier weight, so you cannot do the subtraction before buying
- Shallow 5-inch walls hold less than the CURT’s
Editorial opinion
Buy it if you want the folding shank and aluminium basket in one product. Skip it if your receiver is tightly rated: without a published weight you are guessing.
If you want folding and aluminium together, this is the only one.
See it on Amazon →What to check before you buy
Check the number stamped on your hitch first. Everything else is downstream of it.
Your hitch’s tongue-weight rating
Read the tongue weight off the receiver label, not the trailer weight. Under 200 lb, buy the lightest carrier you can find.
The carrier’s own weight
Subtract it from your rating first. Twenty-five pounds is good, seventy is heavy, and an unpublished weight cannot be planned around.
Whether it folds
A folding shank sits the empty basket flat against the bumper instead of 2 feet behind it. If the carrier lives on the car, this decides whether you fit in the garage.
The 500 lb rating everyone checks
Ignore it. Four of these five are rated at 500 lb, so it separates nothing.
Key terms, explained
Three words do all the work on a hitch carrier listing, and two are routinely misused.
Plain-language definitions
- Tongue weight
- The downward push your hitch can take, in pounds. Published ratings run from about 100 lb on a Class I hitch to 1,000 lb and up on a Class IV. Despite the towing name, it is the limit that applies to a carrier.
- Shank
- The square steel bar that slides into your receiver, usually 2 inches or 1-1/4 inches across. A folding shank hinges so the carrier tips upright when empty. Shank size is not hitch class.
- Rear overhang
- How far your load sticks out past the bumper. Most states cap it at 3 to 4 feet before a flag is required, and a 60-inch basket plus shank is close on its own.
Mistakes that cost people money
The expensive one is buying on the carrier’s rated load, then finding your hitch takes a quarter of it.
- Buying on the 500 lb basket rating instead of the hitch labelThe lower limit applies, and on a crossover that is the hitch. Read the receiver label first.
- Forgetting the carrier weighs somethingSeventy pounds of steel is a third of a 200 lb receiver, empty.
- Not checking the tailgate before the tripA loaded basket blocks the trunk on most cars. Measure the swing at home, or buy a tilting mount.
- Assuming an enclosed box is one purchaseThe Arcos Box L needs its platform, sold separately. Check the carton contents before comparing.
Frequently asked questions
How much weight can a hitch cargo carrier hold?
Whichever is lower, the carrier’s rated load or your hitch’s tongue-weight rating, minus the carrier’s own weight. Most baskets are rated at 500 lb, but a Class II receiver published at 200 lb with a 70 lb basket leaves 130 lb of cargo. The hitch label is the limit that matters.
Does Thule make a hitch cargo carrier?
Yes. Thule’s hitch offering is the Arcos system: the Arcos Box L, a 14 cu ft hard-shell cargo box, on an Arcos Platform sold separately. The box weighs 43 lb and is rated for 110 lb of cargo on platform 906301, or 88 lb on the tilting 906310.
Is it legal if the carrier blocks my license plate?
It depends on your state, and you should assume it is not. Every state requires a legible rear plate. Washington and Michigan have written exceptions for cargo-carrying devices, but many states have none. A plate relocation bracket and an auxiliary light bar settle the question cheaply.
Can I put a hitch cargo carrier on a 1-1/4 inch receiver?
Only if the carrier is built for one. Most baskets sold on Amazon, including four of the five here, take a 2-inch shank only, which rules out Class I and Class II receivers. The Thule Arcos Platform fits both sizes, but tongue weight is still your binding limit.
So which one should you buy?
Get the CURT 18153 Basket Hitch Cargo Carrier unless your hitch label says you cannot, in which case the MaxxHaul 70108 keeps you 45 lb of allowance.
| If you need | Best pick | Key spec | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | CURT 18153 Basket Hitch Cargo CarrierBest overall | 60 by 24 in floor, folding shank | Amazon → |
| Best value | MaxxHaul 70108 Aluminum Cargo CarrierBest value | 24.8 lb carrier weight | Amazon → |
| Premium pick | Thule Arcos Box LPremium pick | 14 cu ft, lockable, platform sold separately | Amazon → |
| A plate bracket in the box | Mockins Folding Cargo Carrier Set | Plate bracket, bag and lock included | Amazon → |
| If you are still unsure | CURT 18153 Basket Hitch Cargo Carrier | Largest floor, folds flat, 500 lb rated | Amazon → |
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