Tricam ACC-1F Hitch Mounted Aluminum Cargo Carrier, 500-Pound Capacity, 50-Inch by 20-Inch Platform

Used immediately for a 2K mile trip and am very pleased with this cargo carrier. As recommended by other reviews, we did add the hitch extender to keep the carrier above the tailpipe to prevent melting of the plastic brackets (and the carrier rides very low) and we added locking hitch pins. We purchased a large cargo box from Home Depot that fit well with a few inches on either side and put ratchet tie downs on to secure and stabilize box to carrier. We bought a cargo box that had spaces on the top for a lock for extra security. We also added stick on reflectors to the carrier and box to alert drivers for extra safety. It looked so nice that we had people walk up to us at rest stops and ask about the cargo carrier. This is also very light weight and can be installed and handled by one person. So far the only concern is the longevity of the hitch extender as it is dependent on good welds but we check everything regularly at rests stops which is something you should do anyway regardless of the size of your load. One thing you might consider is how your trunk or hatch opens and whether it will interfere with your cargo. We have a Subaru Forester and the hatch just clears the top of the cargo box. So measure all hitches, distances, carrier and cargo/boxes if you anticipate having to access trunk/hatch while traveling.

I think this is a great option for a medium sized cargo carrier. I ordered this and another steel carrier and sent the steel one back do to it's significant increase in weight. This is strong, well built and most importantly lightweight. The aluminium is well crafted and the mounting hitch is in fact solid steel. I also ordered a hitch tightener to eliminate any wobble which there was some but with this tightened it is absolutely rock solid with no movement. I had my step-dad fabricate a 52"x8" solid 1/4 inch sheet of aluminum that we ended up mounting to the front of the carrier as a heat shield. My CX-5's dual exhaust is within a foot of the carrier and I was worried it would melt my vinyl carrier bag so we came up with this easy and inexpensive remedy. I mounted it to the existing 4 bolts holes however I replaced them with 1.25" bolts to compensate for the extra width then ground off any extra length when tight. I drilled 1 more hole each side at the very ends to tighten my plate even more to the carrier. It would be nice if this was something the manufacturer would do implement but this has worked well as a do-it-yourself option. Highly recommend.

The whole thing flexes quite a bit out of the box due to the bolt joints. So I applied epoxy glue to all the joints, and it was rigid after that. There are two different designs out there, but I chose this design for its compactness as I have to take it off and store in my SUV when done. I use it to carry my second jbl prx725 which is quite heavy (my SUV has no space for two prx725s) and it's been holding up just fine.Assembling this unit is real easy as it comes preassembled except for the hitch pipe, which isn't hard to put on at all.I strongly recommend put marine epoxy glue on the joints...

I did a lot of research on cargo carriers before buying this one, and I'm very happy with my purchase. The carrier is sturdy, but relatively lightweight due to the aluminum construction. It also required only minimal assembly - securing the aluminum basket to the steel frame with 4 bolts. I took it on a 1000+ mile trip shortly after installing it, and I had no issues at all. I recommend using a few metal ratchet straps to secure your load to the carrier - Home Depot sells a quality ratchet strap under it's HDX brand (Model # 89518) for less than $4. It is important to make sure that your vehicle's exhaust doesn't come into direct contact with the carrier, which can damage the carrier or the stuff you are hauling. If it looks like that may be an issue, most auto parts stores sell exhaust tips that you can use to redirect your exhaust downward or to the side. I found it easier to install a "dual hitch extender" and raise the carrier itself up over the tailpipe. I also liked the fact that my cargo was higher above the surface of the road. Harbor Freight has the cheapest extensions around, at around $29. Overall I found this to be a high quality cargo carrier at a reasonable price. It's a keeper.

Couldn't be happier with this cargo carrier. If you are wondering whether you should get a tray vs one with taller sides, or an aluminum vs steel, I can help.Tray vs sides: Regardless of what you are hauling (cooler, trash barrels, beach chairs, etc), you will be strapping it down so take it from me you do not need tall sides. My old steel carrier had sides and I feel no less confident of the security of the load with this tray because you ALWAYS strap your load.Aluminum vs steel: there are so many reasons why aluminum is better. First the weight, trying to load my old steel cargo trailer onto our 4Runner was a chore to do alone. It must have weighed close to 75lbs and was awkward to position into the receiver. Second is the rust. Without fail a steel cargo carrier is going to rust and I cannot tell you how many times I had to change my clothes on our way to the beach because I got rust all over myself.The aluminum tray is secure, lightweight, and rust free. Get it, you won't regret it!