CURT 18153 Folding Hitch Basket Cargo Carrier, 60" x 24", 500 lb

We needed to add space bc we were traveling with 7 people. We probably ended up having around 250 lbs on this with the luggage we were carrying. We drove 8 hrs each way and it held up great. It did not come with an anti-rattle plate so we did end up having to purchase that separately. We didn’t necessarily read this one rattled but from other products, we wanted to get ahead of it. We really liked how the carrier flipped up when it wasn’t in use. We debated between this and one with higher sides but I’m glad we went with this bc it fit our needs best. We didn’t want to deal with sides not holding up or having to lift too high. We like how it gave enough height to keep your items secured and provided good spots to attach ratchet straps to. Our particular ratchet straps had a clip hook that the bar was too thick to close over but it did hook onto it fine and stayed in place when tightened up. We debated between this and one that came with everything you needed vs having to piece it all together. We went with this product bc of the more consistent positive reviews. It’s pretty solid (and heavy) and I’m sure it’s possible to put it in the hitch alone but I don’t think it’d be very easy. We had to kind of wiggle it to get it to slide forward. With our bag we were able to still provide good visualization of our lights behind us and the license plate. If our bag was full it probably would block that. Naturally it caused our parking alerts to go off when we went in reverse so that was annoying and did make me nervous when backing up bc it blocked our view (but I’m sure is always the case anytime you’re towing something so not a Product issue, but just something to be aware of). I also like how it was far enough from our tailgate that we were able to open it with items on it. All in all, we are very happy we went with this. The reviews seem to show that it holds up well over time which was important as well. We’d definitely go with this one again.

Great for cargo especially compared to some of the other brands out there. We’ve used it on several road trip with no issues. It took maybe 30 minutes to put together. It is a little awkward and heavy when sliding it into the hitch.

This cargo carrier is exactly what I was looking for. It feels solid and well built, and once it's installed there's very little movement. It gave us plenty of extra space for coolers, luggage, and other gear, which made the drive a lot more comfortable. The powder coating looks good, and after using it on a road trip it still looks almost new. Assembly was straightforward and everything lined up like it should. If you need extra cargo space and want something that feels sturdy and dependable, I'd definitely recommend this one.

I'm a 40-something woman who is preparing to move my daughter to college 300 miles away in August. I purchased this cargo carrier to go on my 2003 Toyota 4Runner which has a 2" hitch receiver. Today I decided to put this item together and boy am I glad I did this ahead of our scheduled trip! The receiver accepted the hitch, however the hitch is just about 1/4" too long; bumping up against my vehicle's spare tire which is housed underneath the vehicle. I have some potential solutions to this problem in mind. I could remove the spare and go without it. Or I could look for a smaller pin to go in the slightly obscured hole (making it a smaller opening). I'd be concerned about it rubbing against the though. Or I can get someone to trim off about 1/4" on the hitch so that it will fit as expected. **I have ordered a hitch extension from CURT to see if that can't remedy the problem. The extender will reduce the max capacity to 350 pounds - including the 70 pounds for the carrier - that can be carried though. Not sure until after I try it whether I'll pursue a trimming of the end of the shank instead as it's only 1/2" that needs to be removed for a proper fit. ** Below are the grades I would give my experience with assembly, build quality and overall value. NOTE: If you have comments, questions or recommendations for use of this product, please leave your message in the comments section. Thanks! From the CURT website: "CURT basket cargo carriers feature a strong bolt-together design and are made with heavy-duty carbide steel and a tubular construction for increased strength. One of the advantages of the basket style is its 6" high sides. These provide extra security and peace of mind during travel. This particular basket cargo carrier features a 2" x 2" bent, folding shank to provide more ground clearance and to fold up and out of the way whenever necessary. It also comes with a strong mesh platform to accept up 500 lbs. of cargo and has a durable black powder coat finish to resist rust, scratches and UV damage. Whether you prefer the hitch-mounted carrier or the roof rack option, CURT has cargo management solutions to meet your needs." ----------------------------------------------------------- PUTTING IT TOGETHER: "C+" I first got a large adjustable wrench and a socket wrench with a box of sockets to find the sizes I would need once I got things unboxed. I found the socket wrench was second only to a power tool for the same purpose, however the directions just suggested regular wrenches. (Don't do it that way if you can help it.) NOTE: I used a 3/4" size socket for the three main bolts that hold the two pieces of the basket on the straight shank assembly, and a 17mm socket for the (8) bolts that hold the two plates to the front and back of the basket - yet again securing the two basket halves together. I took everything out of the box and made sure I had all the parts prior to starting. I was surprised to find the directions were on the front and back of a sheet of paper, but had really small diagrams that were tough to see. Thankfully there are not a lot of parts for assembly and I have put together many things in the past, so I didn't find this too daunting. I did wish for better though! NOTE: Curt mfg dot com is the manufacturer's website, and I did not find any better directions there, but you can get the PDF of the included ones and use magnification on your PC to view the diagrams a bit more closely - which I found helpful. I found that putting the basket pieces together worked best when I had the basket tipped up on its side. I did this in my garage without help. I was able to slip all three bolts in and hand tighten them, then put the basket back down flat on the floor to put in the two plates and hand tighten those bolts. Even after fully tightening all the bolts there is a slight gap between the two pieces on the upper rim and between the two on the shank. I think this is probably normal, as I've checked it several times to make sure it was seated properly on mine and that the bolts were tight. Still seemed odd to me though. NOTE: I'd suggest once this carrier is put together you do a test run of about 30-50 miles on bumpy-ish roads and then tighten the bolts yet again. Probably a good idea for any carrier of this type. Assembly itself wasn't difficult, even by myself. However the directions having such small pictures and being unclear in some ways hampered progress. Figuring out the best angles to work from (having it upright instead of flat) took a little time to figure out too. The figure on the directions for connecting the straight shank to the folding shank assembly wasn't too clear either, but looking at the larger PDF helped. Since I've got to modify either the end of the shank that goes into the receiver (by trimming off 1/4", or taking off the vehicle's spare tire, I did not put it on my vehicle and completely install it. It looks like the back hatch will be able to lift up with the cargo basket installed and in the upright position though, which I thought was great. I'd totally recommend if you plan on using this carrier for a family trip that you put it together well in advance of the big day, just in case you too run into issues such as the one I found with my vehicle. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- BUILD QUALITY: "A-" I paid one twenty seven for this product, which I thought was a heck of a deal. After putting it together and seeing the build quality, the price is on point at this 'deal' price. The reflectors shown on the photo are actually red, reflective tape. I think I'll be buying more of that or some in yellow to add to the visibility of this carrier while I'm on the road. If you will be driving at night, I'd highly recommend adding a magnetic light (about eighty bucks) to this carrier, that can be placed on the bottom of the carrier when it's folded up or on the back bumper (edge) when in use. The carrier felt sturdy when I bounced around on it. I weigh 160 and the capacity of this carrier is 500 pounds, equally distributed. The floor is wire grating, and while there are no specific hooks for securing a load with bungy cords or similar, I think the flooring might be good enough. (If not, the rail around the edge will be. The weld points are a bit sloppy, but look sturdy enough. The powder coating on the frame almost immediately started scraping off, so I'd suggest keeping some black paint handy to touch-ups. Another idea - and one I might do - is to spray it all some new color like hot pink for easy visibility! The bolts went easily into all the holes and the two pieces slid together, although as previously mentioned there is a slight gap in the seam between the two even when bolts are all tightened. (I know there will be some who will read this and say "...but you're a girl...". Maybe so, but I know how to use a socket wrench and tighten a bolt!) The MSRP price on the Curt website is overstated, but this carrier is worth the price I paid on Amazon. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ OVERALL VALUE: "B+" I think this is a good product and I expect when I solve my receiver - shank issue I'll enjoy using it. In combination with a cargo carrier bag it will add much needed space in a low profile way, and still be up enough to avoid direct contact with the exhaust from my vehicle. While it's not light enough for me to install on my vehicle by myself (it's about 70 pounds), two people will easily be able to get the shank into the receiver and be set to go once the initial assembly is complete. NOTE: It did not come with a hitch lock, so that's something you'll want to get to secure it to your vehicle before heading out! I'd recommend it to others who want to add functional storage for camping, moving, or toting things like BBQ's, bicycles or similar. Check out the PDF on the Curt website for instructions and if you can, get a buddy to help you assemble and install on your vehicle. I do think the addition of lights or reflective tape would be helpful for those using the carrier for long trips or traveling at night. ------------------------------- ----------------------------- Other products recommended to go with this one: Connor Towing 1615180- NEW 5/8" Receiver Lock for Class III, IV, V Chrome , Pro-Series 63604 Amigo Hitch Cargo Carrier Bag and ReFaXi® 3m Fluorescence Yellow Night Reflective Safety Warning Conspicuity Tape Stick . ------------------------------------- 6/22/16: Problem with connecting this cargo carrier to my 2003 4Runner was fixed by using CURT 45791 2" Receiver Extender . Capacity of basket is now 350 pounds versus 500, but it works. ------------------------------------ UPDATE: 2/16/17 - I recently purchased a 2014 Toyota Rav4 and had a 2" U-haul hitch (rated for up to 675 pounds tongue weight) placed on the vehicle so that I could use this cargo basket. The basket went on the vehicle smoothly and with a hitch tightener there is no wiggle. I can now safely carry up to 500 pounds in the carrier basket which doesn't block the rear tail lights on my vehicle. The carrier folds into position and does not block my rearview window. =============================

We were taking a 2000 mile trip on vacation with our dog-son and want to make sure our dog-son had enough room in the back of our 2015 Toyota Highlander. Did extensive research on hitch cargo carriers and finally decided this Curt model was best for us. Received the item quickly direct from Curt and amazingly the box was in perfect shape. Took the parts out and assembly by my wife and I took about 30 minutes. We followed the assembly video on an iPad and assembly went smooth. All bolt holes matched up and had no problem getting anything to fit. When assembled we slid it into the receiver on the car and put the pin in. Everything fit well. I also bought the stabilizer for the hitch so it didn't giggle and a locking pin so when staying at the motel nobody could steal the cargo carrier unless they had a portable grinding tool. I didn't know if I wanted to buy the fixed carrier or the one that swings up when not in use. I opted for the one that swings up when not in use. This turned out to be the best choice for us. At the motel we unloaded suitcases for the room and put the rest in the rear of the car. By swinging the carrier up, it was out of the way from passing cars in the lot and people walking, a safety plus I felt. And, when the unit is down and in place, we had no problem opening the back hatch door. There is more than enough room to open the back hatch door and gain access to the rear of the vehicle to load and unload(picture shows the distance). When loaded I estimated we had about 250 pounds of load on the carrier and no sag to the unit. With the small amount of rise the tongue gives on this unit, the loaded carrier at the rearmost was 1 foot from the ground. I wanted a carrier with a rise in the tongue as the receiver on the Highlander is somewhat low on the vehicle. During the trip we observed no rattling or movement of the carrier. We tried to be careful when pulling into and out of angled driveways like in gas stations or motel. We had a couple of minor scrapes on a couple driveways , but there was no damage at all to the carrier. We also bought some quality Strapinno 3' and 6' retractable ratchet straps. The straps are pricy, but the best I have ever used. I found the ratcket straps to work far superior than bungee cords and was sure our suitcases wouldn't be lost in transit. All and all, this carrier was exactly what my anal self researched for and found. I would buy it again if I didn't already have it!

This worked out to be the best purchase I could have made for our travels. It is important as you read this that you keep in mind that I bought the CURT 18153 Basket-Style Cargo Carrier that is 60" x 24" x 6" with the Angled and folding shank. I used this size basket on my 2017 Chevy Tahoe. The Angled shaft raises the basket a few inches which makes it easier to work with and load as well as clearance for steep drives. Also the folding shank allows you to fold the basket up and leave it on your vehicle after you have unloaded your bags or cargo at your destination. (see photos) I am very pleased with my purchase. The quality is excellent and very heavy duty. The welds might not be perfect if your talking about a piece of furniture in your house, but they are good quality commercial welds and you should not encounter any problems, The shipping box when it was delivered had some damage however the contents / cargo carrier and components were packed well and were not damaged. The box weight is about 70 pounds so you might need some help to move it. I did recommend to Amazon that they add to the box precut handle openings. I assembled the product in my home on the floor. Very simple and easy to assemble. You have the two halves of the basket, the 2 inch square center support and the angled / folding shank. You will also need a few tools. I recommend a socket set or box wrenches along with an adjustable wrench or "Channel Locks." There is one bolt head that is very large that my set did not have and I wanted to have one to fit so I went out and bought one. Once you have all the right tools and parts laid out it took about 30 minutes to assemble . . very simple. One person can do it, but when aligning the side rails to slide together it was nice to have someone there to help. You will need to purchase one hitch pin to keep the shank in your towing hitch on your vehicle. I purchased a locking hitch pin for security. In reading reviews some people also recommended an anti rattle stabilizer so I did also order the "StowAway" Hitch Tightener, Anti-Rattle Stabilizer for 2 Inch and 1.25 Inch Hitches Sold by: PacRec Products here on Amazon. It made a major difference in the up and down movement and lateral stabilization of the basket. I also purchased 2 plastic self adhesive reflectors and some reflective tape to help with the visibility. The cargo basket when down extends the overall length of the vehicle by about 42". We used this cargo basket on our trip to Colorado and we drove a total of 2,800 miles with no problem. With this size basket you can configure suitcases a few different ways. We had 4 full size suitcases on their side, but you could also stack side by side 6 full size suitcases. If you normally have a lot of smaller odd sized things you might consider buying some used suitcases at garage sales or flea markets and put the small and odd sized things in a suitcase for easier packing and tarping on the cargo rack. We used a 8' x 10' tarp with bungee cords and ratchet tie downs. Keep in mind the max weight is 500lbs, however we were at about 200 lbs for this trip. I recommend when you return as we always do, thoroughly clean and dry the cargo basket. Check for road chips and remove any rust that you might notice and use a couple of coats of black gloss Rustoleum Paint to touch up. I had no problem with my license plates , but I have seen where some people have "zip tied" their license plates to the cargo basket so they are seen. Drive safe and just keep in mind that your vehicle is 42 inches longer . .especially when backing up, parking and changing lanes.

**** UPDATE August 2016 **** We took this rack on a 4500+ mile road trip across all types of conditions and terrain - dirt road, uneven pavement, over and through the Rocky Mountains, through Yellowstone, through the Badlands, and everything in between - with an 300+ pound uneven load consisting of our 12 person tent, fully packed 120 quart cooler, and whatever else we could strap down. This was the longest trip we have used this hitch carrier on, but we've used it dozens of times before this. Not a single problem and it looks no worse for wear. This carrier is built to take abuse and last. Positives: I bought this earlier in the year and have now used it on 3 long distance trips. It has survived driving through traffic with sudden starts and stops, bumpy dirt roads, and everything in between. On our last trip it easily held our fully packed 120 quart cooler, 8 person tent, and 6 cots and wrapped sleeping pads for over 4 hours - probably close to 250 pounds. I strap things down with bungees and 2 ratcheting tie downs and nothing even thinks about moving. I drive a 2013 Dodge Durango and even fully loaded the carrier sits far enough back to access the hatch and low enough not to block my license plate or tail lights. Negatives: It's heavy and awkward and hard to put on and get positioned with only one person. Not really a bad thing, just something to consider. Even when it's well weighted when loaded it wobbles a lot more than expected in the hitch. While this doesn't affect performance it's a little unnerving to have your gear teetering back and forth behind you as you drive as it did on our first trip. I ordered a hitch tightener StowAway Hitch Tightener separately and that completely eliminated the wobble. The manual doesn't address wobble or how to correct it but I would consider the tightener to be an almost mandatory secondary purchase to this based on my experience. After doing some research while troubleshooting the wobble post purchase this is a common problem and not unique to this carrier.

Bottom line - I would recommend this purchase. It is big and higher than one with a straight bar, and can old a lot of stuff. I purchased and used this on our 2000+ total round trip from near Ohio to Dallas Texas on our 2016 Honda CRV. Worked great. Very well built and sturdy. It was wobbly on the hitch receiver so I bought the stabilizer from Mission Automotive -Hitch Tightener for 1.25" and 2" Hitches - Heavy-Duty, Easy-Install, No-Rust - Made in the USA, Item model number BHBUSAZIN025307. That stopped all wobble and made it very sturdy. I also bought the Rola 59119 Rainproof Cargo Carrier Bag 59" x 24" x 24" (20 Cu Ft) to put in the cargo tray. It fit perfectly. I made a PVC frame for inside the bag using 1 inch PVC pipe. I was able to fit in 1 very large, 2 medium large and 1 small suitcases in the Rola bag. I also bought medium size cargo straps to better secure the bag to the cargo tray. The bag came with built in straps but I thought they were not enough. The cargo tray does not have lights so I installed regular trailer lights I bought from Walmart. With a little effort and a drill you can install them on the plates that the reflectors are on. I also bought the locking Reese hitch pin but thought it was not sturdy enough to chance such a long trip so I used a normal hitch lynch pin with a cotter pin. Great purchase and glad I had it for the trip.

Curt Hitch Why not a Curt Hitch Carrier? Great product. As expected and went together easily I just have to TORQUE the bolts. Thanks

CX5につけました。横幅ぴったりでした。1人で脱着するには難しい重さかと思います。歩道との段差でも結構下こすります。

Muy buen producto exelente calidad, solo ue no pensé que quedara tan salida del vehículo.

This product is solid. The mesh is not as solid but it is mesh and only for 500 lbs. Very easy to setup. 8 bolts go with the plates (4 on each plate) and the 3 along the side. The instructions make it pretty simple. Just look at the picture. The bolt pin you use to lock it up or down is over board (very strong). It the type of bolt pin I would use on my tractor Implaments. Reasonable price for a solid product. I been keeping it on the van cause when I need in the truck it goes down so easy. Going get double hitch receiver so I can also have a trailer hooked up

Heavy but strong materials I haven't used it yet but assembling was straightforward. Only challenge was lightening bolts in a way that closed the joint/seem where the two halves come together.