Queenies Merry Band has grown.

[sternwake]

Decided to open laptop for th efollowing.

I have some recent experience with shopping for, and using cargo carriers which might help you make a better informed decision.

I ultimately bought this one:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/154572872063?ha...BM1OzyqcFh




This model folds upwards 90 degrees, when it is not needed. I had to modify mine slightly to lock in the up position as it was just barely carressing my read door spare tire.

I very much believe that this folding feature is well worth the added cost, over HF's cheapest.

The 2" backbone, also raises the base of the platform up ~2", over the non folding cargo carriers.
This gives more 'exit' clearance, meaning less chance of dragging the corners of the unit on the ground when driving into and then out of a tight dip in the road. When loaded heavy, the rear old tired leaf springs might be sagging hard so this extra clearance will be much appreciated in tight areas. Dragging the cargo carrier corners can lead to bad things, curse fests, unsavory people who don't know you only go sane from time to time.

It's good peace of mind, this ~2" of additional ground clearance.

Thus folding feature also moves the cargo carrier tray a bit further back from the bumper, which on my Van allowed me to open the back doors with cargo carrier in place, and still load the back of the van standing on the ground, instead of climbing up into and then standing in the cargo carrier. I was also able, with carrier loaded, to open the doors slightly, and add or subtract some smaller things.

Also, when installed and the hitch pin installed, there is tons of slop. Unloaded one can grab a side of it and lift it 2 inches, and push down and that corner will fall 2 inches. This looseness is intolerable to me, and is eliminated with this device, or similar:



In the pic above, they have one installed, which does not come with the cargo carrier but it shows how it is installed.

The link below shows the device by itself. They basically pull the square tubing hard against the bottom of the trailer hitch receptacle, so that it cannot rock back and forth up and down, and rattle rattle, and make you think the whole van is falling apart on each and every bump or around each turn.

They also require any potential thief to also loosen up two 3/4 inch Nylok Nuts before they can remove it, as opposed to simply pulling the hitchpin and pulling.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/394388846555?ha...R-jt-KrBYQ

This link is one of the least expensive ones available.

I think they are mandatory for cargo carrier duties.
please factor this cost into ANY cargo carrier.

Also these units, if even available in a brick stick and mortar store are going to be 3 to 4x as expensive. HF does not sell them. home despot does not either. I would be surprised if any store actually stocks them. order these well before you actually need to use the cargo carrier.

I also ordered this anti rattle device

v

. Since the folding hitch has an additional amount of potential 'play' / looseness on the major hinge point, the following device allows the user to use the same 3/4 inch wrench to pull the 2 inch square tubing against one side of the trailer hitch receptacle, and eliminate slop there too.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/255955651100?ep...R5yJxKvBYQ


I spent nearly double this current 12$ amount for this ^v part in December:



If you do not get the folding carrier hitch then get only one of the above anti rattle devices, but if you get the folding one the Curt 22321 device showed above will eliminate slop in the hinged portion, and the other link eliminates the slop in the vehicles receiver. If non folding, the Non curt rattle link is probably the better choice. If one gets the folding carrier than the curt is the only 'as sold' device which allows one to stabilize the hinged portion.

I had to modify my cargo carrier slightly in order to lock it upright with the Curt 22231, as the cargo carrier hits my spare tire on the back door and needs to be locked at 84 degrees, not 90, but I would have to modify it( dremel it out with a carbide burr) even more if I wanted to use the hitch pin provided with the unit.

Other factors to consider is the size of the cargo carrier itself. if loaded tall, how much will the doors open, and will the taillights be blocked when loaded? Getting rear ended with a cargo carrier might have lawyers and the 'something for nothing professional victim crowd, all excited to try to empty your wallet and insurance company, through your rectum.

if the license plate is obscured by the cargo carrier or by the items within it, some lawman might get all upset and use it as a reason to harass you. I decided to deny them that excuse.

If one relocates the license plate to avoid that possibility, then technically, the license plate needs to be illuminated at night, or the bored cops have their excuse to harass you.

Will these should and could's ever be a problem, that some piece of insecure officialdom decides is a reason to pull you over and harass you, well I decided personally to avoid that potential as much as possible, and drove through every state from Ca to Fl without issue.

I also bought some additional red reflective tape to put on the corners of the cargo carrier corners, and lower portion of the hitch for better visibility for not only when lowered, but also when folded up.
And not only to catch the attention of ignorant self important texting distracted drivers, or pedestrians walking around the parked vehicle, but a certain crazy sheepdog who might find the shortest distance between two points when chasing a ball requires she slam her head into immovable steel corners.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R4...d&_sacat=0

My cargo carrier is currently acting as a shelf, under my workbench, with the folding portion, folded upwards, otherwise I, my demented mom, and dad, and crazy sheep dog would slam into it each time they walked by it otherwise. I could disassemble the folding portion, but.... tilting it upwards took 2.37 seconds.

The Non folding cargo carriers can be had for cheaper, but they sit lower, and closer to the bumper, which could affect opening the back doors and 'exit' clearance.
There are times when this is more advantageous to the user's vehicle/ desire/usage.

In my case, the non folding cargo carrier would have been a highly regretted purchase, and i too had decided when the time comes, I would just goto harbor freight and get whatever they had.

I'm glad I did not, but I do wish I were aware of the anti rattle devices before it arrived. Luckily I had the time to get it sorted and all solid before I busted out the ropes and ratcheting straps and figuring out how I wanted to load it.

I used an old 100+ quart cooler I had almost gifted away. to store a bunch of stuff within and 2 pieces of luggage, with gaff tape and trash bags for water'proofed'ness. en route.

I mounted things so that this cooler could remained fully secured, but I could open one cargo door all the way to further load the back of the van.

Th3e cargo carrier has a 500 puond advertised rating, but the spec sheet says 550 max weight, loaded evenly.

I doubt I loaded mine over 200 lbs weight, but I also was climbing all over it carrying things so perhaps was putting 400 lbs off center, at times.

I also put some small strips of red reflective tape onto the upper limits of the items I had strapped into the cargo carrier even though they were quickly destined for landfill.

While I could have put more items and weight on the cargo carrier itself, and my rear suspension has airbags helper springs, my newly purchased highway tires bought when I had about 600Lbs of possessions already loaded, looked overloaded at their max PSI. I wound up abandoning a bunch of crap, that I now could have put to use, not due to lack of space, but the fear of weight.

When I unloaded everything, the tires look way happier, still at max PSI, but still look underinflated.

So it is likely I could have loaded it heavier without issue and taking that which I had room for, but which seemed too dense.

I did manage mid to high 14's driving from Sandyeggo to florida, loading it far heavier than it ever has been before,
The previous x country journeys I'd average mid to higher 15's, but I did then not have 5 surfboards on the roof( 6 inside on ceiling) and about 1000 less Lbs in the back.

I wish I were not so rushed a the end, I could have made better decisions on what had to be abandoned, but oh well, the less possessions the better, as long as one does not need to immediately replace them at inflated current prices, on arrival.