Recommendations? Who has one that they love?

I see lots of relatively low cost options at big box stores and some really expensive options at places like bucees.

I used to have a clam-shell cargo box that went on the roof rack. Bought it for about $100 at Sears I think. It was functional, but not very convenient to put up and take down. It also had a minor impact on fuel economy. Gave it to a friend who needed something.

Now, I have a cargo tray that slides into my hitch receiver. I think it was $50-$75 at Academy and I like it much better than the cargo box. I can put a big cooler (152 qt) on it with ratchet straps and carry stuff inside, or I can wrap boxes and stuff in a tarp and strap them down. I can't open the liftgate until I remove the stuff from the tray but I can still roll down the liftgate window. Not as much of an impact on mpg.

To clarify, I'm set on the tow hitch style, looking for specific recos

Mine is like this: Lowe's - Reese Explore Steel Hitch Mount Cargo Tray. Does what I need it to. Academy has one that folds up, but not sure how useful that would be (to me anyway).

Carrier:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001G4Z5J0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Light package:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008L17JRC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Saw this bad boy last time I stoped at Praseks on the way to Rockport....

https://pakmule.com/product/pakmule/

Really nice TIG welded aluminum....

I have one of these as hauling beach chairs and boogie boards with 4-6" lip didn't seem feasible to me. Kept sand, salt, and fish coolers, out of the vehicles for a decade down in Rockport, it was stored outside that whole time. Moved us across country and used this weekend moving a kid to college 500 miles from home. Spring pins on the folding cage gave out some time ago but I rarely need to fold it down so zip ties work fine and I always keep some in the glovebox. If need be cut, fold up, and re zip tie. The bungee cargo net is still fine at nearly 15 years old. I did add some reflective tape to the sides and additional to the rear.

https://www.amazon.com/Larin-CC-500-Rear-Cargo-Carrier/dp/B005Z3TU2Q

I saw the same one at Praseks which is what got me thinking about it.

Wow, harbor freight has some crazy cheap options.

Saw this one recently at Cabelas. Thinking about picking one up. Has wheels and a handle to haul your gear at your destination.

I have the one that Grapevine posted from Lowe's but I bought mine at Bass Pro. That particular model is sold by lots of merchants.

I've used mine for 4+ deer seasons and a week-long trip from CTX to RMNP and it has held up just fine. I'd buy the same one again without hesitation.

There are a lot of options that work, I got this one and it's held up well for my occasional use

https://www.amazon.com/Reese-Explore-ProSeries-63153-Rambler/dp/B001G4Z5J0

They also make a soft waterproof carrier "bag" that fits the hitch rack. Don't have a link, sorry, borrowed my neighbor's earlier this year and it worked great keeping stuff dry.

Which model has the bag?

Pretty sure it was a separate thing. I will check with him on the brand.

His is a Reese. About 70 bucks on Amazon. Looks like there are tons of options and brands.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/traveller-aluminum-cargo-carrier-1074085?cm_mmc=feed-_-GoogleShopping-_-Product-_-1074085&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxL7wzcr53AIVA61pCh361gQ6EAQYASABEgJEK_D_BwE

I have this one and like it. Aluminum weighs less and won't rust. Side walls are low enough to not get in the way but help hold stuff in place. The open cross bars keep it from holding water and make it easy to die down, but could keep you from carrying little stuff without a box or basket.

I have a homemade carrier but purchased my waterproof bag on etrailer.com

Really like it. Have used it a lot and no issues.

My cousin has this one, loves it:

https://www.stowaway2.com/max-cargo-carrier-black

I got the folding model from Cabela's before we went on our 16 day road trip to camp in west TX, NM, UT, and CO this summer. It has 3-4 holes in it to let you adjust the distance from the back of your vehicle. It had a perfect hole placement where the back gate of my Suburban could swing up and miss the cooler and boxes strapped to the carrier. At that setting I could also step in between the carrier and the bumper if I only wanted to pop the back window instead of opening the gate. This came in handy because 5 people take a lot of crap on the road and it moves around while driving and can fall out if you open the gate without checking first.

https://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-TrailGear-Cargo-Carrier/1546503.uts?slotId=5

I've had the cheap Aluminum one from Harbor Freight for about 10 years now. It gets the job done and hasn't broken.

crowman2010 said:

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My cousin has this one, loves it:

https://www.stowaway2.com/max-cargo-carrier-black

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Thats a lot of money for only 200 pound capacity, isn't that what an empty Yeti weighs?

Looks good for clothing or stuff you don't want to get wet though, and lockable I assume.

I needed the receiver/hitch anyways so went to Master Hitch in Houston and purchased a mid range steel model (Pro Series brand) with zip up weather proof bag.