Buying a Trailer Hitch: Three Tips to Make Hauling Cargo Easier

Buying a trailer hitch can increase the versatility of practically any vehicle. If you need space for a little more gear, you don’t need to have a bigger car or a pickup truck — you may only need a trailer hitch.

Here are some key considerations to help you find the perfect hitch to match your needs:

What you can carry on your hitch is as varied as every family’s interests.

If you like mountain biking, virtually any Class I hitch can accept a rack that carries up to six mountain bikes. Ski racks weigh even less, and present no problem for a Class I hitch. If you’re into hunting or camping, you can put up to 200 pounds of gear on a Class I cargo carrier. If your toys are somewhat bigger, a Class I tow hitch can easily tow a motorcycle or snowmobile trailer, perhaps even a mini-camper. Heavier cargo loads, such as moving trailers, small boats or even a pop-up camper, can be handled by Class II hitches. A Class II cargo carrier can carry up to 300 pounds of gear.

Trailer hitch receivers, the parts that are attached to your car, are also assigned a weight class based on how large of a load they can safely carry. Class I receivers can handle a maximum of 2,000 pounds, Class II can tow 3,500 pounds and Class III and Class IV rated receivers can haul a load as heavy as 5,000 and 10,000 pounds, respectively.

2. Weight Classes

No matter how your hitch is rated, never exceed the recommended weight rating of your vehicle, which could be far less than that of a hitch. This information can be found in the owner’s manual. You can install a hitch with a higher weight capability than the car, but never carry or tow anything heavier than what your vehicle is designed to safely handle. Generally speaking, it isn’t recommended to tow more than 2,000 pounds with a compact or subcompact car, or more than 3,500 pounds with a mid-size or crossover sport utility vehicle.

3. Proper Installation

Once you’ve decided what you need to carry and which hitch class you need, you can proceed with installation, which is generally broken down into two parts: mechanical and electrical.

Mechanical: A trailer hitch needs to be solidly mounted to your vehicle. Some trailer hitches are designed specifically for your model, while others may require adapters or welding. Make especially sure that your mounting points are strong, or you could literally lose your cargo.
Electrical: While bike racks and cargo carriers typically don’t require an electrical connection, trailers definitely do, as the taillights must be extended to the end of the trailer. Make sure that your electrical installation doesn’t interfere with the operation of your vehicle’s taillights, brake lights and turn signals. If necessary, a powered adapter, can protect the rest of your car’s electrical system.

For more information on buying a trailer hitch, let see the more details review post here.

How Cargo Carriers Work (Part 2)

There may be a few more things you'll need before taking off for the great outdoors or on a nice, long vacation. For example, we don't recommend you simply toss your bike or your suitcases on to your roof-mounted luggage basket and go; you'd most likely wonder where exactly your stuff fell out.

The suitcase problem is easily fixed. There are some low-tech solutions, like luggage nets that hold your cargo in place and snap to your luggage rack. It's also a good idea to look into all-weather covers or bags to protect your things from the elements.

To carry a bike, snowboard, kayak or surfboard on your luggage rack, you'll need an additional part. These are specially designed racks that keep bikes, kayaks and surfboards upright and stable. Ski racks hold skis and snowboards in place. Some models include a bar that lies on top of the crossbars. The bike sits in this extra bar and is held tight by fasteners. Some rear-mounted carrier baskets allow for similar accessories.

It's also a good idea to invest in some good locks for your cargo carrier to prevent someone else from helping himself to your stuff while you're parked. Cargo boxes in particular usually come with locks already installed, but there are additional locks on the market for everything from cargo boxes to snowboard racks. If you have a hitch mounted cargo carrier, be sure to use a lock for your hitch as well, so thieves can't take your stuff and your carrier, too.

There are also some safety issues with cargo carriers that can be addressed with some well-placed accessories. Since it's mounted on top of the car, a roof-mounted cargo box doesn't get in the way of brake lights, but this can be a problem with rear-mounted cargo carriers. If you have a rear-mounted cargo carrier, you'll want to look into purchasing a brake light kit. These additional brake lights mount onto your rear cargo box and sync with your brake pedal. You might be surprised to find a plug designed just for this purpose beneath the rear of your car. With most brake light kits, you simply mount them and plug them in. There are also some rear-mounted cargo carriers on the market that have brake already built in.

With a well-installed cargo carrier and any necessary additional parts to make it safe, you'll be road tripping in comfort with lots of extra space in no time.

How Cargo Carriers Work (Part 1)

With the effectiveness of modern fertility drugs and the seemingly endless amount of stuff children require when traveling, a family car can get awfully cramped. Fortunately, parents today don't have to choose between leaving one of their kids at home alone to make room for an extra suitcase. Thanks to cargo carriers, a lot more much-needed space comes in a long-overlooked place: outside the vehicle.

A number of companies manufacture cargo carriers that can hold everything from plain old luggage to high-end mountain bikes. These simple marvels of ingenuity make it possible for a person to enjoy his or her favorite (and space-demanding) activities without having to shell out tens of thousands of extra dollars for a larger truck or conversion van. How else can someone speed down the highway with a pair of skis attached to the roof or all of their luggage in tow without buying a big conversion van or pick-up truck? Cargo carriers, that's how.

OK, so you're sold. You can finally put those water skis to use again, or maybe it's time to get back into cycling. There are a lot of choices depending on what kind of uses you'll have for your cargo carrier. If it's extra luggage you've got and a station wagon you drive, a roof rack might work best. If you have a mid-size SUV and like to camp, then a trailer hitch cargo carrier should suit you just fine.

Regardless of whether your cargo carrier is roof-mounted or hitch-mounted, HowStuffWorks can help you install it. You'll be surprised how easy it is. When you're ready to learn, turn to the next page.

There are two places for a cargo rack to be installed: on the roof or to the rear of the car. Both have benefits and drawbacks. Roof-mounted carriers can provide more surface space for your extra stuff, but can cut down on your vehicle's aerodynamics. Roof-mounted cargo carriers can also prove problematic in low clearance height situations like a parking deck. Rear-mounted cargo carriers are helpful because they provide extra space without cutting down on the vehicle's aerodynamics. They do leave your extra cargo vulnerable to fender benders, though.

Whichever you decide is best for you, here's a brief primer for installing a roof- or rear-mounted cargo carrier. We'll start with the roof-mounted carrier. Before we begin, remember to consult your cargo carrier's manufacturer instructions before installing your carrier.

To install a roof-mounted cargo carrier, you're going to need a roof rack. Many automakers build SUVs, wagons, minivans and some sedans with factory-installed roof racks already attached. If your car doesn't have a roof rack, you can install one yourself. Previously, this meant you had to drill holes in your car's roof. Some roof rack systems today circumvent that process by clamping to the car's rain gutters [source: Rack Attack]. These small, curved lengths of metal move water away from your car's windows and serve as a sturdy support for a roof rack. Because of the different designs and locations of rain gutters on cars, be sure to get a roof rack system that's been designed specifically for the make, model and year of the car you have.

Considering you've got a roof rack, it's time to mount your cargo carrier. Your roof rack should consist of two raised stationary parallel bars that run front-to-back along your car's roof (side rails) and at least two more moveable parallel bars that run side-to-side along your car's roof (crossbars). With roof-mounted cargo carriers, you have three general options: luggage baskets, which can hold luggage, bikes, kayaks and other items; cargo boxes, enclosed, hard-shell containers that can hold anything you can fit inside; and cargo bags, which are like cargo boxes, but aren't made of sturdy plastic.

Regardless of which type of rooftop carrier you buy, most make use of the width created by sliding the crossbars apart to stabilize the load. With the crossbars apart, the rack or box carriers are installed with brackets and screws that create a clamp to attach and stabilize the carrier to the crossbars. A simple turn of a few screws and most cargo carriers are installed. Be sure to check the tightness of the brackets and screws from time to time, especially on long trips.

If you don't want to install a roof rack, you may want to look into a hitch mounted cargo carrier. Almost all of these carriers make use of a trailer hitch. Like roof racks, many vehicles are manufactured with trailer hitches installed. If you don't have a trailer hitch, install a 1-1/4-inch (3.175 centimeter) interchangeable hitch. This allows you easily to switch between a ball hitch for towing and a cargo carrier.

There are a variety of rear-mounted cargo carriers. Most of them slide easily into the interchangeable hitch. A cargo tray, for example, is much like a roof-mounted luggage rack, with a sturdy frame that slides into the trailer hitch. If you have a cargo carrier that requires a larger or smaller trailer hitch receiver, this is easily fixed with an adapter.

You've got your basic cargo carrier installed, but wait, there's more. Read about some of the accessories and additional parts you may need.

Ten Tips for Hauling -- Without an SUV

With gas prices as volatile as a swarm of bees that just had their honey stolen, the SUV market has started to shatter. If you drive a big SUV or pickup truck, you're probably trying to think of ways to save fuel, or – gasp – getting rid of that big vehicle and driving a fuel-efficient sedan or coupe. But you probably bought that truck for a reason -- you need to carry people and or lots of stuff. Don't despair. There are options if you decide to ditch the behemoth.

If you're used to throwing everything from bicycles to sports equipment to home improvement material in the back of your SUV, abandoning it for a smaller more efficient car doesn't have to mean abandoning your active lifestyle. There are plenty of simple, creative solutions to enhance the utility of your ordinary car. Just use common sense when you load up, and you can safely transport an amazing load of equipment and people in a smaller vehicle. Here are 10 tips and products to help you out.

Tip #1: Install a trailer hitch

If you're serious about getting the most out of your car as a gear-hauler, you're going to want to install a trailer hitch. SUVs and pickup trucks usually come equipped with a receiver from the factory. Most cars today built are unibodies or monocoques (meaning that the body pieces and structural elements are all fused together into one structural element), as opposed to body-on-frame construction (where the body pieces are attached to an underlying frame). In general, body-on-frame vehicles are more robust, and have higher tow ratings, but unibodies can still be equipped with trailer hitches. U-Haul is an excellent source for information about hitches and towing, and sells self-install tow hitches starting at around $120.

Tip #2: Know your limits

Overloading your car can be disastrous. It's not only dangerous, it's also potentially damaging to your vehicle. You can damage your suspension components, wheels and tires, ruin your transmission and over-tax your engine if you aren't careful. Check your owner's manual for payload limits and towing capacities before you start piling cargo in and on your vehicle. And don't forget to account for the weight of passengers when you calculate your payload -- a sedan full of six adults could weigh a thousand pounds or more, especially if you've got big friends.

Tip #3: Bring the bicycles

Riding a bike is fun but you've got to get your bicycle to the starting point. There are several safe, efficient ways to transport your bike outside a sedan.

Toss it on the trunk: For a temporary mount that doesn't require any permanent alteration to your car, a trunk-mounted carrier is a great choice. Tuckerman Racks has models that start as low as $100.

Rack it on the roof: Take advantage of that lower profile, and mount a specialty bike rack on your car's roof. Yakima makes several models starting at around $150. Just watch out for low-hanging branches and avoid urban parking garages.

Strap it to the spare: Some small crossovers, like the Toyota RAV4, store their spare tire on the tailgate. Allen Racks and other companies make bike carriers that use the spare tire mount as a support for bike racks starting around $100.

Hook it on the hitch: If you followed Tip #1, and you have a hitch receiver installed on your car already, there's a wide variety of hitch-mounted bicycle racks to choose from, including Hollywood Racks, which has models starting at about $125.

Tip #4: Roof rack systems

Just because you're not driving a Tahoe anymore, that doesn't mean you can't get your kayak to the shore. Thule makes a roof rack system (starting at around $320) that can be fitted with a multi-kayak carrier that will have you floating downstream in no time -- just don't forget your paddle.

Tip #5: Soft-sided car top carriers

What if you're going camping and you just need to get your tent to the campsite? Then a soft-sided car top carrier might be the ticket. Piggy Pack makes a variety of weather-resistant carriers that start at just $69.

Tip #6: Streamlined car top boxes

If you're traveling a little further, or if you want a little bit of additional security for your rooftop load, a streamlined car top box, like the ones from Thule, can do the job, starting at around $200. In addition to great protection from the weather, these lightweight fiberglass carriers are designed to reduce wind resistance and noise, so they're quieter and more efficient than soft-sided carriers.

Tip #7: Hitch-mounted cargo carriers

If you are nervous about hauling gear on top of your vehicle, and you followed Tip #1, you could take advantage of a hitch-mounted cargo carrier like the ones from B-Dawg, starting at about $125. Hitch-mounted cargo carriers have distinct advantages over roof-mounted units: They are much easier to load; once loaded, they have a much lower center of gravity and less of a negative effect on vehicle handling. Just don't forget that you've increased your vehicle's effective overall length, so parking and maneuvering in traffic will be a little trickier.

Tip #8: Utility trailers

Sometimes there's just not enough room in or around your car, and you have to think outside the box. A utility trailer, like the ones from Carry-On Trailer, starts at about $500, and will help you carry that lawn mower, picnic bench or new grille home with ease. Many home centers rent utility trailers for short term use – if you've installed a trailer hitch, you can drag that cool sale item home.

Tip #9: Cargo trailers

If you find yourself regularly hauling sensitive large items home, like antique furniture or artwork, you might want to investigate a lightweight cargo trailer like the ones from Wells Cargo, starting at around $1,500. A closed trailer protects your cargo from prying eyes, from the weather and from the effects of wind in transit. You can also rent cargo trailers from U-Haul and other retailers, starting as low as $14.95 per day.

Tip #10: Tow dollies

Sometimes you're doing the towing, sometimes you're being towed. If you've got too much stuff to fit inside, on top of or behind your car, maybe you should consider renting a cargo van or truck and hooking your car up on a car tow dolly, like one from Tracy Performance , starting at about $1,400. Most cars can be safely towed with a dolly -- then when you arrive at your destination, you've got your stuff, and you've got your car for quick trips. In some cases, it's the best of both worlds.

And all you can do that all without a full-sized SUV or pickup truck.

Better Roadtripping Through Hitch Mounted Cargo Carriers

Every year I swear, "We're never doing this again!" And, every year, exactly 12 months later, I find myself in the same bad situation: struggling to fit all the presents, all the suitcases and all the toys into the family van to make the trip to Grandma's for Christmas. This past Christmas was especially bad because now three out of my four kids are old enough to ski, so we took all their skiing gear too. We ended up with an extremely large duffle bag, two sleds, one suitcase and a cardboard box strapped to the roof. It was a wonder we ever hit 75 mph.

Once we got on the highway, I noticed we weren't the only ones with too many people and too much stuff to fit it all in the car; lots of families seem to be in the same situation near the end of December, but some of them manage it a little better. A lot of people have roof top carriers. Those are a nice option; they look good and can carry a lot of gear. They do have a couple of drawbacks though: their weight limits tend to be rather low, and there is always the possibility that they will blow open mid ride (this has happened to my friend a couple of times!) Plus, they are awkward to load. A few people are starting to solve their cargo problems with hitch mounted cargo carriers. I like those! And they're very simple: a platform on a hitch mount! Looking at hitch mounted cargo carriers on the web, I found prices ranging from $185 for a good size, 500lb capacity cargo carrier to almost $1300 for a top of the line, fully enclosed, hitch mounted cargo box. Basically, you can get a nice cargo carrier for under $250, and a hitch mounted cargo box for around $500-$600. Some features to look for include side rails to help hold onto your stuff or to use as anchor points for tie downs or cargo nets. You may want a folding shank that will allow you to fold the carrier up toward your vehicle's rear end when not in use. Other carriers fold in the middle one or two times for easy storage. A few of the carriers had a swing away option that allowed access to the rear of the vehicle. Many provided clearance for spare tires and optional racks for bikes. Most carriers came with one of two platform types: a metal mesh platform that is easy to clean, or a full floor that keeps road spray off your cargo. You might want to look for a light kit as the carrier could block your tail lights. Most cargo carrier manufacturers also put out a line of high quality, weather resistant cargo bags that fit perfectly and secure snugly to their platforms. If you opt for the hitch mounted cargo box, be sure the material is UV resistant and that the box comes with a good lock and comfortable handles. The box should allow adequate clearance from your vehicle so that it can open completely for loading and unloading. Finally, check if you need a light kit or a license plate mounting kit, as both may be blocked by the cargo box. Note that the weight capacity in the cargo boxes is generally lower than the platform style carriers as the weight of the actual box has to be taken into account. If you can think of any other feature you need in a cargo carrier, it's probably available on one of the models out there. Anything you need to carry from garden supplies to golf clubs to camping gear will ride smoothly on your hitch mounted carrier. And the next time we're headed "over the river and through the woods," the family will be comfortably riding in the car while our excess stuff is securely stowed behind us on our new hitch mounted carrier! I can't wait! Remember, anytime you are buying a trailer hitch accessory you need to make sure your hitch is the right size for the accessory. Most of the hitch mounted cargo carriers fit a class III (2 inch) receiver hitch, a few, with a lower weight capacity, are made for class II (1.25 inch) hitches. You can get a conversion kit, but a class II hitch is not manufactured to support the weight that a class III hitch is, so check your owner's manual and don't overload your hitch!