Guide
6 Best Cargo Carriers for Trucks & SUVs
Best hitch cargo carriers for trucks and SUVs, verified on Amazon: CURT, MaxxHaul, WEIZE and Arksen baskets and a ramp carrier — capacities and sizes from the makers.
The short answer: the CURT 18153 is the default — a 60 × 24in steel basket whose bent shank keeps it off the ground behind a lifted truck. The MaxxHaul 70108 is the same job at half the weight in aluminum, the WEIZE bundles the bag, net and straps everyone buys second, the ARKSEN is the budget platform, the MaxxHaul 50945 adds a real loading ramp, and the 70422 is the compact deck for smaller rigs. Every pick was verified against manufacturer data with a checked Amazon listing image on 2026-11-07 — see how we test and verify. One category truth the cards all respect: every verifiable carrier here is rated 500 lb, so capacity does not choose between them — construction, shank and size do. We print no prices; the listing shows today’s. Carriers are one layer of the overland stack — the others are roof racks, bike racks and truck bed tents.
Quick Comparison Table
| Image | Product | Key Feature | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|
 | CURT Basket-Style Hitch Cargo Carrier, 60 x 24 in★ Best Overall | 60 × 24in steel basket, folding bent shank, 500 lb on a 2in receiver. | Check Price |
 | MaxxHaul Aluminum Hitch Cargo Carrier with High Side Rails, 49 x 22.5 in★ Best Lightweight | Extruded-aluminum basket at 24.8 lb — half the steel carriers' weight. | Check Price |
 | WEIZE Folding Hitch Cargo Carrier with Waterproof Bag, 60 x 20 in★ Best Value Kit | 60 × 20in steel folder bundled with waterproof bag, cargo net and straps. | Check Price |
 | ARKSEN Folding Hitch Cargo Carrier, 60 x 23 in★ Best Budget | 60 × 23in steel folding basket at the guide's lowest buy-in. | Check Price |
 | MaxxHaul Aluminum Mobility Cargo Carrier with 47 in Ramp, 50 x 29.5 in★ Best with Ramp | 50 × 29.5in aluminum platform with a 47in folding loading ramp. | Check Price |
 | MaxxHaul Compact Aluminum Hitch Cargo Carrier, 48 x 21 in★ Best Compact | 48 × 21in low-rail aluminum carrier at 22.4 lb. | Check Price |
Detailed Product Reviews
Check Price on AmazonLast checked November 7, 2026
Key specs
- Capacity as listed: 500 lb; receiver: 2in
- Platform: 60 × 24 × 6in per CURT's spec table (the long title says 60 × 23.5 × 5.5 — table followed)
- Construction: steel mesh basket, 6in rails
- Shank: bent, folding — raises the load and folds up when empty
- Type: cargo carrier
- SKU: 18153
Why we recommend it
Basket carriers live or die on three things: the welds, the shank, and the mesh floor. The 18153 is the established answer on all three, with 6in rails that contain real cargo and a mesh floor that sheds water and mud instead of pooling it. For this site's readers the shank is the headline: a bent shank lifts the basket's ride height, which is departure angle you keep on a lifted truck with a long rear overhang. One sourcing note: a stale Amazon crawl showed no featured offers for this ASIN while fresh mirror crawls (2–4 days old) show it in stock, sold by Amazon — we follow the fresh evidence.
From the Amazon listing
- Heavy-duty tubular steel basket with mesh floor and rust-resistant powder-coat/E-coat finish
- 6-inch tall side rails keep bulky cargo contained and give tie-down points around the basket
- Folding bent (angled) shank raises the basket for ground clearance on lifted trucks and folds up against the vehicle when empty
Best for: The default buy for 2in-receiver trucks and SUVs
Pros
- ✓ Bent shank buys ground clearance — the lifted-truck detail
- ✓ Deep 6in basket rails contain loose cargo
- ✓ CURT's dealer and support network behind it
Cons
- ✗ Steel weight — it is a two-hand carry to the receiver
- ✗ No bag, net or straps in the box
- ✗ Listing title and spec table disagree slightly on dimensions
Check Price on AmazonLast checked November 7, 2026
Key specs
- Capacity as listed: 500 lb; receiver: 2in
- Platform: 49.25 × 22.5in with high rails
- Weight: 24.8 lb per MaxxHaul's manual (a mirror says 21.4 — manual followed)
- Construction: extruded aluminum, rust-free
- Type: cargo carrier
- SKU: 70108
Why we recommend it
Every pound of carrier is a pound of cargo you cannot carry and a pound you wrestle into the receiver alone at a trailhead. The 70108's aluminum basket cuts that to under 25 lb while keeping the same 500 lb rating as the steel field, and it will never rust in a truck bed or garage corner. The trade is platform size — 49 × 22.5in is a cooler-and-totes footprint, not a sheet-goods one — and aluminum's manners under point loads: distribute weight, do not drop a transmission on one rail. Amazon's dimension field for this listing appears to be package size; the platform figures here are MaxxHaul's own.
From the Amazon listing
- Extruded aluminum basket — rust-proof and easy to clean, with a steel under-support frame and hitch shaft
- High side rails (basket 49-1/4 x 22-1/2 x 7-1/4 in outside, 47-1/4 in inside length per the maker's manual) contain cargo and add tie-down options
- 500 lb distributed load capacity at a 24.8 lb unit weight — lightest full basket in this lineup
Best for: Solo users who fit and remove the carrier often
Pros
- ✓ Genuinely one-person fit and removal
- ✓ No rust, ever
- ✓ Same 500 lb rating as the steel baskets
Cons
- ✗ Smallest full basket here
- ✗ Point loads need care on aluminum rails
- ✗ Weight figure conflicts between sources (24.8 followed)
Check Price on AmazonLast checked November 7, 2026
Key specs
- Capacity as listed: 500 lb; receiver: 2in
- Platform: 60 × 20 × 6in, folding steel
- Bundle: waterproof cargo bag, 36 × 60in net, two 12ft straps (2200 lb rated), hitch tightener
- Part number: listing prints both CC-Carrier60-A-W and CCB-1037 — CCB-1037 followed (model field + registry agree)
- Type: cargo carrier
- SKU: CCB-1037
Why we recommend it
Most carriers are a platform; this one is the whole job in one box. The waterproof bag is the piece owners usually buy second — here it is included, sized to the basket, with a net and real straps (12ft, rated) instead of bungee optimism. The carrier itself is a standard 60in steel folder, unremarkable in the best way. For a lifted truck, note the straight folding shank: ground clearance at the basket is lower than the CURT's bent shank, which matters on steep driveways and trailhead dips. The dual part numbers on its own listing are flagged on the card; CCB-1037 is the identity three sources agree on.
From the Amazon listing
- Steel basket, 60 x 20 x 6 in, powder-coated, rated 500 lbs
- Complete kit in the box: waterproof cargo bag, 36 x 60 in cargo net, two 12 ft / 2200 lb tie-down straps and a U-bolt hitch tightener
- Folding 2-inch shank tilts the basket up when empty
Best for: First-time buyers who want the complete kit in one purchase
Pros
- ✓ Bag, net, straps and tightener included
- ✓ Full 60in platform at a value price
- ✓ Everything rated and stated, straps included
Cons
- ✗ Straight shank — less clearance than the CURT
- ✗ Its own listing prints two part numbers
- ✗ Bag quality is bundle-grade, not expedition-grade
Check Price on AmazonLast checked November 7, 2026
Key specs
- Capacity as listed: 500 lb; receiver: 2in
- Platform: 60 × 23 × 5.5in; weight 42.3 lb
- Construction: steel, folding shank
- Sourcing note: this ASIN is sold by third-party sellers on Amazon (no Amazon-sold price history)
- Type: cargo carrier
- SKU: 002-AU-20435
Why we recommend it
The Arksen is the budget expression of the standard formula — 60in steel basket, folding shank, 500 lb — and its verification story is the interesting part: mirror country stores print different ASINs for the same UPC/part number, so this pick rests on the ASIN that the price-tracking record and two mirror spec tables agree on (B011VP2DR0). Expect budget-grade powder coat and hardware, and expect to add your own bag and straps (none are bundled). What you do not give up is the platform size or the rating — the two specs that decide whether the thing works at all.
From the Amazon listing
- Steel folding basket, 60 x 23 x 5.5 in, rated 500 lbs
- Folds up against the vehicle when not in use for parking and storage
- 42.3 lb — the lightest of the 60-inch steel folding baskets in this lineup
Best for: Occasional haulers who need the platform, not the polish
Pros
- ✓ Full-size platform at the lowest cost here
- ✓ Folds for storage and parking
- ✓ Same 500 lb class rating as the premium picks
Cons
- ✗ No bag, net or straps included
- ✗ Third-party sellers only on this ASIN
- ✗ Finish and hardware are budget grade
Check Price on AmazonLast checked November 7, 2026
Key specs
- Capacity as listed: 500 lb distributed; receiver: 2in
- Platform: 50 × 29.5in — the widest deck here, built for wheeled loads
- Ramp: 47in folding, for mowers, generators, mobility devices
- Includes: hitch tightener; carrier weight 48 lb
- Type: cargo carrier
- SKU: 50945
Why we recommend it
A ramp changes what a carrier is for: not boxes you lift, but machines you roll — a generator, a pressure washer, a mower, a mobility scooter. The 50945's 47in ramp folds with the deck, the platform is the widest here, and the rating is stated the honest way for ramp work: 500 lb distributed. On a lifted truck, do the ramp math before buying — a taller receiver means a steeper ramp angle for the same 47in, and low-clearance machines high-center at the hinge. The pick exists because the category's other ramp carrier (Mockins) failed verification outright — documented in What we left out.
From the Amazon listing
- 47-inch folding ramp for rolling loads on and off — scooters, wheelchairs, mowers, compressors and other wheeled gear
- Aluminum basket, 50 x 29.5 in outside (49 x 27.75 in inside), rated 500 lbs distributed
- 1-3/4 inch rung spacing so small caster wheels roll without dropping into gaps
Best for: Rolling heavy gear: generators, mowers, mobility devices
Pros
- ✓ Real ramp, properly integrated and folding
- ✓ Widest deck in the guide
- ✓ Aluminum — 48 lb complete with ramp
Cons
- ✗ Lifted trucks steepen the ramp angle
- ✗ Not a basket — loose small cargo needs containment
- ✗ Mirror prices for this ASIN conflict wildly; check the listing
Check Price on AmazonLast checked November 7, 2026
Key specs
- Capacity as listed: 500 lb distributed; receiver: 2in
- Platform: 48 × 21in, low rails
- Weight: 22.4 lb per the maker's manual (listing fields conflict — manual followed)
- Note: no hitch tightener included with this model
- Type: cargo carrier
- SKU: 70422
Why we recommend it
The compact end of the same MaxxHaul aluminum line: a 48 × 21in deck for the cooler, the tote stack and the firewood run, light enough to hang on a garage wall one-handed. Low rails make it a deck more than a basket — plan on straps or a net for anything tall, and buy the hitch tightener this model omits, because a light carrier with a loose shank rattles like a tambourine. It earns its place for smaller SUVs and mid-size trucks where a 60in steel basket is more carrier than the vehicle wants to carry.
From the Amazon listing
- Extruded aluminum basket — rust-proof, open-floor design that hoses clean after muddy gear
- 500 lb distributed capacity in a 22.4 lb carrier one person can mount and remove
- Low 2-inch side rails: Amazon reviewers on Jeeps and Broncos note the tailgate/spare clears the empty carrier, unlike tall baskets
Best for: Mid-size trucks and SUVs wanting a light, small deck
Pros
- ✓ Lightest pick in the guide
- ✓ Right-sized for smaller vehicles
- ✓ Aluminum: no rust in storage
Cons
- ✗ Low rails contain nothing by themselves
- ✗ Tightener not included
- ✗ Stock was thin at one mirror during verification
Buying Guide: How to Choose a Hitch Cargo Carrier
Your tongue weight is the real capacity
The 500 lb on every box is a class rating for the carrier. Your truck’s limit is its tongue-weight rating minus the carrier’s own weight — and leverage taxes you further, because a carrier’s load sits well behind the receiver. A 60 lb steel carrier plus 400 lb of cargo is not 460 lb of tongue weight; dynamically it behaves like more. Load heavy items tight against the vehicle, keep the total honest, and if your SUV’s tongue rating is 350 lb, the carrier’s 500 lb rating is a rumor.
Shank shape is the lifted-truck spec
Straight, folding and bent (riser) shanks put the basket at different heights. Behind a lifted truck the receiver is already high, but the basket hangs behind and below the bumper line on a straight shank — departure dips, steep driveways and trailhead ruts find it. A bent shank (CURT) buys that clearance back; a folding shank buys parking and storage. Decide which problem you actually have before paying for either.
Basket, deck or ramp is a cargo decision
Baskets (6in rails) contain loose and odd-shaped loads. Flat decks carry big flat things and need straps for everything else. Ramps carry wheeled machines and nothing small without containment. The WEIZE’s bundle is the tell: most owners end up buying a waterproof bag, a net and straps within a month — price the carrier you are comparing with those included or added, not bare.
What we left out, and why
- Mockins XL ramp carrier — identity verified, but Amazon showed no featured offers, every other channel was out of stock on verification day, and no verifiable Amazon image exists on any mirror. The MaxxHaul 50945 took the ramp slot instead.
- VEVOR GJ0020 ramp carrier — fully verified and held as the first alternate; the ramp role was already covered and its source prices conflict too widely to summarize honestly.
- CURT 18110/18100 trays, MaxxHaul 70103, Leader Accessories, KAIRAY — named candidates that never reached a triple match in this pass; excluded rather than guessed.
- Duplicate sibling listings (WEIZE CCB-1037A, ARKSEN B08CRP4FFV) — the same products under second ASINs; only the cleaner-verified listing of each is used.
- Cargo bags sold alone (Rightline Gear, Roamwild) — accessories, not carriers; the WEIZE pick already bundles one.
🏆 Our Top Recommendation
CURT 18153 Basket-Style Hitch Cargo Carrier
If you want one answer: the CURT 18153 is the carrier this category is measured against — a 60 × 24in steel mesh basket on a folding bent shank, rated 500 lb, from the hitch maker whose receiver is probably already on your truck. The bent shank matters on a lifted truck: it raises the basket instead of dropping it toward the dirt.
Basket carriers live or die on three things: the welds, the shank, and the mesh floor. The 18153 is the established answer on all three, with 6in rails that contain real cargo and a mesh floor that sheds water and mud instead of pooling it. For this site's readers the shank is the headline: a bent shank lifts the basket's ride height, which is departure angle you keep on a lifted truck with a long rear overhang. One sourcing note: a stale Amazon crawl showed no featured offers for this ASIN while fresh mirror crawls (2–4 days old) show it in stock, sold by Amazon — we follow the fresh evidence.
Best for: The default buy for 2in-receiver trucks and SUVs
Final Thoughts
Buy the shank for your truck, the platform for your cargo, and the bundle math honestly. Most owners land on the CURT and are done; weight-sensitive and smaller-rig owners land on the MaxxHaul aluminums; anyone rolling a generator needs the ramp. Whatever you choose, add a hitch tightener if the box lacks one, and weigh the loaded carrier once on a scale if you can — the number will teach you more than any rating plate. The rest of the carrying stack is in roof racks and bike racks.
Frequently asked questions
Why is every carrier rated at exactly 500 lb?
Because 500 lb is what a 2in receiver's practical tongue-weight class supports once the carrier's own weight and leverage are counted — it is a class ceiling, not a coincidence. Your real limit is lower: the vehicle's tongue-weight rating (often 500–750 lb on half-tons, less on SUVs) minus the carrier's weight, with the load's distance behind the receiver multiplying its effect. A 500 lb load on a carrier is a serious ask of most hitches; pack heavy items closest to the vehicle.
Steel or aluminum carrier?
Steel for abuse and price: it shrugs off point loads, dragging and weather, and costs less — at 40–60+ lb to fit and remove. Aluminum for handling and corrosion: half the weight, no rust, the same 500 lb class rating, but distribute loads across the deck rather than dropping them on a rail. If the carrier lives on the truck, steel; if it lives in the garage between uses, aluminum.
Does a lifted truck change which carrier to buy?
Two ways. Clearance: a carrier hangs low behind the truck, so a bent/riser shank (the CURT here) preserves departure angle where a straight shank drags on dips and trailheads. Loading: your receiver sits higher, so ramps get steeper (the MaxxHaul 50945's 47in ramp is the case to check) and lifting a heavy tote onto the basket is a taller lift. Neither rules a carrier out — both belong in the decision.
Can I use a hitch carrier with a tailgate pad or bed tent?
Yes — they occupy different spaces, and it is a common overland stack: bikes on the tailgate pad (see our bike racks guide), cargo on the hitch carrier, tent in the bed. Watch the total: pad plus bikes plus a loaded carrier all hang off the back half of the truck, and the carrier blocks the tailgate from opening fully on many setups. Load order matters — bed first, pad second, carrier last.
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