How did I use my hitch carrier? Why did I stop using it? What do I use instead? Continue reading for my answers and to learn some pros and cons about hitch-mounted cargo carriers.
On this trip (in the photo), we were traveling with our teenage daughter and our geriatric cat. The cat spent the majority of her time sleeping on a folded seat back. She also had run of the trunk where her litter box was set. There was a duffel bag and computer bags in the trunk, too.
All of our luggage for the three-day weekend was on the carrier in a weather-resistant bag. Keep in mind that I had a trailer at my disposal for about 20 years at this point. But the cargo carrier was more compact and easier for driving and parking… cheaper on the toll roads, too.
Unlike my Jettas, with their license plates mounted on high trunk lids, the Golfs and GTIs have their plates mounted below the bumper top. This is no good for cargo carriers, in my opinion. Driving with an obscured plate is begging for unwanted attention. I’m supportive of our police and highway patrol officers, but I don’t want to talk to them for ANY reason when I’m on a drive, especially when I have a schedule I want to keep.
Sure, I could temporarily move the license plate to the carrier, but I don’t want to deal with that as often as I had installed/removed the carrier. The bag in the photo also interferes with the tailgate differently than it did on a Jetta (shorter throw on a trunk lid).
That meant our tiny trunk would carry food, drinks, and a freezer while our luggage rode outside. I was eager to use my “baby trailer” on a road trip, but our hosts lived in a downtown area with limited parking. Thankfully, I had plenty of time to plan and was prepared to finally buy my first rooftop cargo box.
I kept the hitch carrier because it’s still great for transporting a pair of bicycles. I’ve drafted a list of pros and cons between my three cargo carrying options. I was going to include the list below, but I’ve decided that it’s comprehensive enough to stand on its own. I will share it soon. Until then, here are the pros and cons of the hitch-mounted cargo carrier:
Pros
- Least expensive option if you already have a hitch (regardless, hitches are inexpensive)
- Wet items are free to dribble on the ground instead of in a container or on the rooftop
- Keeps cargo in the car’s draft with almost no impact on fuel economy
- Relatively quick/easy to mount and dismount
- Easy to load, unload, clean, and store
- Does not touch or scratch the paint
- Completely silent
Cons
- Cumbersome to lock to the hitch receiver (requires contortion to reach the hitch pin)
- Cargo is not protected from weather unless packed in weatherproof container or bag
- Tall loads may obscure the tail lights, which would necessitate additional lighting
- Cargo is more vulnerable to theft unless packed in a lockable container (weighs more)
- “Invisible” to inattentive drivers when unloaded (yes, mine’s been hit a few times)
- Difficult to judge backing distances when reversing in tight parking situations (crunch)
- Rear camera is useless because I cannot see rear edges of the carrier when it is loaded
- May obscure the license plate and draw unwanted attention from police
- 100% of extra weight is focused on the rear tires
- Can tend to rock or jiggle in the receiver
- May interfere with trunk/hatch opening
- People will inevitably sit or stand on it
More Info – Despite the specs that say the carrier can hold 300+ lbs, the hitch is the limiting factor for weight capacity. Most passenger car hitches are Class 1 and rated for 2000 lbs of towing with a 200-lb tongue limit. But the car’s tongue limit is often less. Do your research!
VW’s passenger car tongue capacity is 175 lbs. The cargo carrier weighs ~40 lbs and cantilevered weight on a carrier amplifies the force applied to the hitch. A prudent driver should consider limiting the carrier’s load to 100 lbs, including whatever container is used to hold loose cargo.
Not Enough Capacity,
Scott
PS: Here are some photos of the carrier in use…
