MAXXHAUL70107 53" x 19-1/2" Hitch Cargo Carrier - Trailer Mount Steel With High Side Rails For RV's, Trucks, SUV's, Vans, Cars 2" Receiver 500-lb Load Capacity , Black

I bought this right before a multi-day family ski trip during a brutal Sierra winter storm. It performed perfectly, and with the addition of a cargo bag we were able to carry 2 large plastic bins full of equipment and supplies for the week; bins that we had no room for in the already packed SUV.I had no problems with assembling it, but found that an extra pair of hands for inserting the top brace bolts was useful. It's not, as some say, that the holes don't line up properly; it's that for the two sides to end up straight, stiff, and taught, it requires tension on the top braces. My wife easily helped out with that step in just a couple of minutes, but I could have also managed it myself. Just follow the rule that applies to any assembly like this; don't tighten anything till all fasteners are started. The end result is a rack that feels like it's welded together........very solid.I added a HiTow dual hitch extension which raised the carrier up and away from the exhausts, and up to a more ergonomic height for loading & unloading. I'll use that this summer for carrying a bike rack and trailer at the same time, so it was well worth the $29 extra.I completed the setup with a Marksign 48" x 19" x 20" hitch carrier cargo bag for $39, and couldn't be happier with the compatibility and performance of the setup. Through 6 hours of rain and then freezing blizzard that shut down all roads to Tahoe right after we got through, my stuff arrived perfectly safe and dry. Oh, and I didn't miss climbing up to pack and unpack the cartop carrier, not to mention mounting and un-mounting the cartop carrier. This is so much easier! It's also easier to store. Love it! Oh, it did have a couple of small spots that the paint was damaged from want of better packing materials. But I'm still feeling 5 star happy with this purchase based on perfect functionality and great value.

Very well belt, well designed and easy to put together. I think it's going to be perfect for hauling my garbage cans to the landfill and I'll probably haul all kinds of other things on it too.

I used the MaxxHaul 70209 carrier bag with the MaxxHaul 70107 Hitch Mount Compact Cargo Carrier - 53" x 19-1/2" (Perfect fit); I also used the Cocoweb Chrome C-Lock Heavy Duty Locking 5/8" Inch Hitch Pin with Weather Guard Protection(A little extra cost but 2 of them means you don't come back and find your cargo carrier gone after a restful night in a hotel far from home); a Reese hitch extender/lift and two stabilizers(one on the hitch extender and one on the cargo carrier hitch attachment. I used the Winnerwell Anti Rattle Hitch Tightener for 1.25" and 2" Hitches on the extender and the Towever 84701 Super Corrosion Resistant Trailer Hitchs Tightener Stabilizer Cross Clamp No Wobble on the cargo carrier.) Stabilizers are pretty much essential on a cargo carrier.I had 7 different hotel rooms stays over the course of the trip.Didn't want to deal with the deafening wind noise from car topping the carrier bag and it's my understanding that the wind resistance also decreased the overall miles per gallon. (I'm all about comfort and cost savings if I can find the right nexus of them together.)Traveled well over 3000 miles across the country to Yellowstone in the middle of August.Encountered light Rain in Denver for about 45 mins and heavy rain in Oklahoma for about an hour. (The bag had a little water and dirt residue on top from the road, car and rain but everything inside remained completely dry.)Unpacked and repacked each hotel stay 4 medium suitcases, 2 sleeping bags 3 pillows (Heaviest/widest bags to the bottom laying flat provides more stability and stacking two by two suitcases laying flat helps the shaping of the carrier bag.)Straps included are plenty long. Once top ones are connected to the bag they don't need to be taken out. Easy adjustment between top and bottom by lifting buckle. Easy removal from carrier by lifting buckle so feeder cable slides through. Lift zip flap, unzip and lay cover back. No need for an additional ratchet strap or anything.The extender with lift allows the carrier bag to not be exposed to your exhaust tubes and also allows you to lift your rear door if using with a SUV hitch.I found it easier and more attractive to simply have the bag face the vehicle. The blank black side then faces rearward so you're not a traveling advertisement for MaxxHaul.(Though I like their product I simply do not like being a walking/driving billboard). The zipper opens facing the vehicle rather than the rear but with the cargo carrier on the extender hitch you have enough room to sit in your SUV and peak into bag/bags without everyone behind you seeing what you are looking for. (Not being weird but if I'm looking for my charging cable in my suitcase really quickly I don't want everyone seeing all my colored undies :-))There is one thing I had to work on and a suggestion I would make to the manufacturer to make their product pretty nigh perfect. Once cinched down tight the straps tend to trail too long to the ground. Top and bottom buckle are related as far as strap length but even the best placement still meant some straps trailed. I folded them up and tied them back onto the strap using some rubber covered bending wire but some simple velcro straps at the end can easily solve this issue. This kept them snug while on the move and prevented strap flapping in the wind.Great overall set of products that helped make the trip more enjoyable by allowing the kids to stretch their legs a bit more in the cabin and reduce incidents between younger siblings.