Best Luggage Carrier for Car Hitch (3 Picks Compared)

A hitch-mounted luggage carrier bolts into your vehicle’s 2-inch trailer hitch receiver and adds up to 500 lbs of cargo space without touching the roof. The part most reviews skip: that 500-lb rating belongs to the carrier, not to your hitch, and a mismatch there is more common than it should be. We compared three current, in-stock hitch-mount carriers — WEIZE, MaxxHaul, and OKLEAD — on price, real dimensions, and what they actually include, then covered the hitch-rating and license-plate rules that decide whether any of them will work safely on your car.

Quick Answer: 3 Hitch-Mount Luggage Carriers Compared

All three carriers below are currently in stock and share the same 500-lb weight rating and 2-inch receiver fit, so the real differences come down to price, basket size, and what is included in the box.

Carrier	Price	Weight Capacity	Basket Size	Folds?	Included Extras
WEIZE Folding Hitch Mount Cargo Carrier	$149.99	500 lbs	60″ x 20″ x 6″	Yes	Waterproof bag, cargo net, tie-down straps
MaxxHaul 70107 Hitch Cargo Carrier	$61.99	500 lbs	53″ x 19.5″	No	None included
OKLEAD 500 Lbs Heavy Duty Hitch Mount Cargo Carrier	$220.99	500 lbs	60″ x 24″ x 14.4″	Yes	None included

1. WEIZE Folding Hitch Mount Cargo Carrier Basket — Best Overall

The WEIZE basket is built for people who do not want to shop for accessories after the fact. Instead of a bare steel tray, it arrives with a waterproof cargo bag sized to the basket, a cargo net, and ratchet tie-down straps — a bundle that would easily cost $30 to $50 if bought separately for the other two carriers on this list. The steel frame is rated to hold 500 lbs, and the 2-inch folding shank lets the whole unit tip up out of the way when it is not attached to a vehicle, which matters if garage space is tight.

Pros

• 500-lb capacity with a welded steel basket frame.
• Bundled accessories — waterproof bag, net, and straps are included, not sold separately.
• Folding shank lets the basket store flat when it is off the vehicle.
• Standard 2-inch fit works with most SUV and truck hitch receivers.

Cons

• Heavy once assembled — plan on mounting it with a second person or a hitch step for leverage.
• No license plate bracket included, so you will need one separately (see the legal section below).
• 60-inch length adds meaningful rear overhang; measure your parking spots and garage depth first.

Check current price: WEIZE Folding Hitch Mount Cargo Carrier Basket on Amazon.

2. MaxxHaul 70107 Hitch Cargo Carrier — Best Value

The MaxxHaul 70107 strips the concept down to the basics: a welded steel basket, high side rails, and a 2-inch shank, at less than half the price of the other two carriers here. It carries the same 500-lb rating as the pricier options, and the raised side rails do a genuinely good job of keeping irregularly shaped gear — coolers, duffel bags, camping chairs — from sliding off during turns. What you give up is bulk: at 53 inches it is the shortest basket of the three, and it does not fold, so it needs somewhere to sit in the garage between trips.

Pros

• Lowest price of the three by a wide margin.
• High side rails add real security for bulky, irregularly shaped cargo.
• Lightweight for a steel basket, easier for one person to mount alone.
• Fits RVs, trucks, SUVs, vans, and cars with a standard 2-inch receiver.

Cons

• Does not fold, so it needs dedicated storage space when not in use.
• Smallest platform of the three (53″ x 19.5″), which limits how much bulky gear fits at once.
• No bag, net, straps, or license plate bracket included.

Check current price: MaxxHaul 70107 Hitch Cargo Carrier on Amazon.

3. OKLEAD 500 Lbs Heavy Duty Hitch Mount Cargo Carrier — Best for Maximum Capacity

The OKLEAD is the largest basket of the three at 60 x 24 x 14.4 inches, with taller side walls than the WEIZE and a deeper floor than the MaxxHaul. That extra depth and width make it the pick for families hauling multiple large suitcases or camping gear rather than a single duffel, and it still folds up for storage the way the WEIZE does. It is also the most expensive option here, so it is worth measuring what you actually plan to haul before paying the premium for the biggest basket.

Pros

• Largest platform of the three, with the deepest side walls.
• Folding design for easier storage between trips.
• Fits a standard 2-inch receiver, same as the other two.
• Rated for the same 500-lb capacity despite the larger frame.

Cons

• The most expensive of the three carriers compared here.
• Its larger footprint means more rear overhang to account for when parking or backing up.
• No bag, net, straps, or license plate bracket included.

Check current price: OKLEAD 500 Lbs Heavy Duty Hitch Mount Cargo Carrier on Amazon.

Does Your Hitch Actually Support a 500-lb Cargo Carrier?

All three carriers above are rated to hold 500 lbs, and all three need a standard 2-inch receiver — but that receiver size alone does not guarantee your vehicle can actually carry that much weight. Hitch receivers are graded by class, and each class carries its own separate tongue weight rating (the downward force the hitch itself is built to handle):

• Class 1 and Class 2 hitches use a smaller 1¼-inch receiver and are typically rated for roughly 200 to 350 lbs of tongue weight — well under what a fully loaded 500-lb-rated basket can put on the hitch.
• Class 3 hitches use the 2-inch receiver these carriers require and are commonly rated around 500 to 600 lbs of tongue weight, which is the most common setup on midsize and larger SUVs.
• Class 4 and Class 5 hitches, usually found on trucks, carry even higher ratings.

The number that actually applies to you is whichever is lowest: the cargo carrier’s stated capacity, your hitch’s tongue weight rating, or your vehicle manufacturer’s towing/hitch guidance in the owner’s manual. A 2-inch receiver opening tells you a carrier will physically fit — it does not by itself confirm the hitch is rated to carry a fully loaded 500-lb basket. If you are not sure which class your hitch is, the rating is usually stamped on the hitch itself or listed in your vehicle’s towing package documentation.

Is a Hitch-Mount Cargo Carrier Legal? License Plate and Taillight Rules

Hitch-mounted cargo carriers themselves are legal everywhere in the US. The legal risk comes from what a loaded carrier can block, not from the carrier itself. Every state requires your rear license plate to stay visible and legible, and a basket loaded with duffel bags or a cargo bag will often sit directly in front of it. None of the three carriers above include a license plate bracket, so if your carrier blocks the plate, plan on adding one separately — a simple bracket that relocates the plate (often with its own light) to the back of the basket keeps you street-legal without giving up cargo space.

The same overhang that can hide your plate can also block a backup camera, rear parking sensors, or your taillights depending on how tall the load sits. Load heavier, denser items low in the basket and keep anything tall enough to blind your camera toward the center, and double-check your state’s specific rules on plate visibility and maximum rear overhang before a long trip.

Hitch-Mount vs. Roof-Mounted Luggage Carriers

A hitch-mount basket is not the only way to add luggage space to a car. Rooftop cargo bags, baskets, and hard-shell boxes carry weight up top instead of behind the bumper, which avoids blocking your plate or camera but adds wind drag and requires existing roof rails or crossbars to mount. If you are still deciding which style fits your car, our luggage rack for car guide compares all four carrier types — rooftop bags, rooftop baskets, hard-shell boxes, and hitch-mount carriers — side by side on weight limits, fuel economy impact, and price, including a dedicated hitch-mount pick of its own. It is a useful next stop if your car has neither a hitch nor roof rails yet and you are weighing which one to add.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Weight Capacity Of A Hitch-Mount Luggage Carrier?

The WEIZE, MaxxHaul, and OKLEAD carriers compared here are all rated to hold 500 lbs. That figure applies to the basket itself — the real limit for your setup is whichever is lowest among the carrier’s rating, your hitch’s tongue weight rating, and your vehicle’s towing documentation.

Do They Fit A Standard 2-Inch Hitch Receiver?

Yes, all three are built for a standard 2-inch hitch receiver, which is the most common size on SUVs, trucks, and vans equipped with a Class 3 hitch or larger. Measure your receiver opening before buying if you are not sure which size your vehicle has.

Are WEIZE, MaxxHaul, And OKLEAD Hitch Carriers Foldable?

The WEIZE and OKLEAD baskets both fold via a hinged shank for flatter storage when they are off the vehicle. The MaxxHaul 70107 does not fold, so it needs dedicated storage space, but it makes up for that with high side rails for extra cargo security.

Is Assembly Required Before I Can Use A Hitch Cargo Carrier?

Some light assembly is typical — usually attaching the shank to the basket with the included hardware. Basic tools are enough for all three carriers here; follow the manufacturer’s instructions and torque the hardware properly before loading any weight.

Do I Need A Separate License Plate Bracket For A Hitch Cargo Carrier?

Likely yes. None of the three carriers reviewed here include a license plate bracket, and a loaded basket commonly blocks the rear plate. Every state requires the plate to stay visible, so plan on adding a relocation bracket, often sold with its own light, unless your specific load and vehicle already leave the plate fully visible.

Will A Hitch Cargo Carrier Block My Trailer Hitch Or Rear Camera?

Yes, in both cases. A cargo carrier occupies the same receiver you would use for a trailer ball mount, so you cannot tow and run a loaded cargo basket at the same time. The added length and height can also sit in the path of a backup camera or rear parking sensors depending on how tall the load is packed, so keep bulky items low and centered.

Conclusion

Choosing the right luggage carrier for your car hitch comes down to matching the basket to your hitch class and your cargo, not just picking the biggest number on the box. The WEIZE is the best overall pick if you want a complete kit with a bag, net, and straps included. The MaxxHaul 70107 is the best value if you mainly need a compact, no-frills basket. The OKLEAD is the right call if you consistently haul more gear than a 53-inch or 60-inch-by-20-inch basket can hold.

Whichever one you choose, confirm your hitch’s actual tongue weight rating before loading it to 500 lbs, and budget for a license plate bracket if your loaded basket covers the plate. Getting those two details right matters more than the brand name on the basket.