We were taking a 2000 mile trip on vacation with our dog-son and want to make sure our dog-son had enough room in the back of our 2015 Toyota Highlander. Did extensive research on hitch cargo carriers and finally decided this Curt model was best for us. Received the item quickly direct from Curt and amazingly the box was in perfect shape. Took the parts out and assembly by my wife and I took about 30 minutes. We followed the assembly video on an iPad and assembly went smooth. All bolt holes matched up and had no problem getting anything to fit. When assembled we slid it into the receiver on the car and put the pin in. Everything fit well. I also bought the stabilizer for the hitch so it didn't giggle and a locking pin so when staying at the motel nobody could steal the cargo carrier unless they had a portable grinding tool. I didn't know if I wanted to buy the fixed carrier or the one that swings up when not in use. I opted for the one that swings up when not in use. This turned out to be the best choice for us. At the motel we unloaded suitcases for the room and put the rest in the rear of the car. By swinging the carrier up, it was out of the way from passing cars in the lot and people walking, a safety plus I felt. And, when the unit is down and in place, we had no problem opening the back hatch door. There is more than enough room to open the back hatch door and gain access to the rear of the vehicle to load and unload(picture shows the distance).
When loaded I estimated we had about 250 pounds of load on the carrier and no sag to the unit. With the small amount of rise the tongue gives on this unit, the loaded carrier at the rearmost was 1 foot from the ground. I wanted a carrier with a rise in the tongue as the receiver on the Highlander is somewhat low on the vehicle.
During the trip we observed no rattling or movement of the carrier. We tried to be careful when pulling into and out of angled driveways like in gas stations or motel. We had a couple of minor scrapes on a couple driveways , but there was no damage at all to the carrier. We also bought some quality Strapinno 3' and 6' retractable ratchet straps. The straps are pricy, but the best I have ever used. I found the ratcket straps to work far superior than bungee cords and was sure our suitcases wouldn't be lost in transit.
All and all, this carrier was exactly what my anal self researched for and found. I would buy it again if I didn't already have it!
| Manufacturer | Curt Manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Brand | CURT |
| Model | Basket Cargo Carrier |
| Item Weight | 70 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 60 x 24 x 6 inches |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Item model number | 18153 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Exterior | Painted |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 18153 |
| OEM Part Number | BKDK18153 |
