Anyone have a hitch mounted cargo rack?

[Hokie]

Here's what I'm thinking about getting/making

Does anyone have one of these? if so, what are your thoughts/opinions on it? Do you ever drag it on the ground when driving? (Obviously it won't be used for 'wheelin' b/c of the lack of any departure angle)

I'm getting tired of having my grille and cooler in the truck b/c they always get dirty/greasy and bring that mess inside.

 

[ExplorerSportNu]

You have reached an all new redneck low, your x will now have an obese rear end Just get a yakima loadwarrior, it only has a weight capacity of 150lbs I believe, but you will still be able to tie down a pony barrell and thats 3.45 cases of anheuser's finest

 

[Hokie]

You have reached an all new redneck low, your x will now have an obese rear end Just get a yakima loadwarrior, it only has a weight capacity of 150lbs I believe, but you will still be able to tie down a pony barrell and thats 3.45 cases of anheuser's finest

You try to lift a 48qt cooler full of shrimp and ice (weighing 69 lb) to the roof rack of a lifted explorer (my roof rack stands at 6'-3")

I want to have something to use tailgaiting/camping and i'd get much better mpgs if i could have the cooler/grille behind the vehicle instead of on the roof

 

[appx91]

Yea I have one. I loved it I have one of the canvas covers for mine as well. I took all kinds of stuff in mine when I went to Orlando and Daytona. I agree about the roof rack man been there done that too much trouble. My surco rack is for spare tire and hi lift jack thats it and maybe some gas or something.

 

[ExplorerSportNu]

You try to lift a 48qt cooler full of shrimp and ice (weighing 69 lb) to the roof rack of a lifted explorer (my roof rack stands at 6'-3")

Thats what the hi jack lift is for duh j/k and there's nothing better than seeing 2-3 drunks trying to lift a pony onto a roof rack that sits about 8 1/2ft high

I want to have something to use tailgaiting/camping and i'd get much better mpgs if i could have the cooler/grille behind the vehicle instead of on the roof

Well now I didn't know we were going for mpg's here, with 33's theres no such thing as good mpg's to begin with so that never even factors into my equation.

 

[Texplorer]

I made my own and I love it. I used it so I could put my spare 33" tire on it for a cross country trip, I didnt want it on my roof for the trip. I only dragged it on the ground once at it was on a very steep driveway, never on normal street driving conditions. They are very easy to make also.

 

[Hokie]

I made my own and I love it. I used it so I could put my spare 33" tire on it for a cross country trip, I didnt want it on my roof for the trip. I only dragged it on the ground once at it was on a very steep driveway, never on normal street driving conditions. They are very easy to make also.

Tex did you draw it up yourself? You don't have any plans for it do ya?

I have a friend with a MIG welder so i'm thinking about making one myself. How much did it cost you to make it?

I'm thinking some square tubing or some L shaped channel steel and i'm in business. Then just some 1"x3/16" welding steel from Lowes to make the basket

 

[99ExSport]

I have one of those racks that I use for camping. I use it on my stock Explorer Sport, and probably drag it about two or three times a trip, going in and out of parking lots and stuff. Like I said though, it's a stock sport which means it has the crappy monoleafs in the back. With your 4 door leafs, and lift shackles you shouldn't really have any problems.

 

[Texplorer]

Hokie, I just used L channel steel, 2" and 1" square tubing. Used the L steel for the rectangular outside of the bastket. Put some metal mesh for the floor of the basket. Underneath I ran the 1" square tubing on each side for some support of the floor of it. Then I ran a 1/2 metal dowl from the 1" floor support square tubing to the 2" square tubing, thats in the middle of the basket, for lateral support. I understand that more than likey none of this makes any sense what so ever. I think I just confused myself.

 

[Bruce Rock]

Appx91: where did you get the canvas cover?

 

[A Wise Guy]

I have a mini one that fits 1 1/4" recievers. It carries a 25 quart Igloo cooler and also has a canvas cover. One of the best accessories I ever bought for my motorcycle.

 

[IAmTodd]

Performance Products has a decent one by Hidden Hitch for a reasonable price. I'm going to see if welding at school will build me one(need a hitch first!!) I'd also like to get lights in mine and just give it a normal 4 pin trailor connector, just for a little added insurance.

 

[have2goski]

I used a "do it yourself" kit to make one for my parents trip out west.

Kit was $40 from summit and the box was $35 at walmart. Kept everything dry and keeps the long highway drives quiter than piles on the roof. Couple of bolts and a little welding and cutting on an old bed frame and you're good to go. The kit basically has a 2" bar about 24" long and 2 cross peices. I made a small sub frame for the box (welded) and then used 4 bolts to hold the box to the frame.

here is a pic on his old envoy. Please no comments on my sister.

and "off-roading" well not exactly but its not paved. Not bad for an executive in his company car

hopefully you see this before yahoo! yanks the pictures off

edit; Yahoo! pictures stinks...go cardoamain.com!!

 

[Trckmagik]

Here is the rack I use on my LImited all the time. I had mine painted to match the Limited

 

[Hokie]

Thanks gents!

 

[IAmTodd]

Trckmagik- Is that one that you can buy, or did you make it? Thats exactly what I'm looking for! What are the dimensions?

 

[Hokie]

Welp, she's done boys! (Been done for over a month now but I finally got everything painted and ready to go) I went the extra mile and modified my mtn bike rack to hold my white water kayak when I drive the 3.5 miles from my house to the beach

check it out