Hitch Haul Cargo Carriers - any experience with them?

Native Hunter

Native Hunter

5 year old buck +
I've been thinking about buying one of those hitch haul cargo carriers and wondered if anyone here has any experience with them. My main reason would be for the ease of one person loading a deer, rather than having to get it all the way up in a truck bed. I just bought a Chevy Colorado 4WD that sets up off the ground really high. I shouldn't have to drive anywhere really rough where the hitch hauler would scrape the ground. Let me know your thoughts on these if you have used one.

Example from Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Rockland-Hea...-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1
 
I have a pair of them and find them very useful. I've been trying to find one large enough to get my snow blower on, but I may and up making one. My first one was on a car, I put a hitch on it solely for the carrier.

Can't really recommend a brand as I don't recall (100%) who made it. (ETA: Either a Reese or a Curt) Wasn't cheap at the time, a good deal more than they seem to be now, but it was probably the late 90's and still going strong. (2nd ETA: This one seems to be a knock off of it.) I bought it mail order from a catalog, pre internet. Also have a cheap aluminum one I got off Amazon that I actually made smaller, just big enough to hold a large cooler. Oh here, poorly made, welded crooked.

Only problem I've had with it is people running into me. I put reflectors on it, lights on it, more lights on it then a flag... and people still hit me. lol Two or three times on the road in bumper to bumper traffic, once in a parking lot and once at a drive through. lol

And now that I'm looking at my Amazon history, I remember I have one of these. Good idea, poorly executed. Flawed design it bent and sagged, I had to reenforce it with angle steel. Viking.
 
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I've had a couple over the years, none with tall sides though. I like to cut a piece of treated plywood to use as a base. Have carried many things large and small on them over the years. Ratchet straps keep everything secure in place. I won't travel long distances on wet or dirty roads with a deer on back but when it's dry it's a go as long as your exhaust doesn't blow right on it. Not me but many a melted cooler on these things.
 
They're excellent. A very underrated piece of equipment. You should be able to get one for less than half the price of the one you are looking at. Then buy yourself a couple ratchet straps or some good bungees, and you're golden.
 
I've had one for several years. Don't use it often, but it is useful for purposes like you want. I hauled a load of bikes and miscellaneous stuff to AZ with one. Only concern is that it likes to rock if the receiver is a bit loose fit. I use some ratchet straps and the problem is resolved.
 
I have a cheaper aluminum one from Harbor Freight and it does all I need it to do. I did find one at Academy Sports for around $125 that will be replacing my current one with if I ever get a wild hair to do so. They are great for camping hauling deer etc… if you have an SUV.

Wife and I both drive 4Runners, so they work great for us.
 
When the ground is wet, your deer may get back to the house covered in mud.
 
bjseiler said:
When the ground is wet, your deer may get back to the house covered in mud.
Click to expand...

Always a good idea to keep a cheap tarp in the car.
 
Foggy47 said:
I've had one for several years. Don't use it often, but it is useful for purposes like you want. I hauled a load of bikes and miscellaneous stuff to AZ with one. Only concern is that it likes to rock if the receiver is a bit loose fit. I use some ratchet straps and the problem is resolved.
Click to expand...
I forgot to add here......that one of those "hitch rattle stoppers" can prevent some of the movement of the hitch with the platform. Get a decent one with a bolt or two to secure it to the receiver.


 
 
We used one 1 time on trip to Colorado. Stopped for for drug pulling in entrance. Then we got to friends place and took empty coolers off and was leaving them there and driving to trail head I hear something and look in mirror and the damn thing is chasing me up the mountain road.I stop get extra pin out and put in back on.Seven days later driving back out from trailhead found pin that fell out about a mile from where the carrier fell out. Some guys I know cut a piece of plywood and have holes for handles and put deer on it and lever the plywood to lift deer.
 
Note that I used to have a custom made one that was really heavy duty. It was also so heavy you almost needed a second person to get it in the receiver. What a PIA that was. Sold it and this is the one I bought (think it was on sale for $49.99). https://www.harborfreight.com/500-l...rgo-carrier-92655.html?_br_psugg_q=hitch+haul

This is the replacement I want. A little less than I thought at $100. https://www.academy.com/p/magellan-outdoors-aluminum-hitch-carrier
 
I haven't used my cargo carriers in a few years, but still use bike backs on the truck. I add safety chain to mine, so if you loose the pin it doesn't go flying out.

When I have fought getting a deer into a trunk or whatever, I would put the head in, then ratchet strap it in best you can. Then, put the other half in. Better than trying to get it all in one shot.

I used to live in long island / NYC area before moving back to rural upstate NY where I grew up. The game wardens would be checking tailgates and back racks for deer at the bridge toll booths. They'd scott me right by, deer was quarterd in the cooler in the trunk....... I do things on the up and up, but they got ticket quotas and can nitpick. Outta sight outta mind.
 
Northern Tool has the Ironton model (capacity 450#) on sale for $80 starting tomorrow. They also have offers to save an additional $10 off any $50 purchase.
 
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