Hitch mounted secure cargo storage with clearance?

[PeterInCO]

I'm considering some hitch mounted cargo storage. Design goals:

1. I can still open the back gate/door while it's loaded. (swing away arm?)
2. A secure cargo box that is lockable and locked attached to the hitch
3. Some rise to give better clearance on easy 4wd roads.

I'm already looking at the Yakima back swing. Open to considering others. I've seen some risers, too. Not sure about best combinations and peoples recs for basket/box.

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[AndySpill]

I'm considering some hitch mounted cargo storage. Design goals:

1. I can still open the back gate/door while it's loaded. (swing away arm?)
2. A secure cargo box that is lockable and locked attached to the hitch
3. Some rise to give better clearance on easy 4wd roads.

I'm already looking at the Yakima back swing. Open to considering others. I've seen some risers, too. Not sure about best combinations and peoples recs for basket/box.

Hey again Peter.

There's a couple of things us Wrangler owners agree on. One, I think, is that there's more things available for us to customize our rides with than disposable income to spend on such gear.

In that spirit I'm going to suggest the low budget approach, reasoning the money saved can always go elsewhere. If that's not your plan, I completely respect that.

In order to open your cargo door you'll need to distance your carrier from it or buy (read lots of $) one that can maneuver out of the way. Here's where a hitch extender comes in handy.

https://www.harborfreight.com/autom...hes-receivers/12-in-hitch-extender-69882.html

You can find these on, for example, ebay for much greater lengths, but bear in mind that a rule of thumb I read is that for each foot in length such extenders are rated at, that you should reduce the load at the end of it by about 50%.

You can stick one of these at the end of the extender.

https://www.harborfreight.com/autom...lb-capacity-aluminum-cargo-carrier-92655.html

https://www.harborfreight.com/autom...0-lb-capacity-deluxe-cargo-carrier-66983.html

Perhaps you can secure a locking cargo box to one of the these carriers.

Finally, I like these hitch pins (you'll need at least two if working with a hitch extender), not simply because they lock, but eliminate vibration.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HVVVERO?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_4

Good luck.

 

[AndySpill]

I should have mentioned that something like this might address both criteria 1 and the one I missed, 3..., positioning the cargo carrier on the higher receiver of the 2 on this hardware

https://www.harborfreight.com/dual-hitch-extender-69881.html

 

[PeterInCO]

I should have mentioned that something like this might address both criteria 1 and the one I missed, 3..., positioning the cargo carrier on the higher receiver of the 2 on this hardware

https://www.harborfreight.com/dual-hitch-extender-69881.html

Thanks, Andy. I opted for a Yakima backswing, so I can just swing the carrier away when I want to open the back door. I also bought a maxxhaul 48x22 aluminum carrier. I'm gong to hold on any sort of riser until I see how these fit and what sort of departure angle I end up. I just need it to get me over cinnamon and engineer pass roads in CO.

Now, I'm looking at box options - all the way from cheaper locking totes to more expensive cargo boxes. Might look at the soft bags, too, like Mockins makes, but a bit concerned about putting anything of value in there while parked at a restaurant or hotel.

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