Note 1: Also purchased the Amazon Basics Expandable Hitch Rack Cargo Carrier Bag, Black, 9.5 cu. ft. expandable to 11.5 cu. ft., 3M 3432 Red Micro Prismatic Sheeting Reflective Tape, 0.125" X 5yd (1 Roll), CURT 45770 Receiver Tube Adapter, and the MaxxHaul 70050 Heavy Duty 5/8"- Hitch Locking Receiver Pin With 2 Keys. I will cross-post this review with a review of those items. Note 2: This review is mine alone and was completed without reimbursement of any kind. Note 3: I live and work overseas. You cannot find US-spec hitch haulers in Germany or on Amazon.de. I used the Amazon Garage and looked at items that would fit my vehicle, however, those items were not available for shipping to an APO (Army Post Office) due to size, weight, or the vendor doesn’t ship to APO addresses. Therefore, I opted for shipment to my German address. The shipping cost was high but I needed this hitch hauler for long-distance trips with a vehicle full of people and little room left for luggage inside the vehicle. A cargo bag on the roof was a cheap option but it can be a mileage killer. Hitch haulers are much easier to load and don’t reduce mileage as much as a roof-top carrier. I purchased the CURT Cargo Basket (48-inch) for use with my US-spec 2015 Highlander LE AWD. I have a factory-installed hitch with a 2” receiver. This item comes with a plastic U-shaped receiver insert to convert the 1-1/4” shank on the Curt Cargo Basket to fit a 2” receiver. Some reviews for the cargo basket noted a wiggle or “play” when using the plastic insert. After test fitting this on my vehicle I can attest to those reviews being spot on. So, I ordered the CURT 45770 Receiver Tube Adapter and the MaxxHaul 70050 Heavy Duty 5/8"- Hitch Locking Receiver Pin With 2 Keys. After fitting the adapter and hitch locking pin first, then the 1-1/4” shank into the adapter, the fit is much more snug. It’s not perfect but there is less “play.” As you will see in the pictures, right out of the box without using the Curt Receiver Tube Adapter, there is about 4-1/2” of offset from the factory-installed receiver to the basket itself. This is enough room for my lift gate to operate with or without the Amazon Basics Bag in place. With the receiver adapter in place, and using the threaded 1/2" hitch pin, there is about 9” of offset and it seems to be just a little too much offset as if there’s not enough of the shank inserted into the receiver adapter (opinion). With the receiver adapter in place and the shank pushed in a little further, past the threaded hole, it feels more secure and there’s about 8” of offset. I’ll use a locking 1/2" hitch pin without threads in this configuration. I also purchased red micro reflective tape and placed that on the sides and back of the cargo basket for more reflectivity. The cargo basket comes with one support that has a small amount of red reflective tape and I didn’t think that was enough. Also, for European drivers, neither your license plate nor your tail lights can be obscured like it is with a bicycle rack. The combination of the cargo carrier and the cargo carrier bag, even when completely full, do not block either my license place or my tail lights. Separately, the Amazon Basic Cargo Carrier Bag is thick, waterproof, and has one zipper to expand the bag and a double zipper to open the bag. The double zippers open away from each other when opening the bag. They and are covered by an overhanging lip with Velcro (hook and pile tape) and the zipper has a waterproofing right up to where the teeth come together. If you’ve ever used a waterproof bag you understand what I mean. The top of the bag has 2” attachment straps with plastic friction adapters (with teeth) that are long enough to wrap around the cargo carrier and back thru the plastic adapters for a secure hold. In the attached pictures you’ll see that I put a medium size cooler and two carry-on size pieces of luggage into the bag with room to spare upward. Most of the width and length are fully used with these three items. Regarding the lock, it works as advertised. The keys turn to the right to unlock the locking head from the hitch pin body. The only drawback is the keyhole cover. The “O-ring” that holds it on to the hitch pin body is very close to the end of the locking head and easily comes off. Other designs put that design feature more towards the receiver side and not the keyhole side. Overall, I like the components I purchased. I have not road-tested anything at this time although I expect all the products to perform well. I may post a follow-up review in late autumn after I take a 650-mile, multi-nation Euro Trip this fall. The reflective red tape was easy to unroll, remove the paper backing from the adhesive, and apply to the cargo carrier’s upper and lower bars for more reflectivity. We’ll see how well it holds after a road trip in hot, cold, wet, and snowy weather. More to follow.
