Short answer: for most people with a 2-inch receiver, buy the CURT 18153 : a 60-by-24-inch folding steel basket rated for 500 lb by CURT. If you want a lighter fixed aluminum tray, look at the CURT 18113 . Choose the ramped CURT 18112 only for loads that roll, and the StowAway2 Standard when you need a lockable enclosed box. Check every applicable limit: cargo must meet the carrier rating, and carrier plus cargo must meet the vehicle and hitch accessory limits. A higher vehicle limit cannot raise the carrier’s limit.

Before you load it, check your load : the calculator finds the lowest of your vehicle, hitch, carrier and extender ratings.

Picks at a glance

Pick Who it is for Key sourced spec Buy
CURT 18153 folding basket Most 2-inch receiver owners 60 x 24 x 6 in; 500 lb; folding shank; steel View on Amazon
CURT 18113 aluminum tray Buyers who want a lighter aluminum basket 49 x 22.5 in; 500 lb; fixed 2-in shank; about 25 lb View on Amazon
CURT 18112 aluminum with ramp Mobility scooters and other wheeled loads 50 x 30.5 in; 500 lb; three-position ramp; folding shank View on Amazon
StowAway2 Standard box Luggage needing an enclosed, lockable box 12.5 cu ft; 200 lb max load on a 2-in receiver; swing-away frame option Search Amazon for StowAway2 Standard
Yakima EXO GearWarrior Owners of the Yakima EXO SwingBase 60 x 23 x 6.5 in; 22 lb; 250 lb on SwingBase alone Search Amazon for Yakima EXO GearWarrior

CURT 18153 folding basket

CURT lists the 18153 at 60 by 24 by 6 inches outside (60 by 23.75 by 5.5 inside), with a 500 lb rating and a 2-inch shank. The shank folds so the basket can tilt up out of the way when empty, though CURT notes a rear-mounted spare tire may interfere. The finish is a carbide black powder coat over an E-coat, and the warranty is limited lifetime, with the finish and parts covered for one year each.

The trade-off: it is steel with a mesh base, so keep road salt off it and rinse the folding joint. See the CURT 18153 review for the bin-fit math.

CURT 18113 aluminum tray

A one-piece welded aluminum basket, 49 by 22.5 inches with 4-inch walls, 500 lb rating and a fixed 2-inch shank. CURT’s description gives about 25 lb, which leaves more of your tongue-weight budget for cargo. Limited lifetime warranty.

The trade-off: the shank does not fold, so it sticks out whenever it is on the car, and the walls are low for loose items.

CURT 18112 aluminum carrier with ramp

Fully welded aluminum, 50 by 30.5 inches, 500 lb rating, with a double-folding three-position ramp and a folding 2-inch shank that CURT says fits Class 3, 4 and 5 hitches. CURT does not list the ramp length or width, so measure your equipment against the carrier before you order.

The trade-off: a ramp earns its place only for wheeled equipment. The carrier and ramp weight comes out of the same tongue-weight budget as the cargo.

StowAway2 Standard cargo box

StowAway2 lists a molded box with 12.5 cu ft of storage (the page also says 16 cu ft in one place; we use 12.5), 49 x 21 x 24 inches outside, about 47 lb for the box and about 94 lb with the SwingAway frame. Maximum load is 200 lb on a 2-inch receiver and 125 lb on a 1.25-inch receiver, and StowAway2 says the vehicle needs at least 350 lb of tongue-weight capacity. It has LED taillights and a lighted plate bracket, and a 10-year limited warranty. The SwingAway frame rotates to open the rear door; the fixed frame does not. Compare the current complete-package price, including the required frame.

The trade-off: the complete carrier is substantial to lift and store, and rear-facing exhaust may need a maker-approved shield. The StowAway2 review covers fit in detail.

Yakima EXO GearWarrior

A steel basket, 60 x 23 x 6.5 inches and 22 lb, that mounts on the EXO SwingBase or TopShelf. It is rated 250 lb on the SwingBase alone , 110 lb when the TopShelf is also fitted and 80 lb on the TopShelf. The SwingBase is a separate purchase; compare the full current system price, not the basket alone.

The trade-off: you are buying a system, not a basket. If you do not already own an EXO base, compare the CURT carriers against the full EXO cost and your need for swing-away access.

How to choose

  1. Find the vehicle tongue-weight limit and the receiver rating in the manual or on the hitch label. Add the empty carrier weight to your cargo; the total must stay under the lowest number.
  2. Wheeled load: ramp model. Luggage needing enclosure: the box, with separate protection for water-sensitive items. Everything else: an open basket.
  3. Check bumper-to-pin clearance, exhaust position, and that lamps and the license plate stay visible.
  4. Do not tow with a carrier on the receiver unless the vehicle, hitch and carrier makers all approve it.

Sources