When you purchase a hitch cargo carrier for your vehicle, the box looks pretty normal. It is manageable and the platform on the picture sits well on the back end, but how easy is it to install actually? Is it manageable by one person? Do you require two people to install it or is this something you can manage on your own?
Luckily for you, installing a hitch cargo carrier is pretty easy. Unless you are buying an extra large and heavy duty platform, then it can usually be managed by one person as well. Two people can always work to get it in, but one can do it alone if needed.
How the Hitch Cargo Carrier Works
The hitch actually comes out of the back end of the vehicle so the receptacle is open. The cargo platform is usually a straight and has a reinforced bar that sticks straight out to fit in to the open receptacle hole. The platform will slide in to the open receiver spot and then be secured with a pin. The pin should be extra duty so you know it will hold the platform hitch in place for any type of road you travel over. The pin should also be secured by a lock so it doesn’t’ slip out.
Some platforms are heavy, so to guide it in to the hitch area you might need one person on each end. However, if it isn’t a heavy duty platform, it can usually be lifted by one person in the center at the back. The cargo platform can be slid straight back in to the slit and then securely locked in.
When you have large items on the platform, you will want to secure them down over the cargo platform. Secure them to each other with ropes or bungee cords and then hook them to the vehicle for even more support. Since the cargo platform is only anchored to the vehicle from the center point, you will want to have the heaviest items in the middle and place the lightest items on the sides, preventing the hitch cargo trailer from tilting one way or the other as you drive.