I am posting this here to hopefully get general feedback from owners of all generations and models of Toyota. I am researching hitch mounted carriers for use on my 03 Tacoma and my 84 4runner. I just want to buy one rack that I can use on either. Both have a 2" hitch. What should I look out for?
Ones that fold up seem useful, but are they as sturdy as a fixed basket?

Aluminum or metal? pros or cons to either? what about the hard plastic ones?

My biggest decision is whether to get a full size (60") or mid size (49"). A 60" would obscure the tail lights, but I could just rig up trailer lights on the basket. The smaller size seems like the way to go.

Share your experiences with what you wish you had bought or why you are happy with what you have.

I am going out to Big Bend for 5 days with my fiancee and the dogs, so I need to maximize space for the trip.
Thanks!

 

Aluminum IS metal.

But I understand you meant Aluminum or Steel.

How much weight are you putting on it? I'd go with aluminum because it is already lighter, easier to remove and store. If it's made correctly, it should handle a lot of weight.

They make trailer lights you could just plug into your trailer wiring and mount under the basket permanently.

Would be a cool write-up mod if you did it.

If the wife is involved, the more stuff she can bring, the easier it is on you.

 

Most hitch mount cargo carriers come straight out of the receiver, but some of the hitch mount cargo carriers made for ATV's, angle up to give you 7 inches of additional ground clearance. I have this type, and the back has already been drug through the dirt. Good thing it wasn't the straight receiver type. One drawback with the ATV carriers is their weight rating is lower, but I haven't needed to put 300lbs on the carrier either.

All in all, it's been a life saver, because even with the roof basket, it's easy to run out of room, and heavy stuff, like gas cans and water, can be kept low and out of the cab. My wife even needed to use it once because she ran out of room in her Excursion! (But she also had every seat belt occupied for a week long road trip...)

 

I will post up some pics when I am done, but I went with a full size, 60" x 24" carrier with a raised shank. It gets the basket up high, but not as hight as I would like. There are hitch adapters that would raise it up some more, but for this trip, I will go with it.

It's the Tow Ready brand. I went with it because it has oval cut outs for lights so I am wiring some in now, and I pulled the licencse plate bracket off of a 2nd gen tire carrier to mount in the middle. It should look pretty cool, but I hope it functions even better.

In an ideal world, it would sit up higher, and swing away, but for that type of money, I would have bought a spare tire carrier bumper with racks for gas cans, etc... With the hitch mounted carrier, I will be able to move it from either truck, and let friend's borrow it if they need one for the weekend.

pics coming soon.

 

I used the 60" sportrack brand on my Tacoma and drove from Calgary, Alberta to Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia and eveywhere in between. I found ammo cans on each end didn't obstruct the lights and a huge Roughneck container in the middle with the licence plate zip tied on worked perfect. I used the same set up on my 87 which has a body lift and reciever hitch on top of tube bumpers for weekend trips. I leave it at camp for trail runs. No climbing on the roof and didn't have near as much drag or roof rack whistle.