Trailer Hitch Storage Box

[joelogic]

I am planning on welding up a trailer hitch storage box, like below.
Purpose: Large bug out box and moderately secure storage while traveling.

Any special considerations? I dont know much about hitches and towing. My hitch cargo rack is rated for 600lbs so I figure I should be ok.

Size thoughts? I am going to use a Knaack box but I am not sure on the size yet. 32" or 48" wide.

http://www.rv.net/forums/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/24101694.cfm

http://www.discountramps.com/cargo-box.htm

[Decoligny]

One thing to consider is the fact that this box obscures the view of your license plate.
Seeing as you will definitely want to test it out at some point, you don't want to get a ticket while doing so.
Ensure that you rig up a license plate holder with the appropriate license plate light.
If it blocks the view of the tail lights, you will also need to install and wire in those too.

[joelogic]

Didn't even think of my license plate. Thanks.

[Lex]

I made one last year and worked great. I made it so it will fit 4 (2 bottom and two top) moving plastic boxes similar to this picture below.



I also added brake and signal lights along with license plate. Cant find pictures at this time. The four boxes can really roomy for camping and so on. I believe I was using 3/4" tubing.

[gemini1]

Just something to consider, if you're not used driving with a box on your trailer hitch, there's a chance of hitting something while backing up. Since you're building one, might be a good idea to build one that's high enough to see from your rear view mirror. Might also be better to have it the same width as your SUV, and just install the plate/taillights as mentioned above.

[BajaJames83]

we bent a receiver with a double bike rack with a box on it. just think about the weight and how far you put it out there.

[TheChief]

When I go camping I like to take bikes and my hitch box. I end up trying to strap the bikes on top of the box which is a real mess. If you could combine the box with a bike hitch you may really have something there.

One of the pain points with a box hitch is clearance on the rear corners of the box. Make sure you either raise the height as high as you can or reinforce the corner.

[badreligion]

Had a buddy build something similar for his SUV. One neat thing he added was 4 adjustable legs, one on each corner. While driving the feet are nearly flush with the bottom and they can be dropped down so they support the basket so he can simply drive away from it. Makes it very easy to load and unload from the hitch even fully loaded.

I would look around for some cheap surplus pelican/storm/Hardigg cases and make a basket system that would fit a pair of them. They are very durable, weather resistant and much lighter than the metal jobsite boxes.

[82fb]

Home depot has Husky brand cargo boxes with an extendable handle on one end and wheels on the other end. Also has a locking lid with seal. $59

[Jel]

One thing to consider is the fact that this box obscures the view of your license plate.
Seeing as you will definitely want to test it out at some point, you don't want to get a ticket while doing so.
Ensure that you rig up a license plate holder with the appropriate license plate light.
If it blocks the view of the tail lights, you will also need to install and wire in those too.

I've never heard of anyone getting pulled over for this (covered license plate) and you see tons of people on the road with hitch mounted cargo carriers especially during the summer months.

Is this one of those things that LEO's can give you a ticket for but only some times do? Kinda like tinted front glass or no plate on the front bumper?

BTW, OP, since you are building from scratch it would be cool if you could design it to swing out so you have access to the back hatch.

[Spyder2U]

Any special considerations? I dont know much about hitches and towing. My hitch cargo rack is rated for 600lbs so I figure I should be ok.

What vehicle are you using?
How high is the Hitch Tube (Reciever) off the ground?
What is the HITCH weight rating on it? Not sure what you meant by 'hitch cargo rack rating of 600 #s'.
A few things to consider:
Ground clearance issues the further the box is away from the rear wheels.

Weight carrying capacity is reduced the futher the box is from the reciver and thus the Rear Wheels. Think Fulcrum Point. (As was mentioned above on a double bike rack, which I assume was a double Motorcycle rack.) It stresses the hitch receiver.

Use a J Pin lock in the reciever to reduce vibration/wiggle and for security from the RV.net article. May even want to add a second anti-rattle device to the reciever. Both work well.

Do you need access to the tailgate/liftgate? Many ways to either swivel or lower the box/unit. What is nice about the picture above is that the whole box swivels away from the liftgate.

Lights can be plugged into the towing electrical plug. Plug n Go.

Alot of good advice so far in this thread.

Currenty, I have a motorcycle carrier that also allows for towing of a boat. There are two extra reciever tubes welded to the sides on the hitch near the frame which supports the bike. The center receiver has a hitch extention of 24" which then connects to the boat trailer. Four Pieces, all BOLTED together. LED lights and signals that plug ito the towing electrical. It is well within both the truck's and the hitch's rating and has plenty of ground clearance. Vehicle drives and handles as if it was just towing the boat.....

[Steve_In_29]

A VERY important bit of info needed is, what vehicle is this for? Most smaller SUV types have hitches that are only rated for 350lbs of tongue weight with 1.5" receivers. Even most trucks are only rated for 500lbs on a 2" receiver.

Don't confuse the vehicle's "Tow Rating" (what it can pull) with the hitch's "Tongue Weight Rating" (what the hitch will support in your desired application). Especially if you are going to make it a swing-out as that will place BIG stresses on the hitch.

That rating gets reduced with every inch past the tow ball's normal location the box protrudes from the rear of the vehicle.

If you read the fine print on those hitch boxes you will see they are only rated to carry a couple hundred pounds.

Throw 600lbs out there and hit some good bumps on rutted dirt roads at speed and see what you get.

[joelogic]

What vehicle are you using?
Honda Pilot

How high is the Hitch Tube (Reciever) off the ground?
19", IIRC. But I will double check.

What is the HITCH weight rating on it?
Class III, 350lb TW

https://www.curtmfg.com/part/13328

I was reading the sticker on my cargo carrier. I thought it said 600lb.

http://www.harborfreight.com/500-lb-capacity-aluminum-cargo-carrier-92655.html

Do you need access to the tailgate/liftgate?
I am thinking no. Not much trunk space when the 3rd row is up.

A VERY important bit of info needed is, what vehicle is this for? Most smaller SUV types have hitches that are only rated for 350lbs of tongue weight with 1.5" receivers. Even most trucks are only rated for 500lbs on a 2" receiver.

Don't confuse the vehicle's "Tow Rating" (what it can pull) with the hitch's "Tongue Weight Rating" (what the hitch will support in your desired application). Especially if you are going to make it a swing-out as that will place BIG stresses on the hitch.

What is the difference between tongue weight and distributed tongue weight?

Thanks for all the info, everyone.

[joelogic]

I wanted to be able to roll my box out of the garage, hook it up, and drive away but it seems I may be getting to mall ninja.


Maybe I will just find a box for my cargo carrier or a bag.

[Steve_In_29]

I believe "distributed tongue weight" refers to the use of a "Weight Distribution Hitch". Such a hitch takes a portion of the trailer's tongue weight off the ball and forces it (via spring bars) forward onto the vehicles front axle and back onto the trailer's axle as well. That isn't applicable to what you want to do.

That weight rating on the HF cargo carrier is VERY optimistic. I have examined one in the store.

on edit: I saw your photos after I posted. Depending on what you want to carry, the carrier/bag combo will give you the most load capacity left on the hitch.