How to Select a Trailer Hitch
Match hitch class to the door sticker and the product page before you shop a heavier trailer than the vehicle can safely tow.
Watch on YouTubeHitch Cargo Basket versus Enclosed Carrier (Canada)
Hitch accessories
Open hitch cargo basket versus enclosed hitch cargo box is a practical decision, not a brochure argument. Baskets are lighter on the wallet, easy to hose out and easy on tongue weight. Enclosed boxes hide gear from rain and wandering eyes, but they still hang off the same receiver and still count against hitch and door-sticker tongue limits. We compare the open CURT baskets we stock and are upfront that we do not stock an enclosed hitch box, with free shipping anywhere in Canada.
Built for Canadian hitch shoppers. free shipping on CURT towing gear from Lots of Parts.
Related reading: cargo carrier loading tips, hitch for bike rack only, and cargo carrier ramp tips. Prefer the full index? Open the towing guides hub.
Related reading: cargo carrier loading tips, hitch for bike rack only, and cargo carrier ramp tips. Prefer the full index? Open the towing guides hub.
How we choose open basket versus enclosed box
Choose an open basket when you want mesh cargo, easy washdown, and a clear view of straps. Choose an enclosed box when weather secrecy and theft deterrence matter more than hose-out convenience. On this store we stock open basket carriers and a ramp carrier. We do not stock an enclosed hitch cargo box. Either style still needs tube-size match, forward weight bias, and straps that survive Canadian highway chatter.
Step 1Match carrier shank to receiver tube size
One and one quarter inch versus two inch first.
Step 2Choose open basket when washdown and visibility matter
Our CURT baskets cover that.
Step 3Enclosed boxes are not something we stock
We will show you the job even when we do not stock the part.
Step 4Bias heavy items forward and strap before the highway
Tongue weight still wins.
Official CURT videos for Canadian cargo-carrier shoppers
These clips come from the official CURT YouTube channel (@curtmfg). Use them before you open a product page.
If an embed does not load, use the YouTube link under each video.
Trailer Hitch Installation Techniques
Confirm receiver size and capacity on the carrier product page before you load a weekend of gear.
Watch on YouTubeHow to Connect a Trailer Wiring Harness
A loaded carrier should still leave trailer plug access usable if the same hitch also tows.
Watch on YouTubeHow to Choose a Ball Mount and Trailer Ball
Match shank size to the receiver tube, then level the trailer with drop or rise once the hitch is on.
Watch on YouTubeBrowse hitch cargo carriers we stock
Compare open basket carriers and the ramp carrier we stock, with free shipping from Lots of Parts.
Shop the collectionWorth knowing. Open baskets are in stock. Enclosed hitch boxes are not.
CURT gear for the job
CURT part 18145Basket cargo carrierBasket-style cargo carrier with fixed smaller shank and two inch adapter notes on the product page.$151.68 CAD
CURT part 18151Folding basket carrierFolding two inch shank basket for open mesh cargo. Confirm capacity on the product page.$262.03 CAD
CURT part 18153Wider folding basket carrierWider folding two inch shank basket for larger totes. Confirm capacity on the product page.$256.39 CAD
CURT part 18112Cargo carrier with rampHitch cargo carrier with built-in ramp for wheeled gear. Still a tongue-weight job.$457.00 CAD
CURT part 21500Five-eighths hitch pinFive-eighths hitch pin with clip for everyday two inch inserts.$12.84 CAD
CURT part 22321Two inch anti-rattle kitAnti-rattle kit sized for a two inch tube and hollow cargo shanks.$54.92 CAD
CURT part 22272Two inch receiver coverTwo inch receiver cover for empty-tube days when the basket is off.$15.92 CAD
| Topic | What we tell shoppers |
|---|---|
| Open basket | Washdown, visibility and easy on tongue weight. In stock. |
| Enclosed box | Weather and privacy. Teach-only gap on this storefront today. |
| Loading | Heavy items forward and low. Strap before highway chatter. |
| Tube size | Match shank to receiver. Adapters only when the product page says so. |
Related guides worth opening
Cargo carrier loading tipsWeight placement habits.
Cargo carrier ramp tipsWhen the load needs to roll aboard.
Hitch for bike rack onlyWhen bikes are the real load.
Towing guides hubFull Canada hitch index.
In short: choose open baskets for washdown and visibility, know we do not stock enclosed boxes, match tube size, and bias heavy cargo forward before you strap.
