How to Select a Trailer Hitch
Why Class 1 versus Class 3 and one and one quarter inch versus two inch tube size still matter when the only cargo is a basket behind the bumper.
Watch on YouTube →Hitch Cargo Carrier Loading Tips for Canada
Loading a hitch cargo carrier in Canada without turning the rear of the vehicle into a pendulum? Keep the heaviest bags forward and low in the basket, strap everything so it cannot walk rearward, watch tongue weight against the hitch and door-sticker limits, and keep soft goods clear of exhaust heat. This page is practical loading help — not a brochure — and it links our bike-rack cargo guide, hitch-for-bike-rack-only page, tongue-weight explainer, and hitch-class guide when you need the next step.
Built for Canadian shoppers who haul gear on a hitch carrier. Free shipping on CURT towing gear from Lots of Parts when the SKU is live on this store.
New to hitch shopping for racks and carriers? Start with
bike rack and cargo carrier guide,
then come back here for loading habits.
Prefer the full index?
Open the towing guides hub.
Watch these CURT videos first
All four videos are from the official CURT YouTube channel (@curtmfg). Use them for hitch class basics, install habits, wiring context when you also tow, and ball-mount height when a trailer shares the same receiver.
If an embed does not load, use the YouTube link under the card.
Trailer Hitch Installation Techniques
Torque and pin habits that keep a cargo carrier shank quiet in the receiver before you load weight on the platform.
Watch on YouTube →How to Connect a Trailer Wiring Harness
Wiring context when the same hitch also pulls a trailer — a cargo basket does not replace trailer lights.
Watch on YouTube →How to Choose a Ball Mount and Trailer Ball
Ball-mount height habits when you swap the carrier for a trailer ball on the same receiver later.
Watch on YouTube →Loading habits that keep the rear end calm
Think like a parts counter, not a packing influencer. Heavy coolers and tool totes go forward toward the vehicle, not hanging off the rear lip of the basket. Soft duffels can ride higher only after the hard weight is nested low. Strap across the load so nothing can creep rearward under braking. If the carrier folds or tilts, clear straps and lids before you tip it for hatch access.
Weight placement
Forward and low
Put the densest items closest to the bumper and down on the mesh. That keeps tongue leverage shorter and the ride calmer.
Securement
Strap it like it matters
Use cam straps or ratchet straps over the load. Basket sides help, but they are not a substitute for straps in Canadian crosswinds.
Tongue weight
Respect both ratings
Carrier capacity, hitch tongue rating, and the door-sticker limit all apply. The lowest number wins. Read tongue weight explained.
Heat and clearance
Watch the exhaust
Keep bags, ropes, and plastic totes clear of hot exhaust tips. Folding shanks help hatch access — still watch bumper and exhaust swing.
In-stock CURT cargo carriers we actually shelf
Match the carrier shank to your receiver tube before you fall in love with basket size. CURT 18145 covers one and one quarter inch receivers with a two inch adapter sleeve. CURT 18153 and 18151 use a two inch folding shank. CURT 18112 adds a ramp when you load wheeled gear. Confirm capacity and shank size on each card.
Basket · two inch folding
CURT 18153
Sixty inch by twenty-four inch basket-style cargo carrier with a folding two inch shank. Strongest in-stock basket qty on this page. Keep weight forward and strap down.
Basket · one and one quarter inch plus adapter
CURT 18145
Forty-eight inch by twenty inch basket with a fixed one and one quarter inch shank and two inch adapter. Good Class 1 receiver path when the tube is smaller.
Basket · two inch folding
CURT 18151
Sixty inch by twenty inch black steel basket carrier with a folding two inch shank and a five hundred pound capacity note on the card. Confirm the live card before you load that high.
Carrier with ramp
CURT 18112
Hitch cargo carrier with a built-in ramp for scooters, push mowers, and similar wheeled gear. Still keep the load centered and strapped after the ramp folds away.
Pins, quieting, and covers that support a loaded carrier
Pin · five-eighths
CURT 21500
Five-eighths hitch pin with clip for many two inch shanks. Match pin diameter to the hole in your carrier shank.
Pin · one-half
CURT 21400
One-half hitch pin with clip for many one and one quarter inch shanks. Confirm the hole size before you buy.
Lock
CURT 23501
Hitch lock for theft resistance when the carrier stays on overnight. A lock is not a rattle fix.
Anti-rattle
CURT 22320
Anti-rattle hitch clamp to quiet a loaded shank in the receiver before a long highway run.
Parts-counter notes before you click buy
| Topic | What we tell shoppers |
|---|---|
| Tube size first | One and one quarter inch versus two inch decides which carrier shank fits without guessing. |
| Lowest rating wins | Carrier capacity, hitch tongue rating, and the door sticker all count. Do not overload the weakest link. |
| Forward bias | Heavy items toward the vehicle. Empty air at the rear lip is better than a heavy cooler hanging aft. |
| Exhaust heat | Soft bags melt. Keep clearance around tips and heat shields, especially on short-overhang cars. |
| Bike racks versus baskets | If the load is mostly bikes, start with hitch for bike rack only and the bike and cargo guide. |
| Hitch class | Class still matters for tongue rating. Read what hitch class do I need. |
| Roof carrier note | CURT roof baskets are a different path. This page focuses on hitch-mounted carriers. |
How to load without guessing
Step 1Confirm tube and class
Match the carrier shank to the receiver and read the hitch tongue rating.
Step 2Pin or lock the shank
Seat the carrier fully, then pin. Add an anti-rattle clamp if the shank chatters.
Step 3Load forward and low
Heaviest gear toward the bumper, soft goods strapped on top or aft of the dense core.
Step 4Recheck after ten minutes
Stop once early, retension straps, and confirm nothing drifted toward exhaust heat.
Related guides we do publish
Bike rack and cargo guideWhen to pick a rack versus a basket
Hitch for bike rack onlyLight-duty Class 1 shopping habits
Tongue weight explainedWhy forward bias matters on a carrier
What hitch class do I needClass and tongue rating basics
Bike rack clearance tipsHatch access with a tilting rack
Towing guides hubAll vehicle and topic guides
Shop CURT 18153
In-stock sixty by twenty-four inch folding two inch basket carrier on Lots of Parts — load forward, strap down, watch tongue weight.
Open CURT 18153 →Need the Class 1 adapter path? Open CURT 18145.
Lots of Parts · Canada hitch cargo carrier loading tips with live CURT 18153, 18145, 18151, and 18112, plus tongue-weight and hitch-class links. No fake reviews, no invented SKUs.
