Anyone use a hitch cargo box?

[ELCapiTRAN]

I have the Stowaway, and we used it traveling for Christmas. It worked great for us! I did get the exhaust shield, but not sure it was needed. It did seem to sit higher than the exhaust pipes. I put it on, just to be sure. The hitch kind of angles up some, which moves it out of the way, I think. I can get a better picture of that in a bit. We had 4 carry ons, plus some gifts, wrapping paper, puzzle mat, bags of clothes for my niece & nephew...., 5 carry ons on the way back. It was super easy to swing it out and open the tailgate. We drove through snow, sleet & rain, and everything stayed dry. I did also get the locking hitch & the stabilizer.

Obviously, the backup camera is not usable (just had to look), and the sensors will go off. The only other thing was I noticed that occasionally, it must have just shifted enough to trigger the blind spot warning. It was very solid, but must just be right at the edge. It wasn't constantly, just randomly, so made sure to triple check when changing lanes.View attachment 25015

is that the max or the standard

 

[Sms0358]

is that the max or the standard

It's the Max

 

[rcoplien]

I added it just in case what feels not really needed

 

[Sms0358]

I added it just in case what feels not really needed

I'd also added the heat shield, once we got the box together and on, I'm not sure it's absolutely necessary. But better safe than sorry!

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[Kia2020TB]

Hello all! Thought I’d update on my previous post earlier in the thread where I included photos of my family road trip setup on a 2016 Limited Subaru Outback which was prior to the use of attachments on our Telluride. I finally had a extended vacation (longer than a weekend trip) so attached are a few photos.

Our trip was from Eastern Washington to the Northern part of Oregon Coast. It so happened to be extremely high winds (upwards of 50-60mph) when we departed, ended up raining most of the way with a mix of snow/hail at one point in the mountains. The Yakima Skybox 18 was nearly empty with only a baby jogger which was intentional to leave space for items we purchase during the vacation. In addition the hitch basket was left empty intentionally to acquire furniture on our travels back home. The cargo/trunk space i tilted the false floor up and was able to fit two (2) TSA/airline approved carry-on and one (1) checked luggage along with a few backpacks and jackets stuffed around the bigger items. As you can see, the third row seats are up.

The cabin consisted of three (3) kids; one (1) was a baby, with three (3) adults. None of which are taller than 5’9 nor weigh more than 190 lbs. Two (2) kids sat in the third row, one (1) adult in the middle and a child with two (2) adults in the front. Anyhow, we had more than enough room with using the center aisle with a few smaller bags for toys and snacks.

On our return, the Skybox was fairly full of bags from various stores but still had some room and as captured, the hitch carrier had some furniture. I’d say that the Telluride handled it quite well. I think that there was some added wind noise having the Amazon Kia OEM style cross bars and Skybox mounted but mostly north of 55mph. As far as any heat shields for the hitch carrier, i honestly think this basket sits far enough back that the muffler isn’t even close to heating anything I put on it but nonetheless a viable concern depending on the setup. I also noticed the self-leveling did a great job. At no point did I feel uneven like I would have in my Subaru - I felt that sag too many times and had to adjust my driving to accomodate the weight so it is really nice to have a more even weight distribution from front to back.

A few other items I am looking at are the Canadian Side Step, WT mud flaps, and WT rain deflectors (when they release a full set). I would really like that Yakima hitch lockbox but at this point right now, the hitch basket will have to do.

Hope this helps others get an idea for their setups.

 

[PittPa]

Any rules for license plates and them being obstructed?

 

[rcoplien]

License plate needs to go on the cargo box. Always visible

 

[Kia2020TB]

License plate needs to go on the cargo box. Always visible

Likely right but I wasn’t worried about it. The plates were clearly visible from either side and readable if LEO were to run my plate number. If it wasn’t visible at all, then it would have been a different story. Laws may vary by state but I never pursued this since most of my luggage never is higher than the plate anyway.

Decided to quickly check my states code (RCW 46.16A.200) for plates, see attached. I feel I could articulate well enough that the plates were visible if I were to have been pulled over by LEO. The code doesn’t specify how visible which in my photos I deliberately kept my plates hidden but in person they were visible from each side of the cargo I had on the basket with the exception of directly behind - which isn’t specified in the code anyway and leaves it fairly open from my point of view.

Anyway, I still enjoy having the basket. It has made it easier to haul without pulling an actual trailer.

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[PittPa]

I can't see how that is evenly remotely visible. I'm not trying to give you a hard time. When I have my bike rack on, my plate is almost impossible to read. I often wondered how it worked in those situations.

 

[2020Telly]

IMO “must be visible” wording in most states sounds like it is very subjective to the individual local law enforcement officer and would probably mean only a warning but a ticket if you pissed them off after getting pulled over for something else. That said, even if it is legal in your state you still have to follow laws in other states and many people hang cargo off the hitch when doing interstate travel. In my experience you are more likely to get cited when you have out of state plates because you are less likely to contest a ticket. In my state it isn’t illegal to have a clear shield that blurs cameras because the law just says that the plate must be plainly read from 100ft away. But I don’t dare put one on because I drive out of state all the time.

 

[Sms0358]

Our troop went camping this weekend. Between the cargo box and back with 3rd row down, we fit 2 patrol boxes (cookware), 2 tables, 3 tents, personal gear, sleeping bags, pads & camp chairs for 4, 2 soft sided coolers, 2 tarps, & a 10x10 canopy. Plus myself & 3 scouts. Also, I realized this has a good shot of the license plate on the box.

 

[rcoplien]

Cool

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[2020Telly]

I pulled the trigger on a StowAway Max without spending the full amount. I ended up finding someone selling a used fixed hitch version about 10 years old and bought that for $300 then got the swingaway frame for $379. I had 4 holes from the fixed frame that I used to attached some cargo hooks inside the box. Heat shield is not necessary as it sits higher than the exhaust.

I love this thing and can't wait to use it on my next big trip!

 

[Sms0358]

I pulled the trigger on a StowAway Max without spending the full amount. I ended up finding someone selling a used fixed hitch version about 10 years old and bought that for $300 then got the swingaway frame for $379. I had 4 holes from the fixed frame that I used to attached some cargo hooks inside the box. Heat shield is not necessary as it sits higher than the exhaust.

I love this thing and can't wait to use it on my next big trip!
View attachment 26809
View attachment 26810
View attachment 26811

That's awesome! Love the cargo hooks. I love ours, and it looks like it's brand new!

 

[Husker Soze]

Just be careful out there and mind your load…and try NOT to do this…

 

[rcoplien]

I have the same one and love it

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[staypuppy]

Just be careful out there and mind your load…and try NOT to do this…

View attachment 26812

Did you take that picture? That’s insane!!

 

[Husker Soze]

Did you take that picture? That’s insane!!

It's actually a screenshot from this post...

Telluride Spottings - Post em

Fridays are for spotting Tellies in the wild. Looks like this one removed it’s badging.

tellurideforum.org

 

[2020Telly]

Just be careful out there and mind your load…and try NOT to do this…

View attachment 26812

Agreed. The Stowaway Max box weighs 53lbs and rated for up to 200lbs of cargo so we’ll under the 500lb tongue weight rating of the Telluride. It also has a rise to the hitch frame holding up the box. I use the AirLift 1000 helper bags for added support to the standard shocks and springs that are stiffer than the self-leveling ones. The added 16 cu ft is perfect for me to toss in 3-4 small to medium sized suitcases or duffle bags to free up the inside cargo space of the vehicle. Also a lot easier than the roof top cargo box solution.

 

[TxAggie]

Just a bit of FYI...I do not have the hitch box, but rather one of the hitch-mounted cargo baskets. It goes straight out from the hitch and does not curve upwards. We recently took a trip and the exhaust melted through several bungee cords I had used to tie down the load. For the return trip, I used tie-down ratchet straps and steered clear of the exhaust area.

Just be mindful that the exhaust is quite hot in the area, and has the potential to cause some damage.