ROLA 59507 Vortex 56" x 23" x 5.25" Cargo Carrier

It's been fantastic for the past four times. I decided to buy the LED lights in case my tail lights were to be blocked. I bought some insulated foam foil to shield the bottom from exhaust heat, just like another reviewer did. The assembly went smoothly, but the slots are a little oversized, and the bolt heads aren't flanged, so I'd recommend using some large fender washers. br>br>I'm a small guy (135 pounds), so installing and removing this thing from my car is quite a workout for me! For storage, I bought some heavy-duty hooks and hung it on the garage wall. This thing has made camping a lot easier, and when you combine it with my Thule roof box, you have a ton of cargo space. Put your heavy items in the trunk if you have a small car, as that much weight will extend 2- 3' away from the rear will cause your car to sag (especially if it's full). br>br>I'm very pleased with my purchase, and the LED lights add a nice finishing touch. I almost forgot to mention that I also bought their Rola bag, which is a fantastic combination for long trips.

Sara Hansen

| Oct 16, 2021

I began looking for a durable hitch carrier with a raised arm several months ago. I didn't need one at the time, but I knew I would need one in the spring, so I had plenty of time to look into it. To cut a long story short, I kept coming back to the Rola 1 1/4" carrier after looking at several hitch carriers. Yes, it is more expensive than the others, and it is also heavier, but now that I have it, I know I made the right decision, and I also purchased the LED Rola light kit to go with it. br>It took me about 45 minutes to put everything together. I usually use LocTite on the threads when assembling something that will be subjected to vibration (such as a car), but it wasn't necessary for this carrier. The plastic inserts that hold the nuts in place are included with the nuts. This is a nice unexpected touch that shows no shortcuts were taken. It took about 15 minutes to install the LED lights. The lights had been pushed into place and were/are probably secure enough that they wouldn't fall out. To be sure, I dabbed clear silicone caulk at four points on the outside and inside of the lights. The lights were stiffened as a result of this. The lights are my only minor gripe. Because they protrude a little on the inside of the carrier, you'll want to make sure nothing bumps into them. I wish the inside of the carrier had some kind of protective, unobtrusive cover to keep those lights safe. Another reviewer I know encased them in plastic pipe to keep them safe. Because this review is about the carrier, I did not deduct any points for the lights. FYI, I just added some information about the light kit. br>In comparison to other carriers, the carrier is quite heavy. That's both good and bad. It's good news because the components, including the mesh metal bed, aren't made of cheap, thin material to keep it sturdy. The bad news is that the carrier's weight makes mounting it to the car difficult for one person. I am 68 years old. I can mount it on my own, but it's a bit of a chore. Overall, I'm willing to put up with a little extra weight for the quality of this carrier. br>If you get this carrier, I recommend trying to mount the raised hitch part to your vehicle first; the fit tolerance for that part to go into the receiver of my SUV was so tight (which is a good thing), that I had to sand paper off the paint on both the hitch and the inside of the car's carrier. It's still a snug fit, but that's a good thing in my opinion. When driving down the road, it assists in reducing wobble. br>The bottom line is that this carrier isn't cheap (in terms of price or materials), and I'm glad I took the time to do a lot of research so I could end up with a good product. OK, that's not quite the bottom line; you should also know that I paid full price for the carrier and have no ties to Rola or the seller.

Miley Sandoval

| Aug 14, 2021

It fits a 1 1/4" receiver, so I chose it. I'm fairly confident that any 1. Because I also have a Saris Thelma triple 29er bike rack, which wobbles similarly, any 25" receiver application that isn't a trailer will be wobbly. A ratchet strap connecting the right side to the tow loop or hitch bar is the solution to this problem. This balances out the rack's natural left lean and eliminates any wobbling. It's almost as if the lean was built in specifically for this. It's not like I have a shoddy hitch receiver; it's a well-made CURT hitch receiver that is bolted to the frame. br>br>I also used this cargo platform to install the Rola 59516 LED Light Kit, which looks fantastic at night on my Suzuki Sidekick. If you own a Geo Tracker/Suzuki Sidekick/Samurai, a Kia Sportage, or a Honda CR-V, I'd say it's well worth the money. You're trying to go camping with passengers in a V or something similar, and most of these vehicles only have one passenger seat. Because of the small engines and limited braking capacity, 25" receiver options are available. There are much better 2" receiver options available for Jeeps and trucks, and if I did it all over again, I would get an aftermarket metal bumper for the Sidekick with a 2" receiver and then get one of the many 2" cargo carrier options available.

Clara Sloan

| Jan 13, 2021

I'm writing this review after 4 years with the rack, we got rid of the car it was attached to, and it was rusted on, but that was after 4 years of Wisconsin weather and no garage, we hauled groceries, 200 pounds of rock salt, actual rocks, furtuire, and lots of other things on the rack, not to mention that it was rear ended a few times and lasted, if you're looking for a large rack for the back of your car, I would highly recommend this one.

Dangelo Jarvis

| Jul 14, 2021

The weight of the basket is most likely to blame for this. Because of a welding flaw, I was unable to assemble my basket. I had to take it to a store to have it put together. Aside from that, the basket is fantastic. This item is extremely durable.

Brayan Swanson

| Aug 03, 2021

It is incapable of supporting any weight greater than 200 pounds. Even with a brace, the red paper had already failed and was completely unstable. Our tow bar was nearly broken because of the force of the bounce. We took everything out and put it in the boat, which had a cover that had ripped the first time it was used.

Archie DODD

| Dec 06, 2021