I've been looking for a solution to my mod / space issues. This box is the closest thing I have found, anyone have one of these? I don't car for having to have a license plate and lights adapter but it leaves the roof space open (solar install). Thule Transporter Combi | Thule | USA If there is a better one out there I'd like to know - I think I'm getting one of these! Hitch Cargo Box - Standard | StowAway
Looks like something that will either fall off while going down the road or tapped by someone while your sitting at a light. Why not just get a roof rack instead of getting a hitch installed, buying a box etc... A roof rack would save you a ton of cash.
+1 on roof rack. you will still have space on your hood and other places for solar and with the box, you will be limited to the tongue weight of the hitch
The cargo carrier doesn't look that bad. If someone is following me that close to hit me, that person is an idiot. The roof rails and rack is cheaper but only by a couple hundred.
That looks like about an 18" lever arm on the hitch and 30" lever arm on the hitch-bumper mounting pts. Carrier box CG puts that closer to 40". A 200lb load (plus 55lbs for the box itself) would translate to approximately 840 ft-lbs of torque on the bumper mounts. You could provide some relief with a bicycle rack strap (similar to what's used with the Uhaul 1 1/4 hitch). Otherwise, it seems that you could easily exceed the bumper limits. You would have to limit the contents of the carrier to light weight, bulky items.
Why not get an SUV? More space to haul stuff, more roof space, and probably gets better highway MPG than a Prius covered with external luggage. (I know, I know, luggage is cheaper than switching cars.)
I have one that works great for my Lexus LX. I got it on Craigslist for 200.00! I have never used the ROLA 59109, but it has the swing away feature and you can take the box off and just have the tray if needed. 2" hitch and I don't know how much weight it would "create" on the receiver when it is swung out when loaded. :
