Cargo Carrier and Light Kit Recommendation for a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee  

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Expert Reply:

The Curt 20x60 Folding Cargo Carrier, # C18151, weighs approximately 55 lbs. This cargo carrier does not have a specific light kit and has 6 inches of clearance between the center of the hitch pin hole to the closest part of the rack when folded up.

You can verify how much clearance you will have by measuring from the center of the hitch pin hole on your trailer hitch to the furthest back part of the bumper on your 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee. We have had a chance to install a trailer hitch on a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee and it looks like this distance is going to be about 6 inches.

If this is the case on your Jeep, then this cargo carrier will not fold up when mounted on your trailer hitch. You could use a hitch extender like part # HE06 but using a hitch extender will decrease your trailer hitch tongue weight capacity by 50 percent. Your trailer hitch probably has a 500 lb tongue weight capacity and that will be reduced to 250 lbs with a hitch extender.

Instead, I would recommend the Draw-Tite Folding Cargo Carrier, # 6502. This cargo carrier is going to be significantly lighter at about 48 lbs and you can use the etrailer License Plate and LED Tail Light Mounting Kit for Hitch Mounted Cargo Carrier Item # e98943-44LED, to provide stop, turn and taillights. This carrier measures 7-1/2 inches from the center of the hitch pin hole to the closest part of the carrier when folded up which should give you plenty of room fold the carrier when not in use.

This light kit also comes with a license plate bracket and the drivers side lamp has a clear lens on the bottom to illuminate the license plate if the bracket was placed below the lamp.

I have attached a video review of this cargo carrier and the installation instructions to this light kit for you to check out.

expert reply by: John H

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