How to Gain Ground Clearance For a Hitch Mounted Cargo Carrier on a 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander

Question:

I have a 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander, which has been a very good car for us. Several years ago, I installed a Reese hitch with a 1-1/4 inch receiver. We only tow a utility trailer occasionally and this has served us well. In anticipation for our recent vacation, we purchased a cargo carrier which needed a 2 inch receiver, so we also got an adapter to mate the two. With the car loaded with people and a car-top carrier also, we found the cargo carrier would drag if we entered certain parking lots. it only had about 3-4 inches clearance on level. I think this was due to the play at both ends of the adapter not too tight fitting. SO, I come to this site looking for a riser type adapter to fit into my other adapter, so the carrier would be higher up on our next trip. I see from other questions, that this idea would probably not be the best application. The carrier was holding only light-weight stuff and dragged only due to play, not tongue weight. Do I need to replace my hitch with one that has a 2 inch receiver, and then use the riser adapter for my carrier?

asked by: Richard

Expert Reply:

To resolve your ground clearance issue with your cargo carrier, I would recommend getting a cargo carrier with a rise in the shank like the Curt Cargo Carrier, # C18110. I am not aware of a trailer hitch with a 2 inch receiver that will fit on your 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander.

One thing to keep in mind when using a hitch adapter to convert a 2 inch shank to a 1-1/4 inch receiver is that the tongue weight capacity of your trailer hitch will be reduced by 50 percent. Like you stated, I am sure this may have not been the issue in your situation if you were only carrying lightweight items and the play from the adapter can cause the cargo carrier to sag more than normal.

You will save time and money by picking up this cargo carrier rather than purchasing a new trailer hitch, if you can locate a 2 inch trailer hitch for your vehicle, because you will not have to uninstall your current trailer hitch and install a new one. Also, you will not have to purchase a new ball mount to fit the new trailer hitch to tow your utility trailer.

You most likely have a Class I trailer hitch on your vehicle which will have a maximum tongue weight capacity of 200 lbs. When a hitch adapter is added, the tongue weight capacity is reduced to 100 lbs. By using the Curt cargo carrier, # C18110, you eliminate the need of a hitch adapter completely and the rise in the shank will give you the additional clearance you need.

I have attached instructions and a video of this cargo carrier for you to check out.

expert reply by: John H