Recommended Folding Cargo Carrier for 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara with Rear Spare Tire

Question:

My vehicle has a rear mounted spare wheel and the distance from the center of the hitch pin hole to the outside edge of my spare wheel is almost 12 inches. Do you have any suggestions on a folding cargo carrier that would work on my vehicle and clear the spare tire when folded? Also I was wondering if I could just use a hitch extender to help the folding cargo carrier clear the spare wheel when folded? My vehicle is a 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara. Thank you.

asked by: Bobbi M

Expert Reply:

I have a solution for you with the 24x60 etrailer Cargo Carrier for 2" Hitches # e98874 , which has 19 1/2" distance from the center of the hitch pin hole to the edge of your spare tire when it is folded down, so this would work in the down position. However, it only has a clearance of 9 1/2" from the pin hole to the closest part of the carrier when folded up.

You could add a hitch extender like the Brophy # HE06, but this is going to reduce the tongue weight capacity of the hitch on your 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara by 50%. That means that in most cases you're going to be limited to around 189-lbs (100-lbs of cargo and the 61-lbs carrier) based off of the 350-lbs tongue weight capacity of your vehicle (based on what information I was able to find-you'll want to confirm in the owner's manual).

If you can do without the folding option, you could skip the extender and go with the Reese #63153. It has a distance of 12 3/4" from the pin hole to the carrier and would clear your required 12 inches. This would allow you to retain your full 350 lb capacity minus the 62 pounds of this carrier. You would have a capacity of 288 pounds remaining.

expert reply by: Erik B