Recommended Folding Cargo Carriers for 2003 Honda Pilot

Question:

What carriers will fit

asked by: Robert W

Expert Reply:

To determine the fit of a cargo carrier on your Pilot, two dimension need to be known. You will need to measure the distance between the hitch pin hole in your receiver hitch and the furthest rearward point of your back bumper. The shank of the cargo carrier you choose will need to be longer than the hitch pin hole to rear of the bumper measurement.

When we installed a Draw-Tite, Hidden Hitch or Curt hitch on a 2003 Pilot, we found that the hitch pin hole to end of bumper measurement was between 4-1/4 and 5 inches.

The Curt folding aluminum cargo carrier you mentioned, part # C18100 would install on your Pilot with no problem, but when folded it needs 5 inches of clearance between the hitch pin hole and the rear bumper, which might be too tight to fit. You would need to make a measurement to be sure. I have linked you to an FAQ article showing how to make this measurement. When we tested the carrier on a 2007 Pilot as you can see in the linked video, we found that the carrier would indeed fold, just barely.

Unfortunately, none of the other folding carriers we offer feature a longer shank, so you will probably need either use a non-folding model or use a folding model but leave it in the deployed position.

This being said, the Curt Aluminum carrier would still work very well. I recently had the opportunity to test one of these carriers during a trip to Mark Twain Lake here in Missouri, and I was really impressed by the carrier. Its large size easily accommodated two large coolers and other gear that would not fit in the vehicle. Due to its aluminum construction the carrier weighs about half what other similar sized carriers do, which makes installation and removal much easier.

Any of the other carriers I have linked you to would also fit just fine, but like I said you probably would not be able to fold the folding models.