Cargo Carrier Clearance From Rear Mounted Spare Tire On 2012 Jeep Wrangler  

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I did some research on a 2012 Jeep Wrangler, and per the Jeep website, if you have a Class lll trailer hitch with a 2 inch receiver, the tongue weight capacity for that hitch is 500 lbs. The weight capacity would include the cargo carrier weight along with anything that would be carried. The towing capacity for your Jeep Wrangler is 2000 lbs.

If you have a Class lll hitch, one of the carriers I recommend is the 24x60 Pro Series Cargo Carrier, part # 63153. It features a 2-1/2 inch rise in the shank which provides more ground clearance, and has a shank which measures 12-3/4 inches from the center of the hitch pin hole to the closest edge of the carrier. This carrier weighs approximately 55 lbs.

If your cargo is going to block the view of the tail lights, then lights are required on your carrier. I recommend the Light Kit, part # 20174. These lighting units snap into the carrier built-in mounting brackets and plug into your vehicle 4-pole trailer connector.

Another carrier I recommend is the 20x48 Pro Series Cargo Carrier for 2 inch Hitches, part # 6502. This carrier folds up when not in use. The distance from the center of the hitch pin hole to the carrier when it is folded is 7-1/2 inches. When it is folded down it has a distance of 13 inches from the center of the hitch pin hole to the carrier. This carrier also has a rise in the shank which does provide more ground clearance. This carrier weighs approximately 48 lbs. The light kit option for this carrier is the Cargo Carrier Light Kit, part # 6504. This kit easily attaches to the side lip on several cargo carriers and plugs into the vehicle's wiring harness.
Finally the etrailer # e98874 offers you the most clearance. It sits 19-1/2 inches from the hitch pin home when in use. It is a folding model but to be able to fold it when not in use, you would need 9-1\2 inches of clearance. The light kit for this carrier is # e99843-44LED.

If you have a Class ll hitch, with a 1-1/4 inch receiver, the tongue weight capacity would be 10 to 15 per cent of the towing capacity, which would then be a maximum of 300 lbs. Any extensions or adapters reduces the weight capacity of the trailer hitch by 50 percent. You will always want to make certain that weight is evenly distributed across the carrier to provide a more even secure ride.

I have attached a link to a help article that shows you how to measure the distance needed for any hitch mounted carriers to make sure you clear the rear mounted spare tire on your Jeep. To get this measurement, you will need a tape measure and a straight edge, like a yardstick or a dowel rod. You will need to hold the straight edge vertically against the back of the spare tire, making sure it extends below the hitch pin hole of the receiver. Then measure the distance from the center of the hitch pin hole to the straight edge. This will give you the minimum distance you need to clear your spare tire with any hitch mounted carrier.

expert reply by: Jeffrey L

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