Cargo Carrier with Bike Rack for Simultaneous Use on 2010 Chevrolet Traverse

Question:

Do you have a hitch cargo carrier that a bike rack could attach into the receiver on the end of the carrier? I have a Chevy Traverse and want to haul both a cargo carrier and a bike rack at the same time

asked by: Dave

Expert Reply:

It is almost a certainty that using two hitch-mount accessories at the same time on your 2010 Traverse will result in interference between the two carriers themselves and/or the bikes and cargo loaded on them. There are no cargo carriers that have a receiver tube on their back to allow for piggy-backing a second hitch-type accessory such as a bike rack. These do not exist because such an arrangement would place extreme stress on the hitch and vehicle frame and would be likely to damage one or both.

There are dual-receiver adapters available like the Malone # MPG544 that will fit into the receiver tube on your hitch and provide two 2-inch receivers for use with an accessory while towing a trailer but these cannot be used for two accessory items at one time. The clearance issue will remain plus a new problem emerges: use of an adapter like Malone will cut your hitch's capacity in half. I do not recommend this.

We do offer hitch-mount cargo carriers to fit your Traverse's 2-inch Class III hitch that also can be fitted with a bike carrier, such as the Hollywood Racks Sport Rider SE2 Bike Rack w/ Cargo Carrier for 2 Bikes - 2" Hitches # HR1450Z-85.

A better solution is to use your hitch to handle the heavier load of a cargo carrier and its loaded cargo while using a roof rack and roof-mount bike carriers for your bikes. This keeps the heavy load on the strongest part of the vehicle (the frame, via the hitch) and the lighter load of the bikes on the roof.

I have linked you to our main page for cargo carriers that will fit Class III 2-inch hitches. Both fixed and folding varieties are available, such as the ProSeries # 6502. The linked article on hitch carriers may be helpful. You will want to check your hitch tongue weight rating before selecting a carrier to ensure both are comparably rated.

For roof rack options for your Traverse please refer to the link provided.

Often our customers that use roof-mount accessories will elect to also use a tire step like the HitchMate # HE4040 or the Telesteps folding step # TE97FR. These steps provide a height advantage for loading and unloading rooftop cargo.