Hitch Carriers
The Best Hitch Cargo Carriers With a Ramp
A ramp turns a lifting problem into a pushing problem. That is the entire reason this category exists, and it is a very good reason.
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Most people searching for a hitch carrier with a ramp have one specific object in mind that they cannot lift: an electric bike at 60-70 lb, a mobility scooter, or a dirt bike.
A ramp changes the problem completely. Instead of deadlifting an awkward object to hitch height, you walk it up an incline. For anyone loading alone, or loading repeatedly, that is the difference between a setup you use and one you resent.
The trade is that ramp-equipped carriers are a different, heavier class of product than a cargo basket, and the hitch under them has to be rated for it. Almost all of them require a 2-inch Class III or IV receiver, and that requirement is not negotiable.
Quick picks
Tap any row to jump to the full write-up below. Scores are our editorial judgment on published specifications — not a star rating, and not a product we claim to have tested.
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Black Widow AMC-400Aluminum, 400 lb rated, with a ramp that stores flat on the carrier instead of living in your trunk. | Best ramp carrier overall | 8.1 | |
| 2 | Black Widow AMC-400-FThe folding-adapter version. If the carrier lives on the car, this is the one to buy. | Same carrier, folds away | 8.3 | |
| 3 |  Hollywood Racks Sport Rider SEIf the load is bikes rather than cargo, a heavy-duty bike rack with a ramp option beats a general carrier. | E-bikes specifically | 7.8 | |
| 4 | Mockins Hitch Cargo CarrierThe honest cheaper alternative: a low basket you lift into, with the bag and net included. | Budget option, no ramp | 7.4 |
Prices checked September 25, 2026. Product photographs are representative stock images, not the exact unit. Affiliate disclosure.
#1 · Best ramp carrier overall
Black Widow AMC-400
Aluminum, 400 lb rated, with a ramp that stores flat on the carrier instead of living in your trunk.
- Material
- Aluminum
- Rated capacity
- 400 lb
- Receiver
- 2-inch, Class III or IV
- Ramp
- Self-storing, mounts front or rear
- Tire width
- Up to about 5.5 inches
What works
- The ramp stores on the carrier, which is the detail that decides whether you keep using it
- Ramp can go on either side, so you load from whichever side is safe
- Aluminum keeps the empty weight down, leaving more capacity for the load
- Genuinely rated for a dirt bike, not just an e-bike
What doesn’t
- Needs a 2-inch Class III or IV receiver — no small-crossover option
- Does not fold, so it is a permanent extension until removed
- Tire width limit rules out the widest fat-bike tires
Our scoring
8.1overall
#2 · Same carrier, folds away
Black Widow AMC-400-F
The folding-adapter version. If the carrier lives on the car, this is the one to buy.
- Material
- Aluminum
- Rated capacity
- 400 lb
- Shank
- Folding hitch adapter
- Included
- Anti-rattle device, anti-tilt bracket
- Extras
- Youth bike adapter included
What works
- Folds up against the vehicle, so you get the garage and the parking space back
- Ships with the anti-rattle hardware most carriers make you buy separately
- Same ramp and capacity as the non-folding version
What doesn’t
- Costs more than the fixed version
- The folding adapter adds length behind the vehicle when deployed
- Still a 2-inch Class III or IV requirement
Our scoring
8.3overall
#3 · E-bikes specifically
Hollywood Racks Sport Rider SE
If the load is bikes rather than cargo, a heavy-duty bike rack with a ramp option beats a general carrier.
- Type
- Platform bike rack
- Built for
- Electric and heavy bikes
- Ramp
- Optional accessory
- Receiver
- 2-inch
What works
- Holds bikes properly rather than strapping them into a basket
- Designed around e-bike weight from the start
- The ramp accessory solves the same lifting problem
What doesn’t
- Bikes only — it is not a cargo carrier
- Heavy
- The ramp is an extra purchase
Our scoring
7.8overall
#4 · Budget option, no ramp
Mockins Hitch Cargo Carrier
The honest cheaper alternative: a low basket you lift into, with the bag and net included.
- Type
- Steel cargo basket
- Ramp
- None
- Bundle
- Bag, net and straps usually included
- Receiver
- 2-inch
What works
- A fraction of the price of a ramp carrier
- Complete setup out of the box
- Fine if the load is luggage rather than something wheeled
What doesn’t
- No ramp — this is a lifting solution, not a rolling one
- Not rated or shaped for a motorcycle
Our scoring
7.4overall
What people actually buy these for
Three loads dominate this category, and they have different requirements.
Electric bikes. A full-suspension e-bike can be 70 lb of awkward. Two of them plus the carrier is a genuine tongue weight question. Check the rating before you assume a Class III hitch covers it.
Mobility scooters. Weight varies enormously, and the ramp angle matters as much as the capacity — a short ramp on a tall carrier is a steep ramp. Check the ramp length in the specifications, not just the rating.
Dirt bikes. The heaviest case and the one these carriers were originally designed for. Tire width limits matter here, and the carrier’s rated capacity is a hard ceiling, not a target.
You need a 2-inch Class III or IV receiver
This is the gate. Ramp carriers are heavy before you load them and the loads are heavy too, so the receiver has to be a 2-inch opening with a Class III or IV rating. A 1-1/4 inch Class I or II hitch is not an option here, and adapters that step a 1-1/4 inch receiver up to 2 inches do not increase the hitch’s rating — they only change the shape.
Check your receiver sticker. Our hitch classes guide lays out what each class means and what it is rated for.
Securing a wheeled load
A bike or scooter on a carrier is a tall, narrow, heavy object being shaken continuously. Straps alone are not the whole answer.
- Use the wheel chocks or straps the carrier provides — they locate the load, which is half the job.
- Compress the suspension slightly with the tie-downs so the bike cannot bounce and go slack.
- Strap in four directions, forward and back as well as down.
- Fit the anti-rattle device. A loose shank is a load that moves.
- Stop after the first twenty minutes and re-tension everything.
Our ratchet strap picks and tie-down guide cover the hardware and the technique.
Common questions
Do I need a Class III hitch for a carrier with a ramp?
Can I carry an e-bike on a hitch cargo carrier with a ramp?
Are ramp carriers hard to fit?
Sources
Not sure it fits your car?
Our vehicle pages carry the published roof load limit, the roof type by model year, and what actually mounts to it — cited, and honest about what the manufacturer does not publish.
Read next
The Best Hitch Cargo Carriers for SUVs
Hitch carriers for SUVs, ranked — plus the tongue weight figure that really decides your load.
The Best Bike Racks for Electric Bikes
Racks rated for e-bike weight, ramps that remove the lift, and the hitch arithmetic to do first.
Hitch Classes Explained
Classes, receiver sizes and tongue weight ratings — and why tongue weight is the number that matters.
How to Tie Down Cargo
Anchor points, strap direction, correct tension, tail management and the pre-drive checks.