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Hitch Carriers

CURT 18153 Review

A 60-inch steel basket on a shank that folds. The shank is the product; the basket is the same as everyone else's.

By Janet H.Last reviewed September 25, 2026
A folding steel cargo basket mounted in a vehicle's hitch receiver

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The CURT 18153 is a 60 by 20 inch steel cargo basket on a folding, angled shank, for a 2-inch receiver. The basket is unremarkable in a good way — it is the same broad specification as every steel basket in the class.

The shank is why it costs what it costs, and whether it is worth it comes down to one measurement on your own vehicle.

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.

#ProductBest forScorePrice
1
Representative photo of a steel cargo basket mounted in a vehicle's hitch receiver
CURT 18153 Folding Cargo CarrierBuy it for the folding angled shank, or do not buy it at all — nothing else here justifies the difference.
A carrier that lives on the vehicle8.5

Prices checked September 25, 2026. Product photographs are representative stock images, not the exact unit. Affiliate disclosure.

#1 · A carrier that lives on the vehicle

CURT 18153 Folding Cargo Carrier

Representative photo of a steel cargo basket mounted in a vehicle's hitch receiver
Representative photo — not the exact unit.

Buy it for the folding angled shank, or do not buy it at all — nothing else here justifies the difference.

Basket
60 x 20 inches
Material
Steel
Shank
Folding, angled
Receiver
2-inch
Rated capacity
500 lb
Finish
Powder coat

What works

  • Folds flat against the vehicle when empty — garage and parking space back
  • Angled geometry is what actually clears a tall rear hatch
  • Heavier-gauge steel than the budget carriers
  • Long-established brand with real spares availability

What doesn’t

  • Heavy, and that weight is subtracted from your usable capacity
  • Several times the price of a fixed carrier with the same rating
  • The hinge is a moving part that lives in road salt
  • Assembly is a genuine job with real hardware

Our scoring

Capacity9.0
Hatch access9.5
Build9.0
Assembly7.0
Value7.5

8.5overall

The 500 lb rating you probably cannot use

The 18153 is rated to 500 lb, and that number describes the carrier, not your vehicle. Your real limit is your hitch’s tongue weight rating minus the carrier’s own considerable weight.

On a Class III hitch rated at 500 lb tongue weight, a heavy steel carrier leaves you comfortably over 400 lb of cargo — plenty. On a Class II rated at 350 lb, it leaves under 300. On a Class I, this carrier is the wrong product entirely, because it is a 2-inch fitting anyway.

Check the sticker on your receiver. Our hitch classes guide explains what each class means.

Cheaper alternatives, honestly assessed

The MaxxHaul 70107 has the same basket dimensions and the same 500 lb rating, weighs considerably less, and costs a fraction as much. Its only real disadvantage is the fixed shank. We compare them properly in CURT 18153 vs MaxxHaul 70107.

The CURT 18151 is this exact carrier without the folding hinge, for less money. If you like the build but do not need the fold, that is the obvious middle option.

Common questions

Does the CURT 18153 fold up out of the way?
Yes. The shank hinges so the empty basket tips up flat against the rear of the vehicle, which gives you back the garage clearance and the parking space a fixed carrier permanently costs you.
Will the CURT 18153 fit a 1-1/4 inch hitch?
No, it is a 2-inch receiver product. An adapter would change the shape without changing your hitch's rating, which is not a safe way to use a heavy carrier.
How much can the CURT 18153 actually carry?
The carrier is rated to 500 lb, but your limit is your hitch's tongue weight rating minus the carrier's own weight — which on this carrier is substantial. Check the receiver sticker and do that subtraction before loading.

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.

See what fits your vehicleAll hitch carriers

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