Mockins XXL 72″x36″ Folding Trailer Hitch Cargo Carrier Review: The Ultimate Hauler for Big Adventures?

We’ve all been there. The car is packed to the roofliner, visibility out the back window is a distant memory, and there’s still a cooler, three duffel bags, and a disassembled grill sitting on the driveway. It’s the classic road trip dilemma—the battle between what you *want* to bring and what your vehicle can actually hold. For years, I wrestled with this, cramming gear into every conceivable nook, creating precarious piles that shifted with every turn. This wasn’t just an inconvenience; it was a safety issue. Obstructed views and loose items inside the cabin are recipes for disaster. I knew there had to be a better way to reclaim our interior space and travel with peace of mind, which led us to explore the world of hitch-mounted cargo carriers—and ultimately, to put the colossal Mockins XXL 72″x36″ Folding Trailer Hitch Cargo Carrier to the test.

What to Consider Before Buying a Hitch Cargo Carrier

A vehicle cargo basket is more than just an accessory; it’s a key solution for expanding your hauling capacity without upgrading to a larger vehicle. It liberates your cabin from bulky, dirty, or awkwardly shaped items—think muddy camping gear, oversized luggage, construction materials, or even mobility equipment. The primary benefits are immediate: improved passenger comfort, enhanced safety by maintaining clear sightlines, and the sheer convenience of being able to bring everything you need for your adventure or project. It transforms your family SUV or truck into a versatile utility vehicle, ready for anything from a cross-country move to a weekend camping escape.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone who frequently finds their vehicle’s internal storage lacking. This includes adventurous families, outdoor enthusiasts, DIY homeowners, and individuals with large or specialized equipment, like the user who needed to transport an electric trike. However, a hitch-mounted carrier might not be suitable for those who primarily drive in tight urban environments where the extra length could be a parking nightmare, or for those whose vehicles are not equipped with a 2-inch hitch receiver. For them, a rooftop carrier might be a more practical alternative, assuming their load is lighter and they don’t mind the impact on aerodynamics.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: The physical size of the carrier’s platform is paramount. A standard carrier might hold a few coolers, but an XXL model like the Mockins opens up possibilities for much larger items. Measure your bulkiest gear—be it a generator, large suitcases, or a mobility scooter—to ensure it will fit comfortably within the basket’s length, width, and side-rail height. Also, consider the folded-up profile and how it will sit against your vehicle.
• Capacity/Performance: Weight capacity is a non-negotiable safety specification. Most quality steel carriers, including this one, offer a 500-pound capacity. It’s critical to respect this limit and remember that it includes the weight of the carrier itself against your hitch’s tongue weight rating. Performance also extends to features like a raised shank for better ground clearance on steep driveways and anti-wobble devices to ensure a stable, quiet ride.
• Materials & Durability: Look for heavy-duty steel construction with a protective powder-coat or e-coat finish. This is your first line of defense against rust and corrosion from road salt, rain, and mud. A mesh floor is excellent for allowing water and debris to pass through, making cleanup significantly easier than with a solid-bottom carrier.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: How simple is the carrier to install, load, and store? A folding design is a massive quality-of-life feature, allowing you to keep the carrier on the vehicle without it protruding excessively when empty. Consider the included accessories; a kit that comes with essentials like a hitch stabilizer, lock, and quality straps, like the Mockins XXL carrier includes as standard, saves you time and money.

Choosing the right carrier is about matching its capabilities to your specific hauling needs and lifestyle.

While the Mockins XXL 72″x36″ Folding Trailer Hitch Cargo Carrier is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Unboxing a True Heavyweight

When the box for the Mockins XXL 72″x36″ Folding Trailer Hitch Cargo Carrier arrived, its sheer size and 82-pound weight were the first indicators that this was a serious piece of equipment. As noted by some users, large and heavy packages like this can take a beating in transit, and ours was no exception, showing some scuffs and tears. However, Mockins did an excellent job packing the components, and everything inside was pristine and undamaged. Laying out the parts, the quality of the powder coating was immediately apparent—it felt thick and durable, a stark contrast to the thin, easily-chipped paint on some budget carriers we’ve tested. This is a carrier designed to withstand the elements. The kit is impressively comprehensive, including not just the carrier parts but also a hitch lock, an anti-rattle stabilizer, three robust ratchet straps, and a full lighting kit with a license plate bracket. It’s clear Mockins aimed to provide a complete, road-ready solution right out of the box, and we couldn’t wait to check its current pricing and offers.

Performance Under Pressure: A Deep Dive into the Mockins XXL Carrier

A cargo carrier’s true worth is proven on the open road, loaded with gear and subjected to the rigors of travel. We put the Mockins XXL 72″x36″ Folding Trailer Hitch Cargo Carrier through its paces on a long weekend trip, hauling everything from camping equipment to bulky coolers, to truly understand its strengths and weaknesses.

The Assembly Gauntlet: Patience Required

Let’s address the elephant in the room first: the assembly process. This is, without a doubt, the most significant hurdle you’ll face with this carrier. Echoing the feedback from several users, we found the instructions to be somewhat vague, relying more on diagrams than clear, step-by-step text. The primary challenge, however, stemmed from component alignment. The carrier assembles in two halves, joined by a central plate. Getting the bolt holes to line up perfectly required a combination of leaving all bolts loose initially, applying significant pressure, and a bit of persuasion with a rubber mallet. As one user noted, “Parts don’t align great but can be forced into place to work.” This is an accurate assessment. It’s not a design flaw that makes it impossible, but a manufacturing tolerance issue that demands patience.

Furthermore, the hardware choices are peculiar. The use of slot head bolts in some areas makes achieving proper torque difficult without the bolt spinning. The most notable quirk is the requirement for 22mm and 25mm wrenches or sockets—sizes absent from most home mechanics’ toolsets. We had them in our shop, but the average buyer will likely need a trip to the hardware store. While frustrating, we managed to get everything assembled securely in about 90 minutes. Once fully tightened, the entire structure becomes incredibly rigid and solid. Our advice: tackle this with a friend, don’t tighten any single bolt until they are all threaded, and have the right tools on hand before you begin. While the setup is a notable con, it’s a one-time inconvenience for what proved to be a rock-solid piece of equipment.

Unmatched Capacity and Real-World Versatility

Once assembled and mounted, the “XXL” in the product’s name feels like an understatement. The 72×36-inch platform is cavernous. To put it in perspective, it’s large enough to lay four large checked suitcases flat with room to spare. For our test, we loaded two oversized coolers, a large pop-up canopy, four camp chairs, and a portable grill. There was still space left over. This is where the Mockins XXL 72″x36″ Folding Trailer Hitch Cargo Carrier truly shines and sets itself apart from standard 60×24-inch carriers. As one satisfied customer mentioned, it was the perfect solution for hauling his wife’s electric trike, a task smaller carriers simply couldn’t handle. The 6-inch-high side rails provide secure anchor points and help contain the load, and the included ratchet straps are genuinely heavy-duty, not the flimsy throw-ins you often get with bundled kits.

The 500-pound capacity is more than sufficient for almost any recreational or utility need. We estimate our total load was around 250 pounds, and the carrier didn’t flex or groan in the slightest. The raised shank is another well-thought-out design feature, providing excellent ground clearance. We navigated steep driveways and uneven dirt roads to our campsite without a single scrape, a common problem with carriers that sit too low. The sheer space offered by this carrier is its main selling point, transforming vehicles with limited trunk space—like the Jeep Wrangler another user mentioned—into capable gear haulers. Explore its massive dimensions for yourself and see how it can solve your storage woes.

On-the-Road Stability and Critical Safety Features

Loading capacity is meaningless if the carrier is unsafe on the highway. This is another area where Mockins has clearly done its homework. The included anti-rattle hitch stabilizer is essential. It’s a simple U-bolt clamp that tightens the carrier’s shank against the hitch receiver, and the difference it makes is night and day. It completely eliminated the wobble, sway, and clanking that plagues unstabilized carriers, resulting in a quiet and confidence-inspiring drive, even over rough patches of road. We barely noticed it was back there.

The most critical feature, however, is the integrated lighting system. On a carrier this wide, your vehicle’s taillights and turn signals are almost certainly obstructed. Driving without auxiliary lights is not only dangerous, it’s illegal in most places. The Mockins kit includes bright, functional LED tail lights, brake lights, and turn signals that connect to a standard 4-pin trailer wiring harness. They also cleverly integrated a dedicated license plate bracket with its own light. This demonstrates a commitment to safety and legal compliance that many competitors overlook, forcing buyers to purchase expensive aftermarket lighting kits. Having this feature included out of the box is a massive value-add and, in our opinion, it’s a feature that justifies the investment over more basic models. The folding mechanism worked smoothly, held in place by a sturdy pin, allowing us to easily park in a standard spot without having to remove the entire carrier.

What Other Users Are Saying

Across the board, user sentiment largely aligns with our own findings. Many, like us, are immediately impressed with the build quality, with one user stating the “fit and finish, powder coating” is “far superior” to competing brands. The immense size and the all-in-one nature of the kit are frequently cited as major positives. A common thread is one of pleasant surprise, with one owner saying it “exceeded my expectations” and another calling it a “great value for the money, with all the additional options that came with it.”

However, the assembly difficulties are a recurring theme. The frustration with misaligned holes and the need for non-standard tools is a valid and shared criticism. While most were able to overcome it, it’s the product’s most significant drawback. Despite these assembly hurdles, the consensus points to a high-value product that performs exceptionally well once it’s put together. You can read more user experiences on the product page to get a full picture, but the overall feeling is that the final result is well worth the initial setup challenge.

How Does the Mockins XXL Stack Up Against Alternatives?

The Mockins XXL 72″x36″ Folding Trailer Hitch Cargo Carrier operates in a competitive space, but its unique size and feature set give it a distinct advantage. Here’s how it compares to three other popular options.

1. CURT 60×24-Inch Basket Hitch Cargo Carrier

CURT is a titan in the towing and hauling industry, known for impeccable build quality. Their 18153 model is a fantastic, reliable cargo basket. Its main difference is size; at 60×24 inches, it offers significantly less surface area than the Mockins XXL. This makes it a better choice for users with more standard hauling needs—coolers, luggage, or camping bins—who may not need to transport oversized items like an electric trike. It shares the 500 lb capacity and folding shank, but it does not come standard with a lighting kit, anti-rattle device, or straps. If you prioritize the brand name and have more modest space requirements, the CURT is a rock-solid choice, but you’ll need to budget for essential accessories separately.

2. ARKSEN Folding Hitch Cargo Carrier 500 Lbs Capacity

The ARKSEN carrier is a popular budget-friendly option that competes closely with the standard-sized carriers. Its dimensions (60″ x 23″) and 500 lb capacity are comparable to the CURT, making it a capable hauler for general-purpose use. It features a folding design and high side rails for security. However, like the CURT, it is a barebones offering. It lacks the critical lighting system, license plate bracket, hitch stabilizer, and quality straps included with the Mockins. For a user on a strict budget who only needs a carrier for occasional daytime use, the ARKSEN presents a compelling value. But for anyone serious about safety, road legality, and stability, the Mockins’ all-inclusive package is far superior.

3. WEIZE Heavy Duty 64″x 39″ Rooftop Cargo Carrier Basket 200lb Capacity

This WEIZE carrier represents a completely different approach to cargo management. As a rooftop basket, it’s the ideal alternative for those who don’t have a trailer hitch, need to keep their hitch free for towing, or prefer not to add length to their vehicle. While its platform dimensions are generous, its weight capacity is much lower at just 200 lbs. It’s perfect for lighter, bulkier items like sleeping bags, tents, or luggage. The choice between a rooftop and a hitch-mounted carrier comes down to personal preference and vehicle setup. If your load is heavy, or if you don’t want to lift gear over your head, a hitch carrier like the Mockins is vastly more convenient. If you need 360-degree access to your vehicle’s rear hatch, the WEIZE rooftop basket is the better solution.

Final Verdict: Is the Mockins XXL Cargo Carrier Worth It?

After extensive testing, we can say with confidence that the Mockins XXL 72″x36″ Folding Trailer Hitch Cargo Carrier is a phenomenal piece of equipment for anyone with serious hauling needs. Its colossal platform size is its superpower, swallowing gear that would leave standard carriers overflowing. What truly elevates it, however, is the comprehensive, thoughtfully curated accessory package. The inclusion of an integrated lighting system, license plate bracket, anti-wobble stabilizer, and heavy-duty straps makes this a complete, road-legal, and safe solution right out of the box. While the assembly process is a legitimate and frustrating challenge, it is a one-time task that unlocks a world of utility and convenience.

We recommend this carrier for large families, avid campers, outdoor sports enthusiasts, and anyone who needs to transport bulky items without compromise. If you have a 2-inch hitch and a recurring problem of running out of space, this carrier is not just a solution—it’s an upgrade to your entire travel experience. For those who need maximum space and integrated safety features, the Mockins XXL is an undeniable top contender that offers exceptional value.