Review on CURT 18112 Black Aluminum Hitch Cargo Carrier with Ramp: 50 x 30-1/2-Inch, 2-in Folding Shank - Ultimate Versatility for Easy Travel by Matthew Sutton

I really waivered between giving this 3 or 4 stars but since we haven’t had problems in use I went ahead with the 4 stars.It’s big and can hold a great deal. The edge is sufficient to hold bins in place but would not be sufficient for stacking. The frame and hitch piece are quite substantial, very sturdy. It is easy to use. The ramp comes down easily and folds up easily. The entire carrier can easily be folded up when not in use. The clearance from the back of your vehicle is a pro and con. It sticks out a LOT, more than any other I’ve seen. On the flip side there is ZERO chance of any part touching your vehicle when in use or flipped up.The carrier slats and tray itself though are "meh”. When I first got it I tried walking up the ramp to test the sturdiness and didn’t even go all the way up because I felt afraid I’d fall. Despite very good packing the inside of the tray still came with a dent, just from transport. The coating isn’t any better. My husband babies it because he’s afraid it will rust in all the places the coating is nicked so he doesn’t want me to nick it. I’m not too worried about use because the frame underneath is soooo sturdy. But I feel like the weight needs to be distributed well or risk the tray itself.Now assembly. It looked so straightforward that I didn’t listen to my husband who said he could do it when he got home. And it was, at first. But attaching the frame to the tray did NOT specify to make sure the hitch was opposite the reflectors so I didn’t even think to look. And you can guess I put it on backwards. This would be an easy thing to switch if I had noticed before I moved onto the next step. The next step was attaching the plate the ramp hooks to when you have it up for driving. I was smart enough to look at the picture and see it needed to go opposite the hitch. But since the hitch was attached to the frame that I put on backwards, I then put the plate on backwards. The next step calls for tightening with a torque wrench (so you will need a torque wrench). After consulting with my husband on this step I do that. I then go to attach the rest of the hitch post. ONLY THEN do I notice the reflectors on the same side. No big deal, I’ll reverse everything. This worked well until the plate to attach the ramp to. The nuts are nylock. Nowhere does it warn to be very careful and sure you are attaching correctly because they are nylock and can’t be undone. My poor husband now has to save me from my mistake. This will NOT be an easy fix as we will have to locate new nuts.So my suggestion is to be careful with assembly. I would also say to be careful with weight distribution and follow the weight limits. Considering the price this may really only be a good deal if you need a ramp.