Trailer hitch load basket

[budrichard]

For those of you that are either engineers or machinists or Volvo fanatics, you have to see the Load Basket and its attendant Hitch Base Unit. The design and fabrication are something I would only expect from Germany. Obviously no 'bean counter' told the engineers to make a cheap piece of junk like our US 'bean counters'. First you need the 2" Volvo Hitch and to use any of the hitch items, you need the Hitch Base Unit. This unit will tilt to allow access to your tailgate and has a shock absorber on it and latches that make tilting it a dream. The pin that secures the unit to the hitch is not the conventional pin with cotter pin, but threads into the hitch AND has an o-ring which I assume is to preclude dirt getting in the mechanism. There are locks provided and everything is encased in plastic to avoid corrosion. The Load Basket is mostly aluminim but looks like it could support 300#'s at least. I have a 99XC on which I have a DrawTite 1.25" hitch and Aluminum HitchHauler. While the combo is OK it is so low to the ground that it will scrape on hilly trails. This one will not because it rides about 2.5' off the ground. Although the instructions say to not use offroad, that is where it will be used to transport dead animals. -Dick

[Ab_Fab]

Interesting,

Any pictures? I have a local removable hitch made here locally in NZ that was installed by Volvo that I have very happy with, but this sounds like moving the hitch thing to a whole other level! I especially like the "tilt" function.

Neil

[Supertoyz]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (budrichard @ Jan. 16 2003,10:49)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">The design and fabrication are something I would only expect from Germany. Obviously no &#39;bean counter&#39; told the engineers to make a cheap piece of junk like our US &#39;bean counters&#39;.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I couldn&#39;t have said it better myself........it&#39;s sad that the above statement is so true.

[coastal]

must be the same as they&#39;ve got for the XC90:

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Load Basket (Hitch-Mounted)

Aluminum load basket, which is perfect for luggage or suitcases. By utilizing a gas spring there is no need to remove these accessories when accessing the cargo area.

Suggested Retail Price: &#036;240.00 [/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
http://www.volvoxc90.com/details/images/accessories/loadBasket_hitchMounted.jpg

I&#39;d prefer the roof if anything:
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">An elegant roof-rack basket, designed in aluminum with plastic-coated steel tubes. Works in conjunction with the standard roof rails and the accessory crossbars.
Additional mounting kit may be required for use with wing profile crossbars.

Suggested Retail Price: &#036;106.00
[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>

http://www.volvoxc90.com/details/images/accessories/loadBasket.jpg

[Art]

I see some merit with the hitch mounted luggage carrier, particularly in instances if you require the extra space for cargo and the space on top of the roof is occupied by other gear/equipment such as bikes, skiis, etc... Personally though, I prefer the rugged look of the Thule basket myself. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

http://www.thuleracks.com/thule/images/largepics/840.jpg

[budrichard]

It is exactly the same unit for the XC90. If you carry DEAD ANIMALS, the blood stains the paint and is hard to get off. I know and that is why the animals go on a rear carrier&#33; BTW at 70mph with nothing on it, the rack is unseen, unheard but does obscure the rear plate. It also needs some reflector material for tailgaters, so they don&#39;t hit it. -Dick

[budrichard]

Volvo is offering a 20% discount on accessesories for the 2003 2&quot; square hitch. Go to the Volvo Owner&#39;s Circle and look under &#39;Special Offers&#39;. -Dick

[Art]

Here&#39;s another example of a rear hitch load carrier that also extends out and pivots.
Xtender Hitch Mounted Carrier (http://discover-net.net/~xtender/)

http://discover-net.net/~xtender/pic1.jpg