Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Background: Mounted on a 2013 Nissan Pathfinder. I used the carrier for a trip from Virginia to Florida, Florida to Louisiana, then Louisiana back to Virginia. All travel on improved roads. Discussion: The rear hatch opens and closes with plenty of clearance. With a few hundred pound load, the carrier did not make noise (hitch silencer not required, just a simple hitch pin or lockable hitch pin). When turning and hitting a pot hole simultaneously, I heard one click. Setup: Simple setup. Few tools required. Instructions are small and difficult to read but with a handful of bolts/nuts, common sense will prevail. Mounting can be done with one person, simpler if you fold the shank up first. After inserting the shank, lower the platform to allow freedom of movement while inserting the hitch pin. Quality: Great quality. Held up over distance and in inclement weather. I would have given 5 stars but the reason for 4 is lack of sealing. Although the outside is coated to protect against rust, the inside of the steel tubes are not, and they open ends invite water intrusion. I didn't notice until I arrive at my destination and transitioned the platform to the vertical position. As I pivoted the platform upward, a deluge of heavily rusted water poured out. It looks great on the outside, but if I don't address internal rusting it will still look beautiful the day it fails (hopefully not in transit). Recommendation to the Buyer: I purchased a Pelican Case 0550NF to use with the carrier. Sitting in the driver's seat, I barely see the case through the back window. I know it is there but it doesn't block my view at all. I cannot see the carrier or case from the side mirrors. I used two ratchet straps to secure the case (one is good enough, two for redundancy). The carrier is slightly smaller than the bottom of the Pelican Case. I knew this when I purchased the case with the intent of putting the case on its back. Doing this, in conjunction with the ratchet straps, did not compromise the Pelican Case's ability to remain water tight. If you aren't familiar with a Pelican Case, they are watertight, lockable, ruggedized cases commonly used in austere environments and by military. The combination of the carrier and the case equals about 150 lbs. The 2013 Pathfinder has a class 3 hitch with a 500 lb tongue weight. This means that you can fill the case with no more than 350 lbs after which you risk damage to the vehicle. I would recommend against approaching the 350 lbs as a bump in the road can spike the force on the tongue past capacity. Recommendation to the Seller: Cap the open ends of the steel tubes to protect the inside from rust. Recommend: Definitely!