Hitch trays

Quote "Please explain?" unquote

Hi there GMD, I presume there legal as I saw one on pennant hills road the other day on the back of a mitsubishi van loaded up to the hilt with bikes and every thing else, my wife and I were wondering what the hell it was as I have never seen one before.Thought it was a home made jobby (may be it was) It didnt look real secure as evertime he took off it flexed back and forth, maybe incorrectly fitted or had it over loaded, there you go you learn some thing new every day now I know what they are. Regards Steve M

Maybe the first issue is the obscuring of any lights and the number plate?
Workaround on that one, since there should be a plug for trailer lights if you have a hitch point, so have a board with lights like a lot of people do with a tinnie on a trailer.
Maybe 2nd issue is the way the load is carried and whether it overloads the rear suspension (obviously depends on weight of load) and also possibly lifting the front wheels off the ground for poor braking and steering control.
Otherwise looks like a good idea for a light load and if you don't have a trailer.
I have a hitch, so I have a trailer, well two actually, box and CT.
In the past I put the roof rack or board racks on so I can carry long objects over the car, if not through the trailer.
So I don't think I will be buying one.

i think your allowed 1 metre max. overhang, no obstruction on tailights, but every time you need access to the rear wouldnt you have to unhitch & remove?

Having carried three bikes on a carrier on the rear I can attest to the greatly reduced exit angles and the big loads it puts on the suspension - all that weight sort of cantilevered way out there.

I have seen things like this from time to time - there is one for those electric wheelchairs, for instance, so I don't think they are illegal.

They do take a pounding however and would need to be quite strong for the potential weight that folks put on them - especially jerry cans if that was envisaged.

i made a simple one a few years ago out of 3 pieces of weld mesh. Folds up flat against the back of the truck when not ine use. Drops down to form a simple wood carrier for out in the bush. Not wide enough to interefere with lights. Had to move numberplate from center to one side. Very handy. I have a tray top, and the tray gets filled with my Carry-Me-Camper, so no where else for wood. Only used in bush, never been tackled about it and i can't see any problem with it.

Re departue angles: The hinge arrangment allows it to lift up if travelling froward and it its the ground, but is a problem in reverse, especially with the long whell base f250. Not a problem on normal gravel roads, just extreme off road.

thanks guys for all the arguments..
this is my solution on my bike ..
http://www.ozshops.com/wing/images/packed.jpg
it was just packed up for the run arouind the corner to the post office ...
usually I have the eski and tent etc on it when I go cruising
since I have this a long time and it serves me well I was looking
at the same solution for the truck when I do not have the trailer(boat)
attached. I have a truck camper (slide on) and a boat trailer but obviously
I will not take the boat trailer everywhere and may just go for a few days
or couple of weeks without the boat (mainly inland of course).. so I need
additional space for the Generator and a couple of things ... I also can see
no reason why it should be illegal .. weight on suspension etc is no issue
here as some pointed out ... I do not necessarily intend to buy one because
they are easily made (like my bike one)
thanks again for all the contributions
regards
gmd

_gmd_pps
i think this is what your looking for.

www.ezimotow.com.au

i got a price last year and they were about $600 - $700 ish from memory.
there are 2 american mobs making them aswell. all 3 look virtuly identical.
am very seriously considering making one myself and think i will save about $500

I saw one in Geelong a couple of months back. had a ramp and was used to carry a disability scooter. Great idea. Was fitted to a Falcon.