Cargo Carrier Modification

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The hitch that comes with the trailer package for a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica is horizontal and passes directly through a notch in the bumper as shown below1. Factory hitch on 2018 Chrysler Pacifica

I you order an after-market hitch it slopes downhill towards the rear, to clear the bumper as shown below.  This would work ok for an accessary such as a trailer, attached to the ball, but causes an accessary such as a cargo carrier to slope downward towards the rear, because it is designed to work with a horizontal hitch.  2. After market hitch

I carefully measured the geometry of my car and designed a modification for the steel frame of the cargo carrier to straighten out this slope.3. My original design

Once my minivan was loaded and driven around the rear suspension became compressed, which caused the cargo carrier basket to tip further towards the rear of the car as shown below.4. Sloped Cargo Carrier

I decided to modify the frame of the cargo carrier to eliminate this slope, when the car and the cargo carrier were loaded. To accomplish this, I put 360 lbs of steel in back of the minivan to compress the suspension. I also sloped the rear of the cargo carrier up an additional ½” to account for the fact that the 330 lb scooter would be cantilevered off the rear of the car. I used jack stands to support the four corners of cargo carrier in the proper position.5. Ballast in rear of van

Smith Oxyacetylene TorchMiller Dynasty 200DXLincoln SP-250 MIG WelderClausing/Coldchester 15" Lathe16" DuAll Saw15" Drill Press7" x 9" Swivel Head Horizontal Band Saw20 Ton Arbor Press BridgeportLincoln LE  31 MP & Lincoln 210 MP
Reply:6. Side view of jack stands

I cut the tongue of the steel frame of the cargo carrier to allow me to modify the slope of the cargo carrier.  The next picture is a close-up view of groove weld joint in tongue of the steel frame of the cargo carrier.  I tack welded the two pieces of the tongue together in this position, while the cargo carrier was supported by the jack stands.7. Close up of Joint on tongue

I unscrewed the Aluminum basket from the cargo carrier assembly and removed it. Next, I removed the steel support frame from the receiver on the van. On the bench I dual shield fluxcore welded together the two pieces of the tongue of the steel support frame, with a CJP (Complete Joint Penetration) weld.Below is my weld on one side of the frame.  8. Weld on Tongue

For this weld, I used the following weld parameters to weld the ¼” x 2” square tubing:Process: Dual shield flux core (FCAW-G)Welder: Lincoln 210 MPGas: 75% Ar 25% CO2Wire: .035” Lincoln 71M (E71-T1M)WFS: 375 IPMVoltage: 23.6 voltsShielding Gas: 30 CFHCTWD:  3/4” – 1”Polarity: DCEP9. Painted

I reattached the Aluminum basket to the steel support frame and mounted the cargo carrier to the van. It is now nice and level.10. Level cargo carrier

-DonSmith Oxyacetylene TorchMiller Dynasty 200DXLincoln SP-250 MIG WelderClausing/Coldchester 15" Lathe16" DuAll Saw15" Drill Press7" x 9" Swivel Head Horizontal Band Saw20 Ton Arbor Press BridgeportLincoln LE  31 MP & Lincoln 210 MP
Reply:Looks great.Now make it electric up down for over 600 pounds to load the welder Dave

Originally Posted by Don52

The hitch that comes with the trailer package for a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica is horizontal and passes directly through a notch in the bumper as shown below1. Factory hitch on 2018 Chrysler Pacifica

I you order an after-market hitch it slopes downhill towards the rear, to clear the bumper as shown below.  This would work ok for an accessary such as a trailer, attached to the ball, but causes an accessary such as a cargo carrier to slope downward towards the rear, because it is designed to work with a horizontal hitch.  2. After market hitch

I carefully measured the geometry of my car and designed a modification for the steel frame of the cargo carrier to straighten out this slope.3. My original design

Once my minivan was loaded and driven around the rear suspension became compressed, which caused the cargo carrier basket to tip further towards the rear of the car as shown below.4. Sloped Cargo Carrier

I decided to modify the frame of the cargo carrier to eliminate this slope, when the car and the cargo carrier were loaded. To accomplish this, I put 360 lbs of steel in back of the minivan to compress the suspension. I also sloped the rear of the cargo carrier up an additional ½” to account for the fact that the 330 lb scooter would be cantilevered off the rear of the car. I used jack stands to support the four corners of cargo carrier in the proper position.5. Ballast in rear of van