CURT

CURT Manufacturing is the biggest name in American hitches. Founded in 1993 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the company makes Class I–V hitch receivers, ball mounts, wiring harnesses, and cargo carriers. If you've bought a Class III hitch from Amazon or Walmart in the last decade, there is a very good chance it was a CURT.

For cargo carriers, CURT's 18153 and 18145 steel baskets are the workhorse options — 500-pound capacity, 60x24 inches of usable space, and street prices under $200. They're not fancy. They're steel, powder-coated, and bolt-through solid.

CURT's also worth knowing because they own Lippert now, which means RV owners are buying CURT products whether they know it or not.