RV cargo carriers solve the problem every camper owner knows: the rig runs out of room before the packing list runs out. Moving bulky, weather-tolerant gear to exterior storage frees the cabin for the things that actually need to ride inside. The practical options are an enclosed cargo trunk for gear that needs protection, an open basket for items you grab constantly, and a bolt-on bumper receiver that adds a 2 inch mounting point to a camper that never came with one. Whichever you choose, stay inside your RV's cargo carrying capacity and your bumper's limits, and check the load before every leg of the trip.
Key Takeaways
- Exterior storage frees cabin space for what actually needs climate control.
- Every RV has a cargo carrying capacity. Weigh your load against it, not against wishful thinking.
- Enclosed trunks protect gear; open baskets keep it within reach. Most rigs benefit from one of each.
- A bolt-on bumper receiver adds a 2 inch mounting point without drilling or welding.
- Rear-mounted cargo barely touches fuel economy compared to rooftop boxes.
Where Does All the RV Space Go?
Camp chairs, the cooler, the propane, the fishing rods, the kids' bikes, the dog's food, the leveling blocks. None of it is optional, and all of it competes for the same cabinets. More than 34 million Americans planned RV trips this spring alone, per the RV Industry Association, and 74 million plan to go RVing within the year. Every one of those rigs leaves the driveway with the same argument about what fits.
The fix is a packing plan with real categories: what stays within arm's reach, what gets stored away, what moves outside, and what stays home. The third category is where most families find the space they thought they didn't have.
Do RV Cargo Carriers Really Make Travel Easier?
Used correctly, yes. Moving bulky gear outside trades cabin clutter for organized, accessible storage. Three things make the difference between a carrier that helps and one that becomes its own problem.
Respect the Weight Numbers
Every RV has a cargo carrying capacity (CCC): the weight the rig can take on after passengers, fluids, and factory equipment. The number is on the weight label and in your owner's manual, and it is not a suggestion. The same goes for the bumper itself. Many camper bumpers are light-duty tube, so check your RV manufacturer's guidance for what the bumper is rated to hold before mounting anything to it. Proper loading and safe operation stay on you no matter what hardware you bolt on.
Send the Right Gear Outside
Exterior carriers are for bulky, durable gear that does not care about temperature: camp chairs, the folding table, fuel cans, leveling blocks, muddy boots, the stuff you would rather not smell for six hours anyway. Clothing, food, and electronics stay inside.
Pack for the Order You Need It
Load the carrier in reverse: first-out gear on top or in front. Campground setup should be reach and grab, not archaeology.
Which RV Cargo Carrier Fits Your Setup?
Herc Outdoors builds its RV line around three pieces, all designed, welded, and assembled in Pine City, Minnesota.
Enclosed Trunk
Some gear is too bulky to store inside but too valuable to ride exposed. The RV Trunk Lock'R is an enclosed HD polyethylene trunk with a water-resistant rubber seal, a keyed lock or padlock latch option, and a machined-in wobble stop so it does not rattle down the highway. Inside dimensions run 37 by 16 by 13 inches, which swallows fishing gear, tools, and camp kitchen boxes.
Open Basket
The Bumper LockR Basket is the open-air version: a steel basket for fuel cans, propane, firewood, and anything you want within reach without opening a lid. It ships with Herc's bolt-on 2 inch receiver mount included, so it goes on a standard camper bumper with no drilling and no welded hitch.
Bumper Mount Receiver
If your camper never came with a receiver hitch, the Bumper Mount Receiver solves that by itself. It bolts to a standard square camper bumper and adds a 2 inch receiver connection, no drilling required, so the trunk, the basket, and other receiver accessories all have a place to land. Browse the full RV accessories collection to see how the pieces fit together.
How Do You Keep Exterior Gear Organized?
RV travel is the same gear packed and unpacked a dozen times. A system beats a pile: group gear by activity, label the bins, keep setup items where you can reach them first, use weather-tight containers inside open baskets, and keep a separate spot for dirty gear so the clean stuff stays that way. For the rest of the fleet, the same thinking applies; our guide to outdoor vehicle gear covers carriers across ATVs, sleds, boats, and campers, and our boat and RV accessories roundup goes deeper on the summer lineup.
Every Herc carrier is backed by a 30 day try it policy and a 2 year warranty, and the crew runs the same gear on its own campers. If it does not install clean and hold up on real washboard roads, it does not ship.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I keep exterior cargo secure while driving?
Strap everything, even inside a basket. Pick strong anchor points, pull the slack out, and tighten until nothing shifts when you push on it. Then re-check at every fuel stop: a properly secured load should not move when the RV accelerates, brakes, or crosses rough pavement.
Will a cargo carrier hurt my fuel economy?
Far less than a rooftop box. U.S. Department of Energy testing found rear-mounted cargo cuts fuel economy by only 1 to 2 percent in city driving and 1 to 5 percent on the highway, while rooftop boxes can cost 10 to 25 percent at interstate speeds. Removing the carrier when you are not using it saves the rest.
What should never go in an exterior carrier?
Valuables, fragile electronics, anything that needs climate control, and anything you cannot afford to have out of sight at a rest stop. An enclosed, lockable trunk widens what you can safely carry outside, but the cabin is still the right place for the irreplaceable stuff.
Give Your Gear Its Own Room
RV cargo carriers turn the back bumper into the storage the rig should have come with, and the cabin goes back to being living space. Herc ships free anywhere in the U.S. on orders over $100, and the 30 day try it policy means you can load a trunk or basket for a real trip before you commit. Not sure what your bumper can take? Contact Herc Outdoors and ask before you buy.
