Hi all, I'm planning on making a 15-hour trip (in 3 days). :-) I wanted to add a rear cargo carrier to expand the luggage area. But I wondered how the exhaust heat could affect the cargo and the stuff I carry there. The cargo carrier does not have lights but reflectors. I am planning to drive only during the day.
To avoid my stuff getting damaged or smelling like exhaust, I thought about adding a hitch raise to elevate the cargo by 6 inches. However, doing this may require me to consider a potential obstruction of lights (braking) and if I need to move the license plate for the same reason :-(
Therefore, before going into the whole enchilada, I wanted to know if somebody had installed a cargo carrier in their Jeep Cherokee and what their experience was like.
I thought about a roof rack, but it has its negatives:
1—price, 2—difficult to reach and accommodate the area, 3—may affect the driving (more turbulence = noise & poor gas millage -if that's a thing in a Jeep :-). So, the rear cargo is preferred.
Mine is a 2014 Cherokee.
Thanks for your suggestions and sharing your experience!

 

If your 14 cherokee isn't burning oil then you should be just fine. Modern vehicles in good working order aren't putting out near the emissions trail from years ago.

By default I store anything I'm hauling on a rear hitch rack in a plastic tote which may come across as common sense for weather and rode conditions.