Tricam SLE-1 2 in 1 E-Z Hitch Mounted Load Extender, 350-Pound Capacity, Black Finish (2-Pack)

I've given this unit 4 stars only because I added a "hitch tightener" to the system. A hitch tightener is what the seller should have included with the product as this additional device is abolultely necessary to safe and stable operation of the unit.. Without the hitch tightener, I would give the unit just two stars.At first, I was disappointed in this product for the following reasons; (1) The unit fit very loosely into the receiver on my pick up and even when the unit is secured with ratchet type load straps, it wobbles badly and is very unstable. (2) Unless you are willing to buy an "anti-rattle/wobble" device for an additional $24.00, you won't be happy with the way this unit fits into your vehicle hitch receiver. (3) So, I strongly suggest that you spend the money and purchase a hitch tightener that is sold by Amazon. You won't be disappointed with that choice.(4) The unit does not fit deeply enough into the receiver, causing vertical and lateral instability and safety issues. To help make this unit fit more solidly in the receiver, I drilled an additional "pin" hole in the part of the unit that fits into the receiver of my vehicle. The method I sued to determine the location of the hold was to push the part of the unit that fits into the receiver into the receiver until I could feel the unit become "flush" with the back of the receiver. This modification allowed the unit to fit an additional 4 inches into the receiver thus making it more stable and safe.This modification along with the hitch tightener is all you'll need to do to make this unit perform perfectly.

I bought this bed extender primarily for hauling 12' lumber in my 5.5' truck bed. It works well for this purpose and I would feel comfortable also using it for 16' lumber. It is a little loose (in the hitch), but I run a ratchet strap around the lumber and under the bed extender, which pulls the extender up into the lumber keeping everything very solid. My only complaint is that the hole for the hitch pin is very close to the end. On my F-150's hitch, the pin hole is pretty close to the front. Therefore, not much goes into the hitch...maybe 2-3". I originally intended to insert it all the way into the hitch (5-6") and mark where to drill another hole. However, I didn't have a chance to do so before using it a few times and it seems to work OK as-is and is able to hold a decent load. Most of the lumber weight is really in the bed/on the tailgate, so it's really just acting to stabilize the load.The picture shows the product in use (straps removed though), carrying 6x 4x6x12 pressure treated posts. This is about a 450lb load, though the weight on the extender is probably only around 150lbs. Could have easily hauled 12 of these posts like this with no worries.

My truck has a 5.5' bed, which typically limits how much I can carry. As a result, I often have to resort to borrowing a trailer to haul longer boards, etc. In this case, I was looking for a way to haul 2 14' kayaks, which was problematic. I have roof racks for our Honda van, but it's hard for me to get the kayaks up and down from the roof by myself. I looked at a LOT of different load extenders before settling on the Tricam. I wanted to ensure I was getting something that was BOTH of quality construction AND available at an affordable price.Fortunately, the Tricam SLE-1 load extender worked GREAT for carrying kayaks in my truck! The Tricam load extender allowed me to load them in and out by myself without issue. It was also adjustable enough to get it set up evenly with the back of my dropped tailgate. Almost any load extender review will mention some 'wobble', so I paired this up front with the Winnerwell Anti Rattle Hitch Tightener for 1.25" and 2" Hitches ... this combo worked perfectly!The Tricam has open ends and two tie downs to connect tie straps, which was also good, as it allowed me to use regular ratcheting straps to secure my load. While I appreciate the reflectors on the back, I opted to cut a large pool noodle and zip-tie it to the load extender to help provide a cushioning for my kayaks. for inside the truck bed, I used pool noodles and PVC pipe with caps to lay between the tailgate and bed, and further back just in front of the wheel wells, to protect them all the way back. My truck has tie-downs just inside the bed, which were far enough back for a second strap. Overall it worked perfectly for my needs!I highly recommend the Tricam load extender... the steel is of a decent thickness, the welds are good, and it has a solid 1-year warranty. I also recommend pairing it with the aforementioned hitch tightener, which will also help secure this to your vehicle and keep it from making noise on bumpy roads (it only takes a few moments to install). And since the ends of the cross-bar are open, you can easily snake a cable lock (easy to cut) or if you will be staying overnight, something like the Abus Lock 00760 6KS 10' Chain & Sleeve.