I frequently use a hitch mounted carrier I bought at Northern many years ago to carry around stuff that doesn't fit in the back - it's especially great for getting pine straw from the borg - I can stack 16 bales on the back with some rope without any issues. Here's an image of one similar, only mine was for a larger tongue and didn't fold:

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...8577_200308577

I've also used it to carry some fairly heavy pieces of equipment - it's fit to a Tone frame hitch, one of the first he offered.

Anyway, I once hauled a 400 pound cast iron wood planer on the back - when I put it on the carrier it bent down one corner, basically twisting the carrier (it's still like that today) - but didn't affect the hitch, welds, etc at all. Here's an image of the planer on the carrier:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3117/...78f036eb_o.jpg
That's my truck to the right - wish I had taken an image of the planer as it "leaned" over on the carrier.

-- John