Living in a small apartment, traveling full-time in an RV, or sending a kid off to a shoebox-sized dorm room all present a common, relentless challenge: the battle for space. Every square inch counts. Traditional, bulky laundry baskets become permanent, inconvenient fixtures, cluttering up narrow hallways or precious closet floor space. I’ve personally tripped over rigid plastic baskets in the middle of the night more times than I care to admit. The problem isn’t just about tidiness; it’s about functionality. In tight quarters, a cumbersome laundry basket can make a simple chore feel like navigating an obstacle course. This is precisely the problem that collapsible solutions promise to solve—to give us back our space when we need it most. The idea of a full-sized, functional basket that can shrink down to a slim profile and slide between a washer and a wall is, for many of us, the holy grail of household organization.
- Convenient for small spaces
- Simple pop-open and collapse-down design
- Waterproof for easy cleanup
What to Consider Before Buying a Cargo Basket
A Cargo Basket is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for expanding your carrying capacity and organizing your life, whether inside your home or on the road. For products like the Camco laundry basket, the goal is to maximize indoor utility without sacrificing living space. However, for many of our readers, particularly those with RVs or a passion for travel, the concept of a “cargo basket” extends to their vehicles. These external carriers are essential for hauling gear, luggage, or equipment that won’t fit inside, transforming a family car into a capable adventure vehicle. They solve the critical problem of limited trunk space, enabling longer trips and more ambitious projects.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing spatial constraints. For the laundry basket, it’s the apartment dweller, the RVer, or the college student. For an external vehicle cargo basket, it’s the traveling family, the avid camper, or the contractor who needs to haul tools. These products might not be suitable for those with ample storage space who prioritize extreme rigidity over flexibility and portability. For them, a traditional laundry hamper or a permanent utility trailer might be a better, albeit less versatile, fit.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: For an indoor basket, measure the intended storage space (like the gap next to your dryer) to ensure the collapsed dimensions fit. For a vehicle carrier, you must check your vehicle’s hitch receiver size (e.g., 2 inches) or roof rack compatibility. The overall dimensions of the carrier will also affect your vehicle’s profile and potentially its access to garages or parking structures.
- Capacity/Performance: Capacity is measured in liters or pounds. A 60-liter laundry basket, for example, is great for a large load of clothes. A hitch-mounted cargo carrier’s capacity is measured in weight (e.g., 500 lbs) and is a critical safety specification that should never be exceeded. Performance relates to how well it functions—does the laundry basket collapse easily? Is the vehicle carrier stable at highway speeds?
- Materials & Durability: This is paramount. The laundry basket uses a blend of rigid plastic for the frame and flexible thermoplastic rubber (TPR) or silicone for the collapsible sections. For vehicle carriers, powder-coated steel is the standard, offering excellent strength and rust resistance, while aluminum is a lighter, corrosion-proof alternative that often comes at a higher price.
- Ease of Use & Maintenance: How simple is the product to set up, use, and store? A laundry basket that is difficult to collapse defeats its purpose. A vehicle carrier should be easy for one person to mount and secure. Maintenance for both involves regular cleaning; for vehicle carriers, this also includes checking for rust and ensuring all bolts and locks are secure before each trip.
Keeping these factors in mind, the Camco Large Collapsible Utility Laundry Basket stands out in several areas, particularly its intended space-saving design. You can explore its detailed specifications here.
While the Camco Large Collapsible Utility Laundry Basket addresses indoor storage, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition in other areas of transport and storage. For a broader look at top-tier vehicle storage solutions, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
- HEAVY DUTY STEEL CONSTRUCTION: 1 Piece construction with matt black powder coating finish that resists the elements, rust and scratches.
- DURABLE BUILD - Tubular steel in black epoxy powder coating to promote high strength and a lightweight design. and covered in a rust free coating. It is rated for 200 lbs
- 【LARGE STORAGE CAPACITY】Free up space in your vehicle with this roof rack cargo basket that can hold up to 200 Lbs. Overall dimensions include: 46"(L) x 36"(W) x 5"(H)
First Impressions: A Promising Concept Meets a Flimsy Reality
Unboxing the Camco Large Collapsible Utility Laundry Basket, the concept immediately shines. It arrives in its flattened state, impressively slim at just over 3 inches thick. The white plastic frame and gray, flexible midsection look modern and clean. It’s incredibly lightweight, at only two pounds, making the idea of carrying it around seem effortless. The initial “pop” to expand it requires a firm push on the bottom. The first time, it snapped open cleanly, revealing a cavernous 60-liter interior—certainly large enough for a substantial load of laundry.
However, my initial optimism began to wane upon closer inspection. The plastic used for the frame and handles feels thin and brittle. The handles, in particular, are a two-piece design that clips together, and they exhibited a noticeable amount of flex and creaking right out of the box. Collapsing it proved more troublesome than opening it. It requires precise, even pressure, and I found myself wrestling with it to get both sides to fold in uniformly. One side would often collapse while the other remained rigid, a frustration echoed in numerous user reports. This initial experience was a mixed bag: the design is brilliant in theory, but the material choices and execution raised immediate questions about its long-term durability.
Key Benefits
- Excellent space-saving design collapses to just 3.2 inches
- Large 60-liter capacity holds a full load of laundry
- Waterproof material is easy to wipe clean
- Lightweight and easy to carry when empty
Limitations
- Extremely poor handle durability; prone to breaking under load
- Collapsing mechanism is finicky and often fails to operate smoothly
- Flexible silicone sides are susceptible to tearing and punctures over time
- Frequently collapses on its own when being filled
A Deep Dive into the Camco Large Collapsible Utility Laundry Basket’s Performance
A product’s true worth is only revealed through real-world testing. We put the Camco Large Collapsible Utility Laundry Basket through the daily grind of a busy household—transporting everything from heavy, damp towels to delicate clothes—to see if its innovative design could overcome our initial concerns about its build quality. Unfortunately, the performance revealed that its core weaknesses often overshadow its space-saving benefits.
The Collapsing Conundrum: A Promise of Convenience, A Reality of Frustration
The number one selling point of this basket is its ability to disappear when not in use. In theory, you press down, and it smoothly accordions into a flat plank you can tuck away. In practice, our experience was consistently aggravating. More often than not, applying pressure would cause one side to buckle inwards while the other stubbornly refused to budge. This required us to flip the basket over and manually coax the recalcitrant side into place, a process that felt clumsy and defeated the purpose of a quick, simple collapse. This isn’t just an occasional quirk; it’s a fundamental design flaw that many users have reported. One user noted, “It has to be shoved in since only 1 side collapses,” perfectly capturing the essence of the problem.
The inverse issue is just as prevalent: the basket’s structural integrity when open is unreliable. We experienced the sides spontaneously collapsing inward while we were loading laundry into it. Imagine carrying a basket full of clean, folded clothes, only to have one wall give way, spilling the contents onto the floor. Several users reported this exact scenario, with one stating it “collapses as I am putting clothes in it to carry upstairs.” This unreliability turns a simple household chore into a gamble. The locking mechanism—or lack thereof—is simply not strong enough to keep the walls rigid under the normal pressures of use, transforming its key feature from a convenient asset into a significant liability.
Durability Under Duress: An Examination of Materials and Lifespan
Beyond the mechanical frustrations, the most critical failure of the Camco Large Collapsible Utility Laundry Basket is its shocking lack of durability, specifically concerning the handles. The handles are the primary point of interaction, and they are woefully under-engineered. Constructed from a thin, two-part plastic, they feel flimsy from the start. During our testing, with a load of wet towels that was well within a reasonable weight limit, the strain on the handles was visibly alarming. The plastic creaked and flexed, and we felt compelled to support the basket from the bottom, rendering the handles useless.
Our experience is overwhelmingly validated by a chorus of user feedback. Reports of handles snapping are rampant, with many failing within weeks or even after a few uses. One user lamented, “After the first time I tried collapsing it, one side of one of the handles snapped off… then the next time I did laundry, both handles broke COMPLETELY off.” Another stated, “We’ve had this for less than 3 weeks and one handle has already broke.” The point of failure often seems to be where the two plastic pieces join or where the handle assembly connects to the basket’s rim. This isn’t a case of product abuse; it’s a design that is fundamentally incapable of withstanding the basic task it was created for: carrying laundry. If you’re considering this basket, we strongly advise you to factor in this widespread issue of handle failure before purchasing.
The Silicone Sides: A Ticking Clock on Tears and Holes
The gray, flexible material that allows the basket to collapse is its innovation, but it’s also its Achilles’ heel over time. While waterproof and easy to clean, the material is susceptible to wear and tear, especially at the corner creases where the most stress occurs during folding and unfolding. After just a few weeks of regular use, we began to notice faint stress marks appearing in these corners. We were careful with it, but it’s easy to see how a snag on a doorframe or an accidental scrape could lead to a puncture.
This observation is backed by long-term user reports. One customer who purchased the basket in 2020 noted that “3 years later the silicone is developing holes.” Another who owned it for 18 months found it “has multiple holes in the corners.” This suggests a finite lifespan for the product. The constant flexing and stretching required for its main feature inevitably weakens the material, leading to cracks and holes that compromise its ability to hold laundry, especially smaller items like socks. It becomes clear that the basket is not a long-term investment but a temporary solution with a built-in expiration date dictated by material fatigue.
What Other Users Are Saying
Across the board, the user sentiment for the Camco Large Collapsible Utility Laundry Basket tells a consistent story: a brilliant concept crippled by poor execution and low-quality materials. The feedback is sharply divided between those who love the idea and those who have been let down by the reality of its performance.
On the positive side, a minority of users find it perfectly suited to their needs, especially when handled with care for light-duty tasks. One satisfied customer wrote, “For someone who loves everything put away at the end of the evening, this collapsible laundry basket is perfect. I can just fold it up and put it away. But it is sturdy enough to easily hold a load of towels.” This highlights the product’s appeal for those who prioritize its space-saving feature above all else.
However, the negative feedback is overwhelming and centers on the same critical flaws. The most common complaint is the fragile handles. One user’s experience is tragically typical: “This is pretty cheap, the handles broke so fast… one of the handles broke. I tried to glue it back… it didn’t hold. And now the other handle just broke.” The second major issue is the unreliable collapsing mechanism. A frustrated buyer who ordered four of them stated, “They are a struggle to collapse correctly and when they are open, they constantly want to collapse on one side.” These recurring themes of broken handles and structural instability paint a picture of a product that fails to deliver on its core promises of durability and reliable function.
Alternatives to the Camco Large Collapsible Utility Laundry Basket
While the Camco basket addresses indoor storage, if your space-saving needs extend to your vehicle for travel or hauling, there are other types of “cargo baskets” to consider. These heavy-duty alternatives are designed for external transport and offer robust solutions for carrying gear that a laundry basket never could.
1. TUFFIOM 60″ Hitch Mount Cargo Carrier 500lbs
- 【Foldable Design】Designed with a foldable angled shank, which allows the trailer hitch cargo carrier to be folded up when not in use. The angled shank provides additional ground clearance.
- 【Enhanced Security Accessories】A hitch lock is included, you can lock it to car to prevent it being stolen. Upgrade basket height and mesh bottom that can keep your items secure.Comes with...
- 【Extra Large Capacity】 Equipped with a net and a large-capacity waterproof storage bag for more convenient to storage luggage. Besides, it comes with 6 straps for securing the luggage to prevent...
For those who need serious hauling capacity for their vehicle, the TUFFIOM Hitch Mount Carrier is a world away from a laundry basket. This is a robust steel carrier designed to fit into a standard 2″ hitch receiver. With a 500lb weight capacity, it’s built for heavy luggage, camping gear, coolers, and more. Unlike the Camco basket’s simple design, this comes as a complete kit with a waterproof bag, cargo net, straps, and even a hitch stabilizer to reduce rattle. Someone would choose this over the Camco product when their storage problem is about getting gear *to* a destination, not just organizing laundry *at* the destination. It’s for the serious road-tripper or camper.
2. ECOTRIC Hitch Mount Mobility Carrier with Ramp
- Fitment: This carrier is compatible with trucks, suvs, or vans. Use this basket carrier to tow the cargo to the rear of any vehicle with a class III or IV 2 "hitch.
- Function: This hitch-mounted and basket-style cargo carrier can be used as a carrier, great to carry wheelchair, scooter, lawn mower,carrying up to 500 lbs. Total weight: 73 Lbs.Widely use for...
- Feature: Made of heavy-duty steel construction with pull locks. The durable black powder coated finish will provide the extra protection .Adapt to any environment and not easy to deform.
The ECOTRIC carrier serves a more specialized, critical purpose: transporting mobility devices like wheelchairs and scooters. Its standout feature is the integrated, foldable ramp, which makes loading and unloading heavy, wheeled equipment possible for one person. With a 500lb capacity and a basket-style design with high rails, it ensures the secure transport of essential mobility aids. This product is not a general-purpose alternative; it is a vital tool for individuals or families who need to transport a wheelchair or scooter safely and efficiently. Its value lies in providing freedom and accessibility, a completely different function than household organization.
3. ARKSEN Extra Wide Roof Rack Cargo Carrier Basket
- [LARGE STORAGE CAPACITY] Free up space in your vehicle with this roof rack cargo basket that can hold up to 150 lbs. Overall dimensions include: 84"(L) x 50"(W) x 6"(H).
- [RIGID CONSTRUCTION] Heavy-duty steel construction with black powder coating resists weather elements and corrosion, offering several years of long-lasting use.
- [EXTRA SECURITY] Bottom metal bars and side rails keep your items secure during traveling. Features a steel wind fairing to protect cargo from wind damage and reduce wind resistance.
If your vehicle lacks a hitch or if you prefer rooftop storage, the ARKSEN Roof Rack Basket is the ideal choice. This carrier mounts to your vehicle’s existing crossbars and provides a wide, enclosed space for luggage, spare tires, or outdoor equipment. Its 150lb capacity is lower than hitch-mounted options but is perfect for lighter, bulkier items, freeing up interior space. A user would choose this when they need to preserve access to their trunk or hitch for other uses, like towing a trailer. It’s a great solution for SUVs and cars on family vacations, keeping the cabin clear and comfortable.
The Final Verdict: An Idea That Collapses Under Pressure
The Camco Large Collapsible Utility Laundry Basket is a product we desperately wanted to love. The concept is a perfect solution for the modern challenge of small-space living. Its lightweight, large-capacity, and incredibly slim profile when collapsed are, on paper, a winning combination. However, our hands-on testing and a deep dive into user experiences reveal a product that is fundamentally compromised by its poor build quality.
The finicky and unreliable collapsing mechanism, the shockingly fragile handles that seem destined to fail, and the long-term concerns about the flexible material tearing make it impossible to recommend for regular, heavy-duty use. It may serve a purpose for someone who does laundry infrequently, handles it with extreme care, and values its compact storage above all else. But for the average family, college student, or RVer, the constant risk of broken handles and spontaneous collapse makes it more of a liability than a convenience. It’s a classic case of a fantastic idea let down by subpar execution.
If you’ve decided the unique space-saving benefits of the Camco Large Collapsible Utility Laundry Basket outweigh its significant durability risks, you can check its current price and purchase it here.
Last update on 2025-10-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API