A cargo carrier includes a backbone that has a hitch mounting portion that is configured to be removably coupled to a trailer hitch receiver of a vehicle and a deck portion that is vertically offset from the hitch mounting portion. Further, the cargo carrier includes a pair of upright members that are coupled to the deck portion of the backbone such that the upright members are substantially parallel to and spaced apart from each other. Each upright member includes a bottom support portion and a pair of arms. Furthermore, the cargo carrier includes a lower cargo deck is coupled to the bottom support portion of the pair of upright members and an upper cargo deck is coupled to the top ends of the arms of the pair of upright members such that the upper cargo deck is spaced apart from and at least partially overlying the bottom cargo deck.