Load carrier and vehicular coupling device

The carrier (10a) is mounted on a rear section (11) of a motor vehicle (12a), particularly of a passenger vehicle and protrudes rearwardly in the mounted condition before the rear section of the motor vehicle. A monitoring device (30a) is provided with a monitoring sensor (32a) for monitoring a monitoring area (31) at a free side of the carrier that is averted to the motor vehicle. The monitoring device has a carrier-communication unit (55a) for monitoring the monitoring data generated by the monitoring sensor. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a monitoring device that forms a detachable fastening module at the carrier; and (2) a coupling device with an optical or acoustic output unit.