Toyota Corolla is a popular vehicle with various trims. You can get a Toyota Corolla trailer hitch if you want to haul carriers on the rear end. Or if you want a hitch bike rack for Toyota Corolla it would not be installed unless you first install a trailer on your vehicle. 

This article is a step-by-step guide to landing the perfect trailer to tow objects. We will analyze the different hitches available in the market and compare them to see which one suits your requirements. We will also discuss whether you should install the trailer on your own or hire a professional along with the total expenses. 

Step 1: Determine which Toyota Corolla trailer hitch is compatible with your vehicle

The first step is to shortlist all the trailer hitches that are compatible with Toyota Corolla. The table below shows some of the top Corolla hitches in the market with other details.

BRAND	TOYOTA	CURT	CURT	DRAW-TITE	REESE
PRODUCT	PT228-16221	11265	112653	24913	77983
YEAR	2022	2003-2016	2003-2017	2003-2019	2020-2022
PRICE	$170	$150	$160	$165	$180
HITCH OPENING	1 ¼”	1 ¼”	1 ¼”	1 ¼”	1 ¼”
CLASS	1	1	1	1	1
GROSS TRAILER WEIGHT	1500 lbs	2000 lbs.	2000 lbs.	2000 lbs.	2000 lbs.
WEIGHT IN POUNDS	–	27 lbs	31 lbs	36 lbs	20 lbs
DRILLING	No	No	No	No	Yes
RATING	–	94%	87%	87%	–

Step 2: What class and size your bike rack, cargo rack or other hitch accessories will attach to?

Before you go on buying a Toyota Corolla trailer hitch, you need to be sure what you need it for. The table below the different hitch classes, their commonly available receiver sizes, towing capacity, compatible vehicles, and the accessories that can be towed by them. 

Hitch Class	Towing capacity	Receiver size	Vehicles	Tows
1	2000lbs	1 ¼”	Sedans, compact cars	Bike racks, jet skis, cargo trays, lightweight trailers
2	3500lbs	1 ¼”  or 2”	Sedans, SUVs, minivans	Bike racks, boats, small campers
3	5000lbs	2”	Small trucks, SUVs, crossovers	Utility trailers, bike racks, campers
4	12000lbs	2” or 2 ½”	Half-size pickups, large trucks	Large boats, travel trailers,
5	20000lbs	2 ½” or 3”	Vans, large SUVs, trucks	Large trailers

Every vehicle has a specific towing capacity, hauling something heavier can lead to accidents or damage to the car as well as the towed object. Most Corolla trims tow up to 2000 pounds which means that only a class 1 Toyota Corolla trailer hitch would be suitable. These trailer hitches have a receiver that is 1 ¼” in size. Find our reviews on 1 1 4 hitch bike racks. 

What is a Class and size of trailer hitch?

Hitch class defines the maximum towing capacity of a trailer hitch when attached to a vehicle. There are usually 5 different classes with varying towing capacities ranging from as low as 2000 lbs to as high as 20,000 lbs. So, if you are aware of the towing capacity of your vehicle, you can easily search for a suitable hitch. 

Hitch sizes refer to the size of the hitch receiver. The receiver is usually a square shapes void. The length of one side of the square is referred to as the hitch size. The smaller hitch size available is 1 ¼” this means that all four walls of the receiver are 1.25 inches in length. You can see the difference between receiver sizes in the picture below. 

As you can see in the table above, the receiver size increases with the increased towing capacity. This is actually necessary for maintaining the stability of the added load. Most hitch bike racks require a 1 ¼” or 2” receiver for installation. 

Compatibility guide of hitch attachments 

If you want to install a hitch on Corolla for using a hitch bike rack, then you should look for 1 ¼” or 2” hitch receiver sizes. We have reviewed numerous bike racks and on the basis of that knowledge, we have also recommended some best bike racks for Toyota Corolla. 

These racks require the aforementioned sizes, for example, Kuat Sherpa, a popular rack, goes with both 1 ¼” and 2”. Similarly, Thule T2 Pro XTR, and Allen Sports hitch bike racks are also compatible with these sizes. You can also get a 1 1 4 to 2 hitch adapter if your bike rack hitch size does not match the size of the receiver. 

Step 3: Select the best Toyota Corolla trailer hitch based on price, reviews, and our recommendations 

Genuine Corolla hitch PT228-16221| Best fit

No trailer hitch fits better on Corolla than the genuine OEM trailer. Using it has many benefits because it saves you from the adjustment troubles faced while using other hitches. This trailer is designed by Toyota manufacturers specifically for Corolla and it fits perfectly on the car without the need to make alterations. 

This class 1 trailer hitch can be bought at around $170 which is not much more expensive than other hitches mentioned here. PT228-16221 is designed for Corolla Cross and it can tow whatever towing capacity the vehicle has, for example, the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross tows up to 1500 lbs. So in this case the genuine Toyota hitch would be able to tow this load. 

So if you own Corolla Cross there is no better trailer hitch option than this genuine part. It looks very fine after installation and since it is made specifically for Corolla, you wouldn’t be able to tell if it is a separate part installed. Moreover, all the bolt positions align with the vehicle and there is no need to make alterations to the car. 

Curt 11265|Economical Corolla trailer hitch

Curt 11265 is the most economical Toyota Corolla trailer hitch. You can use it for multiple Corolla year models at a very reasonable price of around $150. This way you can save a lot of money as compared to the expensive trailers out there. You can further save up money by installing the trailer on your own. 

Installation is very easy and many users appreciate Curt for making this trailer hitch very simple to use. All required hardware is included in the price, you just have to follow basic installation steps and you would be good to go. This can save you up to $100 because you would not have to hire a professional.

Overall, it is a great hitch with amazingly high customer satisfaction. It is liked by 94% of users. You can use it if you own 2003-2016 Corolla models. This trailer looks good on the vehicle because it blends in neatly. 

CURT 112653|Toyota Corolla trailer hitch with ball mount

Looking for a versatile hitch for Toyota Corolla? Curt 112653 provides you with options to use it as a square hitch receiver or as a ball mount trailer. So if you want to tow different objects behind your Corolla, you should buy this trailer hitch. It works as a 1 ¼” receiver or ¾” ball hole if you attach the ball mount. 

You can get this trailer at around $160 along with the ball mount and hardware required for installation. It would work great for 2003-2017 Corolla models and a majority of customers are satisfied with it. The trailer does not require drilling because it fits Corolla perfectly. 

You can always switch between the square receiver and ball mount as required. This Corolla hitch is made in high quality with a coating that protects against rusting and UV damage. 

Draw-Tite 24913

This Draw-Tite trailer hitch is made for 2003-2019 Corolla models. It is a class 1 trailer with a 1 ¼” receiver hitch. You can get it for around $165 which is a bit higher than the Curt trailers reviewed above. The trailer fits without making any modifications to Toyota Corolla. 

Also, the installation is pretty simple, and would not require the removal of many parts. The predrilled holes line up with the vehicle perfectly. The bolts and other hardware is provided along with the trailer. Most users complain the provided M12 bolts are difficult to fit. So this might take some time otherwise the installation is simple. 

Overall, this Toyota Corolla hitch is built in good quality and is quite sturdy. You can use it for carrying bikes on a hitch bike rack or for other light-duty towing purposes. 

Reese 77983 Trailer hitch 

The Reese Toyota Corolla trailer hitch is designed specifically for this vehicle but it would work only for 2020 to 2022 models. This trailer costs more than the other trailers mentioned above. Although it is a high-quality hitch made with great aesthetics we still believe that value for money is low. 

But it is the best choice for 2020 to 2022 models because the genuine OEM hitch works only for the Corolla Cross models and the rest of the trailers mentioned here do not work with the latest models of Corolla. You can get this rack for around $180 and haul different objects on this class 1 hitch. 

Step 4: Understand how to install a trailer hitch on a Toyota Corolla 

Once you have decided which trailer to buy, you should look for its installation procedure. A Toyota Corolla hitch can be installed by following a few steps. Most trailers have similar installation procedures and most of the hardware is included. But you might need a drill in case you have to make adjustments.

Similarly, you would need safety glasses and a torque wrench. If the bolts and washers are included, you will not have to arrange them yourself. So for the installation, first remove any preexisting bolts from the tow loop. After that, you will have to align the slots in the side plates through the weld nuts on the frame rails.

Then you can raise the hitch into place and continue installing the hardware which would secure the hitch to the frame. Put the conical washers and hex bolts on either side of the hitch and frame. Finally, secure the trailer hitch by tightening all installed hardware.

Step 5: DIY or figure out who will install a hitch for Toyota Corolla

There are two ways you can install a Toyota Corolla trailer hitch. You may DIY or hire someone to do it for you. Installing these trailers can sometimes be tricky so you might need help. In that case, you can either contact the manufacturers for factory installation or ask your dealer to provide this service. 

The trailer would cost you somewhere less than $200. The wiring harness can cost an extra $150-$200. This way you will be spending around $350 if you DIY. But the genuine hitches can cost more i.e., around $400 and if you get them installed by a dealer, you would be paying around $700-$800. 

Towing capacity Toyota Corolla

What is the towing capacity of a Toyota Corolla?

The towing capacity of the Toyota Corolla ranges from 2,850 lb. to 3,150 lb. This varies with different models and trims of the vehicle. The table below shows all the different trims for the 2022 Toyota Corolla along with their towing capacity in pounds. 

Toyota Corolla 2022	Towing capacity
Hybrid LE	2,850
L	2,910
LE	2,955
XLE	3,045
SE	3,110
SE Apex Edition	3,110
XSE	3,150
XSE Apex Edition	3,150

How much can Toyota Corolla 2017 towing capacity?

The 2017 Toyota Corolla is rated for a towing capacity of 1500 lb. All the available trims i.e., L, LE, SE, XLE, and XSE have the same towing capacity. 

What is the towing capacity of a 2004 Toyota Corolla?

The 2004 Toyota Corolla is rated for a towing capacity of 1500 lb.

What is the towing capacity of a 2007 Toyota Corolla?

The 2007 Toyota Corolla is rated for a towing capacity of 1500 lb.

Why no listed towing capacity for Toyota Corolla?

The older models of Toyota Corolla do not have a rated towing capacity. Corolla is a small car that was not capable of towing back then and that is why the manufacturers did not rate it for towing. However, the current models have been tested and the rated towing capacity is available. 

What is the towing capacity of a 2014 Toyota Corolla?

The maximum towing capacity of the 2014 Toyota Corolla is 1500 lbs.

How much towing capacity does a Toyota Corolla SE have?

Toyota Corolla SE has a maximum towing capacity of 3,110 pounds. 

What is the towing capacity for a 2009 Toyota Corolla?

The maximum towing capacity of the 2009 Toyota Corolla is 1500 lbs.

FAQs: Trailer hitch for Toyota Corolla

Who will instal a trailer hitch for a 2009 Toyota corolla?

You can install the hitch on Toyota Corolla yourself or you may hire a professional to do so. 

How to hitch a uhaul trailer to a Toyota Corolla?

Your Corolla is capable of towing up to 600 pounds of cargo with UHaul’s 5×8 enclosed cargo trailer, which has an empty weight of 900 pounds. It can hold up to 500 lbs. of bikes and stuff.

How to hitch a trailer on to a Toyota Corolla?

Any existing bolts from the tow loop must first be removed. The slots in the side plates must then be lined up via the weld nuts on the frame rails. The Toyota Corolla trailer hitch may then be raised into position and you can finish installing the components that will fasten the hitch to the frame. Place the hex bolts and conical washers on either side of the hitch and frame. Finally, tighten all fitted gear to secure the trailer hitch.

What size trailer hitch 2007 Toyota Corolla?

A 1 ¼” hitch size would be suitable for a 2007 Toyota Corolla because it requires a class 1 hitch. 

2018 Toyota Corolla sport how to install Reese trailer hitch?

The Reese Toyota Corolla hitch requires some drilling while installation. You can drill the holes so the bolts can be used to secure them on the vehicle.