How To Install A Hitch On A Toyota Corolla

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Tighten and torque hitch

Tighten and torque all installed hardware to the manufacturer’s requirements while the bolts are still loosely in place.

We have a trailer hitch that will work for whatever car you drive. Lacking the time to perform the installation yourself? We will complete the installation when you schedule it with a pro.

Can a Toyota Corolla have a hitch added to it?

A Curt 11265 trailer hitch, a few simple tools, and a brief length of time are all that are needed to install a trailer hitch on a Toyota Corolla. Toyota Corolla models from 2003 to 2019 can use this trailer hitch and installation procedure.

Use your Toyota Corolla to tow trailers and other hitch-mounted equipment right away by following these simple instructions.

Tools required:

  • Eye protection
  • Twist Wrench
  • Energy Drill
  • Extension 5
  • Adapter 19 mm

Can you put a hitch on your own?

Look up the installation instructions or installation videos online for the hitch you are contemplating before making a purchase, and then determine whether you can install it yourself or if you need to bring it to a pro.

Can I install a hitch myself?

If you have the appropriate tools, you can install a trailer hitch by yourself. DIY hitch installation is an excellent technique to reduce the cost of installing a trailer hitch.

Installation of CURT custom hitches is designed to be as simple and painless as possible. The majority of CURT hitches are simple to install in your garage using standard hand tools.

How much does mounting a hitch on a car cost?

The short answer is that it depends on the sort of tow hitch you have, the make and model of your automobile, and how much work it will take to install it. For instance, while some vehicles don’t require drilling to attach a tow hitch, some must.

Hitch installation costs typically range from $100 to $800. Remember that you’ll also need to purchase the tow hitch and other components individually, which can easily cost an additional $150 to $200.

The following vehicle parts are necessary for tow hitch installation, along with our recommended Amazon selections for each:

My Toyota Corolla is able to tow a trailer.

It is not surprising that so many people are interested in learning how much their Toyota Corolla can tow given that it is one of the most well-known cars in the world.

To determine the Toyota Corolla’s towing capacity and capabilities, we looked at models from the year 2000 up until the present.

The majority of Toyota Corolla vehicles produced between 2000 and 2013 may tow up to 1500 pounds, although the owner’s manual states that no towing is permitted for models produced between 2014 and 2020. The towing capacity of the Toyota 2021 and 2022 models is 1500 lbs.

A 2016 Toyota Corolla is able to tow a trailer.

The greatest load a Toyota Corolla is capable of towing. The mentioned maximum trailer weights only apply to elevations up to 3280 feet (1,000 meters) above sea level. As altitude rises, the reduced air density reduces engine power and, as a result, the car’s ability to climb; as a result, the maximum trailer weight must be adjusted. Every additional 3280 feet (1,000 meters) of travel requires a 10% weight reduction for the vehicle and trailer (or part thereof).

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) – 3820 lb

This is the maximum weight that a Toyota Corolla is capable of towing (engine, chassis, fluids, passengers, cargo, load – everything). In the owner’s manual or on the interior of the drive’s door panel, the manufacturer will frequently specify it.

Payload Capacity – 1020 lb

The weight of all the extra items you load into your car, such as passengers or a load of boulders, is referred to as the payload. It can be raised by:

  • Improvements to the Rear Springs
  • Coil-Over Shock Absorbers can be added.
  • installing a truck bed extension.
  • Trailer Attachment.
  • Include Bed Racks.

Is installing a hitch challenging?

Installing a tow hitch, whether for a rental vehicle or your car, is pretty typical (and relatively easy). On some cars and with particular hitch types, it can get tricky, but for the most part, simple installs just need a few basic tools, so you won’t need to spend a lot of money on a new toolbox only for this project.

In order to help you save money and learn a new skill to brag about to your friends, we’ve broken down the entire trailer hitch installation procedure:

Where can I find hitch-free towing?

It’s risky, but it’s feasible, to not use a hitch! Without a hitch, you can tow a car using a strong rope or chain. Once you have that, proceed as follows:

  • To a spot on the front of the car, fasten the rope or chain.
  • The second end should be fastened to a substantial object on the opposite vehicle.
  • Someone must be in the automobile while it is being driven to ensure that it remains in neutral. Additionally, you’ll have to maneuver it around bends.

You can only tow the automobile a short distance to get to work. Watch your speed as well. You put both cars in danger if you don’t use a hitch. Although it is feasible, the best recommendation is to locate a hitch-equipped helper or dial a tow truck.

Consider purchasing a membership in roadside assistance if you’d prefer professional support. Although there are frequently waiting times, towing is frequently included.

Try Jerry if you’re seeking for affordable roadside assistance. You receive industry-leading roadside assistance from Jerrys membership, featuring advantages like towing, lockout service, and a mechanics hotline. You can check the app or contact one of our helpful agents to see whether you qualify. A special deal of $50 for your first year might be available to you!

Is wiring required for a hitch?

If you intend to tow a trailer or camper, you do indeed require wiring for a hitch. Your trailer’s turn signals, running lights, and brake lights are all connected by the wiring. Wiring is therefore required.

Hitch wiring installation step-by-step

So is feasible to wire your trailer hitch yourself, though we advise hiring a professional to do it. This section explains how to carry it out independently.

In order to be placed in the vehicle, trailer hitches are always delivered with the appropriate lengths, thicknesses, and connectors. How to complete this installation is specifically outlined in the user manuals that are sent with each unique harness. Pay close attention to the detailed plan:

You must ensure that the electrical circuits of the vehicle to be fitted are in good working order before beginning the installation of a harness. Verify that all of the lights are working properly and that the instrument panel’s problem indicator is not on.

Of course, you’ve customized the settings to suit your tastes. Consider settings like radio code, seat position, and seat heating when they are accessible on the car. To reset them to their proper positions following installation, make a note of every configuration.

It is important to detach the battery’s negative pole in order to operate safely. This is done to prevent noise when you connect the electricity.

A hybrid or electric vehicle should be disconnected from the power source with great care.

Manufacturers of automobiles occasionally ship their products with and without coupling preparation. Outside, you cannot see this.

In the installation manual, the wire harness entry location is always identified. This route is typically found in the vehicle’s rear panel, which minimizes the chance of water infiltration. The OEM will always specify the point of entry’s location, which is typically already prepared. Sometimes drilling is still required. Please paint the hole created in this situation with anticorrosive paint.

Install the plug on your tow bar bracket after wiring it. The first seven pins of a 13-pin receptacle work in the same way that regular seven-pin receptacles do. Your wire harness is, of course, equipped with the extra wiring required for the additional options of a 13-pin harness in the case of a 13-pin socket.

There are two places where the wire is installed. The entrance point in your car’s back panel is the first location. You can pull the wiring towards the direction of the trunk using this entrance point. You must be exact and cautious.

The metal of the car can harm the wire harness strand if you pull the wiring too firmly. After that, your wiring will be stripped. You will also need to pull the wire to the front of the car from the trunk. Please take the side panels off your car cautiously.

Make sure the panels can be put back in their original positions by neatly concealing the wiring in the areas behind the panels. Be careful not to harm the wiring when putting the panels.

Your car’s panels are frequently fastened with flimsy clips. Therefore, a trim removal set with U-shaped and V-shaped levers is needed. They can be put behind the clips very quickly, allowing for a quick and secure interior disassembly.

Pulling the cable from the back to the front is simple when there is a return spring. You won’t have to remove every panel, which saves time. The usage of cable ties helps to direct the wiring. When securing them, exercise caution. The wire can break if you tighten them up too much.

The harness needs to be connected to the car in the next step. It is crucial that you adhere to the manual’s directions. You can only then create a secure connection without interruption. There are many different methods to connect.

Utilizing socket contacts is pretty simple when dealing with several automakers (the connections at the end of a cable). Simply add these to the original connectors in the desired and numbered place. Because the contacts are sense-sensitive, exercise caution. A poor connection can be established very rapidly, but it is quite simple to repair it by removing the offending elements with specialized extraction tools.

You may occasionally need to cut a cable. The wire’s end must then be fitted with an electrical sleeve to create a new connection. The ideal connection is made easier with the aid of a crimping tool.

Use just the parts provided during installation in order to guarantee proper installation and subsequently grant the warranty.

The ground points must be connected once the connections have been made. Again, it is crucial that you adhere to the manual’s directions. You can only then create a secure connection without interruption.

An electrical connection can be made in a variety of ways. It is recommended to draw electricity from the fuse box underneath the hood for more recent vehicles. Brink has created special fuse holders for this choice. It is quite simple to put this fuse holder into the fuse box, where it receives the current required by the wire harness.

Making an electrical connection directly from the battery is another option. However, this calls for another examination. Verify that this procedure doesn’t cause your battery to drain or to interfere with your car’s memory circuits.

After installation, you might need to turn on the wire harness in the automobile. The moment the hitch is turned on, it registers itself in the car’s electronics, allowing them to continue operating normally and adapting as soon as a trailer is hitched.

Most harnesses can be activated by you with universal diagnostic tools. Then, the automated gearbox, increased cooling, and TSP are turned on, along with the deletion of the reversing sensors, fog lights, and lane assist.

Note that a dealer is the only one who can activate the wire harness on some models of car. There are also charged fees.

You must thoroughly inspect the installed wiring harness’s performance before you may drive your car again. There are various approaches to carrying out this check.

  • Self-diagnosis feature: A few of our unique electrical harnesses have a self-diagnosis feature. The embedded module emits a red or green signal after installation (led). Red indicates a failed installation that needs to be redone. Green denotes successful completion of each step. You can be sure that the wire harness installation was done correctly every time because of the self-diagnosis capability.
  • Pilot lights should not be used; they are ineffective for use with modern automobiles. The same is true for little testers equipped with LED bulbs. It will be necessary to do the test with two individuals if your harness does not feature automatic light control.

You will need to go behind the wheel, turn on the engine, and manage all of your vehicle’s lighting functions after connecting your trailer plug to the plug. The opposing driver should then verify that your trailer’s brake lights, turn signals, fog lights, and reverse lights are all operational.