Trailer Hitch and Cargo Carrier for a Power Chair on a 2003 Toyota Corolla

Updated 07/10/2018 | Published 07/06/2018

Products Featured in This Question

Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class I - 1-1/4"

(552)

$168.23

Draw-Tite Sportframe Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class I - 1-1/4"

(192)

$186.23

19x47 Curt Cargo Carrier for 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Steel - 300 lbs

(1082)

$173.43

Folding Steel Ramp for Pro Series Solo Cargo Carrier - 48" x 31-1/2" - 400 lbs

(6)

$251.12

Question:

My wife has a motorized wheelchair that we would like to take in our car but she cant lift it into the trunk. The alternative is to get a cargo carrier that would fit on the back of the car. If a carrier weighs 72 pounds and with the wheelchair, which weights 62 pounds, the total weight would be under the 150-pound tongue-weight limit I have seen for our car 2003 Toyota Corolla. The only trouble is, all the cargo carriers I have seen online, including this one, say they require a Class III or IV hitch and it seems like the Corolla can only accommodate a Class I hitch. Is that right?

asked by: Pierre H

Expert Reply:

I do have a potential solution for you. First, the available trailer hitches for your 2003 Toyota Corolla, # C11265 or # 24913, are Class I trailer hitches. But there are Class I compatible cargo carriers. The only thing is they do not have ramps so you would need to retro fit a ramp onto the carrier you choose.

The Class I compatible cargo carrier I recommend is the Curt 19 x 47 inch carrier # C18110 . We do have a ramp by itself that fits a different carrier, # PS1040200, but it is wider than the 2 carriers listed above. Some sort of structure, wide enough to support the ramp, would have to be attached to one side of the carrier and then the ramp attached to it.

The tongue weight capacity for your Corolla is indeed 150 pounds. The carriers listed above are about 30 pounds and the ramp is 35 pounds for a total of about 65 pounds. Add the weight of the chair at 62 pounds and you are at 127 pounds.

The other option would be to tow a trailer specifically designed for power chairs. While this is ultimately the easier way it is also the most expensive.