In an effort to save on gas, we have been using the Carolla for vacations vs our mini-van (if everything works out well, will probably replace van with a car in the future). However, with two children and camping gear. It gets a bit cramped, so I finally got around to installing a hitch and a cargo carrier. I can use the hitch to tow our small utility trailer for major trips that might include canoeing and bicycling or the cargo carrier for less extensive trips. I had to weld up a custom adapter for the cargo carrier to get it high enough not to scrape or block the tag/tail lights, but I am pleased with it and it should work well (adapter will also work with our current bike rack).
The Carolla is rated to tow 1500 lbs, and I would feel comfortable with 100 lbs or so on the cargo rack (hitch is rated for 200 lb tongue wt, carrier at 500lbs) given the fact it is a cantilevered load, but I and my two sons (350 lbs combined) stood on it and bounced a bit with no apparent deflection. From my research, towing the trailer will probably result in a 10mpg drop from the current 36-37 Hwy MPG, but I'm hoping the cargo carrier will not affect milage much at all as it is in the slipstream of the vehicle vs the alternative which would have been a roof rack and cargo box.
Costs were as follows:
Hitch $105
Drawbars, ball, 2" reciever $45
Cargo Carrier $55
I probably should have done it long ago, as I have owned the vehicle for 5 years, and the hitch is unlikely to fit the next model car we buy, but the cargo carrier, ball and drawbars should transfer over to our next car pretty easily. But by my math it will take around 2000 miles to make up the cost of the hitch, which should easily do, especially if we go out west next summer.