Greetings RV'ers, name is Michael, and making my 1st post on this forum. I've spent the past few days scouring this site's search feature, and was hoping to get some general guidance on an upcoming trailer purchase. My TV is a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Ultimate 2.0t AWD, with a towing capacity of 3501 pounds, and hitch weight of 351. We just got a Curt C13195 hitch, and the matching TEKONSHA 4-way pole adapter for the factory wiring harness, model #118784. I'll be looking for the dealer to install the hitch, along with a matching brake controller and 4-7 pole converter (may be incorporated in the brake controller). The TT I'm looking at is the Apex Nano 185BH, dry weight of 2850 and hitch weight of 350. After doing TONS of research this is the lightest weight BH that will allow mom and dad a dedicated queen bed, dining table for four, and separate bunks for the two teenagers in the family. I'd love to get the 193BH, but that will put me at 3495 dry weight and 360 on the hitch weight. What I'd like to ask the rv.net community is what you would think of getting the 185BH on our Santa Fe. We are also considering trading in the Santa Fe for the new Palisade when it comes out later this year to get us up to 5,000 towing capacity. I figured I can get the hitch and brake controller installed on the Santa Fe now to enjoy the summer, and have 1-2 years to upgrade to the Palisade for the increased towing capacity. This forum is great, and I greatly appreciate any and all feedback you can provide! Thanks

The advertised hitch weight on the manufacturers website/brochure typically is with no propane tanks, propane, battery, and with nothing in any tanks or in the trailer for supplies. You will be overloaded from minute one. Some folks do this for a while till they get a bigger tow vehicle, but understand that you have surpassed the tongue limit immediately, also your tow vehicle will likely be past its payload capacity with four people (2 adults and 2 teenagers) in the vehicle, the tongue weight from the trailer, and whatever supplies you carry in the vehicle with you. You really should look at something smaller/lighter than a travel trailer, maybe a pop up until you change trucks.Edit add,,,I just looked out of curiosity and Hyundai says the payload cap on the new Santa Fe can be anywhere from 500 to 1138 lbs. High end units are usually at the low end of that scale since the accessories add weight to the vehicle. Check your door pillar for the yellow sticker, that will tell you what your vehicles limits are. Payload includes passengers other than the driver, tongue weight of the trailer, weight of the hitch, all extras and stuff carried in the vehicle.

That 350 pounds dry hitch weight will be almost 450 pounds once the battery is installed and propane tank is filled by the dealer. So this means even this lightweight trailer would overload your hitch, even before you start packing the front storage compartment.

Forgot to mention the cargo capacity and scenario, we would be taking two cars, most of the cargo and passengers would be in separate car, TV would be for driver + one passenger. But I do realize now that the hitch weight would be heavier with propane and battery. Is this something I can have the dealer weigh for me before purchase to see the weight I’m looking at?

mikeg112 wrote:Forgot to mention the cargo capacity and scenario, we would be taking two cars, most of the cargo and passengers would be in separate car, TV would be for driver + one passenger. But I do realize now that the hitch weight would be heavier with propane and battery. Is this something I can have the dealer weigh for me before purchase to see the weight I’m looking at?As was said, your car will be overloaded before anything is loaded in.You're using fictional dry weight numbers, that are based on a stripped-down model, NOT Real World amounts.Your car is pretty much only capable to tow a folding trailer.In addition to being to heavy from the git-go, the frontal area of the TT, will exceed the car's maximum limit.If you want to pull a TT, you'll need a better tow vehicle.

As Dan said ‘In addition to being to heavy from the git-go, the frontal area of the TT, will exceed the car's maximum limit’. The frontal area of that trailer is about 71 square feet. Many smaller vehicles ( it Expeditions, 150 trucks etc) have a trailer frontal limit from 48 -63 square ft. Pulling a flat surface that size, even within weight limits, becomes a nightmare. We did it once, never again. That was with a Windstar van pulling a small hybrid trailer. Gas mileage dropped to 4 mpg and couldn’t maintain speed limit on flat highways. We were with the weight limits, but over on the frontal area. Ken

Towing TT using a 2019 Santa Fe | Good Sam Community

wanderingaimles
Explorer
Feb 02, 2019
If you really want to try a tt, maybe this Jayco is worth considering. Lighter than what you have been looking at, 7' width will be less wind load as well.

https://www.jayco.com/products/travel-trailers/2019-jay-flight-slx-7-west/174bh/

You will still be pushing the limits of the Hyundai, but will be closer.
Terryallan
Explorer II
Feb 03, 2019
mikeg112 wrote:
Forgot to mention the cargo capacity and scenario, we would be taking two cars, most of the cargo and passengers would be in separate car, TV would be for driver + one passenger. But I do realize now that the hitch weight would be heavier with propane and battery. Is this something I can have the dealer weigh for me before purchase to see the weight I’m looking at?

Actually there should be a "Yellow sticker" on the trailer. It will tell you exactly what the TT weighs sitting on the lot infront of you. Normally it includes battery, and empty propane tanks.

Now having said that. IF you load noting into the TT. you might be OK. Other than that. You gonna need more truck
jerem0621
Explorer II
Feb 03, 2019
I was sitting here wondering what all the fuss was about. Last I looked the Santa Fe had a towing capacity of 5,000 lbs with available hitches rated for 750 lbs of tongue weight.

But, looks like they dropped the rating to 3,500 lbs with the lower HP 2.0 this year.

Looks like the Sante Fe that is more capable is called the Sante Fe XL now. Y’all about confusing!... I had to edit this post just because of that confusion. Whew.

OP... you need a bit more truck. A Midsize Ranger, Colorado, Frontier, or Taco would be a good match. An Explorer or a Pathfinder SUV would probably do the job too.

Or, buy a small POP UP camper like a Quicksilver. That would be a good match as well.

Thanks!
Blazing_Zippers
Explorer II
Feb 03, 2019
OP, from reading the comments on this subject----and owning a Hyundai Santa Fe---I wouldn't tow a trailer with a Hyundai. Period!
There just isn't enough tow vehicle there. Add the fact of load and passengers to the matter and you again don't have enough oomph in the Hyundai. Our Hyundai is probably the best vehicle we've owned, so I'm not bashing the brand. Sorry.....
Sea_Six
Explorer
Feb 03, 2019
Don't do it.

If you ever did get into an accident with that rig, the lawyers would have a field day with you and your insurance company.
Shal36
Explorer
Feb 03, 2019
Sea Six wrote:
Don't do it.

If you ever did get into an accident with that rig, the lawyers would have a field day with you and your insurance company.

This is not the reason to not tow with your current SUV. Last I checked, if you are at fault, your insurance company pays. If you are partly at fault, they pay some amount.

If you have enough assets to make some personal injury attorney tingle with excitement at the thought of going after you because your rig, which is slightly over spec, was involved in an accident, you have enough assets to go buy a different truck.
bid_time
Nomad II
Feb 03, 2019
To get better informed about what all the ratings and numbers mean try this site Read Me!
bid_time
Nomad II
Feb 03, 2019
Sea Six wrote:
Don't do it.

If you ever did get into an accident with that rig, the lawyers would have a field day with you and your insurance company.
Completely bogus scare tactic, has no basis in fact.
drsteve
Explorer
Feb 03, 2019
Your Santa Fe is a people mover that is capable of pulling a popup.
twodownzero
Explorer
Feb 03, 2019
bid_time wrote:
Sea Six wrote:
Don't do it.

If you ever did get into an accident with that rig, the lawyers would have a field day with you and your insurance company.
Completely bogus scare tactic, has no basis in fact.

You're dead wrong. If you have an accident loading a vehicle beyond its design parameters, you're going to face a serious uphill battle.

OP, this is suicide. If you wanted an SUV, you should have bought one. A front wheel drive car with higher suspension is not a tow vehicle.