Santa Fe 2013 (3500lbs) and 2800lbs TT

Oasisbob wrote:
Our basic dry HTT weight is around 2,900. With full tanks, food, clothing and everything else we need for camping we tip the scales at 3,490. We have been towing this for more trips than I can count through several states. It tows great. Have we exceeded our CVWR? Probley. We did add rear air suspension assist bags, electric brakes and load leveler bars. Our tow rating is same as yours 3500. This is our experience and others will have their opinions. I am just sharing our experience.Best of luck

Excessive weight on the hitch can't be corrected by air bags. They are a band-aid solution. The problem is, how strong are the attachment points of the hitch and the hitch itself? I've towed for over 125,000 miles with a Toyota Highlander, rated for 5000/500 lb. My trailers don't exceed 430 lb tongue weight. Yet I have had two receivers break (I blame the brand), and I sometimes hear the sheet metal flexing under the HL when traveling at higher speeds. Wind resistance and weight put a lot of stress on the back end. Putting 400-500 lbs on a hitch and attachments rated for 350 lbs, what if the hitch tears loose and your trailer bounds off on its own and strikes an oncoming car head-on? That's why I prefer to leave a margin for safety.

What one can do, and what one should do, are two different things.