My camper trailer is 3500 Lbs. I am looking for a SUV that will tow it.Should I have a SUV that can handle a higher amount than that like 5000? Or am I safe getting a vehicle that just tows that amount? I have my eyes on some but if it's better to get a higher rated one then I will have to search further.

Get the highest rated SUV you can aford. Rememner, that rating is based on a strippo vehicle with one 150 pound driver. As you add option packages, family and stuff the rating goes down.

Ok, but that does not answer my question about towing. Would a higher rated towing capacity pull better and handle better or will the same rating for the trailer and ?vehicle which is 3500 be adequate and I wouldn't see a difference?

You asked: "Should I have a SUV that can handle a higher amount than that like 5000?"donn0128 replied: "As you add option packages, family and stuff the rating goes down."So the answer to your question is yes, you should have an SUV that can handle a higher amount because if you get one rated at only 3500, any payload you put in it, reduces how much it can tow. Is the 3500lb trailer weight dry or gross? That makes a big difference.

That would be gross. So loaded. And thanks by the way.

Do yourself a favor and read all of the fine print that goes along with a "tow rating"They are really just an advertising number.But yes as to your question.... A 5000 rated vehicle will generally tow better than a 3500 rated one.... Though it is very likely that a 3500 rated vehicle will be over some ratings.Personally, these are both pretty paltry ratings to begin with. So I would want something stronger.Do you already have the trailer?Finding out later that your TV isn't up to the task is an expensive mistake. Many here have done just that in the past.You can take the chance of joining them,,,, or not.Your money, your choice.

Towing requirements | Good Sam Community

Jay_Coe
Explorer
Oct 03, 2018
There's virtually nothing out there other than full-size that still has a frame. As mentioned SEVERAL times, check with the manufacturer about the use of weight distributing hitches. Depending on tongue weight, you may very well not need one for a 3500lb trailer. That's what my snowmobile trailer weighs and I would never consider it necessary to have a WDH for that.

Remember Bill Cosby's Buck Buck? "A piece of paper, somebody threw a piece of paper on me!"

Buck Buck
Huntindog
Explorer
Oct 03, 2018
forjonny wrote:
Huntindog wrote:
Boomerweps wrote:
WDH or WD is Weight Distributing Hitch.
TT is travel trailer.
TV is Tow Vehicle in these forums.
GTWR gross trailer weight rating.
CC cargo capacity
GAWR is gross axle weight rating.

A truck, older cars, and SUVs based on trucks have a full solid frame that everything attaches to. By itself, it is somewhat ladder shaped.
A Unibody is a vehicle that depends on a sheet metal shell for its unit strength, common on front wheel drive vehicles. There is a sub frame that attaches to the front of the body that the drive components (engine, transmission, transaxle) are mounted on. Many of the so-called crossover "SUVs" are also built this way. The sheet metal shell or cocoon is often not strong enough to tow much weight.
A WDH levers the hitch weight forward on the TV and some rearward on the TT axle. This allows better control for towing and helps keep the TV level. A unibody usually doesn't have the strength to handle the torque from this lever action and without a real frame could actually rip the hitch mounting bolts out of the sheet metal, or at least twist the unibody.
Spot on.

I have heard that SOME unibodies can tolerate a WDH... So check with the manufacturer on this....
DO NOT overlook this.
It can be a really bad thing.

So what would be the best hitch or tow package that I should be using on this vehicle? Don't want to loose my TT down the road or twist something out of whack on the road.

So check with the manufacturer on this....

That would go for any TV you are considering.

As a general rule, unibodies are not well suited for towing.

Since you do not yet own it.... Why go down that problematic road.
Get something with a frame.
forjonny
Explorer
Oct 02, 2018
Huntindog wrote:
Boomerweps wrote:
WDH or WD is Weight Distributing Hitch.
TT is travel trailer.
TV is Tow Vehicle in these forums.
GTWR gross trailer weight rating.
CC cargo capacity
GAWR is gross axle weight rating.

A truck, older cars, and SUVs based on trucks have a full solid frame that everything attaches to. By itself, it is somewhat ladder shaped.
A Unibody is a vehicle that depends on a sheet metal shell for its unit strength, common on front wheel drive vehicles. There is a sub frame that attaches to the front of the body that the drive components (engine, transmission, transaxle) are mounted on. Many of the so-called crossover "SUVs" are also built this way. The sheet metal shell or cocoon is often not strong enough to tow much weight.
A WDH levers the hitch weight forward on the TV and some rearward on the TT axle. This allows better control for towing and helps keep the TV level. A unibody usually doesn't have the strength to handle the torque from this lever action and without a real frame could actually rip the hitch mounting bolts out of the sheet metal, or at least twist the unibody.
Spot on.

I have heard that SOME unibodies can tolerate a WDH... So check with the manufacturer on this....
DO NOT overlook this.
It can be a really bad thing.

So what would be the best hitch or tow package that I should be using on this vehicle? Don't want to loose my TT down the road or twist something out of whack on the road.
Huntindog
Explorer
Oct 02, 2018
Boomerweps wrote:
WDH or WD is Weight Distributing Hitch.
TT is travel trailer.
TV is Tow Vehicle in these forums.
GTWR gross trailer weight rating.
CC cargo capacity
GAWR is gross axle weight rating.

A truck, older cars, and SUVs based on trucks have a full solid frame that everything attaches to. By itself, it is somewhat ladder shaped.
A Unibody is a vehicle that depends on a sheet metal shell for its unit strength, common on front wheel drive vehicles. There is a sub frame that attaches to the front of the body that the drive components (engine, transmission, transaxle) are mounted on. Many of the so-called crossover "SUVs" are also built this way. The sheet metal shell or cocoon is often not strong enough to tow much weight.
A WDH levers the hitch weight forward on the TV and some rearward on the TT axle. This allows better control for towing and helps keep the TV level. A unibody usually doesn't have the strength to handle the torque from this lever action and without a real frame could actually rip the hitch mounting bolts out of the sheet metal, or at least twist the unibody.
Spot on.

I have heard that SOME unibodies can tolerate a WDH... So check with the manufacturer on this....
DO NOT overlook this.
It can be a really bad thing.
forjonny
Explorer
Oct 02, 2018
Boomerweps wrote:
WDH or WD is Weight Distributing Hitch.
TT is travel trailer.
TV is Tow Vehicle in these forums.
GTWR gross trailer weight rating.
CC cargo capacity
GAWR is gross axle weight rating.

A truck, older cars, and SUVs based on trucks have a full solid frame that everything attaches to. By itself, it is somewhat ladder shaped.
A Unibody is a vehicle that depends on a sheet metal shell for its unit strength, common on front wheel drive vehicles. There is a sub frame that attaches to the front of the body that the drive components (engine, transmission, transaxle) are mounted on. Many of the so-called crossover "SUVs" are also built this way. The sheet metal shell or cocoon is often not strong enough to tow much weight.
A WDH levers the hitch weight forward on the TV and some rearward on the TT axle. This allows better control for towing and helps keep the TV level. A unibody usually doesn't have the strength to handle the torque from this lever action and without a real frame could actually rip the hitch mounting bolts out of the sheet metal, or at least twist the unibody.

So why do they make these Kia Sorentos so they can tow 5000 Lbs if they are not meant to tow that much and are weak? Heck our TT will be 3500 so will this vehicle be adequate or not?
Boomerweps
Explorer
Oct 02, 2018
WDH or WD is Weight Distributing Hitch.
TT is travel trailer.
TV is Tow Vehicle in these forums.
GTWR gross trailer weight rating.
CC cargo capacity
GAWR is gross axle weight rating.

A truck, older cars, and SUVs based on trucks have a full solid frame that everything attaches to. By itself, it is somewhat ladder shaped.
A Unibody is a vehicle that depends on a sheet metal shell for its unit strength, common on front wheel drive vehicles. There is a sub frame that attaches to the front of the body that the drive components (engine, transmission, transaxle) are mounted on. Many of the so-called crossover "SUVs" are also built this way. The sheet metal shell or cocoon is often not strong enough to tow much weight.
A WDH levers the hitch weight forward on the TV and some rearward on the TT axle. This allows better control for towing and helps keep the TV level. A unibody usually doesn't have the strength to handle the torque from this lever action and without a real frame could actually rip the hitch mounting bolts out of the sheet metal, or at least twist the unibody.
forjonny
Explorer
Oct 02, 2018
forjonny wrote:
Huntindog wrote:
rjstractor wrote:
I did a little bit of research on the Sorento and could not find what the Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) is for that vehicle. However, I did find that the minimum payload for a loaded AWD model is about 1300 pounds, which isn't bad and actually better than some full size pickups. If your trailer's gross weight is 3500 pounds than it will likely be a good match for the AWD Sorento as long as you watch your payload. The trailer's hitch weight will add 500-600 pounds to what the vehicle carries. A good weight distribution hitch will be necessary to spread that weight between the front and rear of your tow vehicle.

To answer one of your questions, generally speaking, the higher a vehicle's tow rating, the better it will handle a trailer of a given weight. Any time you approach or exceed tow capacity, performance, handling and the durability of the vehicle suffer.
Does the Sorento have a frame? Or is it a unibody?

Gotta be careful with unibodies. WD isn't always a good thing with them.

Check with the manufacturer on this.

With the larger motor on the Sorento the towing capacity goes up to 5000 Lbs. I don't know what you mean by 1300 lbs with 3.3L engine.

This is what it says for the 2018 and 2019:
Steel Unibody (Iso-Structure Construction)
Whatever that means. And what is a WD?

I haven't bought the vehicle yet. That will be in November that I will purchase this vehicle. Don't know what year I will get though. All depends on financing from the company.

3.3L V6 Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) is the engine that I will get and that is the LX V6 model which the towing capacity with the AWD is 5000 lbs. The travel trailer is 3500 Lbs.
Boomerweps
Explorer
Oct 02, 2018
forjonny wrote:
With the larger motor on the Sorento the towing capacity goes up to 5000 Lbs. I don't know what you mean by 1300 lbs with 3.3L engine.

He meant weight capacity of the tow vehicle, NOT the tow (or pulling in the flat lands) capacity. You, your family and pets and other stuff in the tow vehicle PLUS the trailer tongue weight have to stay under the payload capacity. Even if you are under the Tow vehicle's payload limit, it is easy to be over the tow vehicle's rear axle rating between your vehicle load and tongue weight. This I have measured on my rig ;(
ol__yeller
Explorer II
Oct 02, 2018
Also check the rating on your hitch. I have seen 5,000# rated vehicles with a 3500# hitch. Hitch rating is stamped on the hitch itself.
forjonny
Explorer
Oct 02, 2018
Huntindog wrote:
rjstractor wrote:
I did a little bit of research on the Sorento and could not find what the Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) is for that vehicle. However, I did find that the minimum payload for a loaded AWD model is about 1300 pounds, which isn't bad and actually better than some full size pickups. If your trailer's gross weight is 3500 pounds than it will likely be a good match for the AWD Sorento as long as you watch your payload. The trailer's hitch weight will add 500-600 pounds to what the vehicle carries. A good weight distribution hitch will be necessary to spread that weight between the front and rear of your tow vehicle.

To answer one of your questions, generally speaking, the higher a vehicle's tow rating, the better it will handle a trailer of a given weight. Any time you approach or exceed tow capacity, performance, handling and the durability of the vehicle suffer.
Does the Sorento have a frame? Or is it a unibody?

Gotta be careful with unibodies. WD isn't always a good thing with them.

Check with the manufacturer on this.

With the larger motor on the Sorento the towing capacity goes up to 5000 Lbs. I don't know what you mean by 1300 lbs with 3.3L engine.

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