tow limits
We recently purchased a Kia Sorrento with the trailer tow package. It is rated to tow 5,000 lbs. Original plan was to purchase a small travel trailer with a dry wt of 3500-4000 lbs. I figured that i...
Forum Discussion
Campfire Time wrote:
Been there, done that. Knowingly towing at close to my capacity that is. Yes, you may be able tow that trailer. But you'll have limitations. Not the best for long trips, nor towing in mountains. If you do this, most likely you'll be looking at another Suburban or a 1/2 ton PU in 12-18 months.
Here's what concerns me, "with a dry wt of about 4400 lbs". Dry weight is a myth. No one tows a trailer at it's dry weight. Dry weight is without options, like AC, awning, sometimes the spare tire. Your "As Shipped" weight (yellow sticker on the side of the trailer), which does include options, will probably be 400# more than the dry weight. Your ready to camp towing weight will be at least another 500# - 700# (and that's being conservative). Most likely you will be well over the TC of the Kia by at least 500#.
Another thing to consider is frontal area Most of the small SUVs have frontal are limitations that are usually a lot smaller that the square footage of a TT front.
^^^^This....Use the TT's GVW, you will not tow empty or dry..."IF" towing in the mountains..it could become unpleasant. As also stated earlier, once family, pets and etc are loaded into your vehicle, you just ate up even more of your payload.
