tow limits

[rln44]

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 if we were careful with what we put into the trailer and drained all of the tanks between stops we should be OK. Of course our first visit to a dealer led us to fall in love with a 22' Forest River Surveyor with a dry wt of about 4400 lbs. Common sense tells me that this is too much trailer for the Sorrento-I don't want to be the guy towing a trailer up a mountain climb at 30 mph. We've towed much heavier trailers in the past but with a Suburban and an F350 turbo diesel. Any comments?

[NC_Hauler]

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.

[rexlion]

That TT will probably end up (ready for camping) with a hitch weight of 600-700 lbs. You're limited to 500 lbs, I believe. The suspension will be overtaxed and the receiver could tear off while underway.

[camp-n-family]

Also keep in mind that your tow rating decreases pound for pound with any weight added to the tow vehicle, with the exception of 150lbs allowance for the driver and 1 passenger (with the new SAE standards.

[colliehauler]

How many people in the Kia? I would weigh the Kia loaded how you would travel and deduct that from the gross vehicle weight rating. What you have left is how much tongue weight you can have.

Example if you have a payload of 1500# minus 700# for people and cargo you could have a tongue weight of 800# max. If you had 1000# of people and cargo you would only have 500# left for tongue weight max.

[Swamp_Man]

One other thing to consider is the weight rating of the rear axle. The payload weight rating is for the entire vehicle. Call your dealer or the manufacturer and ask what the axle is rated for. I agree with staying within the 3000-3500 weight range of the trailer.

[Campfire_Time]

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.

[rjstractor]

From taking a quick look at the Sorento specs it seems to be a decently capable mid size SUV, with payload ratings of 1300-1500 pounds depending on options, comparable to many pickups. I would think that if you could shoot for a trailer with a dry weight of no more than 3000-3500 pounds you could have a combo that would be safe and satisfactory to drive.

[agesilaus]

The payload capacity of the vehicle is probably more important. The tongue weight of the trailer will usually exceed that before you get to the towing capacity.

[justafordguy]

A 4400lb dry TT will be WAY to big for that SUV. For that vehicle you need to find the lightest/shortest TT you can live with.