What can our Kia Sorento tow?

[MargaretB]

We are thinking about getting a small, lightweight trailer, either a hard-side or a hybrid. Pop-ups are not an option. We have a Kia Sorento SUV with a towing capacity of 3500 lbs. From what we can tell, Coachmen Clippers up to 17' fall within that rating but we aren't sure what it would actually be like on the road, especially in the foothills and mountains. I know there are other models similar to that but we don't know much about them. Does anyone have experience with this car or this weight rating? Any recommendations? We really prefer not to have to sell the car and get a truck, but will consider that if necessary. Thanks!

[MargaretB]

Well, we've spent a lot of time this week looking at trailers. We've moved on from the hybrid to a hard-side with internal bed. The walk-around bed is non-negotiable. Almost everything else is. Almost.

We found two that we really like, a 2014 Forest River Surveyor Sport SP264, and a gently used 2012 Jayco White Hawk UltraLite 26'. Both have lots of features we like and a couple we're not so wild about. But we've also learned that over 26', we'd need a truck; under that length, we could tow with a diesel SUV, like a BMW, Mercedes, or Touareg. Since we prefer an SUV to a truck for daily use, we also saw a 2015 Surveyor Caded SC226 that we like. No sofa, though, which we'd really like. Our local dealer is kind of pricey, too, so the search isn't over. We have more homework to do.

[bikendan]

So if having a walk-around queen bed is a must, then that eliminates hybrids from your search.

[dadmomh]

Hybrids are wonderful and you really feel the outdoors. However....and this is especially true if you're storing away from your home, if it's at all wet/damp, you have to open it all up when you get home and let it completely dry out or mildew will be your enemy. Then you have to go back and close it all up when it's dry....could be a pain. We were plenty willing to deal with that because we have a large covered area, formerly the ROOport and now the Rockyport. But those other things I mentioned above figured heavily into our decision to change.

The R-Pod is a great little trailer. Nice quality. They have been out about long enough for early buyers to decide of they love it or hate it and you may find a dandy deal. I still suggest you seriously consider a slide, even a small one. A sofa is very nice, but not what I would consider an absolute requirement in a trailer in the 22' range. Since the island kitchens are relatively new, you probably won't find that in your search. Yes on the cooktop and I would say yes on an oven...we use ours every trip. Biscuits. Cookies. Cinnamon rolls. You're right about having some work to do on this but you're approaching it from a realistic point of view. It's out there, now you just have to find it. Good luck.

[PAThwacker]

On a hybrid you have to close the tents wet and reopen immediately when you move. Popups are worse they have wet wall and bed ends to worry about and some are a pain to crank up.

[PAThwacker]

Crunching the numbers on my setup: truck empty 6300 with 7600lb towing. Truck loaded to camp add 1000 to truck and delete 1000 from tow rating.
7300lb truck with max 6600 trailer. I could tow a 6600 gross trailer. 76% of 6600 is a 5000lb trailer. I am right at the sweet spot of capacities and worry free towing.

[MargaretB]

Question: If you're out in it and it's raining and you fold it up and move on, where does the rain drip to? Does it drain outside the unit or inside?

[PAThwacker]

If I upgrade my htt I lose the oppurtunity to park winters here.

Twenty five foot trailer 9ft6" tall and 7ft wide and 5000lb gvw.

[PAThwacker]

Any half ton v8 pickup should tow a basic rear living tt. 17 ft hybrids have horrible payload. Not worth the work or tow vehicle shuffling. Glad you can store it at a friends house. We store our's 3 seasons on the side of my garage and winters under the covered side porch of my parents pole barn.

[MargaretB]

No, but good friends have offered to keep the trailer on their property, about five miles away.

We want to keep this as simple as possible, so we're thinking that we can find something we like for no more than 22'. We saw some R-pods yesterday that looked good, and my husband found some nice used units at good prices... in Arkansas. Considering that we started talking about a pop-up or 17' hybrid, we find our conversations creeping upward into the 25'-slider-gotta-have-a-sofa-and-a-3-burner-stove-and-wouldn't-it-be-fun-to-have-an-island? range, so we keep going back to our list of the items we absolutely must have (a walk-around queen or twin beds,) those we'd like to have but it's OK if we don't (slider,) and the items we're not interested in paying extra for (TV.) This may take a while!

We bought a used Class A about six years ago. I adored it - it was very basic, no sliders or bells or whistles, but comfortable. But my husband, who is 73 and a total mechanoboob, was so nervous every time we went anywhere that I suggested that we sell it a year later. We did and he breathed a HUGE sigh of relief. That's one reason we want to keep it simple.

[PAThwacker]

My wife commutes 50 miles a day and I commute 120 miles a day. That's 3rd vehicle loaded and ready to go scenario. We went with a k2500 with center buckets as a gear hauler SUV not a soccer team hauler, and I even removed the rear third row.

Do you have space to park an 18ft pupil or 30ft trailer?

[bikendan]

Modern trucks, especially 1/2 tons, are quite comfortable now.
Our '07 Avalanche is very comfortable and car-like in how it rides.

[MargaretB]

We have neither the parking space nor the $$$ to indulge in a vehicle dedicated to towing. That's what's making this process so slow and painful - the thought of giving up our comfortable Kia for a truck, which would become our regular second car. We drive to L.A. about five times a year, a 7-8-hour drive on the Interstate, and the Kia is very comfortable for that. Not sure a truck would be. Anything we buy in place of the Kia would have to be equally comfortable and useful as an around-town and long-trip vehicle, which is how it would be used 80% of the time and is a tall order when we can't buy a new one.

[dadmomh]

Ahhhh, you've hit the right subject now....age. It sucks, but we already know that. We had a hybrid travel trailer that we dearly loved and had no intention of ever changing until this age thing crept up on us + parts that needed replacing on DH. Your mind may still think you're 40, but the body knows that's not even close. DH just turned 70 and I'm not far behind. The ONLY reason we moved from a HTT to a hardside TT was the additional set up required, therefore, I would enjoy the pop up rental trip, but not consider it as your final choice. There are some who will tell you a pop up or even a hybrid is not a problem setting up, but I have to question how many of those have hit the big 70. Strongly suggest you go straight to a TT of whatever size you feel you NEED and no more.

A move to a truck would be a good one, I think. It certainly would not need to be 4WD unless you have other needs for that and sometimes it limits your ability to safely tow a slightly larger trailer. Don't take a 2WD off your list quite yet. Whatever you look at, make absolutely sure that it has the FACTORY tow package....in fact, ask the dealer to pull up the build info by that VIN# to be sure. Sometimes salesmen don't have a clue and sometimes they tell you what they think you want to hear. You have to be sure. That info will tell you the exact specs and what you can tow safely. Our '03 F-150 crew cab has the 5.4 and is rated to tow 8000#. Our 26' trailer has a dry weight of 5585# and max of 6629#. Depending on the truck you choose, my suggestion would be to find a trailer in the 24' - 27' range max. It's still maneuverable and you should be able to get into most campground sites just fine. Going much bigger could limit you.

Re the trailer, strongly suggest you get one with a slide. You'll appreciate the extra room. Remember that the more slides you add, the more weight you add. We did not special order our TT, but if we were ordering, we would include power stabilizers and you can add a power tongue jack yourself for a lot less $ and about 30 minutes work, assuming you're DIY folks. The older we get the more we wish for just pushing a button. Just starting out with camping, suggest you keep things as simple as possible. Suggest, also, that you determine what you can tow and do not let the salesman show you something above that. Decide what features you absolutely want and those you don't care. If you're thinking a gently used trailer, there is a list of things you need to check and you can get a lot of good info here.

Lots to think about and your upcoming weekend will be a good time to take a look around the campground and maybe talk to some folks re their choices. Have a great time....Oct is perfect camping weather.

[PAThwacker]

Our k2500 sub is our third car dedicated tow vehicle. I use it for firewood hauling, towing camper, off road towing, off road hunting, toting extra guests, boat launches, and off road boat launches
Daily driver no, it's a specialty use, and emergency use only.

I would have a crew cab pickup if I did not have to deal with a 90lb lab!