Just purchased!

[WireWheels]

After our 2012 BMW X5 became a repair burden, we purchased a 2022 Telluride SW last evening. Drove it home (1 1/2 hours) and love the thing! Can't wait to add some goodies.... speaking of which, I'm thinking roof x-bars, side steps, and tow hitch. Any other "must haves" from the forum?

 

[rcoplien]

It's going to sag with an aftermarket tow hitch and no self leveling suspension just so you know.

 

[WireWheels]

OK, so you've made 2 assumptions:
1. I have an aftermarket hitch
2. I don't have self leveling

I see no reason to not put both in. Prices and effort are reasonable for both, and it looks like I can do this in a weekend. I've installed a few self leveling systems in (albeit not in a Kia) and they are pretty straight forward. The tough one was in a the BMW X5 with a compressor, bags, and sensors.

And if the load is correct in the trailer and you keep to the 500lb hitch weight, there really shouldn't be a problem.

In any case, thanks for the input!

 

[Pappy]

After our 2012 BMW X5 became a repair burden, we purchased a 2022 Telluride SW last evening. Drove it home (1 1/2 hours) and love the thing! Can't wait to add some goodies.... speaking of which, I'm thinking roof x-bars, side steps, and tow hitch. Any other "must haves" from the forum?

Welcome to the forum! You’ll find a lot of good stuff here. Plenty of DIY’ers here too.

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[rcoplien]

OK, so you've made 2 assumptions:
1. I have an aftermarket hitch
2. I don't have self leveling

I see no reason to not put both in. Prices and effort are reasonable for both, and it looks like I can do this in a weekend. I've installed a few self leveling systems in (albeit not in a Kia) and they are pretty straight forward. The tough one was in a the BMW X5 with a compressor, bags, and sensors.

And if the load is correct in the trailer and you keep to the 500lb hitch weight, there really shouldn't be a problem.

In any case, thanks for the input!

Good to hear. Glad your can add those. Just didn't want you to be surprised

 

[sprengBoard]

It's going to sag with an aftermarket tow hitch and no self leveling suspension just so you know.

Good to hear. Glad your can add those. Just didn't want you to be surprised

A case can be made that the self-leveling suspension included in the towing package is not the best option for towing:

• The rear coil springs are softer on Tellurides with the self-leveling suspension, which results in more rear end sagging at rest (the self-leveling shocks work to level the heigh out after a few miles of driving, during which the movement of the suspension allows the reserve fluid to fill the shocks and raise them up)
• With the rear of the tow vehicle lower at rest than while driving, it can be very difficult to level the trailer being towed
• The self-leveling shocks are marketed as a ride-comfort feature, not a towing aid, on other vehicles (the Palisade included)
• Helper air bags ($100 kit) can easily be installed inside the rear coil springs to help eliminate sagging after the trailer is leveled and weight properly distributed
• If the tongue weight of the trailer is heavy enough to cause significant sagging, a weight-distributing hitch should absolutely be used, which is a much better towing aid than self-leveling shocks (the weight-distributing hitch actually helps to distribute the weight evenly, as the name implies, whereas the self-leveling shocks simply raise the rear of the tow vehicle while in motion, doing very little for actual weight distribution)
• The self-leveling shocks are very expensive to replace ($600+ each)

I, personally, did not order the towing package, only the factory-installed tow hitch for these very reasons.

 

[rcoplien]

Interesting info. Let me know how the installation goes. I only have a 16 ft boat to tow but if I ever upgrade to something bigger this might be an idea to take.

 

[ashah491]

A case can be made that the self-leveling suspension included in the towing package is not the best option for towing:

• The rear coil springs are softer on Tellurides with the self-leveling suspension, which results in more rear end sagging at rest (the self-leveling shocks work to level the heigh out after a few miles of driving, during which the movement of the suspension allows the reserve fluid to fill the shocks and raise them up)
• With the rear of the tow vehicle lower at rest than while driving, it can be very difficult to level the trailer being towed
• The self-leveling shocks are marketed as a ride-comfort feature, not a towing aid, on other vehicles (the Palisade included)
• Helper air bags ($100 kit) can easily be installed inside the rear coil springs to help eliminate sagging after the trailer is leveled and weight properly distributed
• If the tongue weight of the trailer is heavy enough to cause significant sagging, a weight-distributing hitch should absolutely be used, which is a much better towing aid than self-leveling shocks (the weight-distributing hitch actually helps to distribute the weight evenly, as the name implies, whereas the self-leveling shocks simply raise the rear of the tow vehicle while in motion, doing very little for actual weight distribution)
• The self-leveling shocks are very expensive to replace ($600+ each)

I, personally, did not order the towing package, only the factory-installed tow hitch for these very reasons.

Do you see any issues with the shocks if you aren’t actually planning to tow? My order got pushed back another few months and another dealer has the exact model but with tow, and I’m wondering if I should just get it. Any benefits?

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[sprengBoard]

Do you see any issues with the shocks if you aren’t actually planning to tow? My order got pushed back another few months and another dealer has the exact model but with tow, and I’m wondering if I should just get it. Any benefits?

If you aren’t planning to tow, the self-leveling shocks can be helpful when there’s extra weight loaded in the rear of the vehicle (people in 3rd row, cargo, etc.). The only potential downside is extra replacement cost years down the line. A few people have experienced issues with the shocks making a clunking noise, but many more people have had zero issues.

I’d take the incoming Telluride with the tow package. The negatives don’t outweigh waiting months longer, in my opinion.