Max towing safely is only 3500 lbs - prove me wrong

[eyetelle]

So if I understand it correctly, you can't tow 5,000 lbs safely if your tongue weight is only 350 lbs - it would be unbalanced.
10% of 3,500 lbs is only 350 lbs. <------

So why in the heck is there a 5000 lb towing capacity limit? Is there ever a safe way to tow 5,000 lbs without being unbalanced?

 

[Vietvet]

I am a person who is still waiting (ordered in APR) for my T-Ride SXP to get built.... About a week ago, I went to the Hyundai Dealer to look at the Palisade. I got to talking to the lone person in the showroom who was a Warranty Admin. As we were talking and I had mentioned I had an order in for the KIA version... one of the "Day Off" salesmen walked in. We all were talking and I brought up the issue of the 5000# towing. I asked about the 351# tongue weight and claims of the 5000# tow. I also asked why the 4 pin hook-up and not a 7 pin. He got a glaze in his eyes and then hurried out the door not to be seen again that day.

I ordered the tow on mine but wasn't for a Boat or Camper but...I bet a lot thought they could just hook up most anything within reason. Hell ..I don't even know if they have a transmission cooler ...which most towing vehicles have. So...the questions just keep piling on.

 

[eyetelle]

Hey guys, anyone know how to safely tow 5000 with a 351 tongue?

 

[2020Telly]

Hey guys, anyone know how to safely tow 5000 with a 351 tongue?

Wait for an aftermarket tow hitch that is rated for 500lbs, then get an aftermarket 7pin connector, an aftermarket brake controller and a weight distribution system for the trailer. At least that’s the only formula I know of unless Kia says there was a typo in the owner’s manual.

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[eyetelle]

Wait for an aftermarket tow hitch that is rated for 500lbs, then get an aftermarket 7pin connector, an aftermarket brake controller and a weight distribution system for the trailer. At least that’s the only formula I know of unless Kia says there was a typo in the owner’s manual.

Right, but I thought the whole unibody, tires, suspension is rated for 351 lbs? It's not just the hitch in that equation? Am I right or did I miss something?

 

[2020Telly]

Right, but I thought the whole unibody, tires, suspension is rated for 351 lbs? It's not just the hitch in that equation? Am I right or did I miss something?

 

[eyetelle]

Not sure how that changes the factory rated 351 hitch / tongue equation?

 

[2020Telly]

Not sure how that changes the factory rated 351 hitch / tongue equation?

Therein lies the confusion. Either there is a typo in the manual for the tongue weight or that is correct and OEM can’t do 500lbs so you have to wait for aftermarket parts.

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[eyetelle]

Therein lies the confusion. Either there is a typo in the manual for the tongue weight or that is correct and OEM can’t do 500lbs so you have to wait for aftermarket parts.

Yeah I don't know if that's a typo. It seems like a common theme among their SUVs. That 351 lb tongue weight goes along with all of their other SUVs as well. I think there's only one other SUV they have that goes to a full 500, not sure how or why it stronger. But from my understanding the tongue weight is not just from the hitch, it also incorporates how much load you can put on the tires before they'll pop, how much load you can put on the suspension before it sags to the floor, how much weight you can push back on the tongue before it starts to tweak the frame and then your doors don't close right, along with everything else. I think there's a lot more that goes into that 351 lb tongue weight. I would hope that you can fix all of that with just a simple aftermarket hitch, but I have yet to see anything else in writing that says otherwise.

 

[2020Telly]

Yeah I don't know if that's a typo. It seems like a common theme among their SUVs. That 351 lb tongue weight goes along with all of their other SUVs as well. I think there's only one other SUV they have that goes to a full 500, not sure how or why it stronger. But from my understanding the tongue weight is not just from the hitch, it also incorporates how much load you can put on the tires before they'll pop, how much load you can put on the suspension before it sags to the floor, how much weight you can push back on the tongue before it starts to tweak the frame and then your doors don't close right, along with everything else. I think there's a lot more that goes into that 351 lb tongue weight. I would hope that you can fix all of that with just a simple aftermarket hitch, but I have yet to see anything else in writing that says otherwise.

Agreed on all points. If the limit is based on engine and factors other than the hitch then the max towing capacity is 3,510 lbs and not 5,000. Which makes me think that Kia went nuts on marketing and advertising a 5,000 lbs towing capability that they can’t deliver.

 

[eyetelle]

Agreed on all points. If the limit is based on engine and factors other than the hitch then the max towing capacity is 3,510 lbs and not 5,000. Which makes me think that Kia went nuts on marketing and advertising a 5,000 lbs towing capability that they can’t deliver.

Agreed on all points. If the limit is based on engine and factors other than the hitch then the max towing capacity is 3,510 lbs and not 5,000. Which makes me think that Kia went nuts on marketing and advertising a 5,000 lbs towing capability that they can’t deliver.

Yeah, I'm trying to understand the mechanics behind that. Is there a way to safely tow 5,000 pounds with only a 351 tongue weight?

I don't understand how they can be mismatched! There's got to be a science behind it?

 

[2020Telly]

Yeah, I'm trying to understand the mechanics behind that. Is there a way to safely tow 5,000 pounds with only a 351 tongue weight?

I don't understand how they can be mismatched! There's got to be a science behind it?

This link sort of sheds light on Kia’s engineering of the Sorento with different engines. And makes me hopeful that it is a typo. Tongue Weight Capacity for 2019 Kia Sorento | etrailer.com

It's possible that the OEM Sorento's 1-1/4" receiver combined with the 3.3L V6 is/was 350lbs? But with a 2" on the Telluride it should have been documented 500 instead of 351? Since it's a new vehicle, maybe they sent the manual to print before they finalized the towing package specs and maybe at some point they were going to offer a 1-1/4" Class II tow hitch but then changed to a 2" Class III and forgot to update the manual?

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[eyetelle]

Yeah that rep over at e-trailer is a 100% wrong.

Here's a screenshot of the manual of the 2019 Sorento. It doesn't matter which trim level you have, the top of the line with the 5000 towing weight capacity is still a tongue weight of only 350 pounds. I'm still not seeing a way to get that updated to 500 lbs. Doesn't look like there's a single vehicle that KIA carries that has a full 500 lb weight capacity for the tongue. I'm hoping I'm wrong, but so far I see nothing else in writing.

 

[Hatchmo75]

There are entire threads in this forum on this topic. It seems the engine and transmission are capable of towing 5000lbs but the tow setup isn’t rated for that. Search through the forum.

 

[eyetelle]

There are entire threads in this forum on this topic. It seems the engine and transmission are capable of towing 5000lbs but the tow setup isn’t rated for that. Search through the forum.

I really have searched the forums in full, but have yet to get an official answer from anyone. All that's been offered is just speculation amongst the forum members. Do you have something in writing from anyone / anything official?

 

[Hatchmo75]

I do not have anything in writing from Kia. Just going by the numerous posts on here and other forums. Since Kia and for that matter, Hyundai, have the same claims of towing capacity and disclaimers on tongue weight, I would think it’s safe to say the current setup can only safely tow 3500lbs. Not to mention the need for the brake controller for higher tow weights, which isn’t included.

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[2020Telly]

I have submitted questions direct in email and then got a survey from Kia where it asked if I had any concerns. I have not received a reply from either.

 

[Rodger Coey]

So if I understand it correctly, you can't tow 5,000 lbs safely if your tongue weight is only 350 lbs - it would be unbalanced.
10% of 3,500 lbs is only 350 lbs. <------

So why in the heck is there a 5000 lb towing capacity limit? Is there ever a safe way to tow 5,000 lbs without being unbalanced?

Lift air bags on your suspension looking for some now

 

[eyetelle]

I just sent the following message to their headquarters...

Hi James, I'm hoping you can help me.

My family and I have been considering a few different vehicles to tow a trailer.

I currently own a Kia stinger, which I absolutely love, and we own a 2013 Honda Odyssey which we're looking to upgrade.

We are looking at the Kia Telluride (Preferred) and the Honda Pilot.

The pilot is rated for 5000 lb towing capacity and a 500 lb tongue limit.

The Kia Telluride is rated at a 5000 lb towing capacity and a 351 lb tongue limit.

According to the KIA Telluride manual, it's saying that you can never exceed a tongue weight of 10% of whatever it is you're carrying.

So if I work the numbers backwards on that, that means I should only be able to safely carry 3500 lbs. Because 10% of 3500 lb is a 350 lb tongue weight.

I'm trying to understand why exactly you guys would rate a vehicle for a 5,000lb tow with a 7% tongue limit (351 lbs)?

If I was to tow a vehicle loaded like that, it would be completely unbalanced and might cause a crash.

Your tongue limit is always supposed to be 10% of your towing capacity. So 10% of 5000 is exactly 500 pounds. That's all within normal specs within the towing community.

If you're not quite as familiar with the towing world, here's the reasoning....

Manufacturers have a tongue weight limit because if you put too much weight on the tongue...

- Your suspension may not support the extra weight and cause the vehicle to sag to the floor

- It could also tweak the frame then the doors don't close quite right

- The tires can also pop if they're too heavily loaded

- The Trailer hitch may break

Proper trailer balancing is also extremely important. If there's not enough weight on the trailer tongue it can cause major trailer sway.

That's why you guys require (per the manual) the 10% balancing limit. So theoretically, if you've got a 5000 pound load behind you, to properly balance you need 500 lb in front of you on the trailer tongue.

If I was to load up a 5,000 pound load behind me and only put 350 lb on the trailer tongue - that means I would be unbalanced and the trailer could sway and move very unsafely.

I have been all over the internet, I have been on forums, I have talked to the service advisors, I have also talked with dealerships, I've called your corporate office, and no one can seem to help answer this question.

I'm just trying to understand the mechanics or the science behind your combination of specs?

Is the current trailer tongue weight based on the factory-installed hitch or is it based on the frame weight capacity of the vehicle?

I'm just trying to figure out how I can safely tow 5000 lbs. Can you please advise? it'll really help me make a decision as to whether or not the Telluride is right for our family.

Thank you.

 

[eyetelle]

Lift air bags on your suspension looking for some now

What about the tires (possible blowouts) and the frame being tweaked (can't close doors) then lawyers covering zero?