Coachmen Apex Nano 185bh RV for Telluride

[Stoney]

I often see advice to set a vehicle to towing mode when towing. Any advice on what is the best mode to drive a Telly in when towing? (IS there a towing mode??). Also, what do people use when converting to a 7 pin with a Curt Echo when their trailer has electric brakes? I am seeing "RV" adapters and "trailer adapters" - a bit confusing.

 

[2020Telly]

I often see advice to set a vehicle to towing mode when towing. Any advice on what is the best mode to drive a Telly in when towing? (IS there a towing mode??). Also, what do people use when converting to a 7 pin with a Curt Echo when their trailer has electric brakes? I am seeing "RV" adapters and "trailer adapters" - a bit confusing.

The Telluride doesn’t have a tow mode that I’m aware of but based on recommendations I’ve read on this forum I would suggest the following when towing as sort of a “manual tow mode”:

1. Smart Mode for Drive Mode
2. Avoid using Adaptive Cruise Control
3. Disable the Auto Start-Stop
4. Disable the Rear Parking sensor
5. Use the Auto Hold?

Maybe others have better suggestions. All this stuff is controlled right below the shifter except for Cruise Control which is on the steering wheel.

This forum discussion is a little old so be aware that the correct vehicle tongue weight is 500lbs not the originally advertised 351.

For your Curt Echo questions, I highly recommend eTrailer.com. They have some great pre and post sales support. If you go the Curt Echo route you have to replace the Telluride’s 4-pin with a 7-pin socket (often called an RV upgrade kit because most RVs are heavy enough to require electric brakes). The selling feature for the Curt Echo is that you don’t actually need all 7 pins. You just use the 4-pin connector that now plugs it into the 7pin socket and also run a wire to a 40amp inline circuit breaker to the positive of the battery. The most complicated splicing is not needed. The Curt Echo gets power from the battery and uses its own technology to decide when to send power to the trailer brakes based on a triple-axis accelerometer to detect vehicle speed without tapping into more wires. You also use a smartphone if you want to monitor or adjust it after initial setup, but you don’t have to.

 

[Stoney]

The Telluride doesn’t have a tow mode that I’m aware of but based on recommendations I’ve read on this forum I would suggest the following when towing as sort of a “manual tow mode”:

1. Smart Mode for Drive Mode
2. Avoid using Adaptive Cruise Control
3. Disable the Auto Start-Stop
4. Disable the Rear Parking sensor
5. Use the Auto Hold?

Maybe others have better suggestions. All this stuff is controlled right below the shifter except for Cruise Control which is on the steering wheel.

This forum discussion is a little old so be aware that the correct vehicle tongue weight is 500lbs not the originally advertised 351.

For your Curt Echo questions, I highly recommend eTrailer.com. They have some great pre and post sales support. If you go the Curt Echo route you have to replace the Telluride’s 4-pin with a 7-pin socket (often called an RV upgrade kit because most RVs are heavy enough to require electric brakes). The selling feature for the Curt Echo is that you don’t actually need all 7 pins. You just use the 4-pin connector that now plugs it into the 7pin socket and also run a wire to a 40amp inline circuit breaker to the positive of the battery. The most complicated splicing is not needed. The Curt Echo gets power from the battery and uses its own technology to decide when to send power to the trailer brakes based on a triple-axis accelerometer to detect vehicle speed without tapping into more wires. You also use a smartphone if you want to monitor or adjust it after initial setup, but you don’t have to.

Thanks so much - makes sense - good to know about some of the settings! Unfortunately etrailer sent a miswired 4 to 7 pin connecter. We have been going in circles trying to figure out why all the connections are good (even had them checked out by the RV mechanics, but couldn't get the 7 pin tester or Curt to light. Turns out they miswired the 7 pin, and have the neutral on the bottom right blade instead of the bottom left blade. A spliced workaround connecting the blue that is apparently connected to the bottom left blade that SHOULD be the ground makes the tester and Echo work, but now looking at the bottom right blade/blue are that is labelled as brakes. We may just have to get a new 4 to 7 pin adapter. It appears the Echo and the 7 pin tester are looking for a ground on the bottom left blade, not the bottom right.

I keep reading about needed another wiring setup in order to get electric brakes to work properly. Some etrailer "experts" say it's not needed because of the Echo; others recommend the 4 tp 7 pin adapter, Echo AND the extra wiring to get the brakes to work. When I have called they are not very helpful. (I know it's hard for them to "diagnose" from afar, so there's that). So my big concern is (obviously!) that my brakes will work!

The travel trailer we bought is still sitting at the dealers...the saga of the travel trailer is getting to be like the saga of trying to get a Telluride! lol!

 

[StormDB]

The Telluride doesn’t have a tow mode that I’m aware of but based on recommendations I’ve read on this forum I would suggest the following when towing as sort of a “manual tow mode”:

1. Smart Mode for Drive Mode
2. Avoid using Adaptive Cruise Control
3. Disable the Auto Start-Stop
4. Disable the Rear Parking sensor
5. Use the Auto Hold?

Maybe others have better suggestions. All this stuff is controlled right below the shifter except for Cruise Control which is on the steering wheel.

This forum discussion is a little old so be aware that the correct vehicle tongue weight is 500lbs not the originally advertised 351.

For your Curt Echo questions, I highly recommend eTrailer.com. They have some great pre and post sales support. If you go the Curt Echo route you have to replace the Telluride’s 4-pin with a 7-pin socket (often called an RV upgrade kit because most RVs are heavy enough to require electric brakes). The selling feature for the Curt Echo is that you don’t actually need all 7 pins. You just use the 4-pin connector that now plugs it into the 7pin socket and also run a wire to a 40amp inline circuit breaker to the positive of the battery. The most complicated splicing is not needed. The Curt Echo gets power from the battery and uses its own technology to decide when to send power to the trailer brakes based on a triple-axis accelerometer to detect vehicle speed without tapping into more wires. You also use a smartphone if you want to monitor or adjust it after initial setup, but you don’t have to.

Here is the TSB on the correct maximum tongue weight being 500 lbs. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2020/MC-10170767-0003.pdf

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[WilTarkin]

We got a Wildwood 179 DKB as we wanted room to sleep 5 without using the table as a bed. After market hitch is rated at 500 TW, matching the max loaded weight of 4800 lbs. Unloaded weight is 3350 lbs. Fuel usage approximately doubles when towing this, loaded with stuff, with 2 adults and 3 kids with stuff in the car as well.

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I would like an aftermarket hitch that fits in the opening that OEM supposed to be. All aftermarket pictures I saw so far are all fixed under the bumper

 

[alexdrums]

I would like an aftermarket hitch that fits in the opening that OEM supposed to be. All aftermarket pictures I saw so far are all fixed under the bumper

It’s not an opening, it’s a Kia part with a space for the hitch that replaces the cover that is there. You can buy that part and the tow hitch and harness from Kia for around 500 bucks. To my knowledge, there isn’t an aftermarket hitch that fits in that space.

 

[FireMartZ]

I would like an aftermarket hitch that fits in the opening that OEM supposed to be. All aftermarket pictures I saw so far are all fixed under the bumper

The dealer replaced this aftermarket (that stands out) with the original kia hitch, which is less visible, last fall. That was part of the deal, to replace it when it became available here, in Canada. I have yet to tow the camping trailer with the new hitch.

 

[WilTarkin]

The dealer replaced this aftermarket (that stands out) with the original kia hitch, which is less visible, last fall. That was part of the deal, to replace it when it became available here, in Canada. I have yet to tow the camping trailer with the new hitch.

But does kia hitch allows 5,000 lbs ? I've read here that is only 3500

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[alexdrums]

The tow rating max for all Tellurides is 5,000 lbs.

 

[WilTarkin]

The tow rating max for all Tellurides is 5,000 lbs.

I know but it seems like the OEM hitch sold by Kia is only 3500lbs a lot of forums confirmed this fact. Also the max weight on the tongue was 351 lbs in the manual but Kia released a statement apparently that corrects this to be 500 lbs

 

[jw_tx21]

I know but it seems like the OEM hitch sold by Kia is only 3500lbs a lot of forums confirmed this fact. Also the max weight on the tongue was 351 lbs in the manual but Kia released a statement apparently that corrects this to be 500 lbs

The OEM hitch can handle the 5,000 lb tow rating. Kia released a service bulletin noting the change in tounge weight rating. The bigger issue was the lack of a 7 pin adapter for a brake controller. But, that has been remedied in the 2021 production factory tow package. Even in a 2020 with factory tow, it’s a really simple change to make.

 

[WilTarkin]

Ok thanks I was confused. I really thought that OEM hitch was only 3500 lbs not 5000 lbs. That is the reason why I didn't ask for the hitch when I bought my Telluride. I would probably go with the OEM then if it has 7 pins now. I think it fits better on the car than an aftermarket

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[jw_tx21]

Ok thanks I was confused. I really thought that OEM hitch was only 3500 lbs not 5000 lbs. That is the reason why I didn't ask for the hitch when I bought my Telluride. I would probably go with the OEM then if it has 7 pins now. I think it fits better on the car than an aftermarket

Those are different things. The OEM hitch can be installed, and then you can get a 7 pin connector installed. 2020 Telluride has a plug and play connector for a 4 pin harness, but then you'll need to run a wire to the battery with a breaker for the 7 pin.

Check out the videos at etrailer.com and see detailed posts by @NCTelly.

Step 1 though is to decide on a hitch. If you go with OEM, and you want it to fit in that "cutout" area below bumper, then you'll also need to get a new bumper cover (as poster above mentioned). Or, I suppose you could cut out your current bumper cover.

The weight confusion simply stemmed from the misprint by Kia. They stated initially a 351 lb tongue weight limit, and safe towing guidelines say that total trailer weight shouldn't be more than 10x tongue weight. Hence, the 3500 lb limit you read about. But this has been corrected to 500 lb tounge weight to coincide with 5000 lb tow rating.

 

[Brad131]

We got a Wildwood 179 DKB as we wanted room to sleep 5 without using the table as a bed. After market hitch is rated at 500 TW, matching the max loaded weight of 4800 lbs. Unloaded weight is 3350 lbs. Fuel usage approximately doubles when towing this, loaded with stuff, with 2 adults and 3 kids with stuff in the car as well.

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I have yet to stop on a truck scale to measure it. Unloaded weight is 3350 lbs, max loaded weight is 4800 lbs, I trust (should I?) the manufacturer to design the trailer to have ~10% of that weight on the tongue, so TW should be between 335 lbs and 480 lbs.

Says here hitch weight is 502 lbs

 

[FireMartZ]

Says here hitch weight is 502 lbs

We have last year model and if I recall correctly, at that time, it was 485 lbs tongue weight, which was equal to 10% of the maximum loaded weight (which we don't attain). I have yet to stop to a road scale to get the actual numbers.

I know they changed a few things in this year model. This may have changed the numbers a bit.

 

[Brad131]

The RV dealership told me tongue weight shouldn't be that big of an issue when using a weight distribution hitch. We really wanted to pull the trigger on a Grand Design 17MKE. But since the UVW was listed at 4678 on the data plate and the tongue weight is listed online at 480 we thought it would be too much. Dealer didn't seem to care as much as we did!!!

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[rhouse]

The dealer replaced this aftermarket (that stands out) with the original kia hitch, which is less visible, last fall. That was part of the deal, to replace it when it became available here, in Canada. I have yet to tow the camping trailer with the new hitch.

Hey there, I am looking at a similar set up to what you have and just curious how its worked out for you over the summer? Assuming you have had it out? I noticed you have a WDH, have you found that there is much sagging on the backend? Thanks!