Successfully towing my 3822lb Camper this weekend

[MavenMom]

To be honest, I am not sure that the Telluride will have what it takes long term to tow even this little trailer. The ride right now is herky jerky. We feel the trailer slightly push us, then pull us back when we start off again. I am hoping it is something we can adjust with the Echo to more fine tune the ride. We already have stabilizer bars on it. I am hoping that once we get out on the open road, at a reasonable speed like 65, that this will be less noticeable as we will have more momentum and the trailer just has to track. But my first two planned trips are for fall and winter, because I do not know how this would bog down the Telluride with the A/C on. The RPMs were getting pretty high just towing it home in July, and we were playing around with sporty mode, etc driving styles to try to find one that would work better. We finally set it on auto, but definitely had some hesitation with the trailer and A/C on when pulling out. I can't imagine having a travel trailer I can't take out in the summer. And call me a princess but I am not going out in summer without A/C !
If that should happen, I will likely keep the Telluride as I really like it and let my husband replace his vehicle with a larger truck like a few year old Chevy Avalanche or Silverado with more towing capacity.

 

[2020Telly]

To be honest, I am not sure that the Telluride will have what it takes long term to tow even this little trailer. The ride right now is herky jerky. We feel the trailer slightly push us, then pull us back when we start off again. I am hoping it is something we can adjust with the Echo to more fine tune the ride. We already have stabilizer bars on it. I am hoping that once we get out on the open road, at a reasonable speed like 65, that this will be less noticeable as we will have more momentum and the trailer just has to track. But my first two planned trips are for fall and winter, because I do not know how this would bog down the Telluride with the A/C on. The RPMs were getting pretty high just towing it home in July, and we were playing around with sporty mode, etc driving styles to try to find one that would work better. We finally set it on auto, but definitely had some hesitation with the trailer and A/C on when pulling out. I can't imagine having a travel trailer I can't take out in the summer. And call me a princess but I am not going out in summer without A/C !
If that should happen, I will likely keep the Telluride as I really like it and let my husband replace his vehicle with a larger truck like a few year old Chevy Avalanche or Silverado with more towing capacity.

Curious if you have had any more experiences towing? One thing that might help you for a smoother drive is a hitch tightener. It's only about $10 and might make the hitch ball mount and hitch receiver less jerky. You could also adjust your air pressure some. Your comment on the A/C, I think that applies to smaller cars. I use to have an older Toyota Corolla and also a Nissan Sentra and when I turned off the A/C I did feel like the engine had more power with those small engines because the fan wasn't running. But I think with modern cars the computers turn off the A/C fans if it senses the need for power temporarily, so you should be able to run the A/C and not notice a drop. Like you did, I would leave the Telluride in the Smart/Auto mode and let it decide what to pick based on response if towing. Before you bail on the Telluride you might also want to check into tires with more grip on the road and that could possibly help your experience.

Have you tried to measure your hitch weight? With a smaller hybrid travel trailer, propane, water and cargo, you could be quickly approaching 500lbs at the tongue because the smaller 19' hybrid trailers don't have the length to distribute the weight that say a 21-24' enclosed travel trailer might have to have lower tongue weight.

 

[gman1868]

The power drain from the A/C is the compressor. The electrical load from the fan is negligible.

 

[MavenMom]

Curious if you have had any more experiences towing? One thing that might help you for a smoother drive is a hitch tightener. It's only about $10 and might make the hitch ball mount and hitch receiver less jerky. You could also adjust your air pressure some. Your comment on the A/C, I think that applies to smaller cars. I use to have an older Toyota Corolla and also a Nissan Sentra and when I turned off the A/C I did feel like the engine had more power with those small engines because the fan wasn't running. But I think with modern cars the computers turn off the A/C fans if it senses the need for power temporarily, so you should be able to run the A/C and not notice a drop. Like you did, I would leave the Telluride in the Smart/Auto mode and let it decide what to pick based on response if towing. Before you bail on the Telluride you might also want to check into tires with more grip on the road and that could possibly help your experience.

Have you tried to measure your hitch weight? With a smaller hybrid travel trailer, propane, water and cargo, you could be quickly approaching 500lbs at the tongue because the smaller 19' hybrid trailers don't have the length to distribute the weight that say a 21-24' enclosed travel trailer might have to have lower tongue weight.

hi NCTelly, Thanks for your comments. We have stabilizer bars on it that tighten up the hitch majorly.

I have had some more experience with the Telluride towing and it was NOT good. We got new tires and that was our last thing before being what we would consider highway ready. On the way home from the tire shop, I took the trailer on the highway for the first time. I was doing good at about 63-65 MPH. However, you know how highways are and no one is going 65 MPH, some of our areas are 70 MPH speed limit even. As soon as I got past 65, I got a LOT of sway with the trailer. So much so that I had to manually brake it with the controller to get it under control. It felt like it was going to push me over. This is with 3 point sway bars, on both sides. This is at no water in tanks, no supplies on board, pretty much dry weight. I exited pretty quickly. I then came home and had to reroute two of our upcoming trips to avoid highways. I think it is okay, under control in the 50s to 60s speeds but nothing over. Sorry to say. Now for a trip to Gettysburg (150 miles) and a trip from Virginia to Tampa BAY, we are going side roads all the way.

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[BrianF]

hi NCTelly, Thanks for your comments. We have stabilizer bars on it that tighten up the hitch majorly.

I have had some more experience with the Telluride towing and it was NOT good. We got new tires and that was our last thing before being what we would consider highway ready. On the way home from the tire shop, I took the trailer on the highway for the first time. I was doing good at about 63-65 MPH. However, you know how highways are and no one is going 65 MPH, some of our areas are 70 MPH speed limit even. As soon as I got past 65, I got a LOT of sway with the trailer. So much so that I had to manually brake it with the controller to get it under control. It felt like it was going to push me over. This is with 3 point sway bars, on both sides. This is at no water in tanks, no supplies on board, pretty much dry weight. I exited pretty quickly. I then came home and had to reroute two of our upcoming trips to avoid highways. I think it is okay, under control in the 50s to 60s speeds but nothing over. Sorry to say. Now for a trip to Gettysburg (150 miles) and a trip from Virginia to Tampa BAY, we are going side roads all the way.

Your sway problem is likely due to bad load distribution in the trailer. A trailer that is loaded with too little hitch weight in proportion to the trailer weight is very prone to sway. Move some of the load in the trailer forward and that will probably cure the sway problem. I agree with NCTelly about the hitch tightener, which is a different critter than sway bars. It is a clamp (basically a U-bolt with a bar) that clamps the hitch in the receiver. I tow a teardrop trailer and wouldn’t be without one — it makes a huge difference. Finally, I would advise you to watch your speed even when your trailer is towing smoothly. Most trailer tires are rated for a maximum speed of 65 mph. If you drive at sustained speeds higher than that, you risk catastrophic tire failure with disastrous results. BTW, I have had my Telluride for a year and a half, and it tows like a dream.

 

[MavenMom]

Your sway problem is likely due to bad load distribution in the trailer. A trailer that is loaded with too little hitch weight in proportion to the trailer weight is very prone to sway. Move some of the load in the trailer forward and that will probably cure the sway problem. I agree with NCTelly about the hitch tightener, which is a different critter than sway bars. It is a clamp (basically a U-bolt with a bar) that clamps the hitch in the receiver. I tow a teardrop trailer and wouldn’t be without one — it makes a huge difference. Finally, I would advise you to watch your speed even when your trailer is towing smoothly. Most trailer tires are rated for a maximum speed of 65 mph. If you drive at sustained speeds higher than that, you risk catastrophic tire failure with disastrous results. BTW, I have had my Telluride for a year and a half, and it tows like a dream.

Brian, that is great info. Can you send me a pic or link of the hitch tightener that you have so we can find one like it. Ditto NCTelly.

As far as load, how do you distribute load in an empty trailer. I mean we have nothing it it right now, just how it was made. If we were to fill the water tanks, they are in the back and would make it even more tongue light. When we go to pack it for trips, we can definitely put more weight ahead of the wheels as that is where the living room area is. A tear drop is very aerodynamic. What is your tongue weight and trailer weight? This is a box shaped thing so we know we will get more sway than you but this was way too much.

 

[BrianF]

This is what the hitch clamp looks like. I know it is available from numerous sources; I think I got mine on Amazon. The empty trailer was likely the cause of your sway problem. With no load and the wind resistance on the top part of the front of the trailer, it would have been back-heavy

 

[BrianF]

Also, your hitch weight should be 10-15 percent of the trailer weight for proper towing stability.

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[2020Telly]

Here’s an example: https://www.amazon.com/CZC-AUTO-Tig...htener&qid=1602553308&sprefix=hitch+t&sr=8-14

You may want to check the travel trailer tires speed rating. I’m guessing you have 14” ST tires that aren’t rated to go over 65mph. It sounds like you might be pushing the limits of the trailer if you are trying to go that or faster.

 

[MavenMom]

Thanks Brian, great. we ordered this one! I think Showy means higher visibility so you can see if its there. We will try this. I talked to a friend and since we got new tires, he asked hey did they align the trailer again after the new tires? I said no, they just balanced them. He said we may need to have trailer aligned. So, is that a tire place job or a trailer place job? We got the tires at Discount Tire Warehouse and they were NOT set up for trailers that is for sure.

 

[2020Telly]

Thanks Brian, great. we ordered this one! I think Showy means higher visibility so you can see if its there. We will try this. I talked to a friend and since we got new tires, he asked hey did they align the trailer again after the new tires? I said no, they just balanced them. He said we may need to have trailer aligned. So, is that a tire place job or a trailer place job? We got the tires at Discount Tire Warehouse and they were NOT set up for trailers that is for sure.

View attachment 11563

New tires might change the height of the vehicle which means you should check you hitch leveling and reconfigure your weight distribution system to level.

 

[MavenMom]

Here are the tires that were just put on. They are rated to 81 MPH.

https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/taskmaster-contender-tire-&-wheel-assembly-5lug

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[MavenMom]

Hey NCNELLY I noticed in your sig block you have "FIXED: SCC brake wiring fix (20V-436 / SC194)"



So did you wire your trailer for brakes yourself? If yes, how did Kia feel about that when you took it in for the warranty work? Or is your trailer so light no trailer brakes? I am kinda scared to go into dealer now about the recall as we have cut into that wire to give the brakes power to the brake controller.

 

[BrianF]

Thanks Brian, great. we ordered this one! I think Showy means higher visibility so you can see if its there. We will try this. I talked to a friend and since we got new tires, he asked hey did they align the trailer again after the new tires? I said no, they just balanced them. He said we may need to have trailer aligned. So, is that a tire place job or a trailer place job? We got the tires at Discount Tire Warehouse and they were NOT set up for trailers that is for sure.

View attachment 11563

That clamp certainly looks like it will do the job. You’ll be surprised how much difference it will make. As to the alignment, I would doubt that it is necessary since it’s a new trailer.

 

[2020Telly]

Hey NCNELLY I noticed in your sig block you have "FIXED: SCC brake wiring fix (20V-436 / SC194)"



So did you wire your trailer for brakes yourself? If yes, how did Kia feel about that when you took it in for the warranty work? Or is your trailer so light no trailer brakes? I am kinda scared to go into dealer now about the recall as we have cut into that wire to give the brakes power to the brake controller.

Looking at the service bulletin they splice into it at the panel near the fuse box. I doubt they will care. Chances are your wire is not cut it should be just an in-line tap.

 

[2020Telly]

Here are the tires that were just put on. They are rated to 81 MPH.

https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/taskmaster-contender-tire-&-wheel-assembly-5lug
View attachment 11564

You may also want to inflate the trailer tire to the max rating. They aren’t like car tires that can be under inflated. I would feel really nervous at 80mph. I think 60-65 in normal road conditions is safe. Remember the trailer wheels and tires are significantly smaller than the Telluride’s and have to spin more to go the same distance so with less surface area and more spinning they will heat up faster than the towing vehicle.

When I mentioned new tires before bailing on the Telluride for towing I meant not only trailer tires, but better traction tires on the Telluride itself, possibly even a little wider? That might give more grip on the road when towing and improved braking. The OEM tires you have were probably not designed for frequent towing.

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[gman1868]

This is how the weight distribution should be to tow safely.

 

[Stoney]

Your sway problem is likely due to bad load distribution in the trailer. A trailer that is loaded with too little hitch weight in proportion to the trailer weight is very prone to sway. Move some of the load in the trailer forward and that will probably cure the sway problem. I agree with NCTelly about the hitch tightener, which is a different critter than sway bars. It is a clamp (basically a U-bolt with a bar) that clamps the hitch in the receiver. I tow a teardrop trailer and wouldn’t be without one — it makes a huge difference. Finally, I would advise you to watch your speed even when your trailer is towing smoothly. Most trailer tires are rated for a maximum speed of 65 mph. If you drive at sustained speeds higher than that, you risk catastrophic tire failure with disastrous results. BTW, I have had my Telluride for a year and a half, and it tows like a dream.

My Telly tows like a dream as well - a 22' Forest River Salem bunk style.

 

[Stoney]

To be honest, I am not sure that the Telluride will have what it takes long term to tow even this little trailer. The ride right now is herky jerky. We feel the trailer slightly push us, then pull us back when we start off again. I am hoping it is something we can adjust with the Echo to more fine tune the ride. We already have stabilizer bars on it. I am hoping that once we get out on the open road, at a reasonable speed like 65, that this will be less noticeable as we will have more momentum and the trailer just has to track. But my first two planned trips are for fall and winter, because I do not know how this would bog down the Telluride with the A/C on. The RPMs were getting pretty high just towing it home in July, and we were playing around with sporty mode, etc driving styles to try to find one that would work better. We finally set it on auto, but definitely had some hesitation with the trailer and A/C on when pulling out. I can't imagine having a travel trailer I can't take out in the summer. And call me a princess but I am not going out in summer without A/C !
If that should happen, I will likely keep the Telluride as I really like it and let my husband replace his vehicle with a larger truck like a few year old Chevy Avalanche or Silverado with more towing capacity.

The manual says to shut the A/C off when going up hills or other times when the vehicle is straining. I am not sure you have to leave it off all the time. I shut mine off with large hills, or difficult roads where I can't maintain momentum so there is more strain to pull the trailer.

 

[nljjr16]

My Telly tows like a dream as well - a 22' Forest River Salem bunk style.

Hi that sounds great I am getting my Telly within the next few weeks what year is your camper?