Successfully towing my 3822lb Camper this weekend

[Stoney]

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

It's a 2021. Just got done winterizing it already can't wait for Spring. Putting the Goodyear tires on it made a difference, have Husky sway bars, equalizer hitch, and once you know where to put grease (and where not to) the banshee shreaking and creaking that sounds like everything is breaking, will be a lot better. I went by a construction site when I first left the dealers, and the snaps and squeals made the police officer jump back about 3'. Oh - and despite driving it up and down hills and through lots of towns with traffic and stoplights, going easy on the gas and acceleration and deceleration, I got 17 mpg towing. When most people are lucky to get 10-12! I use the Smart mode that lets the computer decide what mode to use, and definitely on the hills shut off the A/C - as the book recommends.

 

[nljjr16]

It's a 2021. Just got done winterizing it already can't wait for Spring. Putting the Goodyear tires on it made a difference, have Husky sway bars, equalizer hitch, and once you know where to put grease (and where not to) the banshee shreaking and creaking that sounds like everything is breaking, will be a lot better. I went by a construction site when I first left the dealers, and the snaps and squeals made the police officer jump back about 3'.

Thank for the response what models it and tounge Weight... I just got a apex nano 213rds in March and I was hoping for a 2nd tow vehicle but I'm not sure with the Telly nowing I can't put more than 800-900 puunds in it...

 

[Stoney]

Thank for the response what models it and tounge Weight... I just got a apex nano 213rds in March and I was hoping for a 2nd tow vehicle but I'm not sure with the Telly nowing I can't put more than 800-900 puunds in it...

It's small and simple but that's all I need.

Salem FSX 177BH - Forest River RV

Details, floorplan, specifications, and more about the Salem 177BH Travel Trailers.

forestriverinc.com

 

[rhouse]

The hitch from what we all can tell is rated for 351 lbs tongue weight. I'm assuming based on the weight of your trailer you are closer to 450 lbs? Any issues towing the trailer that size with the higher TW? Do you have a weight distribution hitch with your set up? My wife and I are looking at getting a travel trailer so any info you can share would be great.

I see you have a weight distribution hitch set up. I was told by my RV dealer that they couldn’t add one to my Telluride because it has a “unibody frame”. Curious if anyone else had heard that, or if I’m being lied to.
RV is about 3,500 lbs.

I was recently told the same thing from an RV dealer and they said to check the manual. So, I did and it only mentions a sway control and not a WDH. Im wondering as well if anyone has seen something in writing that says the Telly is ok with a WDH on its unibody frame?

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[2020Telly]

I was recently told the same thing from an RV dealer and they said to check the manual. So, I did and it only mentions a sway control and not a WDH. Im wondering as well if anyone has seen something in writing that says the Telly is ok with a WDH on its unibody frame?

I think this may be true for early model unibody frames. But modern unibody frames on SUVs are made stronger than the early days of SUVs when they were just passenger car frames with an SUV body. I doubt Kia would put a max 500lb TW and 5,000lb towing capacity if it was the weaker style unibody.

 

[2020Telly]

Look at the front and rear GAWR of the Telluride. Why would it be so much higher up front if you would never be able to move weight up there? You could take the advice of that RV dealer and risk breaking the rear axle and suspension. But what harm would you bring by shifting weight over the part of the SUV that doesn’t carry cargo and has capacity to spare? And has the FWD working all the time?

Some trailer sway issues can be mitigated by going slower. But weight distribution issues affect handling and braking that damage the towing vehicle when going fast, slow and parked.

Consider if you subtract 500 off the rear GAVR rating for the tongue weight, that makes the available cargo capacity lower than the front axle but an SUV has passenger seating and cargo in the back. The roof can handle maybe 150-185lbs centered, but you can’t fit all your passengers and cargo in the middle row to help shift to the front. Also a WDH also helps shift weight back to the trailer by leveling it out. Basically nothing bad can really happen by getting the trailer and hitch back to level by taking some pressure off the back axle. (In a modern unibody frame purpose built for an SUV.)

I would take their advice of not using a WDH system on the Kia compact crossovers: Seltos, Niro, Sportage, pre-2009 Sorento. But if you own the modern Sorento that is rated for 5,000 or the Telluride then I would strongly question an RV dealer trying to suggest you not use a WDH, maybe they are use to people showing up with trucks. Find the worker that knows the math and ask them.

 

[Bhenryks]

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

Ditto, have Salem FSX 179DBK, just got back from trip from KC to north shore of lake Superior. Battled head winds most of way, averaged 12.1 mpg for 1400 mile trip.

 

[1wagonho]

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

Hello. Can I ask you a question as I am totally new to towing and just got my 2021 Telluride with tow package, about a month ago. So mine comes standard with a 7 pin hitch. I am looking at purchasing a Winnebago 2106DS Friday. The dealer is asking me what type of receiver I have, where I have a harness for connecting, and what the tongue weight is. He's telling me I'll need trailer brakes for $1,000. I was under the impression that I could buy a hitch (Another $1,000), and simply plug one into the other and go. Can I have you tell me how you set yours up? Thanks, Scott

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[MavenMom]

Hello. Can I ask you a question as I am totally new to towing and just got my 2021 Telluride with tow package, about a month ago. So mine comes standard with a 7 pin hitch. I am looking at purchasing a Winnebago 2106DS Friday. The dealer is asking me what type of receiver I have, where I have a harness for connecting, and what the tongue weight is. He's telling me I'll need trailer brakes for $1,000. I was under the impression that I could buy a hitch (Another $1,000), and simply plug one into the other and go. Can I have you tell me how you set yours up? Thanks, Scott

Hi 1wagonho.

I just looked up your little Micro Minnie and see hit has a dry weight of 3705., a hitch weight of 360 and and a gross weight of 7000 LBS!!! Just be aware you cannot go over 5000 lbs with the Telluride, and that is majorly pushing it. That includes people in your vehicle AND what you are pulling. So you wont be pulling it around with a ton of cargo, tanks filled with water etc.
We have towed our slightly heavier trailer ONCE when we bought it without the brake controller to control the brakes (meaning we had no brakes) and it was a SCARY proposition. Imagine hitting your brake to stop and the trailer behind you says NOT Today and pushes you out into traffic. That was on back roads, side streets NOT the interstate. It might work for you to get it HOME but then you will need to look at getting brakes put on both the trailer and the controller for the Telluride. I cannot believe it does not COME with brakes? What???? Are you sure he isnt just trying to jack you up on the price of a brake controller?

Check out this spec, Full Specs for 2020 Winnebago Micro Minnie 2106DS RVs | RVUSA.com
It says your rear brakes are Electric Drum. They are standard.

2020 Winnebago Micro Minnie 2106DS​ Dry Weight

3705 lbs

Our 2010 camper came with brakes. You will almost guaranteed need the brakes on the Winnebago. Most states have a law, set where you need them. Here in VA It is 3000 lbs. However, that value should include the cargo etc., the Gross weight. But the Kia manual says anything over X lbs (check your manual) In addition, with the 7 pin hitch, you will still need a brake controller and power from the Telluride to control it.

We went with the Curtis Echo wireless controller. Wireless in how it connects, super easy! However, there is a wire that has to be run, from the battery, to the 7 pin hitch to power the brake controller. We had a 4 pin with ours, (earlier year) and we had to upgrade to 7, then run the power to the new pin set to power it for controlling the brakes. All in all, with the brake controller and the kit to power it from your hitch, it cost us about $300-350 more. I'm not sure what your 7 pin powers so you MAY just need the brake controller.
I think the dealer is trying to sell you a brake CONTROLLER for $1000, not brakes. You have brakes, I think, you just need a way to tell them to work and tie them to the vehicle braking so it knows to apply brakes.

here is an article on the issue and what you need. Since you have a 7 pin setup already, you dont need to convert it, but you may need to run that wire to the back with all the other parts shown. Or, you may not. I would tow it home slowly this weekend, then try something like this out of the box solution to see if it talks to your brakes! Then you havent cut into any wires, put anything on your dash or panel or done anything to the telluride you didnt need to.

https://www.etrailer.com/question-358085.html

We used:

7 PIN CONVERTER and Power wire from battery to get power to the the brake controller. https://www.etrailer.com/p-ETBC7L.html

https://www.etrailer.com/Brake-Controller/Curt/C51180.html?gclid=CjwKCAiAv4n9BRA9EiwA30WND7MDavugrcmF6TpwEvq6AyOQwtSNP8GFd4ftOgHt5BG7HKd-RcnVtBoC9RcQAvD_BwE

 

[2020Telly]

Hello. Can I ask you a question as I am totally new to towing and just got my 2021 Telluride with tow package, about a month ago. So mine comes standard with a 7 pin hitch. I am looking at purchasing a Winnebago 2106DS Friday. The dealer is asking me what type of receiver I have, where I have a harness for connecting, and what the tongue weight is. He's telling me I'll need trailer brakes for $1,000. I was under the impression that I could buy a hitch (Another $1,000), and simply plug one into the other and go. Can I have you tell me how you set yours up? Thanks, Scott

You will need a trailer brake controller to add to your 7-pin connection and you need a weight distribution hitch system.

The type of receiver is a 2” which makes it like a Class III but it is rated between a Class II and III. The number they want to hear is 500lb max tongue rating and 5,000lb max towing capacity.

$1,000 sounds a little high if they are selling and installing a brake controller and a WDH, but not unreasonable if they are doing it right and teaching you how to use them. Some brake controllers are as much as $350 and a main brand WDH could be $500-600. Some WDH systems come with trailer sway control and others come with out. The Kia Telluride advertises something called Trailer Stability Assist which might be sway control so you be spending more for a WDH with sway control. I don’t know enough about that.

 

[Sportshot2]

How much does the trailer your buying weigh? If it is over 3000 lbs it should come with trailer brakes, usually electric brakes operated by a add on brake controlle. You need to control these brakes from either a wireless controller like the Curt Echo (I think that’s the name) or a wired controller.

You don’t necessarily need a weight distribution hitch depending on the tongue weight of the trailer. The key is what is the total weight of the loaded trailer and how much tongue weight force it puts on the hitch. You may be able to adjust the tongue weight by storing different items in the front or rear of the trailer.

I would suggest that your total loaded weight of the trailer not exceed 4000 lbs and have a minimum of 400 lbs of tongue weight. Remember maximum tongue weight is 500 lbs. Towing without the proper tongue weight can have disastrous handling issues which could quickly become dangerous. Tellurides are really not designed to tow weights over 5000 lbs and towing maximum weight is never a good idea. If you want to tow heavier than 4000lbs you should be buying a pick up or full framed Tahoe, Expedition or other such vehicles which are better suited to heavy weights.

 

[2020Telly]

How much does the trailer your buying weigh? If it is over 3000 lbs it should come with trailer brakes, usually electric brakes operated by a add on brake controlle. You need to control these brakes from either a wireless controller like the Curt Echo (I think that’s the name) or a wired controller.

You don’t necessarily need a weight distribution hitch depending on the tongue weight of the trailer. The key is what is the total weight of the loaded trailer and how much tongue weight force it puts on the hitch. You may be able to adjust the tongue weight by storing different items in the front or rear of the trailer.

I would suggest that your total loaded weight of the trailer not exceed 4000 lbs and have a minimum of 400 lbs of tongue weight. Remember maximum tongue weight is 500 lbs. Towing without the proper tongue weight can have disastrous handling issues which could quickly become dangerous. Tellurides are really not designed to tow weights over 5000 lbs and towing maximum weight is never a good idea. If you want to tow heavier than 4000lbs you should be buying a pick up or full framed Tahoe, Expedition or other such vehicles which are better suited to heavy weights.

A 21’ Micro Minnie Winnie is easily going to be 400+ hitch weight and 4,000+. You definitely should consider a weight distribution hitch system to put some of that tongue weight back on the trailer’s double axles and the Telluride’s front axle.

Here’s a post about brake controller options:
2021 7-pin trailer harness - for Prestige only?

I tried to collect some info for people new to towing here:
If you purchased the Tow Package please read this . . .

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[Sportshot2]

A 21’ Micro Minnie Winnie is easily going to be 400+ hitch weight and 4,000+. You definitely should consider a weight distribution hitch system to put some of that tongue weight back on the trailer’s double axles and the Telluride’s front axle.

Here’s a post about brake controller options:
2021 7-pin trailer harness - for Prestige only?

I tried to collect some info for people new to towing here:
If you purchased the Tow Package please read this . . .

The weight distribution systems were designed by engineers to be used on body on frame trucks and SUV type vehicles a Telluride is a crossover which does not have a traditional body on farme construction. The design was to move some weight from the rear to the front steering axel to alleviate light steering. I’m not sure a weight distribution hitch will transfer weight the same way on a crossover. I also would have to see information that confirms it also transfer weight to the trailer axels before I would agree.

 

[Sportshot2]

I looked at Minnie specs and it lists single axel as 3250 lbs and tandem axel at 3750 dry weight. Loading this trailer up will put It into a weight that is borderline for a Telluride in my opinion. Large frontal areas put a lot of strain onto tow vehicles. Depending on how far, where and how often you plan to tow the trailer should be a considered before your purchase. The hitch weight on the various models is listed at 340-380 lbs

 

[2020Telly]

The weight distribution systems were designed by engineers to be used on body on frame trucks and SUV type vehicles a Telluride is a crossover which does not have a traditional body on farme construction. The design was to move some weight from the rear to the front steering axel to alleviate light steering. I’m not sure a weight distribution hitch will transfer weight the same way on a crossover. I also would have to see information that confirms it also transfer weight to the trailer axels before I would agree.

Fair point. I agree a unibody is not engineered the same way as a body on frame that would be on a traditional truck built for payload and towing. But I would also caution against comparing a large mid-sized SUV unibody frame to a traditional compact crossover CUV. The unibody frame that the Telluride uses is shared with a Sorento, another mid-sized SUV. The unibody frame is not shared with a car or minivan. That makes me wonder if different steel is stronger than what might be in a car unibody frame.

Take the Honda Ridgeline for example. That is a truck that has been around for a while on a unibody frame shared by the Pilot and the Odyssey. While it's not huge towing capacity it is about the same size as the Telluride and it can handle up to 5,000 lbs towing if you pick the right Ridgeline trim.

A better example is the Jeep Grand Cherokee which is a unibody frame and that supports WDH systems.

I can't confirm it transfers but logic tells me if you raise the backend by removing some of the added pressure on the tongue which puts load on the rear axle it has to go either to the front axle or trailer unless we are towing on the moon. There are pictures of people without the towing package showing that WDH brings you back to level and I posted a link to a video that shows how effective a WDH is to moving to the front.

Bottomline, if you can't distribute weight off the back axle then there is no way the math adds up on the cargo ratings if you look at the front and rear axle ratings and the max vehicle cargo weight rating. There would be no way to get close to 500lb TW and 5,000lb towing.

 

[gman1868]

I looked at Minnie specs and it lists single axel as 3250 lbs and tandem axel at 3750 dry weight. Loading this trailer up will put It into a weight that is borderline for a Telluride in my opinion. Large frontal areas put a lot of strain onto tow vehicles. Depending on how far, where and how often you plan to tow the trailer should be a considered before your purchase. The hitch weight on the various models is listed at 340-380 lbs

That's the weight before you put anything in it. You'll easily add up to 1000 pounds when you load it up.

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[gman1868]

As far as a WDH, there is another thread that shows the before and after pics of someone's Telluride with one. Makes a huge difference.

 

[2020Telly]

This link is a good example of what @gman1868 is referencing My experience towing 4200lb RV trailer with. 2020 S AWD I'm not sure what the actual weights are, but you really can't argue that leveling it out would not reduce weight on the back axle.

 

[Sportshot2]

This link is a good example of what @gman1868 is referencing My experience towing 4200lb RV trailer with. 2020 S AWD I'm not sure what the actual weights are, but you really can't argue that leveling it out would not reduce weight on the back axle.

How can you be sure it reduces rear weight heavier springs or the self adjusting shocks just add resistance to the weight which keeps the body higher but doesn’t necessarily transfer the weight to the front

 

[2020Telly]

How can you be sure it reduces rear weight heavier springs or the self adjusting shocks just add resistance to the weight which keeps the body higher but doesn’t necessarily transfer the weight to the front

If the hitch goes higher what else is happening? Wouldn’t that lessen the weight at the tongue dragging down the rear?

I agree with your statement when you look at heavier springs or self leveling shocks, they do add resistance. But a WDH distributes the resistance and puts it on the other axles to lessen the downward force on just the rear axel. To be clear, a WDH won't increase max tongue weight capacity, it just distributes the load back to the trailer or the front axle of the towing vehicle. That's something that upgraded suspensions don't do.

Dry hitch weight of the trailer basically means that is the lowest possible weight that will rest on the tongue if you have nothing loaded and nor propane nor clean/waste water. The actual hitch weight is calculated after you add cargo (water, propane, luggage, kitchen items, lines, clothes, etc). The effect on hitch weight added by the cargo weight load can be distributed by moving some over the axle(s) of the trailer, and you might even be able to lower the total hitch weight at the tongue by moving around your load but you will never get lower than dry hitch weight + whatever impact the cargo has. So lower dry hitch weight means you can carry more cargo (properly managed). Higher dry hitch weight means you have less cargo. You never want to reach 500 TW or 5,000 TC, but as you get higher the WDH can help you keep handling, braking and sway under control which are things that upgraded suspensions do not offer.

This website has good information to consider: Towing? Here Are Safety Tips and Tricks | PickupTrucks.com

This video does an excellent job explaining: