Suspension Broke After First Towing (second hand)

[Stoney]

Because I never had a tow package and always had to borrow my brothers pick up when I needed to tow. Having the two package will allow me to tow more often. I have children in college and living on campus. Hauling all their stuff will be easier with tow package. I like to go crabbing and can now pull a boat without having to borrow his pick up. That plus a host of other things I can now tow. For the price, I just wanted the tow package to give me that flexibility.

I rarely tow. I bought a camper, but want the extra peace of mind when I do go camping. The self leveling shocks are also desirable because when my full grown grand-daughters and niece arrive and we go on our "excellent adventures", we will have 6 full grown adults in the car driving up and down mountains, on "cart roads", etc. If I was going to be towing a lot, I would have looked at a real tow vehicle.

 

[2020Telly]

Why not an EX with Premium Package?

So I just checked that original post with the failed suspension and I think it can't be an EX with Premium. The door handles are not the same as the body color. The LX and EX have matching body color door handles, but the S and SX have Satin chrome on the door handles except for some of the SX that have body color matching. So it's possible it's an S with just the tow option, or it could be an SX with just tow option, or SX with tow package. Not sure yet which suspension failed until we get more details.

 

[gman1868]

Just speculation, but regardless of the model, the only way the suspension fails is a factory defect in the spring or the rear was overloaded. As far back as the wheels on the trailer are, I would imagine there is closer to 1000 pounds tongue weight. Then add people and gear to the back of the car and you've got 3 times the rated weight on the rear suspension. The Owners Manual covers weight restrictions and how to calculate GVW. See section 5 starting on page 5-151. It's always wise to take the time to figure it out to ensure the GAWR isn't exceeded in the rear.

As far as brakes go, anything over 1650 pounds should have trailer brakes. From page 5-156 of the owners manual: Maximum trailer weight without brake system1,650; with brake system 5,000; Maximum tongue weight 500

 

[Martin Kodiak]

So I just checked that original post with the failed suspension and I think it can't be an EX with Premium. The door handles are not the same as the body color. The LX and EX have matching body color door handles, but the S and SX have Satin chrome on the door handles except for some of the SX that have body color matching. So it's possible it's an S with just the tow option, or it could be an SX with just tow option, or SX with tow package. Not sure yet which suspension failed until we get more details.

It looks identical to my S. I will wait patiently for further information as the picture is just that.

______________________________

 

[TelluriDexter]

I would guess that this is either right when the trailer was attached or after sitting loaded overnight. Upon driving it, the Nivomat dampers would automatically bump the rear up to level.

 

[ccorry21]

It looks identical to my S. I will wait patiently for further information as the picture is just that.

@svote we are all waiting patiently for more details. Give the Telly people what they want!

 

[2020Telly]

I would guess that this is either right when the trailer was attached or after sitting loaded overnight. Upon driving it, the Nivomat dampers would automatically bump the rear up to level.

Respectfully disagree. Looking at that picture that’s not driveable. Nivomats can’t fix that. That’s either equipment failure or operator error.

 

[2020Telly]

It looks identical to my S. I will wait patiently for further information as the picture is just that.

Without seeing the badge on the back or the headlights on, I can’t tell a US S apart from a Canadian SX.

______________________________

 

[Kwim]

That’s either equipment failure or operator error.

3 option definitely not.

 

[Martin Kodiak]

Aloha everyone. So I have waited patiently for a month before actually speaking on this., but the month is past.

I am a car guy, and have seen all manner of might and mishap from head on crashes and T-bones to Cliff drops and front tyer blowouts at high speed.

It would be nice if the OP ( who is a member in good standing) Followed up with his post, but that has yet to happen so.

I have examined this picture, and while it seems extreme it shows literally nothing out of the frame of poor standard range. The back of that rig is bottomed out, but nothing more than that is indicated. I have seen three Tellurides including mine own with the back bottomed out, and it always looks similar, Except that is the first time I have seen the hitch possibly set up wrong. That is a big Pontoon boat, and it looks like it is a straight ball in hitch set up with no help.

Something may have broken there, but I see nothing conclusive whatsoever.

I have towed more than 2000 miles at limit and never had any indication of stress or dissonance from my Telluride. I do have a properly adjusted Weight distribution hitch and understand the nature of spreading the load during set up.

I will be authoring this week my towing chronicles, but wanted to check in here first to see if there was any resolution or followup to this instance that might make me reconsider my experiences.

Mahalo

 

[MarcinTexas]

Aloha everyone. So I have waited patiently for a month before actually speaking on this., but the month is past.

I am a car guy, and have seen all manner of might and mishap from head on crashes and T-bones to Cliff drops and front tyer blowouts at high speed.

It would be nice if the OP ( who is a member in good standing) Followed up with his post, but that has yet to happen so.

I have examined this picture, and while it seems extreme it shows literally nothing out of the frame of poor standard range. The back of that rig is bottomed out, but nothing more than that is indicated. I have seen three Tellurides including mine own with the back bottomed out, and it always looks similar, Except that is the first time I have seen the hitch possibly set up wrong. That is a big Pontoon boat, and it looks like it is a straight ball in hitch set up with no help.

Something may have broken there, but I see nothing conclusive whatsoever.

I have towed more than 2000 miles at limit and never had any indication of stress or dissonance from my Telluride. I do have a properly adjusted Weight distribution hitch and understand the nature of spreading the load during set up.

I will be authoring this week my towing chronicles, but wanted to check in here first to see if there was any resolution or followup to this instance that might make me reconsider my experiences.

Mahalo

Thanks - I was wondering if we were ever going to get more information on this. I really dislike posts that indicate a problem and then nothing conclusive is ever provided or any update on the resolution. Hopefully we see something on this.

 

[dansta]

@svote any update in terms of what happened to your original post? Would be great to loop back and update us all, as I am sure many are interested to hear what was the root cause.

______________________________

 

[rhouse]

Any new information on this?

 

[G-924977]

Sorry. Never heard back. It wasn't a direct contact of mine.

 

[BasilFawlty]

As I get more details, I will share them here.

Received this from a friend that on their maiden voyage towing their boat (boat + trailer = ~4500 pounds) their suspension went belly up. I do not know if they had the factory tow package yet or many other details, but figured some of you all would be interested/have questions that may be good to ask/share.

They are a long way from home and now need to be towed back (maybe to a shop closer by, still TBD).

View attachment 9187

I too am very interested in any updates? Did this car have a factory tow package? What broke, any ideas why this happened? I bought the tow package with my SX and so very interested in any updates.

 

[qwikhit]

This seems like a post and gone thread. First I’ve seen it and I haven’t seen anyone else talking about this. A lot of variables unanswered that could have caused this failure

______________________________