Tow hitch w/ harness unavailable

[shanyoung]

First off, thank you all for the research info! I finally picked the local Colorado dealership I wanted to purchase from -- charging MSRP with standard $695 dealer's handling fee, taxes, and $300 discount.

I wanted to order a SX AWD, Snow White Pearl, Espresso Brown interior, with tow hitch w/ harness and the mud guard kit. As of this afternoon (8/28/2020), when entering my order into their system, they could not select the tow hitch w/ harness as an accessory option (see attached from the dealership sales manager). Maybe the factory is not accepting orders for the tow hitch at the moment, not sure, but I ended up ordering the tow hitch package.

They also had a weird glitch where Snow White Pearl wasn't available, only Glacial White Pearl (also seen in attachment). But they called me back an hour later and said Snow White Pearl reappeared. Seems like there's some funky things happening with the ordering system right now.

 

[Tobstertx3]

Snow White Pearl production is finished. Any vehicles manufactured going forward from today will be Glacial White Pearl. Now you may get a vehicle that is already completed that is SWP. If your dealer is questioning this, he knows nothing about the 2021 Tellurides!
You can search this forum for more information.

 

[Tobstertx3]

2021 Colors

 

[WhiteSX]

2021 Colors

It appears the Kia US website still allows SWP as a color choice on a 2021 SXP as of today.

______________________________

 

[Tobstertx3]

Yes, I believe it will eventually be removed. The website has a number of other isssues.

As we know GWP will replace SWP for 2021........eventually. From what we’ve seen Kia has produced only 1 SWP since 8/22. All the recently produced White Tellurides are now GWP which is in line with them advising that GWP will be in production from August forward.

 

[alexdrums]

First off, thank you all for the research info! I finally picked the local Colorado dealership I wanted to purchase from -- charging MSRP with standard $695 dealer's handling fee, taxes, and $300 discount.

I wanted to order a SX AWD, Snow White Pearl, Espresso Brown interior, with tow hitch w/ harness and the mud guard kit. As of this afternoon (8/28/2020), when entering my order into their system, they could not select the tow hitch w/ harness as an accessory option (see attached from the dealership sales manager). Maybe the factory is not accepting orders for the tow hitch at the moment, not sure, but I ended up ordering the tow hitch package.

They also had a weird glitch where Snow White Pearl wasn't available, only Glacial White Pearl (also seen in attachment). But they called me back an hour later and said Snow White Pearl reappeared. Seems like there's some funky things happening with the ordering system right now.

I wonder if they are discontinuing the Tow Hitch & Harness option because most people don’t seem to know or care it actually exists. I have yet to see a Telluride sticker that has it on there.

 

[noles1983]

First off, thank you all for the research info! I finally picked the local Colorado dealership I wanted to purchase from -- charging MSRP with standard $695 dealer's handling fee, taxes, and $300 discount.

I wanted to order a SX AWD, Snow White Pearl, Espresso Brown interior, with tow hitch w/ harness and the mud guard kit. As of this afternoon (8/28/2020), when entering my order into their system, they could not select the tow hitch w/ harness as an accessory option (see attached from the dealership sales manager). Maybe the factory is not accepting orders for the tow hitch at the moment, not sure, but I ended up ordering the tow hitch package.

They also had a weird glitch where Snow White Pearl wasn't available, only Glacial White Pearl (also seen in attachment). But they called me back an hour later and said Snow White Pearl reappeared. Seems like there's some funky things happening with the ordering system right now.

i25 Kia?

 

[Martin Kodiak]

I wonder if they are discontinuing the Tow Hitch & Harness option because most people don’t seem to know or care it actually exists. I have yet to see a Telluride sticker that has it on there.

Aloha, There is much discussion on this board regarding towing and it seems popular. The efficacy of the self leveling rear end seems to be the only. Not sure about ordering percentages, but lots of people tow with their Telluride.

______________________________

 

[shanyoung]

i25 Kia?

Fort Collins Kia - opted for the $300 discount. Phil Long Colorado Springs will offer a $250 discount, but have a $995 add on with mats, nitro injected tires, etc. i25 Kia has extended power train warranty to 150k mi.

 

[ccorry21]

First off, thank you all for the research info! I finally picked the local Colorado dealership I wanted to purchase from -- charging MSRP with standard $695 dealer's handling fee, taxes, and $300 discount.

I wanted to order a SX AWD, Snow White Pearl, Espresso Brown interior, with tow hitch w/ harness and the mud guard kit. As of this afternoon (8/28/2020), when entering my order into their system, they could not select the tow hitch w/ harness as an accessory option (see attached from the dealership sales manager). Maybe the factory is not accepting orders for the tow hitch at the moment, not sure, but I ended up ordering the tow hitch package.

They also had a weird glitch where Snow White Pearl wasn't available, only Glacial White Pearl (also seen in attachment). But they called me back an hour later and said Snow White Pearl reappeared. Seems like there's some funky things happening with the ordering system right now.

 

[ccorry21]

First off, thank you all for the research info! I finally picked the local Colorado dealership I wanted to purchase from -- charging MSRP with standard $695 dealer's handling fee, taxes, and $300 discount.

I wanted to order a SX AWD, Snow White Pearl, Espresso Brown interior, with tow hitch w/ harness and the mud guard kit. As of this afternoon (8/28/2020), when entering my order into their system, they could not select the tow hitch w/ harness as an accessory option (see attached from the dealership sales manager). Maybe the factory is not accepting orders for the tow hitch at the moment, not sure, but I ended up ordering the tow hitch package.

They also had a weird glitch where Snow White Pearl wasn't available, only Glacial White Pearl (also seen in attachment). But they called me back an hour later and said Snow White Pearl reappeared. Seems like there's some funky things happening with the ordering system right now.

You can still buy the factory tow hitch without the harness and have the harness added after the fact. The hitch by itself is a standalone part from the harness. The 2021 vehicle harness is prewired for this in a way that I don't think the 2020 is prewired. In addition there will be aftermarket options that come out to fit the 2021 that will likely be better Amperage and plug n play.

If I were buying now, I would not hold up a ~$40K vehicle purchase simply because a ~$200 overpriced OEM harness is backordered. It's always easier and more affordable to add options with the purchase, but you might be crunching pennies to save a dollar relatively speaking. You are letting a $475 option prevent you from buying the vehicle.

• If you plan to just carry bikes, order the Telluride without the Tow Option and get the hitch and bumper plate only for $340 after purchase. (2020 Kia Telluride Tow Hitch S9F61-AU000 | Wholesale Kia Parts & 2020-2021 Kia Telluride Bumper Plate (AA022))
• If you plan to tow a trailer with no brakes and just need 4 pin, order the Telluride without the Tow Option and get the hitch and buy a 4-pin aftermarket plug-n-play harness for $40 instead of spending $180. You can even buy the 2020 kit and put it on the 2021 for $650. (2020-2021 Kia Telluride Hitch Kit (AA023))
• If you plan to tow a trailer with brakes, but not right away, order the Telluride without the Tow Option. Take your time and find the Kia Hitch and wait a couple months for the probably ~$200 7-pin harness for the 2021 to be in stock, or wait for a better plug-n-play 7-pin aftermarket that will likely be under $100.
• If you are serious towing person, order the 2021 without any option, including no Tow Package. Buy the hitch and bumper cover for $340, get someone to install the 7-way round using a generic kit and they can use something like positap connectors that are barely a splice, but all the wires are where they need to be, and consider an air bag system that will help you more than the self-leveling shocks might. Yes, this option will be more more than $795, but the end result will be a more suitable Towing Package, possibly for under $1,500.

It just comes down to waiting for the $475 or foregoing it now, to spend about $300 more after you get the Telluride and you examine your options.

Product Comparison: Compare Products

Genuine OEM Kia Accessories and Parts for all Kia vehicles. Order Kia floor mats, Kia spare tire kits, mud guards and more at KiaStuff.com.

kiastuff.com

And lastly, if you have no interest in towing but want a smoother ride for the rear passengers, get an air bag system professionally installed or look at air helper bags for your struts. You might be waiting for the Tow Package for $795 just because of a delay on the 7-pin harness to get the self-leveling shocks that might not be all they are advertised to be. RealTruck.com has some aftermarket air suspension upgrades that will be the same or slightly more than the Tow Package if you are just buying it for the self-leveling shocks.

I noticed the same thing, where the tow hitch said it was “coming soon”. As per @NCTelly, you may want to consider buying the hitch separately and installing yourself (or at a dealer).