Towing package

[shiraz627]

The dealer is telling me they can add the towing package with the self leveling suspension. I thought that was factory only. Can someone verify?

 

[PittPa]

No, the suspension is a factory only addition. They can add the hitch and harness without this. (Advantages and disadvantages for this also)

 

[TheNip73]

No, the suspension is a factory only addition. They can add the hitch and harness without this. (Advantages and disadvantages for this also)

I am pretty sure they can order the other shocks and install them for a ridiculous price.

 

[shiraz627]

No, the suspension is a factory only addition. They can add the hitch and harness without this. (Advantages and disadvantages for this also)

Thanks, That's what I thought.

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[PittPa]

I am pretty sure they can order the other shocks and install them for a ridiculous price.

I am pretty sure they can just about do anything at the dealership for a ridiculous price!

 

[2020Telly]

You don’t need the towing package to tow. The tow option (a hitch and harness) is all that you need.

 

[Rick RIcka]

You don’t need the towing package to tow. The tow option (a hitch and harness) is all that you need.

Then please explain what is the "self leveling suspension that they claim to add as part of the $795?

 

[PittPa]

Then please explain what is the "self leveling suspension that they claim to add as part of the $795?

The short answer is its not needed. If you would like pages of reasons, a search under "towing" or "self leveling suspension " will provide numerous discussions on why.

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[Javi]

Then please explain what is the "self leveling suspension that they claim to add as part of the $795?

In theory the self-leveling shocks should raise the rear end if the tongue weight of what you are towing is un-leveling your vehicle, that would help to transfer weight to the front of the vehicle and keep you from blinding oncoming traffic at night.

In practice I don't if the shocks really do this.

 

[JAM]

Then please explain what is the "self leveling suspension that they claim to add as part of the $795?

from what I can tell The LX and S don’t have that suspension as an option , yet you can get the towing package, it’s just the hitch, yet they have the same towing capacity

 

[PittPa]

If you purchased the Tow Package please read this . . .

I'm just going to put this out there. Many of you have seen my numerous posts about towing and I can't help but think that there are some Telluride buyers that aren't being informed properly by the manual and the dealers on some important safety basics regarding towing. Suspension upgrades...

tellurideforum.org

 

[shiraz627]

Let me put it this way when I was towing a loaded aluminum 5 x 8' trailer with my Sante Fe the back would dragging. Hence I want the self leveling suspension.

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[Lakaiguy]

The "towing package" does not improve towing ability in any way.

It's a surprise that kia was even legally allowed to call it a towing package.

Simply raising the rear (which the towing package doesn't even seem to do consistently) does NOT transfer any weight to the front. That can only be done with a weight distribution hitch.

This same system is not referred to as a "towing package" in other markets for a good reason.

A true towing package would contain many other things like a transmission cooler, 7 pin harness, different gearing etc to name a few.

 

[shiraz627]

I thought it only came with a 7 pin harness? Which is typically used with a brake controller.

 

[2020Telly]

I thought it only came with a 7 pin harness? Which is typically used with a brake controller.

The towing option also comes with a 7-pin harness. But Kia does not include an electronic brake controller. If you look at the Hyundai Palisade you will find these shocks are in the convenience package marketed as a ride comfort feature. In the Tellurides that are sold in Canada and the Middle East they are not called a towing package. This is only a package that confuses US buyers thinking they are paying for a must have if they plan to tow.

I installed the tow option myself on my S and added AirLift helper bags so that I can stiffen the rear suspension manually when adding up to 1,000 lbs over the rear suspension when towing or carrying passengers or cargo. By manually raising the rear just a little to get back to normal ride height I’m able to overcome the sag and get my headlights pointing straight. For $115 I’m very impressed with the helper bags. I have the standard shocks and struts so when better aftermarket options become available I will be able to consider an upgrade for a fraction of the cost of having to keep buying the Kia towing package shocks.

 

[2020Telly]

Being an early buyer of the Telluride and picking the S made me initially worried that I could not get the towing package because I thought I might lose the ability to tow safely. In retrospect I think for me there is less value in these shocks and I can accomplish everything I need to do without them for less cost and risk them failing when I need them to work the most. And if/when my standard shocks fail I hope for there to be many more affordable aftermarket options to consider. If I had a station wagon or a cruiser motorcycle I would probably want these shocks but in my opinion they have very minimal application in a larger SUV especially when towing.

$475 gets you the towing option which is the hitch and harness. If you plan to tow or have a hitch mounted cargo or bike solution, you need this. There are also aftermarket option available or you can buy the parts from Kia and add it after. Port installed (factory installed) only adds to the purchase price and convenience of having it done.

$795 gets you the towing package which is the same parts as the $475 option but swaps the rear shocks and struts with the ones marketed as ride comfort on other vehicles. There is no official option to get this from the dealer if doesn't come from the factory. But adding up the cost of the individual parts and adding labor will certainly cost you more than $320 and you have standard shocks and stuts that you won't use sitting around.

My belief is that a person that regularly tows jet skis, small boat trailers, horse trailers, or snowmobiles would be happier with the towing package because those trailer types are already level and that makes them inherently safer and quicker to connect and tow. Especially if the trailer has more than one axle. So you aren't asking much from the shocks. If you plan to hang bikes off the back or a cargo basket you might also benefit from the towing package. If you also plan to tow infrequently and just want the ride to adjust while you have uneven rear cargo or passenger weight, then they may also provide a benefit. However, if you are considering the towing package to also do weight distribution with a travel camper or some type of utility or cargo trailer that requires load management or shifting weight to level your hitch height, there are other safer options for you to consider. If you plan to add a lift kit you also have added complications to consider when you have the self-leveling shocks. Either way, after the warranty expires, expect to pay more and have limited options when you don't have the standards shocks and struts and have to get the Kia Self-leveling shocks.

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[2020Telly]

Then please explain what is the "self leveling suspension that they claim to add as part of the $795?

The towing package is the towing option but with added Mando branded self leveling shocks and softer struts. The system is similar to the ZF Sachs Nivomat shock. Mechanical pumping that lifts when in motion and the vehicle shifts weight from and uneven load side to side. If you don’t plan to tow much and don’t plan to have your Telluride for a long time then you might be fine with the towing package. You won’t have to worry about being compatible with a WDS and chances are replacing the expensive shocks in the future will be the second buyers problem. The package looks like a deal initially but the long term impact and safety concerns for frequent towing of certain types of common uses may make you want to consider the less expensive tow option instead. You still get the ability to add an electronic brake controller and you have the same max tongue weight of 500lbs and towing weight of up to 5,000lbs.

Let me put it this way when I was towing a loaded aluminum 5 x 8' trailer with my Sante Fe the back would dragging. Hence I want the self leveling suspension.

If you had a height adjustable ball mount you could level your load with your towing vehicle while parked and the impact on hitch weight to the shocks and rear suspension is minimized. With the self leveling shocks you are assuming that the hitch weight would create enough downward force on the shocks to mechanically pump and raise the rear but that may not always happen. Weight distribution and level towing vehicle are not always the same thing. It’s all about getting less weight over the rear suspension and back to the trailer and also so your front brakes can help more. Airbags and self leveling shocks raise the rear of the towing vehicle but they don’t distribute weight the same as leveling across all axles in the caravan. When towing you likely benefit more from a stiffer suspension rather than a softer one.

 

[2020Telly]

It's a surprise that kia was even legally allowed to call it a towing package.

I agree with your post except they they can call it whatever they want, it's the buyer's responsibility to know what they are getting. It would be like calling cup holders a drive-thru beverage management system or headrest mounted screens that don't integrate with anything an entertainment system. Exaggeration in marketing may be interpreted as misleading or deceptive if the claim isn’t backed by clear and reasonable explanation. Kia leaned in on the Telluride’s more rugged appeal and thought having a towing package with no clear documentation was required to win people over. I think they should have more clearly explained the specific applications to justify calling it that and it would have come across as less deceptive or at a minimum less confusing.

 

[shiraz627]

I installed the tow option myself on my S and added AirLift helper bags so that I can stiffen the rear suspension manually when adding up to 1,000 lbs over the rear suspension when towing or carrying passengers or cargo. By manually raising the rear just a little to get back to normal ride height I’m able to overcome the sag and get my headlights pointing straight. For $115 I’m very impressed with the helper bags. I have the standard shocks and struts so when better aftermarket options become available I will be able to consider an upgrade for a fraction of the cost of having to keep buying the Kia towing package shocks.

Thanks for your response as I like the Air bags option as most of my towing is light duty. Kayak trailer, 2000lb utility trailer and I use the receiver for my bikes which is minimal.

 

[2020Telly]

Thanks for your response as I like the Air bags option as most of my towing is light duty. Kayak trailer, 2000lb utility trailer and I use the receiver for my bikes which is minimal.

Here are some close up shots of my install of the 60860 kit for the Telluride. I elected the single path airline routing, but the kit came with two air supply valves if you prefer to adjust left and right differently. I put the schrader valve for air input next to the trailer harness connection. Normally I keep the pressure between 5-10psi and increase up to 35psi when checking tire pressure if I’m carrying lots of cargo, hang something off the hitch or tow with my utility trailer creating a few pounds of tongue weight. Some people in this forum added the air compressor and wireless remote (they also have an app) to adjust and they even have a leveler that adjusts the air pressure dynamically but I didn’t see a need for my uses. There are much more expensive air bag systems, but this seems to add just the right amount of support for basic towing and is a simple plug and play design. The other option I considered was a SumoSpring (CSS-1125). It is an even simpler design but I was concerned about ride comfort with that one. The concept was the same, help the struts stiffen more to prevent sag with extra cargo and tongue weight on the rear suspension. Both options are less than the towing package and offer the ability to be removed or left in when better aftermarket shocks become available.