My SUV

[graduc]

We have a Hyandai santa fe 08 2.7L V6 2wd The book says towing 2850 lbs and the forum for the car said it had been reduced to 1900 lbs I do not have a tow package will this make any difference our towing trips will be no more than 1 hour should I get a trailer with brakes?

Thanks Graham

 

[jkust]

Re: My SUV

What is the actual weight of your boat and trailer loaded?

 

[oldjeep]

Re: My SUV

You would be hard pressed to find a trailer under 3000lbs that has brakes. As long as you are within your rated capacity I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[graduc]

Re: My SUV

We are new to boating and this forum no boat yet have started looking at pontoons 18/20 ft

 

[oldjeep]

Re: My SUV

Towing a pontoon with a Santa Fe might be a little spooky. While you could probably get in under your weight requirement, a pontoon is a huge sail and my dads 20ft can push my 6000lb pickup around in the wind.

 

[agallant80]

Re: My SUV

If you are always going to be going to the lake and its an our away you may want to consider finding a storage place near the lake. Mine is $40/month. Just the fuel I would burn with the reduced MPG towing more than makes up for the $40. Also if its closer and you are pushing it you will not be pushing it as long....

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: My SUV

A 20' pontoon package will exceed your tow rating by about 1000 lbs. Towing a pontoon is not a fun experience with a smaller size suv. I am not trying to scare you but I will not give you a dishonest answer.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: My SUV

A 20' pontoon package will exceed your tow rating by about 1000 lbs. Towing a pontoon is not a fun experience with a smaller size suv. I am not trying to scare you but I will not give you a dishonest answer.

True - looks like an 18 on a single is still a bit over what he could tow with the tow package. And towing a pontoon is not much fun regardless of the tow vehicle
SUN TRACKER Boats : Signature Pontoons : 2013 BASS BUGGY 18 DLX Specifications

 

[JoLin]

Re: My SUV

We have a Hyandai santa fe 08 2.7L V6 2wd The book says towing 2850 lbs
Thanks Graham

Are you sure that capacity rating isn't for the AWD model? Seems high. My V-6, FWD Mitsu Outlander is rated for 1500 lbs without trailer brakes, or 2000 with. The AWD model has a higher tow rating.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: My SUV

Are you sure that capacity rating isn't for the AWD model? Seems high. My V-6, FWD Mitsu Outlander is rated for 1500 lbs without trailer brakes, or 2000 with. The AWD model has a higher tow rating.

Looking at a chart, the OP is correct
FWD 2.7L max 2800lbs
FWD 3.3L max 3500lbs
4WD 3.3L max 3500lbs

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: My SUV

My 20 footer on the trailer and loaded with gas and gear weighs in at 2500 pounds. That would be a load on tour SUV and as mentioned towing a toon is like towing a parachute.

 

[Triangleboater]

Re: My SUV

Guess these newer unibody suvs aren't a great choice for towing.
You could look into a cheap tow vechicle? a older 1/2 ton pickup? I just got my 1994 GMC sierra 1500 4x4 with the 4.3 and 80,000 for $3000. If you get a couple year old poontoon instead of brand new you could do that option. My truck towed my families 4000lbs ish RV no issues.

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: My SUV

Coming from an experienced pontoon owner and tower there is absolutely no way I would tow a toon with that vehicle. You may make it with the max towing capacity but it will be the most uncomfortable ride of your life.

I have towed our 28' Toon with the following tow vehicles.

2003 Nissan Frontier
2005 Chevy Trailblazer
2005 Ford Expedition.

The Frontier handled it ok, was kind of a case of the tail wagging the dog a little bit. I was 500 lbs under weight.
The Trailblazer didn't handle it at all, I was about 1000lbs under max tow weight, even so the TB wouldn't pull a grade worth a crap and was overheating seriously trying to climb hills. Took about three trips for me to say forget it and got rid of the Trailblazer.

The Expedition handles it like a champ. Of course I am about 3500 lbs under max payload, plus the air suspension makes it handle like a dream.

I absolutely wouldn't want to tow a toon with a hyundai, let alone launching and retreiving from ramps.

Obviously my dad and grandad were insane because they towed the same toon with the following tow vehicles,

1992 Dodge Dakota, and 2003 Dodge Caravan.

With the caravan the back end would squat so much my dad had to take a 5 inch drop receiver and flip it upside down to keep the tongue from dragging. It was absolutely terrifying watching him tow the toon with that vehicle.

The Dakota did ok.

 

[graduc]

Re: My SUV

Thanks for all your replies my thoughts are if I sell my old Subaru I could by chevy 1500 or equivelant and use it as a tug

Graham

 

[JoLin]

Re: My SUV

Looking at a chart, the OP is correct
FWD 2.7L max 2800lbs
FWD 3.3L max 3500lbs
4WD 3.3L max 3500lbs

Okay, thanks. Was looking for something like that chart and couldn't find it. The Santa Fe is obviously alot more capable than my Outlander, which admittedly is very small and light.

 

[roscoe]

Re: My SUV

Looking at a chart, the OP is correct
FWD 2.7L max 2800lbs
FWD 3.3L max 3500lbs
4WD 3.3L max 3500lbs

Wrong..

Owners manual, section 2, page 29.

trailer without brakes but equipped with the towing package, is 1650#

(with brakes and towing package is 2800# )

Without the factory tow package, you are maxed out at 2000#

Then they add this tidbit: " - Boat Trailer Weight : Maximum towable weight + 1,000 lbs

Which sounds like you can tow something heavier if its a boat, but makes no sense with such a vehicle.





So, yes, you need brakes for a trailer over 1650.


And yes, you can add brakes to most new trailers for around $500.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: My SUV

Wrong..

Owners manual, section 2, page 29.

trailer without brakes but equipped with the towing package, is 1650#

(with brakes and towing package is 2800# )

Without the factory tow package, you are maxed out at 2000#

Then they add this tidbit: " - Boat Trailer Weight : Maximum towable weight + 1,000 lbs

Which sounds like you can tow something heavier if its a boat, but makes no sense with such a vehicle.





So, yes, you need brakes for a trailer over 1650.


And yes, you can add brakes to most new trailers for around $500.

That is the most screwed up sounding tow specs I've ever heard of. Brakes above 1650? Good luck finding brakes that fit a light duty trailer axle - most of them are just stubs. 1000 extra pounds if it is a boat? Maybe they expect you to turn the boat on and help the prop push?

 

[graduc]

Re: My SUV

There is more to boating than I thought I expect I will be asking all types of questions in the future

 

[bigdee]

Re: My SUV

Obviously my dad and grandad were insane because they towed the same toon with the following tow vehicles,

1992 Dodge Dakota, and 2003 Dodge Caravan.

With the caravan the back end would squat so much my dad had to take a 5 inch drop receiver and flip it upside down to keep the tongue from dragging. It was absolutely terrifying watching him tow the toon with that vehicle.

The Dakota did ok.

I would in no way advise this. BUT I can't help but love these "old timers" who worked with what they had and managed to make it work! The keyword is "managed"

 

[roscoe]

Re: My SUV

That is the most screwed up sounding tow specs I've ever heard of. Brakes above 1650? Good luck finding brakes that fit a light duty trailer axle - most of them are just stubs. 1000 extra pounds if it is a boat? Maybe they expect you to turn the boat on and help the prop push?

Yeah, really screwed up, and hard to read.

GM put a 5000+ rating on my Trailblazer, but says brakes are required on trailers above 1500#.
And I will agree that the brakes are inadequate when 2500# is pushing you downhill. Totally useless.
That's what led me to add electrics to my trailer.


Also, some states require brakes at 1500# (Nevada, Idaho) , so the trailers are out there, or the brakes can be added.
One of my trailers is a 2000# trailer, and it came with flanges on the axle.