Anyone use a 2017 kia Sorrento AWD/4wd high output engine?

[Semerm12]

I have the above kia Sorrento.my 24 ft Lowe pontoon boat is under the vehicle's towing capacity. I have not towed it yet.
Anyone out there have a Sorrento and tow a similar pontoon boat? How's the handling, etc. Anything I should know before doing it?

 

[ahicks]

Maybe you already know, but it's worth repeating just in case. Any pontoon boat pulls like a parachute. If you can, I would keep it under 50-55mph.

We've been pulling a 22' 'toon, and more lately a 22' alum. deck boat, locally (10-15 mile trips) for a few years now with our 2017 Honda Pilot, which is pretty similar to your Kia in size/weight/power. It does a nice job even when launching and retrieving. That said, my experience has been it's a little light in the butt for any long distance work. Noteworthy maybe, is I'm a pretty experienced tow vehicle driver. Best of luck! -Al

 

[Scott Danforth]

Your 24' lowe has a dry hull weight of 2200#
Add motor, fuel and gear and you are at 3200#
Add trailer and you are at 4400#
Add spare tire and you are at 4450#

Kia Sorrento max towing is between 2000# and 5000#

However any additional weight in the kia reduces towing cap

Plus the kia is a short wheel base vehicle (worst for towing)


If your kia does have the 5000 tow limit, you are at the edge. The short wheel base means it will be a white knuckle tow as any wind could have the boat waging the kia.

 

[Semerm12]

Yes, I realize it is under the edge. Fortunately, I plan to use it in the 3 lakes that are within 10 miles of my house so I will not be on an interstate with it. I will ensure it's loaded correctly to avoid the rear WAGGLE that can occur. Have you or anyone else done something like this other than the man with the Honda above.
Does it kill gas mileage? How's the visibility?
What type of towing mirrors are best..

 

[Scott Danforth]

Does it kill gas mileage? How's the visibility?
What type of towing mirrors are best..

You are towing, your mileage may drop to single digits. In fact dont worry about mileage. I would worry about your brakes and transmission

Visibility towing a pontoon boat that is 3 feet wider than your vehicle means all you see in your mirrors is the toon. Tow mirrors may help

I have use Cipa tow mirrors on my old S10 blazer

https://www.etrailer.com/Towing-Mirrors/CIPA/40375-2.html

 

[ahicks]

Visibility sucks pretty much. Gas mileage drops to mid teens.

 

[Scott06]

Yes, I realize it is under the edge. Fortunately, I plan to use it in the 3 lakes that are within 10 miles of my house so I will not be on an interstate with it. I will ensure it's loaded correctly to avoid the rear WAGGLE that can occur. Have you or anyone else done something like this other than the man with the Honda above.
Does it kill gas mileage? How's the visibility?
What type of towing mirrors are best..

For ten miles you will be fine just use your head and take it easy. If you end up towing it longer distances rent a pick up or uhaul truck.

 

[Grub54891]

Once towed a 9-n tractor on a flatbed 20 miles with a ford tempo. Never doing that again, 20mph max......yeah I was stupid....

 

[Scott06]

Once towed a 9-n tractor on a flatbed 20 miles with a ford tempo. Never doing that again, 20mph max......yeah I was stupid....

Yeah run what you brung… defintely an extreame example borderline Darwin award winner

 

[Grub54891]

Yeah run what you brung… defintely an extreame example borderline Darwin award winner

Yup! I totally agree! lol

 

[Sprig]

What your towing capacity is and how much you should tow are 2 different things. I generally try to keep my tow weight to 2/3 or less of the max rating. For you that would be about 3300lbs. I’ve found the more over the 2/3’s I go the more difficult, the more stressful, the more tiring, the more hassle the less pleasant, the less safe. . Towing the weight and size boat and trailer you plan to tow with your Kia is really a bad idea. You are asking us because you know it’s not a good idea. You are hoping we give you some positivity to make you feel better.
When you get that loaded up and your car loaded with passengers and “stuff” you will be over manufacturers weight max and it will be dangerous. Causing a serious accident while towing beyond your vehicle manufacturer’s requirements or limits is similar, as it opens the door for legal actions based on negligence against whoever is driving the tow vehicle.In addition being over capacity increases your liability should you have an accident.
You need to take the boat/trailer to a scale, loaded up with fuel and equipment and get an accurate weight. If over your capacity then don’t tow it With the Kia.
Im sure that the trailer has brakes. It does have brakes doesn’t it? Not being able to see well behind the trailer is going to make driving hazardous and backing down a launch ramp will be near impossible.
You need a smaller boat or a larger tow vehicle. Whether you are towing 10 miles or 100 miles it’s going to be hazardous and just not a good idea. I personally do not want to be n the same road as you when you tow the monstrosity with the Kia. I hope you take heed and get a better suited vehicle. In any event I wish you good fortune. Let us know how it all works out.

 

[ahicks]

Love these arm chair engineers, who have likely never driven or even stood next to Sorrento, telling people anyone trying to pull a pontoon boat is a Darwin candidate. Perhaps they can supply something relative they can base that call on, other than repeating/spewing "internet hearsay/wisdom" trying to put the fear of God in anyone with an honest question. Next we'll be hearing about all the accidents people pulling pontoon boats have while using too small a tow vehicle and all the dangers imposed on the public by them.

Perhaps they would prefer anyone pulling a pontoon purchase a diesel powered dually pickup? Sure, that outta do it! I'm going to go buy me a dually pickup so I can pull my pontoon boat to the lake 2-3 times a year. That'll be a cold day.....

I have to wonder if some of these "experts" have even pulled a pontoon boat....

 

[Grub54891]

I pull my pontoon 20 miles each way twice a year. 1999 Jeep grand cherokee. It's not that heavy to begin with.

 

[Sprig]

Love these arm chair engineers, who have likely never driven or even stood next to Sorrento, telling people anyone trying to pull a pontoon boat is a Darwin candidate. Perhaps they can supply something relative they can base that call on, other than repeating/spewing "internet hearsay/wisdom" trying to put the fear of God in anyone with an honest question. Next we'll be hearing about all the accidents people pulling pontoon boats have while using too small a tow vehicle and all the dangers imposed on the public by them.

Perhaps they would prefer anyone pulling a pontoon purchase a diesel powered dually pickup? Sure, that outta do it! I'm going to go buy me a dually pickup so I can pull my pontoon boat to the lake 2-3 times a year. That'll be a cold day.....

I have to wonder if some of these "experts" have even pulled a pontoon boat....

Not sure who you are referring to. I do know about towing though, in fact I know a lot about it. I have towed numerous boats, travel trailers and other trailers with over a dozen different vehicles over the last 50 years. I even drove an 18 wheeler for 6 months. I also almost bought a 2020 Kia Sorrento. Test drove it twice but decided on a Toy Highlander instead. I wouldn’t tow that pontoon boat with my Highlander either. I owned a pontoon boat but only towed it 5 or 6 times. When I did tow it , it was with a Tundra. Even with the Tundra it was awkward to tow, cross winds really affected it while towing, and launching was a pia even with extended tow mirrors. I kept it birthed most of the time I owned it.
I can tell you from my 50 plus years experience towing that a Kia Sorrento and a pontoon boat is a poor combination.
When you hook up that boat/trailer + passengers + equipment and misc. to the Sorrento it will likely exceed or come darn close to GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) and GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) when you add the tongue weight , passengers etc. to the car. All making for a bad towing situation and a dangerous towing situation. Those are facts. I personally don’t care if the OP tows the pontoon boat with a Vespa motor scooter, as long as we aren’t sharing the same road.
Im not suggesting any vehicle to him, but I am saying the Kia is a poor choice. I’m just offering some advice based on experience. But he’ll find out. Good luck to him, I hope he and his family stay safe.

 

[ahicks]

Not sure who you are referring to. I do know about towing though, in fact I know a lot about it. I have towed numerous boats, travel trailers and other trailers with over a dozen different vehicles over the last 50 years. I even drove an 18 wheeler for 6 months. I also almost bought a 2020 Kia Sorrento. Test drove it twice but decided on a Toy Highlander instead. I wouldn’t tow that pontoon boat with my Highlander either. I owned a pontoon boat but only towed it 5 or 6 times. When I did tow it , it was with a Tundra. Even with the Tundra it was awkward to tow, cross winds really affected it while towing, and launching was a pia even with extended tow mirrors. I kept it birthed most of the time I owned it.
I can tell you from my 50 plus years experience towing that a Kia Sorrento and a pontoon boat is a poor combination.
When you hook up that boat/trailer + passengers + equipment and misc. to the Sorrento it will likely exceed or come darn close to GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) and GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) when you add the tongue weight , passengers etc. to the car. All making for a bad towing situation and a dangerous towing situation. Those are facts. I personally don’t care if the OP tows the pontoon boat with a Vespa motor scooter, as long as we aren’t sharing the same road.
Im not suggesting any vehicle to him, but I am saying the Kia is a poor choice. I’m just offering some advice based on experience. But he’ll find out. Good luck to him, I hope he and his family stay safe.

Well, I have 50+ years towing as well. Only I've pulled pontoons all over creation, from Florida to 4 of the Great Lakes. As mentioned in the first note, they pull like parachutes. That in mind, I think it safe to say NOTHING is going to make them handle particularly well!! It's more a matter of varying degree of bad. If that's an issue, have somebody pull it for you when necessary.

It's too bad you didn't try pulling with that Highlander and have more experience actually pulling a pontoon boat.

Last, nobody here is saying the Kia is the best available, only that it's quite capable of towing a 'toon locally in a safe manner....

 

[briangcc]

Last, nobody here is saying the Kia is the best available, only that it's quite capable of towing a 'toon locally in a safe manner....

The OP never confirmed he/she had the tow package required to tow 5k so at this point its all conjecture. IF not optioned properly it's more than likely grossly exceeding the tow weight.

Again, if not optioned properly, why someone would actually advise to tow well over limit here amazes me....even if a short distance. Too many factors/liabilities/etc.

What we need is more detail from the OP - confirmed towing package is installed and can legally tow 5k. Then the expected passengers....only going to be driver or driver and small dog (say miniature poodle) and NOT the entire family of 5, wet dog, and a cooler full of beverages for the day.

IF this is the only tow vehicle AND its properly equipped to handle 5k towing....my advice would be all the miscellaneous stuff - wife/dog/kids/cooler/towables/etc goes into another vehicle that follows behind.

 

[DBIdaho]

Love these arm chair engineers, who have likely never driven or even stood next to Sorrento, telling people anyone trying to pull a pontoon boat is a Darwin candidate. Perhaps they can supply something relative they can base that call on, other than repeating/spewing "internet hearsay/wisdom" trying to put the fear of God in anyone with an honest question. Next we'll be hearing about all the accidents people pulling pontoon boats have while using too small a tow vehicle and all the dangers imposed on the public by them.

Perhaps they would prefer anyone pulling a pontoon purchase a diesel powered dually pickup? Sure, that outta do it! I'm going to go buy me a dually pickup so I can pull my pontoon boat to the lake 2-3 times a year. That'll be a cold day.....

I have to wonder if some of these "experts" have even pulled a pontoon boat....

They are all experts, just ask them. In reality, if you are at or around the e vehicles limits, you use payload numbers, not max towing capacity. If you are significantly over you payload numbers, than you have issues, if you are not, then don't worry about it for a 10 mile trip.

If you aren't significantly over your numbers, the only other test you need to worry about it the butt test. How's it feel towing it (stopping/starting/stability)?

Couple of pro tips: If your passengers and equipment put you over payload, have them drive separate. Added benefit is that they can drive behind you, and you can use them as your review view mirror via cell phone.

Trailer towing capacities is the most "know it all" topic out there. For a 10 mile (non highway) trip, I would not be concerned if I were right on top of my numbers. Remember, the 10 mile trip at 45 mph takes 13 minutes. At 55 mph it takes ten. So, three extra minutes to take it easy. Solutions.

 

[briangcc]

They are all experts, just ask them. In reality, if you are at or around the e vehicles limits, you use payload numbers, not max towing capacity. If you are significantly over you payload numbers, than you have issues, if you are not, then don't worry about it for a 10 mile trip.

If you aren't significantly over your numbers, the only other test you need to worry about it the butt test. How's it feel towing it (stopping/starting/stability)?

Couple of pro tips: If your passengers and equipment put you over payload, have them drive separate. Added benefit is that they can drive behind you, and you can use them as your review view mirror via cell phone.

Trailer towing capacities is the most "know it all" topic out there. For a 10 mile (non highway) trip, I would not be concerned if I were right on top of my numbers. Remember, the 10 mile trip at 45 mph takes 13 minutes. At 55 mph it takes ten. So, three extra minutes to take it easy. Solutions.

The OP hasn't been back since the thread was started over a month ago.

The OP never came back to confirm that the vehicle was properly equipped to tow the load in question.

Towing above your tow rating isn't recommended. It's not a matter of if, more a matter of when something will break. It will be the weakest link in the chain which could be tranny, engine, brakes, or hitch. I wouldn't want the liability associated with stating towing over limit EVER.

Btw: You're making assumptions on the terrain being covered. The OP never stated what the conditions were like during that 10 minute trip. It could be flat land, it could be gentle rolling hills, it could be mountain pass. Neither you or I know that for certain as it isn't disclosed. Something to consider.


Humorous anecdote....Years ago I was towing my FourWinns in my signature with a GMC Sierra 1500. Going up I-81 in NY (which is fairly hilly), I had a little import wound to the hilt go sailing by me. I eventually lapped him and a few minutes later that same little import wound up to the hilt went sailing on by me yet again. A few minutes later, I passed the same little import again. This time it was on the shoulder with the hood up and steam pouring out of the hood. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

 

[H20Rat]

Too bad the OP hasn't been back...

In any case, my Kia Borrego is my tow mule! It rarely moves without something behind it. The borrego is a little bigger (and also fully body-on-frame) than a sorrento though, but it tows my boat which is probably around 5000# well. Mileage is absolutely horrendous towing though, single digits.

Towing is 90% driver, 10% vehicle. I've seen (and driven) grossly overloaded vehicles that are far safer than some weekend warriors with a diesel duelly and a tinny behind.

 

[Bob Sander]

Tow ratings are pretty relative.... and (technically) meaningless. They are based on the SAE J2807 testing procedures which includes things like towing on a hill, stress testing the cooling system... yadda yadda.

But if you are towing in cold weather on the prairies where it is flat like a pancake (just as example) then (technically) you have to ask how relevant that tow rating is to you. Speed is also a major component in safe and effective towing. What is unsafe for a given rig at 60mph, changes completely at 40 or 50

Not withstanding, tow ratings are completely different for the same equipment in different parts of the world. The (later model) Jeep Rubicon has a max tow rating in North America at 3500#. The very same vehicle in Australia has a rating of 4500# from the factory and 5500# with an upgraded hitch.

Now there is the law which does need to be respected, but at the end of the day tow ratings are just.... arbitrary ratings which may or may not mean a whole lot given your particular circumstance. One thing I will say about boats and smaller vehicles though.... at some point or another you are going to be on a boat ramp... and if you haven't got the weight and power, you may end up going for a swim.

For the record though.... I pull 5000# with a jeep Rubicon (rated 3500# in North America and 5500# in Australia) with no issues at all. Mind you I don't try and break any speed records either.