KIA Telluride for towing?

[haglunde]

From my other post, it sounds like the Arcadia/Traverse V6 platform may be on the edge for my Glastron GT205 V8 with single axle trailer.

How about the Telluride? It has a higher rating and seems beefier. Anyone tow with one of those?

 

[JimS123]

Your other thread had mixed opinions, so I'm not sure if it's on the edge or not.

The only think I know about Kias is that every single local town government is suing them because people are dying due to stolen ones in massive accidents.

 

[ejnichol]

From my other post, it sounds like the Arcadia/Traverse V6 platform may be on the edge for my Glastron GT205 V8 with single axle trailer.

How about the Telluride? It has a higher rating and seems beefier. Anyone tow with one of those?

Look at tow rating of vehicle and total weight of towed boat/trailer. If it falls within rating of vehicle and you tow safely you'll be fine.

Here is a review of it towing 5,000 lbs. https://www.outmotorsports.com/2022/01/2022-kia-telluride-review-towing/

 

[JimS123]

Look at tow rating of vehicle and total weight of towed boat/trailer. If it falls within rating of vehicle and you tow safely you'll be fine.

The other thread questioned 2 GM vehicles that DID report ratings that would seemingly meet the requirements. Yet, some opined that those vehicles were no good for towing. How is one to know?

 

[mike_i]

Beside being able to tow the boat how about stopping.

 

[Lou C]

You’ll be better off with a heavier duty SUV with a true 4x4 system & heavier duty components.
My picks would be:
Late model Grand Cherokee or Durango
V6 rated at 6200 lbs
V8 rated at 7200 lbs

I have a similar sized boat (1988 Four Winns H-200) on a custom HD single axle trailer. I had it weighed & I THOUGHT it was going to be about 3,800 to 4,200 or so. Turns out it weighed in at 5050 lbs. My old ‘98 Grand Cherokee 4.0 used to struggle with it & after weighing it I know why that was right at the max it was rated for 5,000 lbs.
On the other hand my ‘07 Grand Cherokee 5.7 with the Chrysler 5 spd auto & hydraulic cooling fan tows it very easily. No strain no elevated temps no wheelspin on slippery ramps etc.
Just my opinion based on 20 years of towing a similar size boat. It probably weighs more than you think!
When I found out how much it weighed I upgraded the trailer to a 6,000 lb axle, 12” surge brakes & 225/75-15 load range D tires. Next set of tires will be load range E. It has 420 lbs of tongue weight so the tires as is aren’t overloaded. Load range E would be best though.

 

[airshot]

In my 50 plus years of towing, I have learned to have very little faith on towing tests... When your towing at max capacity of the tow vehicle, it might pull it fine on level ground with no hills and no head winds. When it comes to stopping, how good are the trailer brakes ?
Would never tow at max capacity for any period of time, mabey a short jaunt to the boat ramp but never all day hauls. These new 8&9 speed transmissions are always shifting and normally hung out in a lower gear which really kills fuel economy and puts great stress on the transmission, so how long will it last ?? If frequent and longer distance towing is planned, I would only consider a vehicle with a tow capacity at least 30% higher than what I would actually be towing !!!

 

[ejnichol]

Make sure you keep a fire extinguisher handy while towing. Kia's have a nasty habit of self combusting.

 

[tpenfield]

Make sure you keep a fire extinguisher handy while towing. Kia's have a nasty habit of self combusting.

Has to do with the recent recall . . .

https://www.silive.com/news/2023/03...dditional-570k-vehicles-due-to-fire-risk.html

The boat is not very heavy . . . I can't imagine towing should be a problem.

 

[gstewart]

From my other post, it sounds like the Arcadia/Traverse V6 platform may be on the edge for my Glastron GT205 V8 with single axle trailer.

How about the Telluride? It has a higher rating and seems beefier. Anyone tow with one of those?

I have the Telluride 1922 and tow my sailboat - about 3500 lbs without difficulty. I had a 2006 previously and see little difference in their towing capability. Beautiful car.

 

[Drcoffee]

You can buy a Toyota 4runner 4th gen V6 sport 5,000# tow limit) which has beefier brakes for under $10k 4x4. These trucks have a true frame and run forever with regular oil changes. Anything newer than 2006 is a solid choice. You can also find it with a V8 option with a higher tow capacity. BTW, you will want 4x4 when pulling out on the ramp. Forget anything front wheel drive Or unibody. You wont get out of the water with the boat attached.

 

[briangcc]

I owned and towed with a '17 4Runner SR5 Premium 4x4. Had the 4.0L V6. It did fine with my Chap. Not a speed demon and not that great (compared to others in segment) in non-towing gas mileage....I got around 19mpg combined.

Should check out the new Durango with tow package. It has 6200 towing and it will stop on a pinhead. Yes its unitbody but it's stout with the load leveling suspenstion. I have towed with it already. Get around 22-23mpg if you can keep your foot out of it. Kinda hard as its a joy to drive - excellent balanced vehicle.

 

[haglunde]

Thanks for the feedback guys, I appreciate it. I'd love to replace the Yukon XL with a standard Yukon or Tahoe but they are 55k used so that ain't happening. The Durango V8 ain't cheap either. Hadn't considered a 4Runner.. hmmm.

 

[Lou C]

I’ve towed with both the old 98 Grand & 07 Grands both are considered unibodies but they are heavier & stronger than a unibody in a car application. No problems with either one for towing 5,000 lbs. I’d have no hesitancy towing with either a later model Grand Cherokee or Durango
A V6 Durango or GC is rated at 6200 lbs they are much more common than the V8 and can be bought for the mid to low 30s 2-3 years old. Many of them on the market now.

 

[briangcc]

Yep our Durango is a base model AWD V6 w/tow package - 6200lbs. Ours stickered new at 38k.

Another option may be the Nissan Pathfinder AWD V6. Tows 6k. There are others out there, just gotta do some research.

 

[Sprig]

The first thing you have to look at always is the loaded weight of what you are towing and the tow capacity of the tow vehicle. The dry weight of your boat is as far as I can tell close to 3000 lbs. Add 1000 lbs for the trailer. Then add for equipment you’ll have in the boat and a full tank of gas (about 6 lbs per gallon). Then you have to look at GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) of your tow vehicle. This includes weight of vehicle, passengers, cargo, fuel in tank, and the tongue weight of the boat/trailer. I have an idea you will be close to or exceeding that weight. (exceeding that is dangerous)
Even if you are within (barely) these weight ratings your towing experience may be unpleasant, not relaxing, not fun. May even be hazardous and dangerous.
In addition the closer you are to the max weight ratings the more stress and wear you put on the drive train, suspension and brakes when towing. For safety sake and a number of other reasons you need to look at tow vehicles that are more substantial with higher weight ratings than what you’re looking at. You dont need a Ford F350 diesel but you should be looking at vehicles that have a tow rating of over 6000 lbs.
Lastly I hope your boat trailer has brakes. Because trying to stop that load with a KIA and a trailer without brakes is going to be hazardous to you, your passengers and others on the highway.
Get a vehicle with a tow capacity exceed 6000 lbs. Because you can tow something doesn’t mean you should.

 

[Lou C]

Agreed
As I said my 20’ weighed way more that what I would have thought. Towing at the limit is stressful on you & the equipment
Towing a 20’ is easy with my V8 Grand Cherokee it’s got 375 ft lbs of torque & a 3.73:1 final drive ratio, rated at 7200 lbs.
That’s about 100 ft lbs more than any of the V6 powered tow vehicles. Torque is what moves loads….
Brakes are VERY important one if the best things I did was to upgrade my single axle trailer to a 6,000 lb 6 lug axle with 12” surge brakes.

 

[bruceb58]

Towing a 20’ is easy with my V8 Grand Cherokee it’s got 375 ft lbs of torque & a 3.73:1 final drive ratio, rated at 7200 lbs.
That’s about 100 ft lbs more than any of the V6 powered tow vehicles. Torque is what moves loads…

My V6 F150 has 470 lb-ft of torque! and it does that at 2500 RPM.

 

[Lou C]

I’m talking non turbo engines
Compared to a Chrysler Pentastar V6 or a Toyota V6 in the 4 Runner the 5.7 Hemi puts out 100 ft lbs more than them.
Yes turbos are great for efficiency. More complex but the tech is much better today than when turbos first came on the scene.

 

[bruceb58]

I’m talking non turbo engines
Compared to a Chrysler Pentastar V6 or a Toyota V6 in the 4 Runner the 5.7 Hemi puts out 100 ft lbs more than them.
Yes turbos are great for efficiency. More complex but the tech is much better today than when turbos first came on the scene.

That's funny...I don't see you mention turbos anywhere!

Too bad the Jeep is such a lousy tow vehicle with its short wheelbase and lousy payload. What is your payload on your Jeep..1000# or so? Also, you can't even get a V8 in a Jeep Cherokee anymore.