KIA Telluride for towing?

Lou C

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Nov 10, 2002
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Isn't yours an Ecoboost? V6 that puts out 470 ft lbs?
The Jeep tows just fine, for what I use it for. The boat weighs 5000 lbs on the trailer, the Jeep is rated at 7200 lbs, I don't tow with cargo in it, so just where is the "problem" there Bruce?
Oh and by the way, it has a better 4x4 system than ANYTHING currently on the market and will never have even a bit of wheelspin on any ramp.....
2 speed automatic transfer case
electronic locking rear and front differentials
to my knowledge, no other vehicle has that. The only one that was at the same level of traction was my secretary's Mercedes GL 500 with 3 locking diffs. On the Jeep it is all automatic, you can also use 4 low if you want.
Now if someone is towing with it loaded down, max cargo, over the tow rating limit, well that's just plain foolish.
I've driven this thing all over the soft sand beaches of Long Island, and the Quadradrive-II system works great, it goes anywhere a Wrangler does, as long as I have enough clearance.
You are right V8s are hard to find on late model Grands, however I have found a few Grand Cherokee SRTs that have the same drivetrain as the Challenger 392 Scat Pac. Drove 2 of them and they are FAST....
 

jimmbo

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These are my Tow Vehicles. The smaller one is rated 5000lb, the bigger one 7000lbs.
 

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bruceb58

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Isn't yours an Ecoboost? V6 that puts out 470 ft lbs?
The Jeep tows just fine, for what I use it for. The boat weighs 5000 lbs on the trailer, the Jeep is rated at 7200 lbs, I don't tow with cargo in it, so just where is the "problem" there Bruce?
Yes 470 ft-lbs

Your Jeep Grand Cherokee has a wheelbase of 109.5"....that is even less than the Kia Telluride that the Op was asking about. Sorry...but that is dangerously low unless you are towing a couple miles to a ramp like you apparently do. Bottom line, the Cherokee is a **** poor towing vehicle.

Show us a picture of your payload sticker! LOL

Not sure where you come up with this 5000# for boat and trailer. According to NADA, your boat by itself weighs 2560#. Maybe the foam is waterlogged.
 

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tpenfield

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Guys . . .

Let's not escalate this thread into heated discussion, and do keep the OP's purpose in mind.
 

Lou C

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The OP is talking about towing a 20’ boat, not a 24’ boat. For that all the vehicles I listed are more than adequate. BTW in Europe & the UK people tow boats & caravans with cars, & SUVs. There are very few pick up trucks there. It can be done with good judgement. I towed my boat all the way down to the south shore of LI for a paint job at the best ‘glass shop around with the 07 Jeep at speeds up to 65 MPH in highway traffic & it was fine. Similarly towed my brothers new 21’ Chapparal from Amityville to Lloyd Harbor same thing highway speeds Long Island traffic & I hardly felt it back there. So the OP doesn’t need a full sized pick up to tow the boat in question.
 
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briangcc

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The OP is talking about towing a 20’ boat, not a 24’ boat. For that all the vehicles I listed are more than adequate. BTW in Europe & the UK people tow boats & caravans with cars, & SUVs.
They're also required to take additional driver training to actually learn how to tow properly....if I recall correctly.

Here driver training is...we don't teach you that, go learn on your own. Honest to God answer from my driving instructor cause I asked. And it shows as I saw a guy towing a new boat filling up at Thousand Island Bait Store in Alexandria Bay, NY. His safety chains weren't crossed when towing.

As to real world experience...I had a Jeep Grand Cherokee loaner a few years back, didn't like it. Drove very heavy, like a tank - not in a good way, and was top heavy. Narrow vehicle. Very similar to the 4Runner of today being narrow and top heavy. Maybe the L variety is better with the longer wheelbase, I honestly don't have any experience. The Jeep Wagoneer looks interesting but the price point keeps me away from that.

Out of all the vehicles I have towed with - '95 Nissan Pathfinder, Pontiac Montana, '01/'04 GMC Sierras, '16 GMC Acadia, '10/'13/'16 Toyota Tundras, '19/'21 Ram 1500's, '17 Toyota 4Runner, '22 Dodge Durango - I've personally found that I'm not beat up after a 4 hour drive in the Durango and my newest Ram (DT body) - both in my signature. Again, personal experience, YMMV.
 

Lou C

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Besides an adequately sized tow vehicle the most important things are:
Trailer is properly sized to the boat & has enough weight capacity for the boat
the boat is properly balanced on the trailer (tongue weight)
the trailer brakes work.
Always measure tongue weight with a tongue weight scale.
Not enough tongue weight is dangerous at highway speeds
 

weekstonz

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Sep 1, 2023
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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.
 
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