Towing requirements

Jul 7th, 2021 8:21 pm

#1

ratatapa [OP]: Deal Addict; Nov 28, 2013; 2851 posts; 1235 upvotes; Quebec

Jul 7th, 2021 8:21 pm

So I have a Kia Sedona 2020 thst says the maximum towing is 3000 pounds

I’m guessing thst consist on everybody inside the car and everything

What would be the best weight of a pop up tent to respect the 3000 pounds’´thanks

Jul 7th, 2021 8:28 pm

#2

mxthor3: Deal Addict; Oct 1, 2015; 3007 posts; 4336 upvotes; Barrie, ON

Jul 7th, 2021 8:28 pm

Your Sedona weighs more then 3000lbs

The tow rating for your vehicle is 3500lbs. you should have no problems with a pop-up tent trailer or a lightweight camper. Just remember if the camper is say 2000lbs, you need to account for everything that goes inside it as well. Average pop-up tent trailer is around 2000lbs. You shouldn't have any issues.

+1

Jul 7th, 2021 9:31 pm

#3

Andy34: Deal Addict; Dec 19, 2015; 3363 posts; 1873 upvotes; Calgary, AB

Jul 7th, 2021 9:31 pm

No, that 3,000lb is the weight of the trailer. Nothing to do with the occupants or payload in the car.

Occupants and weight in the car is payload, which is a different (but also important) thing. Payload includes:

Passengers (usually driver and fuel is not included in payload numbers, but it depends on the vehicle)
Luggage AND
Tongue weight of the trailer (which should usually be around 10-15% of the trailer weight - so around 300-450lb for a 3000lb trailer)
any hitch accessories (weight distribution hitch etc).

GVWR, which is the maximum weight of the car and payload should be somewhere on the vehicle. Obey that (this doesn’t include trailer weight, but does include tongue weight).

GVCR is also important. This is combined weight of the vehicle and the trailer. That’s squally next to GVWR (probably on the drivers door sill). This is usually less than the combined GVWR and trailer weight, so you probably won’t be able to have a full payload and a max out the towing weight.

There are a couple of other max loads you should be aware of, but those are the two most important ones.

+6

Jul 7th, 2021 9:40 pm

#4

redblack: Deal Addict; Nov 11, 2013; 1167 posts; 1544 upvotes; Calgary

Jul 7th, 2021 9:40 pm

RIP Kia Sedona

+2

Jul 7th, 2021 9:43 pm

#5

Possum77: Deal Addict; May 6, 2010; 1066 posts; 421 upvotes; Richmond Hill

Jul 7th, 2021 9:43 pm

not much windage on popup, I'd say up to 2000.
Watch tongue load, Sedona will sag.

Jul 7th, 2021 9:51 pm

#6

ratatapa [OP]: Deal Addict; Nov 28, 2013; 2851 posts; 1235 upvotes; Quebec

Jul 7th, 2021 9:51 pm

Possum77 wrote: ↑ not much windage on popup, I'd say up to 2000.
Watch tongue load, Sedona will sag.

Tongue load?

Jul 7th, 2021 11:55 pm

#7

mxthor3: Deal Addict; Oct 1, 2015; 3007 posts; 4336 upvotes; Barrie, ON

Jul 7th, 2021 11:55 pm

ratatapa wrote: ↑ Tongue load?

Tongue weight. The amount of weight the trailer is going to put on your hitch.

+1

Jul 8th, 2021 1:04 pm

#8

ratatapa [OP]: Deal Addict; Nov 28, 2013; 2851 posts; 1235 upvotes; Quebec

Jul 8th, 2021 1:04 pm

mxthor3 wrote: ↑ Tongue weight. The amount of weight the trailer is going to put on your hitch.

I see and is there number somewhere for that part?

Jul 8th, 2021 1:55 pm

#9

UrbanPoet: Deal Expert; Jan 27, 2004; 51278 posts; 15675 upvotes; ONTARIO

Jul 8th, 2021 1:55 pm

redblack wrote: ↑ RIP Kia Sedona

That's a lot of weight to tow. Won't it catch on fire ?

All my threads are upvote parties! All positive vibe post get upvotes.

Jul 8th, 2021 2:12 pm

#10

Andy34: Deal Addict; Dec 19, 2015; 3363 posts; 1873 upvotes; Calgary, AB

Jul 8th, 2021 2:12 pm

ratatapa wrote: ↑ I see and is there number somewhere for that part?

As said above, usually it wants to be 10-15% of the trailer weight.

Your receiver will also have a maximum tongue weight for it too, presumably higher than 15% of the max trailer weight but worth checking as it may not be...

+1

Jul 8th, 2021 4:45 pm

#11

derass: Deal Addict; Sep 8, 2017; 4650 posts; 4912 upvotes; GTA

Jul 8th, 2021 4:45 pm

ratatapa wrote: ↑ So I have a Kia Sedona 2020 thst says the maximum towing is 3000 pounds

I’m guessing thst consist on everybody inside the car and everything

What would be the best weight of a pop up tent to respect the 3000 pounds’´thanks

Quite the opposite. It's rated to tow 3000 lbs with just the driver in the vehicle. No additional passengers or cargo. As you add passengers and cargo, the weight the vehicle is safely capable of towing goes down.

As Andy34 said, there are multiple ratings you need to stay below simultaneously in order to tow safely: payload, tongue weight, GVWR, GCWR, and GVARs.

Jul 9th, 2021 9:22 am

#12

KevinM56081: Banned; Jun 4, 2020; 1634 posts; 1745 upvotes; Clarington, ON

Jul 9th, 2021 9:22 am

This gentleman in Ontario suggests door ratings are just a suggestion. I suggest you ignore his advise and ensure you stay within the ratings of the vehicle manufacturer.

+2

Jul 9th, 2021 10:10 am

#13

oilerfan89: Deal Addict; Sep 15, 2017; 1122 posts; 1506 upvotes

Jul 9th, 2021 10:10 am

In general payload is the most important factor as you will run out of it before anything else with most vehicles...

Jul 9th, 2021 9:37 pm

#14

Canuck2fan: Deal Addict; Nov 12, 2004; 2610 posts; 1361 upvotes; Hometown

Jul 9th, 2021 9:37 pm

Not sure about a Kia Sedona but a LeCar seemed to hit it's limit here...

Jul 10th, 2021 2:24 am

#15

MrBungal: Deal Addict; Jun 15, 2021; 1435 posts; 1281 upvotes

Jul 10th, 2021 2:24 am

Canuck2fan wrote: ↑ Not sure about a Kia Sedona but a LeCar seemed to hit it's limit here...

I was in Europe and saw a VW TDI wagon towing a very similar trailer. Had no trouble and was running at 130km/h on the hwy.

Almost all sedans are rated for 667kgs+ towing, yet in Canada the SUV's/Trucks are pushed like crazy to tow, and the equivalent sedans are "not recommended" for any towing in the manual.

Something something signature

Jul 12th, 2021 8:52 am

#16

DRC: Deal Addict; Dec 7, 2009; 1282 posts; 851 upvotes; East of Toronto

Jul 12th, 2021 8:52 am

KevinM56081 wrote: ↑ This gentleman in Ontario suggests door ratings are just a suggestion. I suggest you ignore his advise and ensure you stay within the ratings of the vehicle manufacturer.

Too many similar idiots on the road these days towing 4,000 lb. boats with vehicles rated for 2,000 lbs. or less. I always wonder why the OPP does not pull them over?

+1

Jul 12th, 2021 9:06 am

#17

tim-x: Deal Addict; Nov 8, 2005; 3232 posts; 2833 upvotes

Jul 12th, 2021 9:06 am

With gear, family, and a trailer, that Sedona will be sagging. Say goodbye to your suspension. I'm amazed at how many people are willing to ruin their vehicles by towing something with their minivan or Jeep Cherokee. To tow properly you really should have body on frame vehicle with a suspension that's built for heavy loads. Unibody SUVs and minivans are designed for comfort. They advertise the "tow rating" as something that the engine is capable of pulling, but neglect to tell you that the vehicle is not actually designed to tow anything (suspension, steering components, tires).

Jul 12th, 2021 10:58 am

#18

crawford: Member; Jan 20, 2003; 247 posts; 93 upvotes; Toronto

Jul 12th, 2021 10:58 am

Can-Am does some amazing work. That Tesla was pretty heavily modified to optimize the experience.
I'll be taking my vehicle there over the winter to tweak my own setup.