Get Driving tips -> Trailer towing Guide for Kia Sportage SUV Second Generation (2004-2010)

Driving tips

TRAILER TOWING

Item

2.0L Engine

2.7L Engine

WARNING - Towing a

Maximum trailer Without trailer brakes

454 (1000)

trailer

weight kg (lbs.) With trailer brakes

680 (1500)

907 (2000)

If you don't use the correct

equipment and drive properly,

Maximum permissible static vertical

you can lose control when you

68 (150)

91 (200)

load on the coupling device

kg (lbs.)

pull a trailer. For example, if the

trailer is too heavy, the brakes

may not work well - or even at

✽ NOTICE

This section contains many time-

all. You and your passengers

tested, important trailering tips and

Pulling a trailer improperly can

could be seriously or fatally

safety rules. Many of these are

damage your vehicle and result in

injured. Pull a trailer only if you

important for your safety and that of

costly repairs not covered by your

have followed all the steps in

your passengers. Please read this

warranty. To pull a trailer correctly,

this section.

section carefully before you pull a

follow the advice in this section.

trailer.

Your vehicle can tow a trailer. To

identify what the vehicle trailering

Load-pulling components such as

capacity is for your vehicle, you

the engine, transaxle, wheel assem-

should read the information in

blies, and tires are forced to work

“Weight of the Trailer” that appears

harder against the load of the added

later in this section.

weight. The engine is required to

operate at relatively higher speeds

and under greater loads. This addi-

Remember that trailering is different

tional burden generates extra heat.

than just driving your vehicle by itself.

The trailer also adds considerably to

Trailering means changes in han-

wind resistance, increasing the

dling, durability, and fuel economy.

pulling requirements.

Successful, safe trailering requires

correct equipment, and it has to be

used properly.

5 33

Driving tips

If you do decide to pull a trailer

• Always drive at a safe speed (less

Weight of the trailer

than 100 km/h) commensurate

How heavy can a trailer safely be? It

Here are some important points if

with road conditions.

should never weigh more than the

you decide to pull a trailer:

• On a long uphill grade, do not

maximum trailer weight with trailer

• State, provincial, county and

exceed 70 km/h (45 mph) or the

brakes. But even that can be too

municipal government have vary-

posted towing speed limit,

heavy.

ing trailering laws. Make sure your

whichever is lower.

It depends on how you plan to use

hitch, mirrors, lights and wiring

• The important considerations have

your trailer. For example, speed, alti-

arrangements are legal, not only

to do with weight:

tude, road grades, outside tempera-

where you live, but also where

ture and how much your vehicle is

you’ll be driving. A good source for

used to pull a trailer are all important.

this information is provincial or

The ideal trailer weight can also

local law enforcement agencies.

depend on any special equipment

• Consider using a sway control. You

that you have on your vehicle.

can ask a hitch dealer about sway

control.

• After your odometer indicates 800

km (500 miles) or more, you can

tow a trailer. For the first 800 km

(500 miles) that you tow a trailer,

don’t drive over 80 km/h (50 mph)

and don’t make starts at full throt-

tle. This helps your engine and

other parts of your vehicle “wear” in

at the heavier loads.

5 34

Driving tips

Weight of the trailer tongue

Hitches

WARNING - Trailer

The tongue load of any trailer is an

It's important to have the correct

• Never load a trailer with more

important weight to measure

hitch equipment. Crosswinds, large

weight in the rear than in the

because it affects the total gross

trucks going by, and rough roads are

front. The front should be

vehicle weight (GVW) of your vehi-

a few reasons why you’ll need the

loaded with approximately

cle. This weight includes the curb

right hitch. Here are some rules to

60% of the total trailer load;

weight of the vehicle, any cargo you

follow:

the rear should be loaded with

may carry in it, and the people who

• Will you have to make any holes in

approximately 40% of the total

will be riding in the vehicle. And if you

the body of your vehicle when you

trailer load.

will tow a trailer, you must add the

install a trailer hitch? If you do, then

tongue load to the GVW because

• Never exceed the maximum

be sure to seal the holes later

your vehicle will also be carrying that

weight limits of the trailer or

when you remove the hitch.

weight.

trailer towing equipment.

If you don’t seal them, deadly car-

Improper loading can result in

The trailer tongue should weigh a

bon monoxide (CO) from your

damage to your vehicle and/or

maximum of 10% of the total loaded

exhaust can get into your vehicle,

personal

injury.

Check

trailer weight. After you've loaded

as well as dirt and water.

weights and loading at a com-

your trailer, weigh the trailer and then

• The bumpers on your vehicle are

mercial scale or highway

the tongue, separately, to see if the

not intended for hitches. Do not

patrol office equipped with

weights are proper. If they aren’t, you

attach rental hitches or other

scales.

may be able to correct them simply

bumper-type hitches to them. Use

by moving some items around in the

• An improperly loaded trailer

only a frame-mounted hitch that

trailer.

can cause loss of vehicle con-

does not attach to the bumper.

trol.

5 35

Driving tips

Safety chains

Trailer brakes

Driving with a trailer

You should always attach chains

If your trailer weighs more than the

Towing a trailer requires a certain

between your vehicle and your trail-

maximum trailer weight without trail-

amount of experience. Before setting

er. Cross the safety chains under the

er brakes loaded, then it needs its

out for the open road, you must get

tongue of the trailer so that the

own brakes and they must be ade-

to know your trailer. Acquaint your-

tongue will not drop to the road if it

quate. Be sure to read and follow the

self with the feel of handling and

becomes separated from the hitch.

instructions for the trailer brakes so

braking with the added weight of the

you’ll be able to install, adjust and

trailer. And always keep in mind that

Instructions about safety chains may

maintain them properly.

the vehicle you are driving is now a

be provided by the hitch manufactur-

good deal longer and not nearly so

er or by the trailer manufacturer.

• Don’t tap into your vehicle's brake

responsive as your vehicle is by

Follow the manufacturer’s recom-

system.

itself.

mendation for attaching safety

chains. Always leave just enough

Before you start, check the trailer

WARNING - Trailer brakes

slack so you can turn with your trail-

hitch and platform, safety chains,

er. And, never allow safety chains to

Do not use a trailer with its own

electrical connector(s), lights, tires

drag on the ground.

brakes unless you are absolute-

and mirror adjustment. If the trailer

ly certain that you have properly

has electric brakes, start your vehicle

set up the brake system. This is

and trailer moving and then apply the

not a task for amateurs. Use an

trailer brake controller by hand to be

experienced, competent trailer

sure the brakes are working. This lets

shop for this work.

you check your electrical connection

at the same time.

During your trip, check occasionally

to be sure that the load is secure,

and that the lights and any trailer

brakes are still working.

5 36

Driving tips

Following distance

Backing up

Turn signals when towing a trailer

Stay at least twice as far behind the

Hold the bottom of the steering

When you tow a trailer, your vehicle

vehicle ahead as you would when

wheel with one hand. Then, to move

has to have a different turn signal

driving your vehicle without a trailer.

the trailer to the left, just move your

flasher and extra wiring. The green

This can help you avoid situations

hand to the left. To move the trailer to

arrows on your instrument panel will

that require heavy braking and sud-

the right, move your hand to the

flash whenever you signal a turn or

den turns.

right. Always back up slowly and, if

lane change. Properly connected,

possible, have someone guide you.

the trailer lights will also flash to alert

other drivers you’re about to turn,

Passing

change lanes, or stop.

Making turns

You’ll need more passing distance

When towing a trailer, the green

up ahead when you’re towing a trail-

When you’re turning with a trailer,

arrows on your instrument panel will

er. And, because you’re a good deal

make wider turns than normal. Do

flash for turns even if the bulbs on

longer, you’ll need to go much farther

this so your trailer won’t strike soft

the trailer are burned out. Thus, you

beyond the passed vehicle before

shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees,

may think drivers behind you are

you can return to your lane.

or other objects. Avoid jerky or sud-

seeing your signals when, in fact,

den maneuvers. Signal well in

they are not. It’s important to check

advance.

occasionally to be sure the trailer

bulbs are still working. You must also

check the lights every time you dis-

connect and then reconnect the

wires.

5 37

Driving tips

Do not connect a trailer lighting sys-

Driving on grades

✽ NOTICE

tem directly to your vehicle’s lighting

Reduce speed and shift to a lower

• When towing a trailer on steep

system. Use only an approved trailer

gear before you start down a long or

grades (in excess of 6%) pay close

wiring harness.

steep downgrade. If you don’t shift

attention to the engine coolant

Your Authorized Kia Dealer can

down, you might have to use your

temperature gauge to ensure the

assist you in installing the wiring har-

brakes so much that they would get

engine does not overheat. If the

ness.

hot and no longer operate efficiently.

needle of the coolant temperature

gauge moves across the dial

On a long uphill grade, shift down

CAUTION

towards “H” (HOT), pull over and

and reduce your speed to around 70

stop as soon as it is safe to do so,

km/h (45 mph) to reduce the possi-

Failure to use an approved trail-

and allow the engine to idle until it

bility of engine and transaxle over-

er wiring harness could result in

cools down. You may proceed once

heating.

damage to the vehicle electrical

the engine has cooled sufficiently.

system and/or personal injury.

If your trailer weighs more than the

• You must decide driving speed

maximum trailer weight without trail-

depending on trailer weight and

er brakes and you have an automat-

uphill grade to reduce the possibil-

ic transaxle, you should drive in D

ity of engine and transaxle over-

(Drive) when towing a trailer.

heating.

Operating your vehicle in D (Drive)

when towing a trailer will minimize

heat build up and extend the life of

your transaxle.

5 38

Driving tips

Parking on hills

However, if you ever have to park

When you are ready to leave after

your trailer on a hill, here’s how to do

parking on a hill

Generally, you should not park your

it:

vehicle, with a trailer attached, on a

1. With the manual transaxle in

hill. People can be seriously or fatal-

1. Apply your brakes, but don’t shift

Neutral or automatic transaxle in P

ly injured, and both your vehicle and

into gear.

(Park), apply your brakes and hold

the trailer can be damaged if they

the brake pedal down while you:

2. Have someone place chocks

begin a downhill trajectory.

under the trailer wheels.

• Start your engine;

3. When the wheel chocks are in

• Shift into gear; and

WARNING - Parking on a

place, release the brakes until the

• Release the parking brake.

hill

chocks absorb the load.

2. Slowly remove your foot from the

Parking your vehicle on a hill

4. Reapply the brakes. Apply your

brake pedal.

with a trailer attached could

parking brake, and then shift to R

3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear

cause serious injury or death,

(Reverse) for a manual transaxle

of the chocks.

should the trailer break lose.

or P (Park) for an automatic

4. Stop and have someone pick up

transaxle.

and store the chocks.

5. Release the brakes.

WARNING - Parking brake

It can be dangerous to get out of

your vehicle if the parking brake

is not firmly set.

If you have left the engine run-

ning, the vehicle can move sud-

denly. You or others could be

seriously or fatally injured.

5 39

Driving tips -> Trailer towing for Your Kia Sportage SUV Second Generation (2004-2010)

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