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NockOn · 04-08-2021, 07:09 PM

So bought a Jayco Jay Flight 195RB and will be towing it this summer with a 2015 Kia Sorento until I can buy a truck next year. I was planning on buying a WDH but as I was shopping around today one salesman told me to to use WDH or I could put my life in danger. He said the trailer being around 3000lbs I didn't need it. But I thougth it would work better and would prevent swaying. Any informed people out there with a similar vehicle/trailer combo?

Persistent · 04-08-2021, 07:17 PM

How much the Kia can tow and whether it needs a WDH depends on Kia specification. Ask a Kia technical specialist.

Jshopes81 · 04-08-2021, 08:04 PM

You may not even be able to use a wd hitch on a unibody. I would for sure opt for sway control if you cant do wd.

NockOn · 04-08-2021, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Persistent

How much the Kia can tow and whether it needs a WDH depends on Kia specification. Ask a Kia technical specialist.

Its rated for 3500lbs trailer is 2800lbs closer to 3500 once we put necessities in it. I've called my dealership to ask similar question last year (we delayed buying until this year) and they were totally useless.

Martian · 04-08-2021, 08:43 PM

What does the owners manual say? Sometimes there is good info in there.

nicky8668 · 04-08-2021, 09:55 PM

You’ll be over your hitch weight limit. Put that aside, you’ll hate towing with a short wheelbase vehicle. I towed a similar size trailer with my FJ Cruiser (104.9” wheelbase). It has plenty power to go over hills all day, but it hardly can keep the trailer straight. You’ll need at very least a sway control.

ttavasc · 04-08-2021, 11:05 PM

See the chart below from page 5-75 of the 2015 Kia Sorento manual. Max trailer weight is 3500 if you have the 3.3L engine AND the factory trailer package. Max tongue weight is 350.

Having towed a 2015 Jayco 195RB for 5 seasons I would agree with nicky8668 that you will likely be over the limit on the tongue weight. While the range for tongue weight is generally 10-15% most travel trailers do better in the 12-15% range. I believe we ran about 12% on our 195RB which ended up being around 450. This was a Baja model so it had a slightly higher GVWR of 3750. 12% of 3500lb is going to be ~420 - even 12% of a barely loaded 3000lb trailer is 360.

I didn't see anything in the manual regarding weight distributing hitch but it did call out sway control.

NockOn · 04-09-2021, 06:03 AM

So if using my Sorento is not going to cut it. I've got 1 1/2 month to get me a truck LOL.

I know the sky is the limit but I don't want more truck then I need and don't plan on ever buying a bigger trailer and if I did I'd be OK to change truck again.
Having said that, are their any truck in the main lines, Ford, GM, Dodge that will not tow a trailer with a max loaded weight of 3700lbs?

sirtate · 04-09-2021, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NockOn

So if using my Sorento is not going to cut it. I've got 1 1/2 month to get me a truck LOL.

I know the sky is the limit but I don't want more truck then I need and don't plan on ever buying a bigger trailer and if I did I'd be OK to change truck again.

Having said that, are their any truck in the main lines, Ford, GM, Dodge that will not tow a trailer with a max loaded weight of 3700lbs?

Full sized, half tons will tow that trailer.
Even without a towing package...

The 3/4 sized; Ford Ranger/Chevy Colorado will do it too. Maybe requiring a tow package.

NockOn · 04-09-2021, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirtate

Full sized, half tons will tow that trailer.
Even without a towing package...

The 3/4 sized; Ford Ranger/Chevy Colorado will do it too. Maybe requiring a tow package.

So any of the 150/1500 will do?

tuffr2 · 04-09-2021, 07:21 AM

Don't think of a truck as being a truck. Think of it as being just as comfortable as a SUV. There is a good reason full size trucks sell like hot cakes.

IMHO the best truck for your situation will be the F-150 with the powerful 2.7 litre Eco-Boost engine. That will be a fun vehicle to drive and give ok mpg. Not great mpg but ok mpg. Ford builds about 4 different F-150's. I think if you can find a F-150 (light) with the 2.7 Eco-Boost you will like it just fine. A step up and just as much fun would be a F-150 with the powerful 3.5 Eco-Boost.

By 4 different F-150's I mean they use different capacity rear axles that can carry 4 different amounts of weight. They even use different frame thickness. The trucks look the same but they are not the same underneath.

If you look inside the driver door jam you will see a occupant and cargo capacity sticker. Go look at your Sorento it will have that sticker.

I don't think you can buy a F-150 without a hitch or brake controller but maybe you can. So just make sure of those two things. Hitch and brake controller.

To recap - if I wanted a truck for a light duty trailer my pick would be the F-150 with the 2.7 Eco-Boost.

NockOn · 04-09-2021, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuffr2

Don't think of a truck as being a truck. Think of it as being just as comfortable as a SUV. There is a good reason full size trucks sell like hot cakes.

IMHO the best truck for your situation will be the F-150 with the powerful 2.7 litre Eco-Boost engine. That will be a fun vehicle to drive and give ok mpg. Not great mpg but ok mpg. Ford builds about 4 different F-150's. I think if you can find a F-150 (light) with the 2.7 Eco-Boost you will like it just fine. A step up and just as much fun would be a F-150 with the powerful 3.5 Eco-Boost.

By 4 different F-150's I mean they use different capacity rear axles that can carry 4 different amounts of weight. They even use different frame thickness. The trucks look the same but they are not the same underneath.

If you look inside the driver door jam you will see a occupant and cargo capacity sticker. Go look at your Sorento it will have that sticker.

I don't think you can buy a F-150 without a hitch or brake controller but maybe you can. So just make sure of those two things. Hitch and brake controller.

To recap - if I wanted a truck for a light duty trailer my pick would be the F-150 with the 2.7 Eco-Boost.

great info, thanks

sirtate · 04-09-2021, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NockOn

So any of the 150/1500 will do?

I know that a current f150 has a 5000# towing limit *without* a towing package, and with any engine...

I'd assume the other brands are similar...

Cumminsfan · 04-09-2021, 08:13 AM

Any 1/2 ton will tow that TT.
If you prefer smaller vehicles then opt for a Ranger, Colorado, Tacoma.
Me personally I'd go for an F150 with the 2.7 EcoBoost. Great mpg's when not towing and plenty of power when towing.
I towed a very similar TT with a Nissan V6 AT and hated it. All loaded up it was around 4000 lbs. The Frontier V6 struggled on hills and in the mtns. Got terrible mpg's.
Moved to an F150 5.4 and barely knew the TT was back there.