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Old 05-12-2015, 12:36 PM   #1
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Towing with Hyundai

I am currently towing a Flagstaff Microlite (3800 lbs dry) with a Ford Ranger 4.0L which is rated to pull 5500 lbs. I do just fine, usually only diesels pass me on the hills. I want to go to a SUV and am looking at Hyundai Sante Fe XL which is rated to tow 5000 lbs. It has more HP than Ranger. I would like to hear from anyone towing with one of these. They recommend against WDH which worries me a bit. Thanks.
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Old 05-13-2015, 01:15 PM   #2
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I am currently towing a Flagstaff Microlite (3800 lbs dry) with a Ford Ranger 4.0L which is rated to pull 5500 lbs. I do just fine, usually only diesels pass me on the hills. I want to go to a SUV and am looking at Hyundai Sante Fe XL which is rated to tow 5000 lbs. It has more HP than Ranger. I would like to hear from anyone towing with one of these. They recommend against WDH which worries me a bit. Thanks.
Santa Fe is a unibody crossover that I certainly would not use to pull anything bigger than a small pop up or utility trailer. You'll be over on a few capacities trying to tow any high walled travel trailer.

You can't use a WDH because it puts too much stress on the unibody construction.

I'd be looking at a beefier crossover or SUV to tow a 4500-5000 lb. trailer.
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Old 05-13-2015, 02:59 PM   #3
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I have a 2008 Hyundai Entourage (minivan). Could not find any official info other than rated for 3500 lbs towing. No CGVWR info, no payload info other than the door sticker, no tongue weight limits. Some said it came stock with a huge transmission cooler, others said a cooler was needed.

During setup to tow our A122 (3100 lb GVWR), we found the following:
- Hyundai/Kia minivans tend to be heavier and heavier built than their competitors
- same vehicles in Europe have higher tow ratings
- stock transmission cooler on the Hyundai was over twice as large as the recommended after market cooler. Because of that we ditched adding the extra cooler.
- we put on an Equalizer 600/6000 because of porpoising during a trial drive without WDH. The Equalizer restored the ride with the A122 to very close to stock - no porpoising and no sway to 75 MPH in 30 MPH cross-winds. Wifey feels comfortable towing the A-frame, where our Explorer/PUP combo without WDH was a white knuckle for passengers that would sway every time above 62 MPH.
- the 5,000 lb European tow rating gives me confidence that the body structure is strong enough for our load and the WDH.

How much of this applies to the Santa Fe, I can't tell you. Sometimes, the WDH non-recommendation stems from adjustable suspension - a WDH will interfere with the outcome of any adjustments. And there are other possibillities, such as the mentioned unibody not being strong enough. I would try to talk to engineering reps from Hyundai rather than putting much stock in what a dealer claims to know.

At the end of the day, the Santa Fe (with a 6 cylinder) is going to be taxed towing close to 5000lbs, at least at Colorado altitudes and grades. I'm towing 2800 lbs (loaded) with the 3.5L V6 in the minivan, and while does all I want it to in the Rockies, I would not want a significantly heavier trailer (or a lot more wind resistance) behind me. To me, normal 6 cylinder tow vehicles thrive with PUPs and A-frames, and struggle when one goes bigger.

just my thoughts and experiences, yours may differ
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Old 05-13-2015, 03:30 PM   #4
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I dont know if Id trust it with a UNI-body and that much trailer, WDH are not recommended due to the uni and adjustable suspension form what I have heard. The max (when properly equipped) towing is 5k lb and the payload capacity is 1500 lb.

I would use it for a pop up or a frame as others have said but not for a regular TT thats 3800 dry (where it could weigh the full 5k once loaded). Just my opinion.....
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Old 05-13-2015, 08:31 PM   #5
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I tow a 2012 Palomino Puma fifth wheel with a 1999 Ford F250 7.3 Powerstroke diesel. 3.73 gear. Can leave in overdrive with cruise on while towing the interstates here in South Carolina. Mileage on truck is 160,000. Love it and when I look at new truck prices I love it even more.
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Old 05-13-2015, 08:42 PM   #6
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I tow a 2012 Palomino Puma fifth wheel with a 1999 Ford F250 7.3 Powerstroke diesel. 3.73 gear. Can leave in overdrive with cruise on while towing the interstates here in South Carolina. Mileage on truck is 160,000. Love it and when I look at new truck prices I love it even more.
You're comparing your orange to the OP's apple. Nice rig and set-up, but your post isn't helpful to the OP's question...he's not out looking for a Ford 7.3 (which I think is the only Ford diesel worth having, but again, not relevant.) Plus SC is flat as a pancake, everyone can leave everything in OD in SC!

I'd also be hesitant to tow any tall/hard-sided TT with a unibody crossover anything. If you use a WDH as has been suggested and tweak the "frame" (term used loosely,) the TV will never be the same, will be eternally out of alignment, and be worthless on trade-in. JMHO.
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Old 05-13-2015, 09:06 PM   #7
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At our favorite Cape Cod campground last summer a couple pulled in with their HTT (2004 Travelstar 21rbss). TV was a 2008 Hyundai Sante Fe (don't even think it was the 3.5). I know that 2010 21rbss (at the time) was 4600lbs. Wouldn't want to be doing it, but they were quite happy with their config.
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Old 05-13-2015, 09:57 PM   #8
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I tow a 2012 Palomino Puma fifth wheel with a 1999 Ford F250 7.3 Powerstroke diesel. 3.73 gear. Can leave in overdrive with cruise on while towing the interstates here in South Carolina. Mileage on truck is 160,000. Love it and when I look at new truck prices I love it even more.
I think you meant to post in the "older truck" thread, correct?
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Old 05-14-2015, 09:49 AM   #9
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Oops sorry. You are correct.
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Old 05-14-2015, 10:49 AM   #10
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Thanks for the info. How do you like your Durango? That's one of my options but it's about $10m more here.
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Old 05-14-2015, 11:09 AM   #11
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Just a thought Patricio...


A lot of folks on the forum subscribe to the philosophy of "Buy your Tow Vehicle for your NEXT RV" (especially if buying new). So, if it is in the budget, you may want to consider a Ford F150 Ecoboost (It can tow a 11,000 pound 5th wheel!) or maybe even a diesel if you envision moving up to the 13-15K big boy 5ers.
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Old 05-15-2015, 05:08 AM   #12
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My best friend owns a Sante Fe and we've taken it with his utility trailer on dump runs several times. Given how it's pulled here in the relative low lands of MD, I don't think I'd be putting anything more than a pop-up behind it.

I also subscribe to the theory of buying a vehicle for the next RV. Just be honest about what type of RV you may buy next and what that would require.
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Old 05-15-2015, 08:52 PM   #13
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I tow a pop up with a 2008 Santa Fe. About #3500 loaded with just over #300 TW. It pulls it great and with absolutely no trouble. It does have a factory auxiliary trans cooler, but I had to buy the hitch and wiring harness from Amazon - both designed for the Santa Fe. The wiring harness was a bit of a pita taking off the bumper cover, but doable in a few hours.

That said, I wouldn't tow anything with the Santa Fe that went above the roof line. The Santa Fe is driven by a son-in-law when the rest of the family wants to go camping. I still love that pop up.
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Old 05-15-2015, 09:12 PM   #14
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Patricio:

I pulled my Roo 19 (~4000 lbs loaded) with my 2011 Chevy Traverse (5200 lb tow capacity) for one season. I was NOT a happy camper. Got a 2009 Silverado (7500 lb tow capacity and longer wheelbase). Much better.

Biggest issue with the Traverse was drag, not necessarily the weight. Also, you'll be going to a shorter wheelbase, meaning more bobbing up and down.

I would not pull it with a Santa Fe. Get a new truck.
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