2024 174BH & 2020 Kia Sorento (Good Match?)

BionicMan

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Joined
Sep 9, 2023
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5
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Lehigh Valley
I was curious what you guys think about towing a 2024 174BH with a 2020 Sorento V6 AWD. I've agonized over this for the last three years, and this trailer seems to be the best compromise for our family and tow vehicle, but will it be a reasonable match?

2024 Jayco Jay Flight SLX 174BH
- 3,140 lb empty
- 4,150 lb GVWR
- 310 lb tongue weight

2020 Kia Sorento SX V6 AWD w/ tow prep
- 1,120 lb cargo capacity
- 5,000 lb towing capacity
- 350 (500) lb tongue weight capacity (There's been a multi-year discussion regarding this on the Sorento / Kia forums, but 500 lb is the generally accepted and proved figure. Out of curiosity, I set up my neighbor's trailer to have exactly a 500lb tongue weight thinking our Sorento would be tucking tire, but it only sunk down 1.25". I reduced the tongue weight to 350lbs, and the sag was only 0.5".
- Weight distribution hitches are technically not approved for the Sorento, however, there are a number of folks on the Sorento forum with trailers that are 4500+ lbs / 500 lb tongue WITH WDH, and none of them have experienced structural damage.
 
My personal opinion is you don't have enough leeway on the towing capacity.



If you do decide to go ahead than I would consider the Andersen Hitch. Much lighter in weight than most and you are near your max. Also, simpler to install and hitch and unhitch. Plus it's got world class sway control with no adjustment needed.

The last thing you want to do is watch your trailer going into massive sway and cause damage.
 
It's a bit of a crap shoot with the numbers. But it's no way a TV. So if it's an important vehicle to the family, I'd not do it.
 
We are in a similar boat.

2016 Toyota Highlander with tow package and transmission cooler. Towing Capacity 5000lbs 500 lb Tongue Weight. Have a bluetooth obd2 reader to monitor transmission temperature.

2018 Jayco 174bh Dry Weight 2960 lbs. 400 lb tongue weight (Added second 20lb tank and second deep cycle battery) Have a proper wdh set-up.

My observations are it tows decent loaded with 2 Adults and 2 kids. Highway driving is decent. Slight hills are ok, but would not take it on mountain passes, due to transmission temps maxing out. Which is ok for us, as there are several sites in our comfort radius.
 
Thanks for the feedback, guys!

I just unloaded my 2019 Sorento EX AWD at 125K. Transmission problems reared up quickly. Among other issues that started after 100K.

We've been a 6 car Kia/Hyundai family, but that's my last one. IMO, google up Kia Sorento transmission issues.

Personally - there's no way I'd add the strain to a Sorento that I wanted to keep for awhile.

Trying to NOT make this an anti-Kia thread, but I'd do some googling. Maybe also make sure you get the transmission serviced according to the Kia schedule.

Good luck!
 
I just unloaded my 2019 Sorento EX AWD at 125K. Transmission problems reared up quickly. Among other issues that started after 100K.

Can you elaborate on the problems you ran into? Especially the transmission? The 2021 and newer are well known for transmission issues, but the 8AT in the 2018-2020 was supposed to be pretty reliable from what I had read.
 
We are very pleased towing ~3,500 gvw trailer with 5.3 Tahoe factory tow pkg. It's great for wind, elevation, steep, 70 mph, excellent control without added suspension, hitch aids.
Earlier towed with 6cyl Trail Blazer, but it was not as fun. Would not do elevations above 9,000', was wimpy vs wind, just not beefy enough for long cross-country travel.
 
Need more vehicle

Tried my 2015 V6 Jeep grand overland on a North Dakota, Montana Glacier, Badlands and some more, towing a Hummingbird about the same weight with a WDH. Absolutely solid towing, no sway whatsoever. Not a big frontal drag area. That otherwise peppy V6 didn’t like hiway over 65, which is about what I drive anyway, but generally dropped down a gear and higher revs than I like. Mountain driving was just a drag. 4k on the tach and under 60 mph. We packed light, not a lot of storage. Just two adults. Got home, bought a 5 liter V8 F 150. More than enough. Going to try some real mountains this spring.
 
If you are within the weight limits set by Kia for your specific vehicle I don’t see any problem. Kia warranties your vehicles drivetrain for ten years and 100,000 miles. The Kia engineers have tested and have set towing weight limits for your vehicle. Drive carefully and be safe.
 
The biggest thing to worry about with SUV's our size towing, is the transmission temperature (excess heat will shorten it's life) and transmission fluid condition.

Adding more frequent transmission drain and fills, (Not flushes) Will increase the longevity of the transmission.

Check with the Kia forums and see what the best interval for drain and fills are when Towing.
 
The biggest thing to worry about with SUV's our size towing, is the transmission temperature (excess heat will shorten it's life) and transmission fluid condition.

Adding more frequent transmission drain and fills, (Not flushes) Will increase the longevity of the transmission.

Check with the Kia forums and see what the best interval for drain and fills are when Towing.

Great point! If the towing vehicle has the Towing Package a transmission cooler is probably part of that package. If the vehicle doesn’t have a transmission cooler one can easily be added.
 
Can you elaborate on the problems you ran into? Especially the transmission? The 2021 and newer are well known for transmission issues, but the 8AT in the 2018-2020 was supposed to be pretty reliable from what I had read.

Sure - again, I don't want this to be a bash thread. :) But at 110K, hard shifting started. Called the local dealer for service. They: "Did you do the 60K service?" Me: "Dunno, wife's car. Guessing not."

I was informed that I'd have to sign a waiver before service. "Why?" "Because we've found that this service can make things worse."

Me: "How often does that happen??? Never mind, obviously enough that you've had time to get a waiver drafted!" :eek:



A couple of weeks later - got engine overheat alarm! I look - no coolant in reservoir. Wait an hour in the Walmart parking lot. Check the radiator. Also dry. :eek:

One time thing??!?! Refill. Few days later - no coolant.

I freak out and drain the oil.
It's just oil...

Refill. Few days later - no coolant. No drips on driveway or garage floor. All I noticed was what seemed like an unusual amount of steam out of tailpipe on cold days.

2019 Kia Sorento EX AWD.
Past tense - no longer in my possession. :)
 
The biggest thing to worry about with SUV's our size towing, is the transmission temperature (excess heat will shorten it's life) and transmission fluid condition.

Adding more frequent transmission drain and fills, (Not flushes) Will increase the longevity of the transmission.

Check with the Kia forums and see what the best interval for drain and fills are when Towing.

On the 2019, I was dismayed to learn that drain/refill is a bit of a workout. I expected to be under it for the drain, but not for the refill. I was sad to see the classic filler-neck had been removed from the model.
 
Toyota is the same, no filler neck any more and not even a dipstick, need to set the fluid level by temperature. Not that hard of a procedure, I've done it once at home already. Less than an hour and done.
 
Tow it it'll be fine.. if you don't have a Peterbilt or a Kenworth and you ask on here you don't have enough truck
 
Sure - again, I don't want this to be a bash thread. :) But at 110K, hard shifting started. Called the local dealer for service. They: "Did you do the 60K service?" Me: "Dunno, wife's car. Guessing not."

I was informed that I'd have to sign a waiver before service. "Why?" "Because we've found that this service can make things worse."

Me: "How often does that happen??? Never mind, obviously enough that you've had time to get a waiver drafted!" :eek:



A couple of weeks later - got engine overheat alarm! I look - no coolant in reservoir. Wait an hour in the Walmart parking lot. Check the radiator. Also dry. :eek:

One time thing??!?! Refill. Few days later - no coolant.

I freak out and drain the oil.
It's just oil...

Refill. Few days later - no coolant. No drips on driveway or garage floor. All I noticed was what seemed like an unusual amount of steam out of tailpipe on cold days.

2019 Kia Sorento EX AWD.
Past tense - no longer in my possession. :)


Steam in the tail pipe and lost coolant equals blown head gasket in most cases. It might be fixable without replacing the engine.
 
We towed for five years with a 2012 Honda Ridgeline which is not on a truck chassis and had a tow capacity of 5000 lb. We had a 195 RB and it ran about 3500 lb loaded. We towed over 120,000 miles across the USA and Canada twice round trip from Maine and that of course involved some mountain driving( not counting the numerous Florida trips!). It probably depends on your transmission robustness but we stopped towing with the Ridgeline in 2021. We still use it as a daily driver and it is going strong at 320,000 miles. Whether your little Kia will do as well I don't know. We thought the weak point in our tow combo was the Honda had iffy brakes that needed frequent service. Consider that stopping is the most important thing you will do.
 
They have removed the filler/dipstick tube as the new transmission fluids are hygroscopic, they attract water.

I tow a Jayfeather 18RBM which loaded weighs close to 4000lb with a Tacoma double cab and have been from California to Yellowstone, and all around the Southwest as well as the Sierra mountains without any transmission issues. I change the transmission fluid yearly myself.

I added a double core radiator and a larger trans. oil cooler and a pusher fan in front of it. I've seen other folks on a Facebook Hummingbird forum towing with a Tacoma without any cooling upgrades and they say they do just fine in the mountainous areas without problems. Owning a machine shop helps.

Regarding brakes I added slotted and drilled discs to the front brakes.

I also recommend the Anderson hitch.
 

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