Kia Forum banner

2008 KIA Sportage 4cyl..Can I tow a pop up trailer?

40K views 14 replies 9 participants last post by  John Cassels 
#1 ·
I am thinking about buying a pop up trailer for this camping season. Wondering if my Sportage can tow that much weight??
 
#3 ·
There are 3 areas to consider I suggest:

1. The weight of your trailer and whether it has brakes

2. The limits of the car - 2WD or 4WD? A/T or M/T?

3. The legal allowances in your country (where ever that is).

In the UK the Sportage is well regarded as a towing vehicle and my model (see profile) has a braked weight limit of 1800Kg and an unbraked limit of 750Kg. Given the usual advice of not towing (braked) more than 85% of your kerb weight, 1500Kg is a good upper limit and the Caravan Club tested the diesel M/T 4x4 with a load of 1566 Kg. Their conclusion with this weight was that it struggled a bit on hills and the 17% hill start and was slow to get up to speed but was basically competent. I tow a 1000Kg caravan/trailer and can accelerate up quite steep hills with this load in 6th gear from 50MPH!
 
#6 · (Edited)
Page 5-38 of the 2008 Sportage owners manual:



Maximum trailer towing capacity and practical towing capacity are two very different things. If you are trailering short distances and speed is not an issue, then pulling a maximum load is not going to hurt anything. If you plan on trailering hundreds of miles and travel at reasonable highway speeds, the load will have to be lighter. Experience has taught me not to expect a vehicle to haul a trailer more than 50 to 60 percent of the maximum allowable GVWR of the trailer under the later conditions.
 

Attachments

#8 ·
I wonder if there will be long term effect of the stress on transmission and engine? I know my 2.0 sportage revs and revs and revs, up these mountains in vermont, with just my family of 4 in the car. Thinking of it, and with just me. We are talking 1800+ ft ASL. The highest points on interstate 91N/S in vermont.
 
#9 ·
Very interesting! Page 5-38 in the 2009 and 2010 Sportage Owners Manuals look just like the 2008 manual, with the exception of the chart at the top, the 2.0L engine isn't shown at all. The second paragraph under NOTICE states:

"Your Sportage equipped with a 2.7 liter engine can tow a trailer. However, we do not recommend trailer towing for the Sportage equipped with the 2.0 liter engine. To identify what the vehicle trailering capacity is for your vehicle, you should read the information in “Weight of the Trailer” that appears later in this section."

Since there are no "important" changes from the 2008 to 2009 model drivetrains, makes you wonder if there have been mechanical issues when trailering with the 2.0L?
 
#11 ·
Clutch takes a beating in my 4cyl-4wd-5sp when loaded up with lots of weight. Don't expect it to last too long when pulling a trailer. 4cyl is just too weak if you expect performance. Brakes take a beating when towing too! And, for hot weather situations, you are taxing the small cooling system.

In the pre-lawsuit days, we'd tow 1000-2000lbs with Escorts, Sentras, Alliances, Omnis, Cavaliers....... and other '80's compact cars all the time. Back then, most people drove defensively with respectable common sense. Capacity meant nothing because we were responsible. My 55hp Alliance and 70hp Sentra towed the 17ft boat/trailer to the ocean hundreds of times. Clutches and brakes wore a little early, but no other problems.

My owners manual also says 1500lbs with trailer brakes. So, I'd have no problem pulling any of my recreational toys with it.

I also practice sensible maintenance schedules. The engine, coolant, transfer case, power steering, rearend, transmission...... get quality fluids and reasonable maintenance intervals.
 
#13 ·
Wondering same thing... pup trailer?

I have been thinking about getting a popup trailer at some point.

When I was younger, my dad had little 4 banger pickup trucks and towed a popup trailer through the 70's and 80's with our family all over the place.

Those trucks couldn't have been more than 100hp on average. Granted, they are lighter vehicles, manual transmissions, and were probably much more simple mechanics, I can't imagine that my 2.7L 170hp 4x4 auto couldn't tow a small pop-up trailer most places. Even if the manual says it can't. (I know it says up to 2000lbs)

I'm pretty sure if I stick to a smaller one that isn't too heavy (low 2000 lbs), it would most likely be fine. I've towed some trailers and small boats so far.

My main worry would be the automatic tranny wear.
 
#14 ·
I have been thinking about getting a popup trailer at some point.

When I was younger, my dad had little 4 banger pickup trucks and towed a popup trailer through the 70's and 80's with our family all over the place.

Those trucks couldn't have been more than 100hp on average. Granted, they are lighter vehicles, manual transmissions, and were probably much more simple mechanics, I can't imagine that my 2.7L 170hp 4x4 auto couldn't tow a small pop-up trailer most places. Even if the manual says it can't. (I know it says up to 2000lbs)

I'm pretty sure if I stick to a smaller one that isn't too heavy (low 2000 lbs), it would most likely be fine. I've towed some trailers and small boats so far.

My main worry would be the automatic tranny wear.
Look at the chart posted on page one of this chain. Your Sporty can tow up to a 2000 lb trailer, as long as the trailer is equipped with brakes.
 
#15 ·
Think we have had this discussion several times in the past.

Over here , the Sportage can tow 1400 kg braked weight.
I only have the basic 2.0l 2wd.petrol version but tow my 1200 kg caravan with no
problems. Last year on our tour of Scotland - up and down hills - on and off ferry ramps-
perfect towing machine. Back home , checked all levels , not a drop of oil , coolant or
hydraulic used. No overheating , no strain on engine or clutch .
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top