Towing with a Soul?

[g6zru1]

Hi All
Newbie from the UK.
I am considering buying a Soul to replace my Skoda Roomster. Although I like the look of the Souls I need to tow a 1000kg caravan and this will be the prime deciding factor. Has anyone experience of towing with a Soul and any comments about the Towbar and electics kit offered by Kia for this model?

Fred

[04SorentoLX]

Originally Posted by g6zru1

Hi All
Newbie from the UK.
I am considering buying a Soul to replace my Skoda Roomster. Although I like the look of the Souls I need to tow a 1000kg caravan and this will be the prime deciding factor. Has anyone experience of towing with a Soul and any comments about the Towbar and electics kit offered by Kia for this model?

Fred

My USA Spec manual states on page 5/47 under sub heading E150101AAM "Max Vech (people and baggage) Capasity 849lbs(385kg). If you chose to use a trailer (caravan) the Tongue Load counts into the 849lbs(385kg) figure NOT on top of it."

And on page 5/47 under sub heading E150103AAM "WE DO NOT RECOMMEND USING THIS VECHICLE FOR TRAILER TOWING".

Take that for what it is worth and do as you think best.

If your UK Spec 1.6T Deisel/1.6/2.0 Gas can tow with easy is not the point I think. It is more the Cooling/Brakes/Auto Trans/Manual Trans gears strength that is. And a 1000kg(2205lbs) Caravan speaks for itself here.

Did the Skoda Roomster tow this Caravan before? And was it RECOMMENDED to do so? Or you just did it?

[g6zru1]

Thanks for the reply. I don't have access to the handbook but the published spec for the UK 1.6 diesel states; Max Towing Weight- 1300kg braked, 550kg unbraked. Also listed among the accessories is a removable towbar. According to those figures it should manage easily especially as the power/torque figures exceed those for the Skoda Roomster and that tows easily.
I take your point about Cooling/Brakes etc and that was really why I asked the question so that hopefully someone who had already experienced it would comment. So far no other replies but thanks for yours.

Fred

[04SorentoLX]

Originally Posted by g6zru1

Thanks for the reply. I don't have access to the handbook but the published spec for the UK 1.6 diesel states; Max Towing Weight- 1300kg braked, 550kg unbraked. Also listed among the accessories is a removable towbar. According to those figures it should manage easily especially as the power/torque figures exceed those for the Skoda Roomster and that tows easily.
I take your point about Cooling/Brakes etc and that was really why I asked the question so that hopefully someone who had already experienced it would comment. So far no other replies but thanks for yours.

Fred

Yes the USA tends to be very conservative on towing due to the 5/60-10/100 warrnety we have. But yes many vechs can tow with LIMITS such as your UK version if you use your head and do not over think what is written for you. This brings up a point that was part of my first post and I know you read. But might have glanced over fast. In your case using your published UK specs that you gave it did not say it can tow a 1000kg caravan with ease, thou you did with the Skoda Roomster being unaware of possible danger. What it said was, can tow 1300kg braked or 550kg unbraked. And that means empty with out you even in car. Nor anyone else nor luggage in the SOUL. So if you are 75kg and your passenger is 75kg and your suitcases are 50kg with the seat folded down in back. You are still OVER WEIGHT by 100kg even with brakes for the 1000kg caravan even still if it was empty and only dead weight nothing in it. And if you have no brakes on this Caravan you are WAY OVER by more then DOUBLE the kg's at 550kg with no brakes. If your Skoda did this and you think it was ok I would say you were lucky and did not know better. Even if I did not live in the USA and did in the UK (where they say yes it is ok to tow with limits) I would not tow that caravan with either the Skoda Roomster nor the SOUL. As the factual numbers they have given you and you gave us do not add up to a SAFE and WISE situation doing so. It was and is a ticking time bomb on many levels. Even here in the USA, many people ignore the towing limits (for what they bought) and think "towing is towing". When it is not.
And do not buy what they need to do so, remembering the limits. My 2004 Sorento would be happy towing the 1000kg Caravan safely with no drama ever thought of if I did. My 2010 SOUL would not and would have drama at some point doing so. Either from going (being pushed) thru a stop light or burning up Auto Trans or bending/twisting/breaking thru heat the gears in the manual trans or over heating engine. My idea of a holiday, is not me alone and no cloths or anything else, and at that it would be marginal just to take the caravan along. I trust you will review just what they told you. And how much you and any passengers and cargo inside the SOUL and and inside the Caravan weight. And then take that off the TOTAL of 1300kg braked and 550kg unbraked and what and how a 1000kg Caravan on top of that figures in.

There is a huge difference for any vech like a SOUL or Roomster in towing home form the home improvement center lumber on a combi wieght 400kg small personal utility trailer. Or your motorbike on it with a total combi weight of 550kg. And a 1000kg by it self weight Caravan.

[cobra259]

Originally Posted by 04SorentoLX

Yes the USA tends to be very conservative on towing due to the 5/60-10/100 warrnety we have. But yes many vechs can tow with LIMITS such as your UK version if you use your head and do not over think what is written for you. This brings up a point that was part of my first post and I know you read. But might have glanced over fast. In your case using your published UK specs that you gave it did not say it can tow a 1000kg caravan with ease, thou you did with the Skoda Roomster being unaware of possible danger. What it said was, can tow 1300kg braked or 550kg unbraked. And that means empty with out you even in car. Nor anyone else nor luggage in the SOUL. So if you are 75kg and your passenger is 75kg and your suitcases are 50kg with the seat folded down in back. You are still OVER WEIGHT by 100kg even with brakes for the 1000kg caravan even still if it was empty and only dead weight nothing in it. And if you have no brakes on this Caravan you are WAY OVER by more then DOUBLE the kg's at 550kg with no brakes. If your Skoda did this and you think it was ok I would say you were lucky and did not know better. Even if I did not live in the USA and did in the UK (where they say yes it is ok to tow with limits) I would not tow that caravan with either the Skoda Roomster nor the SOUL. As the factual numbers they have given you and you gave us do not add up to a SAFE and WISE situation doing so. It was and is a ticking time bomb on many levels. Even here in the USA, many people ignore the towing limits (for what they bought) and think "towing is towing". When it is not.
And do not buy what they need to do so, remembering the limits. My 2004 Sorento would be happy towing the 1000kg Caravan safely with no drama ever thought of if I did. My 2010 SOUL would not and would have drama at some point doing so. Either from going (being pushed) thru a stop light or burning up Auto Trans or bending/twisting/breaking thru heat the gears in the manual trans or over heating engine. My idea of a holiday, is not me alone and no cloths or anything else, and at that it would be marginal just to take the caravan along. I trust you will review just what they told you. And how much you and any passengers and cargo inside the SOUL and and inside the Caravan weight. And then take that off the TOTAL of 1300kg braked and 550kg unbraked and what and how a 1000kg Caravan on top of that figures in.

There is a huge difference for any vech like a SOUL or Roomster in towing home form the home improvement center lumber on a combi wieght 400kg small personal utility trailer. Or your motorbike on it with a total combi weight of 550kg. And a 1000kg by it self weight Caravan.

Well said!! I like the Soul....but it is not a car to be towing with.

[Thomas6449]

It is worth noting, that in Canada, Kia lists on its accessories for the Soul a Class 1 light-weight hitch (2010 Soul Accessories ). I agree though, this is primarily for small utility trailers, or possibly light-weight, small popup style trailers. I have just purchased a hitch for my 2011 Soul 2u A/T that I will get a local automotive garage to install for me. The wiring for my utility trailer, I have purchased separately and can install myself, as it is basically plug and play.

[kevin33770]

I had the Class 1 hitch 1 1/4 inch receiver and flat four wire light kit installed. I've towed a Gheenoe (Wider Canoe), about 100 miles so far. Trailer, Boat, motors and battery are about 600 lbs. I couldn't feel the difference in my 2.0 Sport. I'd say it could pull about 900 lbs comfortably before you would have to consider trans coolers and such. And I agree, you don't want to mod these little trucks for towing big items.