[Billi]

I'm doing a little update on my first experience towing with the Sorento. In preparation for my big trip that will bring me and my girlfriend from the East coast all the way to Alaska, I started doing short trips in order to get a feel for the driving and gain confidence. I've towed for a little less than 1000 km with it so far. I installed brand new tires on both the trailer (Goodyear Endurance) and the Sorento (Michelin Crossclimate 2) and I've changed both motor oil and transmission fluids to full synthetic. I did not install an after market cooler on the Sorento. Time will tell if that decision will come back to bite me but talking with the Kia technician, I got the feeling closely monitoring motor temps, keeping an eye on rpms (I stay under 3000 mostly) and being aware of transmission overheating signs (like the transmission slipping) were enough to stay out of trouble. He still recommanded to do a new transmission fluid change once at destination (around 10000 km). I got the prolonged warranty though just to be on the safe side. Other notable modifications I made were to install a new Curt 750 lb Hitch on the Sorento, switch the trailer power to lithium, have a DC-DC charger installed on the trailer as well as the proper cable run from the Sorento to get a full 30A/h charging rate (an extra connector I plug along the 7 pin connector).

I'm using the Andersen No Sway WDH and after lots of painful trials and errors, I got it adjusted to where I think it should be for optimal performance. Andersen state you should aim to get the ball 1-1/2 inch higher than a level trailer coupler but I found I was getting better results by putting it at the same height. I lose an inch in the wheel well when puting the trailer coupler on the ball and gain back half that with the WDH. The results are better stability on the road and less porpoising.

I get absolutely no sway in any condition, however my setup is prone to porpoising in some conditions. My trailer is an ultralight with light natural tongue weight and it is sometimes a challenge to get enough weight on the tongue for best stability, especially since I installed a solar pannel on the back. Worst driving conditions occur when I have a full tank of water (also in the back of the trailer) as well as empty propane tanks. I try to avoid those conditions if I can and I had to increase the weight of the trailer with 200 lb of dumbells stacked at the front of the trailer. I usually aim for 440 lb tongue weight without the WDH (60 lb) but cannot get it at more than 400 lb with full tanks which makes for less stability on the road. Not unsafe by any mean but a little more bouncing. I've driven in mountain passes multiple times, doing 100 km/h on the highway, been in loads of horribly maintain roads (we have lots of those here in Quebec) and so far so good. Trailer weighs in at a little less than 4000 lb when loaded and a full tank of water but I try to avoid having full tanks when on the road if possible. So I'm closer to 3700 lb in normal conditions. I feel ready for the big trip, which will start in a little more than one week.

I find the Sorento a very capable tower. Time will tell if mechanical failure is part of this journey but with my current setup, I feel confident. Even heavy winds and passing semis have not put the fear in me. The first few trips I did with one finger on the brake controler in fear of swaying out of control. Not the case anymore. Brakes work well and the anti-sway part of the Andersen WDH does a very good job.

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David’s Anderson no sway hitch seems to have a lot of room to ‘rise’!

 

[Magister54]

Hey guys, sorry for bumping an ancient thread, but I'm in a bind. Those of you that are towing travel trailers with a 2020 or older Sorento, WHAT BALL MOUNT DID YOU BUY???

I've spent well over 100 hours researching ball mounts, and I haven't found a single one that gives a 10" rise, let alone one that has a 10" rise AND a mount for a sway-control ball. I have a Coachmen 134BHX coming in in two weeks and have no way to hook it up. Thanks!

I am using this Ensemble de barre de torsion et contrôle de balancement de 6K SMARTOW (looks like a generic one like the HUSKY 31995) but I doubt it can go as high as 10". The place I bought the travel trailer installed it on the trailer and on my Sorento and adjusted everything. I also have the anti-sway on the side. 10" seems a lot...

I have a 2020 V6 AWD with AT8 and when towing on the highway, keeping it in 6 (direct drive 1:1) and it is a breeze.

 

[Captainhook]

I got everything from harbor freight! They’re cheap and good and works with my trailer, Gulf Stream 21TBD.

You sure you need a 10” rise?

Thank you for the response, but that's honestly a setup that I would have to see to believe. The distribution arms must be awfully close to the road, and the trailer must sit pretty low for it to be level on only a 7.5" rise. Without a load, the top of the Sorento's hitch is only 12.5" off the ground, and the distance from the ground to the bottom of our trailer tongue is supposed to be 23", so that would indicate a need for at least a 10" rise. Once a load is added, it may actually need an even higher rise.

PS: You have bigger balls than I running a WDH on a vehicle not rated for it, AND towing a trailer with a loaded tongue weight over 500 lbs. Obviously, the back of your Sorento hasn't ripped off, but I'm curious how it tows beyond the limit.

 

[Captainhook]

David’s Anderson no sway hitch seems to have a lot of room to ‘rise’!

It looks like the max rise is 8", so I kinda doubt that would cut it.

I am using this Ensemble de barre de torsion et contrôle de balancement de 6K SMARTOW (looks like a generic one like the HUSKY 31995) but I doubt it can go as high as 10". The place I bought the travel trailer installed it on the trailer and on my Sorento and adjusted everything. I also have the anti-sway on the side. 10" seems a lot...

I have a 2020 V6 AWD with AT8 and when towing on the highway, keeping it in 6 (direct drive 1:1) and it is a breeze.

Thanks for the feedback! I actually went to the RV dealer this morning, and they realized that they didn't have ANY solutions for my ball mount issue. They said that I would need every bit of a 10-12" rise. I think I'm probably going to roll the dice with this guy and hope it's close to level:
https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch-Ball-Mount/Convert~A~Ball/AMSC12.html

 

[Billi]

134bhx is only 2,800 lbs?!?!

So you might be able to get away with towing without WDH. That thing should definitely give you the rise you need.

I don’t understand why 134bhx has such a tall hitch height.

I towed my 4,000 lb dry and likely near 5,000 lbs loaded when we moved from LA to Seattle with our Sorento. We’ve towed during camping trip locally many times without any structural issues.

Main weakness of Sorento is transmission. ATF cooler is definitely needed or else it can easily overheat on an incline. Even with ATF cooler, I don’t dare climb long mountain passes. My move from LA to Seattle was thru the coastal beach route.

Another weakness I think is our softe rear suspension. In your case, even a 300lb hitch weight will result in significant rear sag. For me, WDH is absolutely needed. For you, maybe it’ll be okay, but always test drive it slowly and make sure everything feels safe before to hit the road to your actual camping trip.

 

[Billi]

Thank you for the response, but that's honestly a setup that I would have to see to believe. The distribution arms must be awfully close to the road, and the trailer must sit pretty low for it to be level on only a 7.5" rise. Without a load, the top of the Sorento's hitch is only 12.5" off the ground, and the distance from the ground to the bottom of our trailer tongue is supposed to be 23", so that would indicate a need for at least a 10" rise. Once a load is added, it may actually need an even higher rise.

PS: You have bigger balls than I running a WDH on a vehicle not rated for it, AND towing a trailer with a loaded tongue weight over 500 lbs. Obviously, the back of your Sorento hasn't ripped off, but I'm curious how it tows beyond the limit.

here’s what my setup looks like. Yes, our hitch is very low to the ground, but harbor freight’s cheap wdh with sway control works for me.

 

[ecanderson]

I don’t understand why 134bhx has such a tall hitch height.

I agree - that's really strange. Much higher, and you might as well outfit it as a 5th wheel!

 

[Captainhook]

134bhx is only 2,800 lbs?!?!

So you might be able to get away with towing without WDH. That thing should definitely give you the rise you need.

I don’t understand why 134bhx has such a tall hitch height.

I towed my 4,000 lb dry and likely near 5,000 lbs loaded when we moved from LA to Seattle with our Sorento. We’ve towed during camping trip locally many times without any structural issues.

Main weakness of Sorento is transmission. ATF cooler is definitely needed or else it can easily overheat on an incline. Even with ATF cooler, I don’t dare climb long mountain passes. My move from LA to Seattle was thru the coastal beach route.

Another weakness I think is our softe rear suspension. In your case, even a 300lb hitch weight will result in significant rear sag. For me, WDH is absolutely needed. For you, maybe it’ll be okay, but always test drive it slowly and make sure everything feels safe before to hit the road to your actual camping trip.

The tongue height is on the higher side because we ordered it with the off-road package, which raises the frame like 2 inches. As far as the weight, the 2025 134BHX w/ off-road package that we saw in person in April had a dry weight of only 2675 pounds per the dataplate on it. I brought a tongue weight scale, had them put it on level ground, and it weighed EXACTLY 300 pounds with a propane tank and no battery.

As far as our vehicle, I added sumo springs to the rear suspension, slotted rotors and towing-specific pads, Pirelli Scorpion WeatherActive tires, a good size transmission cooler, a Bluetooth module to monitor temps, a 7-pin connector with electronic brake controller, and replaced the transmission / transfer case / differential / brake fluids and engine coolant. We're at 48,000 miles, so I figured I'd just knock it all out at one time before towing. With the sumo springs installed, we have a 1.25" drop with exactly 500 pounds on the hitch, and a 0.5" drop with 350 pounds on the hitch. Realistically, once fully loaded, I kinda doubt we'll exceed 400 pounds on the hitch, but I have a scale, so I can check.

I find it intriguing how many people in this thread just ignored Kia's guidance and run weight distribution hitches anyway. I feel like we'd hear about it if the rear end of someone's Sorento ripped off, but I'm curious if there's unseen damage occurring. My wife pressed HARD to buy a larger / heavier trailer, but I wasn't budging between the derated tongue weight on the 2020 and it not being rated for WDH use. Less wear and tear on the drivetrain isn't a bad thing either considering it's my wife's daily. It's not the optimal tow vehicle, but hopefully it'll work out alright with a tiny trailer a few times a year.

 

[Captainhook]

here’s what my setup looks like. Yes, our hitch is very low to the ground, but harbor freight’s cheap wdh with sway control works for me.

Do you by chance have a closer photo of the hitch with the trailer hooked up? I'm rather intrigued as to exactly what it looks like, but it's difficult to zoom in far enough. Thanks!

 

[Billi]

Here’s the best I can do.

Kia just isn’t clear about tongue weight limit and about the use of WDH. Some manual even limit the tongue weight at 350lbs but with tow capacity of 5,000! That’s clearly a typo because it’d be unsafe to tow a 5000 lb trailer with such a low tongue weight!

Anyway, I was very apprehensive about my setup at 1st because I was pushing near the limits! However, I was very careful and weighed everything and made sure I didn’t exceed limits. In retrospect, I might have exceeded tongue weight limit because if I add the WDH weight, I probably exceeded the 500 by a bit…, but I slowly progressed by testing around the block adjusting as needed to eventually head on the freeway. Nothing has broken so far!

I can assure you at least my Sorento is structurally sound after all the towing, surely it’ll be able to handle your trailer.

 

[Billi]

Oh, one more issue came to mind… that is you need to frequently check Sorento’s oil level while towing.

My Sorento had suffered oil consumption issues, but ever since I retired it as our tow vehicle because we have a new Jeep GC 4xe. Jeep PHEV has taken over not the job of towing but also wife’s local errands because of 4xe’s EV mode. So I think my Sorento was not burning oil anymore when it’s doing mostly highway cruising!

Up until last weekend, towing duty called because Jeep is unavailable…. It still can tow well enough, but after like a 200+ mile tow, I lost half quart of oil! So round trip means 1 quart will disappear! So pay careful attention to oil level while towing.

 

[Captainhook]

Oh, one more issue came to mind… that is you need to frequently check Sorento’s oil level while towing.

My Sorento had suffered oil consumption issues, but ever since I retired it as our tow vehicle because we have a new Jeep GC 4xe. Jeep PHEV has taken over not the job of towing but also wife’s local errands because of 4xe’s EV mode. So I think my Sorento was not burning oil anymore when it’s doing mostly highway cruising!

Up until last weekend, towing duty called because Jeep is unavailable…. It still can tow well enough, but after like a 200+ mile tow, I lost half quart of oil! So round trip means 1 quart will disappear! So pay careful attention to oil level while towing.

Thanks for the photo! It looks like you have a considerable rise as well, more than the manufacturer indicates. Thank you for the heads up on the oil consumption! A quart over 500 miles is outrageous, how many miles do you have on the Sorento?

And yeah, I'm one of the ones with 5,000lb towing and 350lb tongue weight, I spent three years and well over a hundred hours researching that before ordering a trailer . . . stupid. Especially because the Canadian owners manuals still said 5000/500 for the exact same vehicles for the exact same years.

As far as your setup, you're towing the same trailer with the Jeep GC 4xe now?

 

[Billi]

You never had trailer sway towing 5000 lbs with 350lbs tongue weight?!?!? Or you’re just saying your manual has the typo too? Anyway, Tongue weight needs to be within 10-15% of your trailer weight to be sway stable! So loading/balancing your trailer correctly is super important! My wdh for sure doesn’t have a 10” rise, but I do have it set at max rise. Which is probably about 7.5”. That should’ve been enough for most trailers but I guess your mod has caused you extra headache…

Anyway, my Sorento is about 86k miles. I initially thought I’ve screwed up my engine towing with that oil consumption, but then once I stop towing and wife not using it for short stop and go errands, oil consumption became negligible.

Jeep GC 4xe with tow package can pull 6000”. With self leveling suspension made me not have to worry about rear sag. No need to atf coolers. No issues with mountain passes. Suspension are more stable than Sorento’s soft ones. Other than the price tag and the coarse engine sound of its 2.0 turbo, I love it!

 

[Captainhook]

You never had trailer sway towing 5000 lbs with 350lbs tongue weight?!?!? Or you’re just saying your manual has the typo too? Anyway, Tongue weight needs to be within 10-15% of your trailer weight to be sway stable! So loading/balancing your trailer correctly is super important! My wdh for sure doesn’t have a 10” rise, but I do have it set at max rise. Which is probably about 7.5”. That should’ve been enough for most trailers but I guess your mod has caused you extra headache…

Anyway, my Sorento is about 86k miles. I initially thought I’ve screwed up my engine towing with that oil consumption, but then once I stop towing and wife not using it for short stop and go errands, oil consumption became negligible.

Jeep GC 4xe with tow package can pull 6000”. With self leveling suspension made me not have to worry about rear sag. No need to atf coolers. No issues with mountain passes. Suspension are more stable than Sorento’s soft ones. Other than the price tag and the coarse engine sound of its 2.0 turbo, I love it!

I'm rather curious what all is included in the towing package for the GC 4xe, that package alone raising the towing limit from 3,500lb to 6,000lb is insane. I've never heard of a towing package nearly doubling the towing capacity of a vehicle.

 

[ecanderson]

I'm rather curious what all is included in the towing package for the GC 4xe, that package alone raising the towing limit from 3,500lb to 6,000lb is insane. I've never heard of a towing package nearly doubling the towing capacity of a vehicle.

Unless -- the major issue to begin with was one of rear sag. I could imagine new rear suspension parts improving things to where one could handle a 600# instead of a 350# tongue weight.

 

[Tripplec]

I'm rather curious what all is included in the towing package for the GC 4xe, that package alone raising the towing limit from 3,500lb to 6,000lb is insane. I've never heard of a towing package nearly doubling the towing capacity of a vehicle.

Vehicles with tow package over non factory do get a big bump like that.

• higher capacity radiator
• dual rad fans, improved cooling
• transmission cooler rated for it.

4 cyl never have that though as they're limited and in most vehicles AWD is required. The owners manual does spell this out in "if equipped" etc language. The 2015 Sorento I have is 3500lbs!!! with the same powertrain as 2019. (Similar anyway}. Suspension and ride height are least likely changes by Kia at least as these SUV's are the lowest riding in their class as far as I am concerned. My Highlander was much higher and the Sorento can get hung up and stuck on the undercarriage!! Ask me how I know, its a major job get them moving again.

 

[Billi]

Unless -- the major issue to begin with was one of rear sag. I could imagine new rear suspension parts improving things to where one could handle a 600# instead of a 350# tongue weight.

That’s probably the reason… or they just want to upsell their car!
Tow rating is kind of a dark magic with these manufacturers. I do tend to believe US manufacturers more in this regard compared to to Asian and European ones. For sure I have no concerns with use of wdh with their tow package. Actually no concerns whatsoever towing my trailer except for longterm reliability!

 

[ecanderson]

The Sorento has been a unibody since 2009 on the Gen 2 models, and you know the conventional wisdom on adding a WDH to a unibody vehicle...

The exception is where the manufacturer has avoided the problem by inclusion of reinforced frame rails or additional perimeter rails (like the Honda Pilot), but I don't see any evidence of those kinds of features on any recent vintage Santa Fe. I'm sure that's why Curt won't go there.

 

[Captainhook]

You guys had me doubting myself as to the rise I needed, but the 10.75" riser I took an educated guess on ended up being perfect. I only live a few miles from the dealership, so my tow home was easy and uneventful. We have a multi-hour journey coming up in a few weeks, so I'll have to post an update after that.

 

[Billi]

Sorento hitch is just super low and you modified your trailer to be super high, that’s probably why…

Now you just need to load up your trailer like you would in a typical camping trip and get on a cat scale at least once to make sure you don’t exceed any limits. Happy camping!