Are SUVs Good for Towing? Everything You Need to Know

Are SUVs Good for Towing? Everything You Need to Know

Sports utility vehicles or SUVs are excellent choices when you want a car that can pull your stuff. It’s a tow rig for horse trailers, boats, and other heavier stuff that you have. However, it’s best to consider certain things when choosing a vehicle. Read more about choosing a car that’s right for you on this site.

If the trailer is going to weigh more than the towing capacity of your SUV, it can be dangerous for you to travel long distances with the added load. Knowing the capabilities and making sure that they match the trailer is a must, and this is why you should check out various manufacturers before buying. If you’re unsure of what you’re going to buy, the specifications may be a little confusing, and here are the reasons why.

Not all SUVs were Created Equally

Different models from various manufacturers may often hype their marketing campaigns by publishing higher tow ratings. They do this with specific vehicles, but they don’t usually mean that every model in this range has the same weight. Everything can be murky when it comes to choosing the option packages and incorporating them into the vehicle.

A Tow Package Maybe A Must

In some instances, you need to choose a powerful engine to increase the SUV’s towing capability. Sometimes, more equipment and accessories are necessary for this to happen. This is evident in the GMC Acadia, which has a wide band capable of towing up to a thousand pounds. However, you may still want to check the V6 and option box to handle up to 4,000 pounds.

When you’re going with the factory-equipped packages, this will be a good choice, especially if you’re planning to hitch up some trailers. Check out the best small SUV for towing in the link provided so you’ll know more options for you. Many manufacturers may even require a factory-installed hitch, so they’ll get most of the maximum tow rating.

These don’t only include the hitch of the van itself but other specialized wirings, additional equipment, accessories, and parts that can handle the stress of towing. This is evident in a higher-capacity alternator or a transmission cooler. A more sophisticated model may mean that you’ll have a control system and a trailer-sway with cameras that will be really helpful if you’re hitching something up. This is usually the best investment that you can get.

All-Wheel or 4-Wheel Drives

Other features that you may want to consider include choosing an all-wheel or a 4-wheel drive. If you want to get the maximum tow rating, many manufacturers will require having all four wheels so you wouldn’t have to pull in poor weather conditions.

If you live in an area with plenty of sunlight, know that the 4D towing has its own advantages. An all-wheel-drive tow or 4WD will be able to maintain enough traction for a slippery boat launch. As long as you add plenty of confidence when it comes to trailer towing on a rough and dirt road, you’ll manage.

Weights

Maximum towing weight ratings will help you determine what you can or can’t carry. However, they are only one part of the story, and there are also various terms to know. Most of them are listed on stickers that you’ll find on the door jambs. Here are some of the terms.

Payload – This is the maximum weight that the car can carry, including the trailer tongue, people, and cargo.

GVWR – The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is the payload and the empty vehicle’s weight combined. This is added together, and this is the total of the loaded vehicle. Know the maximum number of people who can ride inside and the weight of the load to have a hassle-free experience.

GCWR – The Gross Combined Weight Rating is the maximum loaded trailer plus the gross vehicle weight rating combined. Learn more about the GCWR in this link: https://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/towing-capacity/vehicle/gcwr.htm

Why Should You Take Notice of the Payload in the First Place?

It’s essential to know the payload because it will include the trailer’s tongue weight. This is the amount that the trailers are pushing down while on a hitch. The number should be about 10% or 15% of the trailer’s total weight.

For example, an SUV towing a 5,000-pound trailer should have about 500 pounds of the hitch’s tongue weight. So, how much payload is left for the cargo and passenger?

If you have an SUV that has a payload of 1,200 pounds, this means that you can carry about 700 pounds of gear and people when you tow a 5,000-pound trailer. This is possible without you needing to go overboard the rating. Many vehicles are specially engineered to include a reasonable cushion of carrying cargo and people but if you’re planning to carry a lot, make sure that the ratings are up to par to prevent issues in the future.

Typical Weights

So, how much does an actual trailer weigh? Know that the figures will vary widely depending on the construction of the vehicle and various things that you plan to load them. To give you an example, here are some of the things that you can carry with you safely:

For light trailers: You’ll be able to carry an ATV, dirt bike, personal watercraft, and small fishing boat that weigh around 1,000 to 3,000 pounds.

Medium-Sized Vehicles: It’s possible to carry an 18-ft. camping recreational vehicle or a two-horse trailer weighing 4,000 to 5,000 pounds.

The heavy trailers: You will be able to carry up to 8000 pounds of two-axle trailers. These can be for recreational purposes and 20-ft. camping toy haulers as well.

Never Go Overboard the Tow Rating

You might be tempted to hitch up more weight than the rating of your SUV. However, this is not a good idea at all. Most manufacturers ensure that the cars comply with the safety standards and weight ratings, so if you go overboard, you might lose the insurance, and you might get into an accident before you know it. The mechanical systems are working harder and exceeding the ratings will result in excess heat and failure.

Others Helpful Features

Are SUVs Good for Towing? Everything You Need to Know

Seats

Usually, you’ll be able to accommodate five family members inside the car. Others with larger builds with full sizes will have a back-row seat that can increase the capacity to up to eight people. But due to the limited space with the cargo, the third-row seats are almost upright. They can be flattened at the back to get more space when you’re not using them, so you could add luggage if needed.

Cargos

There’s versatility in the modern configurations of the SUV where you could fold the seats at the third row and add cargo to the second. Look for those that can be folded flat, so you’ll be able to take most of the space. These are the ones with higher floors than a minivan, so you might find it challenging to load heavier luggage and objects.

However, the models that have the appearance of trucks will accommodate higher payload capacities, so the drivers will be able to transport more weight. Other accessories for cargoes that you may find convenient include hands-free liftgates and more. (teachingchannel.com)

Driver-Assist and Safety Systems

There are safety assistance systems available today to minimize the possibility of a crash while driving. Most of these accessories and added features have passed the tests done by the insurance organizations and the federal government.

You may want to consider some of these: pedestrian detection, automatic emergency brakes, forward collision warning, crash-avoidance technologies, and many others. Some will give you tactile, audible, and visual alerts that will warn you of an object or person in your SUV’s path, so you’ll know if there’s an impending collision.

The emergency brakes are pretty helpful if you’re driving on the highway or urban roads. The monitors at the flanks will give you a warning sign if there are cars or motorcycles alongside you, especially if visibility is poor. This is very helpful for SUVs where drivers can react on time to be safe on the road.