Trailer Towing - Kia Telluride 2023 Owner's Manual

Driving your vehicle

Trailer towing

If you are considering towing with your
vehicle, you should first check with your
country's Department of Motor Vehicles
to determine their legal requirements.
Since laws vary the requirements for
towing trailers, cars, or other types of
vehicles or apparatus may differ. Ask an
authorized Kia dealer for further details
before towing.
WARNING
Towing a trailer
Always check your towing equipment to
confirm correct equipment size and
installation before use. Using incompati-
ble or incorrectly installed trailer equip-
ment can effect the vehicle operation
and endanger you and your passengers.
You may require an additional wiring
harness connector to install a trailer
hitch. Please contact an authorized Kia
dealer for more details.
WARNING
Weight limits
Before towing, make sure the total trailer
weight, GCW (Gross Combination
Weight), GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight),
GAW (Gross Axle Weight) and trailer
tongue load are all within the limits.
CAUTION
Trailer installation
Follow instructions in this section when
pulling a trailer. Pulling a trailer improp-
erly can damage your vehicle and result
in costly repairs not covered by your
warranty.
Your vehicle can tow a trailer. To identify
what the vehicle trailering capacity is for
your vehicle, you should read the infor-
mation in "Weight of the trailer" on page
5-58.
Remember that trailering is different
than just driving your vehicle by itself.
Trailering means changes in handling,
durability, and fuel economy. Successful,
safe trailering requires correct equip-
ment, and it has to be used properly.
This section contains many time-tested,
important trailering tips and safety rules.
Many of these are important for your
safety and that of your passengers.
Please read this section carefully before
you pull a trailer.
Load-pulling components such as the
engine, transmission, wheel assemblies,
and tires are forced to work harder
against the load of the added weight.
The engine is required to operate at rela-
tively higher speeds and under greater
loads. This additional burden generates
extra heat. The trailer also adds consid-
erably to wind resistance, increasing the
pulling requirements.
Hitches
It's important to have the correct hitch
equipment. Crosswinds, large trucks
going by, and rough roads are a few rea-
sons why you'll need the right hitch.
Here are some rules to follow:
僅 Will you have to make any holes in the
body of your vehicle when you install
a trailer hitch? If you do, then be sure
to seal the holes later when you
remove the hitch.
If you don't seal them, deadly carbon
monoxide (CO) from your exhaust
can get into your vehicle, as well as
dirt and water.
Trailer towing
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