Trailer question: What is too big for my car?

[MissTwisties]

I have an 06 Hyundai Sonata V6...you think I can pull a small enclosed trailer? Or would it be bad for the car...

[MysteriousR1]

Pull, sure. Stop....thats another question.

[BCT748]

KBB says you can tow up to 2,000 lbs with your car, seems like a lot to me for a car though. I'm not sure how sturdy a Hyundai transmission is.

[MissTwisties]

Not an issue I would think....I know and understand how it works....just have to be careful and slow down/stop before a light, stop...take it easy on downhill slopes, etc.

Right? It'd be more practical to have an enclosed trailer so I could set it up to stay in at night with some goodies, etc.

[MissTwisties]

Yeah....transmission was my concern...

[BCT748]

I have to stop by my friends shop sometime this week and talk to one of the guys there about something. All my friend does is transmissions, just as long as I remember I'll ask him how durable your transmission is and if it would be a good idea to tow with it.

[MissTwisties]

Thanks dude, I appreciate it!

[Kurlon]

At MOST, go with a 5' wide trailer, a 6' is just too much wind resistance for a small car. (I've been testing with my 'roo.) If your transmission is up to the task, I'd say an aluminum 5x8 or 5x10 would be the max I'd go for. Look for a v-nose or sloped front to help with wind resistance. One bike, max.

[MissTwisties]

One bike only? So if I go with those dimensions...one more bike would be too much....yeah I guess you're right...it's minimum 300pounds added right there with one more bike...

[DucDave]

...should she consider adding an oil intercooler if she's going to tow...????

My MDX has the towing package which, in addition to the hitch has an oil intercooler...

I don't know shit about this stuff though...which is why I pose it as a question, not an answer...!

[BCT748]

...should she consider adding an oil intercooler if she's going to tow...????

My MDX has the towing package which, in addition to the hitch has an oil intercooler...

I don't know shit about this stuff though...which is why I pose it as a question, not an answer...!

I'd be more concerned with the transmission, unless you are talking about a external transmission oil cooler. Most cars will tell you if the motor is in trouble (over heating, low oil, low oil pressure.....) but they don't tell you if the transmission is in trouble. At least if the car tells her the motor is acting up she can pull over and do something about it before any real damage is done to it. If she doesn't know the transmission is in trouble it will get expensive really quick.

[Kurlon]

I'd also opt for electric brakes on the trailer, NOT surge brakes.

[OreoGaborio]

The most I'll pull w/ my 6 cylinder sedan is an open utility trailer w/ two bikes on it.

Tongue weight (how much weight that can be put on the hitch) on a class 1 hitch is only rated to 200lbs and pull weight is around the same as Miss Twisties' car.

Most enclosed trailers have their axles set pretty far back.... might wanna check on the tongue weight rating for your car, V.

The Uhaul website is a pretty useful source. http://www.uhaul.com/hitches/glossary/

[BCT748]

might wanna check on the tongue weight rating for your car, V.

Wouldn't the tongue weight have to do with the hitch set up and not so much the car?

[OreoGaborio]

Kinda has to do w/ both. Doesn't matter if the hitch can handle 500lbs of tongue weight if the rear suspension can't hold the car off the ground.

But yeah, usually a hitch's rating doesn't exceed what the car can handle.... usually.

It's semantics... Either way, enclosed trailers usually put more weight on the tongue, so check the tongue weight rating

[BCT748]

Isn't that when you start getting into payload capacity? I know it's just semantics but it sounded weird when you said check the tongue weight of the car. I don't do much towing so I'm not trying to pretend to remotely know what I'm talking about, just trying to clear it up. Every time I have towed it was with a truck that had a class 2 hitch and a small trailer so I didn't even bother checking weight limits.

[OreoGaborio]

Check out the uhaul glossary link i posted above, I found that helpful.

Tongue weight

The downward weight applied by the towable equipment on the hitch ball. Generally tongue weight should not be more than 10% of the gross trailer weight.

so I assume I'm using that term correctly

[Kurlon]

You are, and the rule is, you go with the lower of any ratings. So if a car is rated for 2000lbs, and you put a class 2 hitch on (usually built for 3500lbs) you go with the car's rating. If you have a truck with a 6500lb rating and you put a class 2 hitch on, you go with the hitch's rating. The tongue weight should be 10% of the pull rating, although it gets weird with cars like my Subaru. In my case, the car is normally rated 2000/200, unless you have a manual, then it's 2400/200... so going by the 10% rule I can't pull over 2000lbs 'cause I can't get the tongue weight right.

[Cerberus]

from the perspective of a mechanic:
transmission would be the weakest link.. a transmission oil cooler is an absolute must because transmission fluid temperature is a key factor in the life of the trans.

tongue weight is an issue, but proper orientation of the load will keep that in the right ballpark

i'd go with an open trailer, not enclosed, just for the savings on fuel and reduction of load on the drivetrain (which equates to less damage & longer life).
open trailers weigh less for the same foot print, so the available load capacity increases with an open..

[BluGixxer]

from the perspective of a mechanic:
transmission would be the weakest link.. a transmission oil cooler is an absolute must because transmission fluid temperature is a key factor in the life of the trans.

tongue weight is an issue, but proper orientation of the load will keep that in the right ballpark

i'd go with an open trailer, not enclosed, just for the savings on fuel and reduction of load on the drivetrain (which equates to less damage & longer life).
open trailers weigh less for the same foot print, so the available load capacity increases with an open..

+1
I can tell you that your not doing your car any favors by pulling a trailer, even though they say you can, Does'nt mean you should, Thats why they make trucks..( Not being a smart ass)
Somethiing tells me we are gonna here more on this story in the future....

[BluGixxer]

I'd also opt for electric brakes on the trailer, NOT surge brakes.

Most small single axle trailers do not have brakes ..Your best bet is to stick to an small open trailer,(for the lighter weight , easier braking),And opt for the largest wheel. smaller tires spin faster, and being your towing a race bike, chances are your gonna push the speed limit.. Just gotta watch you speed with small trailers, when the trailer starts waggin side to side that means not enough tung weight. A little note, for the price carry a full bearing set greased and ready, they are cheap and you will thank me later..

[Kurlon]

Most small single axle trailers do not have brakes

True, but that doesn't mean you can't have brakes put on. : )

Right now I'm looking at Thule 5x8 and 5x10 enclosed trailers, and if I go with one, I'll be having brakes put on, as that seems to be my 'roo's weak point.

[MissTwisties]

Bah ok...I get it. No enclosed trailer for me. I would have added more weight inside anyway, adding all the goodies and stuff.....can't do it. I'll just get an open trailer and bring a tent.

Uhaul....don't like them very much. They installed my hitch about a week before LAPS trackday, they fucked up all the wiring and I had half my lights go out on my way back from the hospital, got pulled over by the cops, yada yada...I had to bring the car to the dealership for them to repair all the damage they had done. Good thing Uhaul has insurance...they paid everything.

[SVRACER01]

V.
its simple. you car can pull 2000# (like mine) i pulled 2 bikes to NJ (approx 400-425# each, thats 800-850# total) that means at MOST your trailer can weigh 1200# or so, but you wanna put other stuff on the trailer right? fuel? tires? stands? this stuff adds up quick (5gal of fuel can weigh 30# or so). not to mention all the stuff you may put in your trunk.(cooler, clothes,leathers).
your best bet is to find the lightest possible trailer to do the job.Petes Harbor Freight trailer weighs like 300# and will hold everything including 2 bikes. i think it may be difficult to find an enclosed trailer big enough for what you want yet light enough for your car.
Brewmaster has a very nice open trailer but i dont know the name of it. it holds bikes and thats it though. everything else will have to go in the car (i think)

[SVRACER01]

Uhaul....don't like them very much. They installed my hitch about a week before LAPS trackday, they fucked up all the wiring and I had half my lights go out on my way back from the hospital, got pulled over by the cops, yada yada...I had to bring the car to the dealership for them to repair all the damage they had done. Good thing Uhaul has insurance...they paid everything.

almost bought my wiring harness from them. then on a whim i went to Dodge and low and behold they had one in stock. it just plugged in. it was awesome. maybe took me an hour, but thats because it was so easy i thought i was fucking something up