Experience with trailering

[arencambre]

Do you haul a trailer with your Stinger? What is the experience? How well does it work? Difficulty of getting hitch installed?

Per the Australian owners manual for the 2022 Stinger, it can tow up to 3,300 lbs with a braked trailer (see page 5-218). The only vehicle modifications apparently needed are a hitch, appropriate wiring, and a trailer-brake controller. For reasons I do not understand, Kia does not recommend trailer-towing in the USA, but I am unaware of any substantive difference between USA-spec and Australian-spec Stingers. (The manual says the trailer-tow guidance also applies to all of Europe except Russia.)

 

[JSolo]

Most americans can't back up a trailer or drive a car with 3 pedals.

 

[oddball]

There are some differences. e.g., It was discovered early on that the AUS and US front bumper structures are different, requiring JohnnyTig to modify his design. So there might be some subtle difference in the rear, too. I wouldn't be surprised if towing is much more important to the Aus buyer, so the rear structure of the car for that market is slightly different to better accommodate a trailer.

That said, do whatever you want. Can't get a lot of tongue weight because the suspension can't adapt.

 

[arencambre]

That said, do whatever you want. Can't get a lot of tongue weight because the suspension can't adapt.

Coming from an Infiniti G37 Sport, that is the one thing about the Stinger that I wish was different. The suspension is too soft.

There is an alleged increased firmness of the Stinger's Sport mode, but I don't notice it. Bumps that I wouldn't worry about with the Infiniti are scary in the Stinger.

 

[arencambre]

So there might be some subtle difference in the rear, too. I wouldn't be surprised if towing is much more important to the Aus buyer, so the rear structure of the car for that market is slightly different to better accommodate a trailer.

Definitely a possibility, but gut feeling is "big picture" things would need to be identical due to cost-efficiency concerns on a low-volume car, and the difference is limited to bolt-on stuff.

That said, I am just sharing a gut feeling and am not informed by a comparision.

What is the nature of what @Jonnytig discovered?

 

[stoopid]

I would think, at minimum, you would need a distribution hitch in addition to the trailer brake and brake controller.

 

[D.J.]

My car tows just fine

When towing 2 x bikes - the entire weight of the 2 bikes + trailer is about (1000lbs to 1200lbs) - and I have it loaded with approx. 10% tongue weight. (about 100 lbs on the tongue).

No issues at 120 kph. And yes I know how to reverse with a trailer

Towing...anyone done it?

I’m curious how much the GT2 AWD can tow? I’m thinking about a small travel trailer.

stingerforum.org

 

[D.J.]

Some pics from the archive...

 

[arencambre]

I have it loaded with approx. 10% tongue weight. (about 100 lbs on the tongue).

Does the rear of the Stinger sag any with that weight?

 

[General_Vodka]

If you have the adjustable suspension then you should invest in the mando ecs unit. That way you can crank up the suspension stiffness so you dont bottom out over a small dip or bump lol.

 

[D.J.]

Does the rear of the Stinger sag any with that weight?

About the same amount of sag as putting 100 lbs of groceries in the back. Almost none.