Towing - Car can only tow 600kg?!

[dammit]

Hi All
First post here as I just signed up ;D

I'm currently looking to buy a boat but have hit a big road block with my vehicle.

It's a Hyundai Tucson City SX 2.0L Auto 2007 model, which is basically a 4wd lookalike car but only has 2WD (front wheel drive).

Hyundai have this section on their website which says the max. towing capacity of my car is 600kg (braked) trailer.

Yet in my owners manual it says a 2wd auto tucson 2.0L can tow 1200kg braked, and the compliance plate on the car near the towbar also says that it can tow 1200kg braked (with a 120kg tongue weight). It's a genuine tow bar put on when I bought the car.

Naturally I would believe the car book/plate over a website, so I called Hyundai who are 100% adamant that I can only safely tow 600kg braked.

I then also emailed them and said well why can the Getz which is a little hatchback tow more (750kg) and the new Tucson ix35 can tow 1600kg braked even still with a 2.0L engine is 1000kg more than my car! & explained to them what it said in the book/plate.

The compliance plate on the tow bar says:
Towbar part # AL090M9000
Max 4 cyl 1200kg (braked) gross trailer mass.
Max 4 cyl 600kg (unbraked) gross trailer mass.
Tongue max 120kg static ball load.
Tongue part # AL090M9000T.

Hyundai's answer was this:

"Hyundai Australia have advised that all Tucson City's have a 600kg maximum
Towing capacity. Hyundai Australia have advised that the information on the web site is correct. The book is a generic book all English speaking countries obtain. EachTucson built slightly differs in each country. We in Australia have ADR (Australian Design Rules) which are different to other areas and countries.Hyundai Australia cannot warrant or confirm if the vehicle will operate in normal conditions if greater loads are Towed."

Where can I go from here? Surely the car must be able to tow more than 600kg braked! How am I going to get a boat if I am stuck with this limiation??

So sorry this is such a long first post, but I have really hit a big brick wall - hoping someone has some advice!!

[rowanda]

if it can only tow 600kg the tow bar must be held on with cable ties!!
I would think 1200kg would be fine on that car. Friend has one and sure he tows alot more than 600kg with his

[robothefisho]

Your probably just running into people who do not understand the difference between braked and unbraked trailers so just keep quoting 600kg. If 1200kg is stamped on a genuine towbar I'd say thats the limit. I can't even think of anything only rated to tow 600kg, maybe an old charade?

[finga]

Web site...what website??

I'd be looking at the owners manual and the towbar.

[Briannes]

hi have a look at red book it will give you the answers and it is 600kg
http://www.redbook.com.au/used-cars/details.aspx?R=72460&__Qpb=true&Cr=4&__Ns=p_Make_String%7c0%7c%7cp_ClassificationType_S tring%7c0%7c%7cp_Family_String%7c0%7c%7cp_Year_Str ing%7c1%7c%7cp_SequenceNum_Int32%7c0&__N=2994%204294955265%204294843400%204294965584&silo=1300&seot=1&__Nne=15&trecs=7&__sid=1272F4C6622B

[bay local]

On carbuddy.com.au it say's it's only rated to 600kg braked as well.

[Bros]

On carbuddy.com.au it say's it's only rated to 600kg braked as well.

I've never seen that before. It is usually 600kg unbraked and some higher value braked. It's pretty stupid to think a 600kg braked trailer (which isn't required) is the same as a 600kg unbraked trailer.

As for different version built for different countries the difference would be LH drive and MPH instead of Klm they would be basically the same car.

[krazyfisher]

I would go with the plate and handbook.... are you sure you read the web site???? because if you did not than you would believe 1200kg!!!

[Marlin_Mike]

Houston, dammit has a problem.


Mike

[marto78]

The missus has an X-Trail which is front wheel drive (able to lock in the rear wheels) and it can only tow 700kg braked.
1200kg for a front wheel drive doesnt sound right, I'd be a bit worried pulling a 1 tonne boat out of the water with a front wheel drive car.

[Steeler]

Better add a tender to the list !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jono_SS]

My Honda CRV is 600 unbraked, and 1400 braked. No troubles towing the little AMM (it's over 1000kg on the trailer), or pulling it out of the water at the ramp.

Surely you know you can't believe everything you read on websites....................

[Moonlighter]

Dammit

I'd believe the logbook before any website.

I had a Holden Astra wagon 1.8L manual front wheel drive too, that was rated to tow 1400kgs with brakes. It towed my 1000kg plate cuddy without much drama,, a few interesting boat ramp haul-outs but never failed in the end, so I can't believe that 600kg would be in any way the limit for your car - just doesn't sound right. Maybe 600kg is the limit without brakes, but surely not with them.

If youre still concerned, suggest you get a second opinion from the motoring organisation (eg NRMA, RACQ) in your state if you are a member and discuss with them - they may even be willing to take up the issue with the manufacturer for you if there is still confusion.

ML

[sandbankmagnet]

You migh want to get a check on what your insurance company believes it is as well.

[BaitThrower]

My 1.5L Lancer pulls about 550+kg of boat no problem. Front wheel drive isn't so bad either, especially on boat ramps because your front wheels are usually up higher on the dry part fo the ramp and not in the slippery and wet bit at the back :)

[Steeler]

You migh want to get a check on what your insurance company believes it is as well.

Spot on !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[datamile]

UK hyundai site says 1400/500 kg braked/nonbraked

[TimiBoy]

Underlines to me DO NOT BUY A HYUNDAI TUCSON!

600kg max? What a piece of crap!

Sorry, drunk.

Tim

[dammit]

BaitThrower- Thats what I first thought but then I thought if I have a heavy boat on the back it will make the front wheels lighter which would mean less traction??



Im sure the Tucson can tow more, it just really frustrates me that this is Hyundai's stance. I have towed a 1000kg trailer before I am sure with this car, before I even saw on the net the 600kg limit. I just worry in the event there is an accident or its not safe I don't want to have gone against the vehicle specs. But your right I should not have to believe a website when it is black and white in the book and on the car what if I didn't have the internet, I would never know. But still I want to do the right thing.

Hyundai says 500kg unbraked, 600kg braked in their site under Tucson > Specifications > Measurements > Towing Capacity. And then in the PDF spec it says 600kg unbraked, 600kg braked which again is different to that! ( http://www.hyundai.com.au/vehicles/tucson/downloads/tucson_brochure.pdf ) "1 Maximum ball download 120 kg (2.0 L) or 150 kg (2.7 L). Towbar 500 kg braked & 500 kg unbraked (2.0 L Manual)600 kg braked & 600 kg unbraked (2.0 L Auto), 1500 kg braked & 750 kg unbraked (2.7 L V6, Auto).
Towbar capacity subject to regulatory requirements, Towbar design, vehicle design and towing equipment limitations."


I can't believe it is only 600kg, but I don't know where to take it from here...I thought I should tell Hyundai I want a refund because the car is not as described!!

I'm not going to find a boat that's 600kg. I don't even know if a jetski comes under that weight! I've had my eye looking for some half cabin glass boats, around 16-20 foot because I want to take it to Tangalooma Wrecks (Moreton Island) & the like...maybe I need to trade it in or buy a second 4wd ute/vehicle just for towing the boat :-/

[Angla]

Just a sideline question. How far are you going to tow this thing? Is it 2, 10 or 200 Km to the boatramp? If weight on the front wheels is the issue then you just need a anti sway device on the towbar. This uses springs to apply pressure to the trailer drawbar, therefore giving less weight on the rear wheels and more weight on the front wheels.
Ignorance to the all knowing internet could be bliss.

Cheers
Chris

[Eric03]

From what I've researched over the net there are several factors that can decide towing capacity including transmission, driveline, brakes, performance and weight.

At first glance I dont think weight or performance has anything to do with it. It might be possible though that the brakes and driveline in the FWD model might not be up to the task or will reduce longevity so Hyundai reduced the towing capacity.

[DATCOL]

Very hard to get a handle on this i have been quoted 970 kg braked max tow
for my 1977 4x4 F100 351 motor But i know it will pull a train ?????????

[Crocodile]

You think that's bad, try the new Fed Govt subsidised hybrid Toyota Camry.
They don't recomend towing at all, that's right zero.
The limits are nothing to do with practicality, only risk minimisation or let's keep the lawyers out of it.

[dammit]

Eric03 - I mainly plan to tow about 2-5km away the majority of the time (Gold Coast broadwater), but then I'd also like to tow say 60km to Bris so I can get to Moreton, and maybe 150km to Bribie Island and then at the very extreme/maybe once or twice a year 370km to Hervey Bay.

I know what you mean about hybrids, I was actually looking at the Ford Ecotec when I was thinking about upgrading and your right, they are all very adamant you can't tow a thing with them. There wouldn;t be a garage or service centre type place I could take the car to and get them to do an independent test to determine the towing capacity would there? Or that would be no where near the level a manufacturer test to with their big test centres/factories and the like?

I only plan to own the car for maybe another year or two, I'm just wondering if I will be able to get by towing up and till then, I just wish Hyundai would give me some better answers as to why it is only 600kg braked. Even looking back at previous Tucson models before mine they have higher towing capacities and in front (ix35) so I really don't understand. :(

[ospery888]

hi dammit ,mike here i am a motor dealer have had this issue 4 weeks ago ,hyundia did revise tow towing capacity in 2006 on these models and racq can confirm this as well ,if hyundai have told you this then i would suggest you stick to this because of the legal side off this( insurance company ) when i spoke to hyundai they told me the same thing i asked them why but they wouldnt comment any further on this i suggest they where having quiet a few transmission claims which i later found out through my contacts in the industry , the car will tow the wait no promlems but what do you do ????? sorry about the bad news ,pm me if you want more info mike

[Bros]

Well not connected with Hyundai but how's this for ducking for cover.

http://www.goseeaustralia.com.au/article/589/Toyota_warranty_requirements_leave_towing_owners_d amned_if_they_do_and_damned_if_they_dont/

[Ozie_3]

Hi All

The book is a generic book all English speaking countries obtain. EachTucson built slightly differs in each country. We in Australia have ADR (Australian Design Rules) which are different to other areas and countries.Hyundai Australia cannot warrant or confirm if the vehicle will operate in normal conditions if greater loads are Towed."


so maybe in Kazakhstan one can tow 27 tons...

:D:D:D:D:D

[Charlie]

No Independent Rear Suspension,ESP stability control or Traction Control System on my crappy little Suzuiki Vitara but she'll pull 1200kg . I sometimes think of buying a new car but what's outhere as a replacement.
Unfortunately the compliance plate on the tow bar means nothing it applies to the towbar not the car it's bolted to.

[finga]

What amases me is the length that people have to go through to see what their cars can and cannot do.
What ever happened to looking in the owners manual and reading the relevent part under specifications and saying...yep, the car can tow 1200kg. The boat weighs 800kg. Good as gold???? instead of looking at websites, consulting insurance companies, lawyers and quite possibly the lady who sells salad rolls at the school fete to get the right information.
What is the purpose of the owners manual IF the information is incorrect??
When do you stop looking for information about towing capacities, tyre size and pressures, oil types and capacities, coolant type and every other bit of information you get out of the owners manual??
What do you assume is correct??
If it's good enough to rethink the towing capacity it's good enough to print a new book to tell you about it in my books.
When do you stop looking elswhere for information that might contradict what was given too you when you brought the vehicle???

[oldboot]

I have to agree that if Hyundi have changed to towing capacity of their vehicle after purchase, they should be advising their clients in writing.

I would further argue that should be recalling the vehicles so they can affix a plate to that effect.


One thing that realy annoys me is that there is no requirement to clearly mark on the vehicle what the maximum towing capacity is.

Most vehicles, unless you have an owners manula or other source, you have no idea of the towing capaity...even then with some you have no idea.

What is stamped on the tow bar....means little....my L300 ( still here) is fitted with a tow bar rated to 1 tonne, and when I fitted it you could tow that much in some states..... but the rated towing capacity is much less and I could never tow that much in QLD
Same story with my XF ute that I had.....the tow bar was rated at 2 tonnes.....well above the towing capacity.

Then you start looking at fords...they have a towing capacity then if you do this factory mod ( fit towing pack XYZ) your towing capacity increases........different towing capaciies for differently optioned vehicles , select the orange shag pile carpet and the towi ng capacity changes........OH BH who knows.

At least with toyota, each vehicle has one towing capacity and that does not change thruout that range...manual, auto, different engine sizes, 2wd, 4wd..all the same.


as for the Toyota warranty claim thing.

So you've designed this 4wd...and you've worked out, with reference to your own engineering and government requirements what the towing capacity is...and truly its a fair thing.

So a bloke buys one of these 4WD's and proceeds to tow a 3 tonne camper trailer across the gunbarrel highway...........of course, something brakes.....It might only be a crack in the chasis....of course it does... not many do the gunbarell without breaking something.

Are you going to fix that for him under waranty........

I can see toyota's point...yeh heres a vehicle.....it is safe to tow this much with it.....but don't expect us to fix it when you break it.

as for the low tow ratings...
There are all sorts of vehicles that the tow ratings dont seem to be realistic.....

A toyota corrola, is rated to tow something like 750 unbraked and 1.2 tonnes braked...yep its front wheel drive pasenger car. ( far cop is produces more power and has bigger brakes than a HQ holden 1 tonner)

Yet a Hiace van.....a rear wheel drive 1 tonne commercial....will only tow about 400KG unbraked and arround a tonne braked.

It is certainly something worth looking at with your eyes wide open when you buy.

As for finding a boat under 600KG on trailer......yeh not too much of a problem... but it wont be big.... If you are carefull you will manage something decent.

The brotherinlaws old 14 foot savage, aluminium runnabout with 30HP up the tail and a 15mm plywood floor comes in about 680Kg.
Ya should squeek a 14 foot tiller steer in just under the 600KG. A 12 foot 15 Hp tilller steer.....no problem at all...as long as its ally.

cheers

[Briannes]

Hi marto78, the xtrail can tow 2000kgs by the car manual and i own one as well my genuine nissan towbar states 2000kgs braked, look on xtrail.com.au it is the xtrail site for all xtrails. i tow a yalta 535 all up about 1400kgs and handles it really well

[Charlie]

What amases me is the length that people have to go through to see what their cars can and cannot do.

When do you stop looking elswhere for information that might contradict what was given too you when you brought the vehicle???

If you have a newer car the specs should be on the following website, the cops are slowly moving to a system where they have live access to vehicle specs as well as any modification that have engineered. I have used this site previously although I'm no results at the moment

http://rvcs-prodweb.dot.gov.au/pls/wwws/pubrvcs.Notify_Search

[Kleyny]

If you have a newer car the specs should be on the following website, the cops are slowly moving to a system where they have live access to vehicle specs as well as any modification that have engineered. I have used this site previously although I'm no results at the moment

http://rvcs-prodweb.dot.gov.au/pls/wwws/pubrvcs.Notify_Search


Thats not gunna help if your from another state. Theres nothing like that here in the land of the gods (QLD)

neil

[trueblue]

Sorry, drunk.

Tim

Whats this thread about,....!@#$ I'm with you Timmi - drunk

Mick

[gr hilly]

just buy a landcruiser mate problem solved

[TimiBoy]

just buy a landcruiser mate problem solved

Exactly. A Cruiser can handle a tad more than 600 kg...

Cheers,

Tim

[Axl]

Yep time to upgrade the tow vehicle.

[finga]

If you have a newer car the specs should be on the following website, the cops are slowly moving to a system where they have live access to vehicle specs as well as any modification that have engineered. I have used this site previously although I'm no results at the moment

http://rvcs-prodweb.dot.gov.au/pls/wwws/pubrvcs.Notify_Search
What about the many people who don't run to the idiotnet every time they want a question answered ie my mum and dad??
The information that comes WITH the vehicle should be correct because, I for one, would take the owners manual as gospel.

Just another lerk company's have now to cover their incompetent butts.
"Oh, we changed the specs...didn't you look that up on the net before you went to the tip. You cannot tow a trailer anymore. Sorry your warranty does not cover that blown gearbox. Does not matter what the manula says. You need to look at the website before you drive the car each time" type crap.

A lot of companies change the rule mid game. And that includes the 3 level of government we have here in Aus.
That sux.

[dammit]

Thanks for the overwhelming response. I am glad the majority here think its as ridiculous as I do!

Looking at Hyundai UK official site the 2.0L 2wd auto tucson can tow 1,400kg braked. Even Hyundai New Zealand official site says the 2.0L 2wd City tucson can tow 1,200kg braked. I am sure the other specs are exactly the same. http://www.hyundai.co.nz/new-cars/tucson/

The only conclusion I can come to is Hyundai Versus australian standards/govt has not seen eye to eye on something, and even though my car is capable of towing this weight they have downgraded it to cover their backsides.

Do I just go ahead and buy a boat that is 1200kg and tow it? 99% of the time the boat ramp I forsee myself using is 4.9km from home and 60km/hr speed zone. Ideally it would be nice to take the boat 400km to Hervey Bay but maybe that's something that would be worthwhile holding off on doing until I trade the Tucson in for a 4x4?

If I do go ahead and get a boat anyway, does anyone think I'll have any trouble launching the boat on any of the Gold Coast boat ramps with a 2WD front wheel drive car? At least its Automatic transmission I spose?? How far down a ramp do you usually have to drive (exhaust/rear tyres submerged)? I would hate for it to not be up to the task and end up floating down the broadwater (at this stage that would probably be a good thing though!).

Am I going to find a glass boat under 1200kg (loaded) with 16' size or is that like a needle in a haystack? I want to get a half cabin. Would a tilt trailer be needed/beneficial (does this make it less work for the tow vehicle at launching?)

I'm probably not too far away from buying a new car, but if I buy the new car before the boat then it's going to be hard to convince the Missus of getting a boat if we have just forked out 30k for a new car,,! :o

[frankgrimes]

Do I just go ahead and buy a boat that is 1200kg and tow it?



No - Your insurance company will not cover you, and imo, you would be crazy to do so.

New tow Vehicle is your only option, unless your keen on a jet ski(Even that might struggle to get under 600kgs)

Mick

[Charlie]

I tend to agree and would go by the owners manual and act dumb if pulled up, a 600 kg unbraked rating is really weird as many smaller cars have a 400 kg unbraked limit even if they can tow 1200kg it just don't make sense.
I just wish DOTAR would just stamp it on the compliance plate, too easy I guess.



What about the many people who don't run to the idiotnet every time they want a question answered ie my mum and dad??
The information that comes WITH the vehicle should be correct because, I for one, would take the owners manual as gospel.

Just another lerk company's have now to cover their incompetent butts.
"Oh, we changed the specs...didn't you look that up on the net before you went to the tip. You cannot tow a trailer anymore. Sorry your warranty does not cover that blown gearbox. Does not matter what the manula says. You need to look at the website before you drive the car each time" type crap.

A lot of companies change the rule mid game. And that includes the 3 level of government we have here in Aus.
That sux.

[dogsbody]

Sounds strange indeed,,,, to me I think it's a typo from the get go this figure gets quoted all the way down the line. It's hard to see why other countries have a higher rating and we don't,,,,,, can they be that different in build??????


Dave

[Paradoxx]

I'd just tow it!, go easy an it'll be right,

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e296/i8ian4t/Image019.jpg

my poor old mirage towed my 4.75m tinny from Gladstone too the sunshine coast!

and too the boat ramp most weekends for 9 months before i got a hilux,
Didn't even burn a clutch,

[frankgrimes]

I'd just tow it!, go easy an it'll be right,my poor old mirage towed my 4.75m tinny from Gladstone too the sunshine coast!

and too the boat ramp most weekends for 9 months before i got a hilux,
Didn't even burn a clutch,

Top advice paradoxx

"A paradox is a statement or group of statements that leads to a contradiction or a situation which defies intuition"

Do yourself a favour dammit, get written approval that your existing car can tow x, that your insurance company accepts, and your policy reflects, or purchase a new tow vehicle.

[Crocodile]

From a practical point of view the car will do it easy.
From an insurance point of view you could be declined a claim by the insurance company.
The towing rating on cars are ridiculously low.
It is just the lawyers interfering with our lives again.

[Gavfish]

Hi marto78, the xtrail can tow 2000kgs by the car manual and i own one as well my genuine nissan towbar states 2000kgs braked, look on xtrail.com.au it is the xtrail site for all xtrails. i tow a yalta 535 all up about 1400kgs and handles it really well

Yeah - Redbook has it at 750kg unbraked and 200 braked - drinks the tank when towing though...............