Towing heavy with CX-5?

[buyingconstant7]

My uncle has a 2014 Outlander GT with a V6 and tows his 2,000lb camper trailer with it(it does have brakes). However, that thing is an awful tow vehicle. The V6 has no power until around 4,000rpm and must be doing arond 6,000rpm to get up hills, its a complete gas guzzler, and it's awful to drive unloaded, let alone loaded. My mother is wondering if she can get away with towing that with her CX-5 with the 2.5L. Dry, it weighs just under 2,000lbs, but loaded with a generator, water, camping stuff, clothes etc, it's probably close to around 2.5 to 3k lbs. Should I get a hitch installed and try it out?

 

[Woodys2718]

How far and how often will she be towing the camper?

 

[CC58]

No. Its rated at 2000# maximum with trailer brakes. She should move up to the 3000# tow class of SUVs.

 

[Ride92]

It all depends on what speeds she plans on driving while towing, distance, and weight distribution of the trailer load. The EU Cx-5 carries a 1800-2000kg tow rating, about 3900-4400 lbs depending on what source I was looking at. The vehicles are identical. So the Cx-5 CAN physically pull that much it's just a matter of what circumstances it's being pulled at. U.K. Has very different restrictions on speed and weight limits while trailering. You can not go over 60mph on the highway while towing in the uk regardless of weight. Why? Because the faster and heavier you go the harder it becomes to control trailer osolations and trailer sway. You won't find a tow hitch with a higher then 3500lb rating and a 525lb tougne weight limit. If you weight the trailer correctly front to back and keep the speeds at or below 60mph you should be fine pulling that much weight. You'll be royally screwed if anything happens and other parties lawyer up and come after you so there is risk. As far as how well the vehicle pulls that much weight, I don't know, it's not a big torque monster v-8 or desiel power house so it will take some time to get up to speed and hit your mpg for quite a bit as well.

 

[CC58]

On flat land it would be risky. In the mountains near Calgary, it would be more than dangerous.

 

[buyingconstant7]

Well, if she got it outfitted, then it would be some short 1-2 hours trips on local highways, or it would be to another province up to 1,000km away. She's experienced in towing trailers, I mean, she's a Class 1 Semi truck driving instructor and has been since the 80's, so towing trailers is nothing new to her, so I'm sure she'd be reasonable with her speed and control.

 

[buyingconstant7]

It all depends on what speeds she plans on driving while towing, distance, and weight distribution of the trailer load. The EU Cx-5 carries a 1800-2000kg tow rating, about 3900-4400 lbs depending on what source I was looking at. The vehicles are identical. So the Cx-5 CAN physically pull that much it's just a matter of what circumstances it's being pulled at. U.K. Has very different restrictions on speed and weight limits while trailering. You can not go over 60mph on the highway while towing in the uk regardless of weight. Why? Because the faster and heavier you go the harder it becomes to control trailer osolations and trailer sway. You won't find a tow hitch with a higher then 3500lb rating and a 525lb tougne weight limit. If you weight the trailer correctly front to back and keep the speeds at or below 60mph you should be fine pulling that much weight. You'll be royally screwed if anything happens and other parties lawyer up and come after you so there is risk. As far as how well the vehicle pulls that much weight, I don't know, it's not a big torque monster v-8 or desiel power house so it will take some time to get up to speed and hit your mpg for quite a bit as well.

Okay, so it's CAPABLE of towing that weight, but at lower speeds. That's a no brainer of course in a smaller vehicle. Where we'd be going with it, speed limits are 90km/h(55mph). I'll tell her that it's possible, but to be cautious. Should she be worried about temps? Oil? Coolant? Trans? I'm guessing these cars have a trans cooler on autos and engine oil coolers...

Does anyone have any MPG references when towing?

 

[CC58]

I towed 2000# 5x8 trailer cross country. Mileage dropped from 27mpg to 21-23mpg @ 60mph, mostly due to extra wind resistance. A nine foot wide travel trailer would have a lot more wind resistance. Maybe 18-20mpg @ 60mph.

On the flat, 60mph, with experienced driver, electric trailer brakes, she may be okay.
Without electric trailer brakes, the CX-5 brakes alone would be way under rated.

 

[buyingconstant7]

I towed 2000# 5x8 trailer cross country. Mileage dropped from 27mpg to 21-23mpg @ 60mph, mostly due to extra wind resistance. A nine foot wide travel trailer would have a lot more wind resistance. Maybe 18-20mpg @ 60mph.

On the flat, 60mph, with experienced driver, electric trailer brakes, she may be okay.
Without electric trailer brakes, the CX-5 brakes alone would be way under rated.

Okay. I think it could do it then. And that MPG is fantastic! I know we'd be happier with that sort of MPG than my uncles pig on fuel, Outlander. Also, should I be worried about temps? I have a scan gauge in my TDI, but can carry it over to her CX-5 on a trip to monitor coolant temps and trans temps if it's a bit of an issue. I have no idea what the limit of the cooling systems are on these cars.

 

[Unobtanium]

Sounds like it's time for something with a V8. I do not know what my U-Haul weighed when I pulled it with my Jeep, but it was effortless with the big HEMI. If I were towing things on the regular, V8 is the only way to go, or maybe one of the newer big V6's.

FWIW, my MPG towing the U-Haul (I am not sure how big it was, it was not their smallest, nor their largest. It was at least 10 feet deep.) went from 18-19mpg that I normally got to around 13.5-ish, IIRC. This was going around 70ish mph. I normally drive 75-80 on that stretch. I couldn't tell the trailer was back there except that I saw it. Braking/acceleration was pretty normal. of course, I didn't floor it and time my 0-60, lol! I loaded it with everything I owned (pretty spartan lifestyle), but am not sure what it weighed.

That said, of the 4 bangers, I think the CX5 would make the best tow vehicle. It has a killer torque curve and great gearing. I might would lock it out of OD on the freeway, though. Especially near the upper towing limits. Lock it in 1:1 gear, IMO

 

[AllezDada]

Of course if you get in an accident towing more than what your car is rated for that would be on you.

 

[MTPDX]

I think it would be a BIG mistake to tow that much weight with a CX-5. It will seem like the trailer has a mind of it's own at times--you'll really feel it behind you. It could be dangerous for you and others. Don't do it! I would think a class 1 semi truck driving instructor would know better.

 

[JonW]

I think it would be a BIG mistake to tow that much weight with a CX-5. It will seem like the trailer has a mind of it's own at times--you'll really feel it behind you. It could be dangerous for you and others. Don't do it! I would think a class 1 semi truck driving instructor would know better.

I concur, and I do a lot of towing with mine. The issues are mostly strain on the brakes and transmission, and the ability to stop quickly in an emergency without the trailer jackknifing on you, especially coming down a hill or on a wet or slippery surface.

 

[CC58]

Okay. I think it could do it then. And that MPG is fantastic! I know we'd be happier with that sort of MPG than my uncles pig on fuel, Outlander. Also, should I be worried about temps? I have a scan gauge in my TDI, but can carry it over to her CX-5 on a trip to monitor coolant temps and trans temps if it's a bit of an issue. I have no idea what the limit of the cooling systems are on these cars.

Personally, I wouldn't do it, however, here is what I'd be concerned about. 200# maximum tongue weight. You are not going to be able to run 10% of loads weight on hitch, and that means dangerous sway. Only way to combat that is reduce your speed to 50-55mph, and make darn sure you have excellent electric trailer brakes you can apply if you get sway. On the flat, you may get away with it, but any kind of hills, and you'll be in trouble.

 

[fdew]

Of course if you get in an accident towing more than what your car is rated for that would be on you.

I wonder if this is true.

Any insurance agents?

 

[xtrailman]

I tow 1565kg with out effort, and have done for two years, in fact i'm thinking of a heavier caravan around 1650kg.
I also carry 88kg on the hook.

But it is a diesel, the uk petrol is rated to tow 1800kg.

 

[AllezDada]

I wonder if this is true.

Any insurance agents?

Not talking about insurance agents. Talking about lawyers. Easy case.

 

[fdew]

Not talking about insurance agents. Talking about lawyers. Easy case.

My insurance covers that so it wouldn't be on me. I wouldn't do it but if I did I would be covered.

 

[fdew]

Now this is towing heavy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiojZ7HfCWo

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

IMO... it doesn't take a lot of HP to tow a heavy load.

Modeled After Ants, Teams of Tiny Robots Can Move 2-Ton Car

How are you going to stop it though?