Towing noob info wanted: What can I tow?

[riff42]

I'm slowly trying to figure out all the meanings behind everything about towing.
I understand the GVWR is the MAX the CX5 (2016 2.5 AWD in my case) can weigh, including cargo fluids and people, is 4500lbs
That's nice...but how much can i add to the base? What is the base wet weight?!?!?!?!

Now, it looks like they state the TTW (trailer towing weight?) is 2000lbs.....does this mean, as long as my GVWR is below the 4500lbs, the trailer and it's wet/load can be a max of 2000lbs?

Combo is 6064lbs.....however, that means with the 4500 GVWR and 2000lbs trailer, I'm overloaded by 500lbs!!!

SO. CONFUSING.

So, does anyone have the base wet weight of the AWD 2.5 2016? If I have this, at least I can figure in how much I'd normally carry (290 for people, maybe 50 for odds and ends, 130 for fuilds)
The rest of the stuff would be in the trailer.

 

[minnesotaart]

My simplistic understanding of the 2,000 lb towing limit is that the weight of the trailer plus the weight of all the things that you put inside the vehicle that didn't come with the vehicle from the factory (i.e., driver, passengers and cargo) should not exceed 2,000 lbs.

 

[riff42]

That should be GCWR though. Which is the GVWR of both car and trailer....Which is the max both units can handle.

Because 2000 for fluids, people, and cargo, including trailer weight/load....is bloody low! Can't haul more than a tiny pop-up!

 

[ctbale]

I think you can pull a 2000 pound trailer and have your car fully loaded? Might be wrong though. I think the Europe version says 3000 pounds, same car, so there is a "buffer" Braking is a concern, and of course not burning up you powertrain would be the other.

 

[caverunner17]

I think you can pull a 2000 pound trailer and have your car fully loaded? Might be wrong though. I think the Europe version says 3000 pounds, same car, so there is a "buffer" Braking is a concern, and of course not burning up you powertrain would be the other.

It's a long discussion as to why US towing limits are lower, but it primarily boils down to people in the US will speed while towing whereas roads in Europe tend to be slower. The faster you go, the less stable your load is.

 

[Unobtanium]

It's a long discussion as to why US towing limits are lower, but it primarily boils down to people in the US will speed while towing whereas roads in Europe tend to be slower. The faster you go, the less stable your load is.

Words to live by.

 

[towtruck]

I tow a small camper which weighs about 1,650 lbs (dry weight). I installed a brake controller. You have to be extremely careful on how much you put in the trailer & you need to distribute the weight in the trailer & your car.

 

[Lbear]

In the USA the trailer towing capacity for a 2.5L CX5 is 2,000 lbs (trailer weight plus the load).

In Europe, the trailer towing capacity for the same 2.5L CX5 is 3,500 lbs (trailer weight plus the load).

So there is a 1,500 lbs difference. It can all be attributed to lower speed limits when towing. In Europe the speed limit for towing is under 55mph.

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

They also specify braked vs unbraked (3500 braked trailer) and they have different tongue weights. Its not a limitation of the us vs non us verson, but a limitation based on regulations and expectations. Also for less wear and tear on brakes/rear suspension firestone offers cx5 fitted air bag inserts for just under $100 called ride rites.

 

[MikeM.]

They also specify braked vs unbraked (3500 braked trailer) and they have different tongue weights. Its not a limitation of the us vs non us verson, but a limitation based on regulations and expectations. Also for less wear and tear on brakes/rear suspension firestone offers cx5 fitted air bag inserts for just under $100 called ride rites.

If you tow within the stated limits, there is no need for airbags or other modifications. The tow limits are low enough that it will tow fine stock, just make sure the load is distributed properly. It will tow great, biggest limitation would be power/heat if towing up long grades. Air bags aren't going to help that.

 

[Woodys2718]

I towed our 2 four wheelers yesterday. Believe me, I am encroaching if not over 2000lbs. I found no issues with power, I did have issues with bumpy roads in which I felt the trailer making the rear of the cx5 dance around a bit. My load was very well distributed.

So I certainly believe air bag inserts would help.

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

Woodys2718: Yeah.. that is fairly close to rated capacity... how many miles did you trailer it? My two big quads are around 750 lbs each and their trailer is probably 300-400 lbs.

 

[Woodys2718]

Kedis,

I went about 100 miles total.

Memorial Day weekend we're travelling about 300 miles (one way) on an ATV weekend trip. I'm a little concerned... Yesterday was my first go round at towing both quads. My girlfriend just purchased hers a week ago, so I've only been towing mine around.

I would really prefer not to get rid of my cx5 for a more tow friendly (yet much more thirsty) rig and suffer the MPG hit when I'm not towing. I think the cx5 will be ok, I'll just have to keep my speed down on the interstate.

 

[Kinghardcor]

Here is a great site explaining the different tow ratings. It's a bit of a read but you'll earn something if you muscle through.

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/tow-me-down-1609112611

 

[CC58]

Be aware CX-5 tow rating (in manual) is 1000# unbraked, and 2000# braked. The CX-5 can tow 2000# easily as euro rating is 3600#. For liability purposes don't go over 2000#, don't worry about your stated cabin weigh (it actually makes towing more stable), and make sure your tongue weight is not over 200# (but close to it for stability) ... then don't drive over 60mph.

I towed a 2000# trailer cross country and the CX-5 did it easily and the engine wasn't even working hard.

 

[Ride92]

From what I can find online the Euro version of the CX-5 is rated at either 1800kg or 2000kg which is 3968lbs or 4409lbs respectively. The reason for the higher tow ratings for European models has to do with the restrictions in place for towing and the way the trailer tongue weights are set up overseas. In the UK the maximum speed one can tow at is 60mph on the motorways (highway/interstate) and 50mph on all other roads. Those speeds are much lower then what's allowed in the USA where there are no speed restrictions in regards to towing other then posted speed limit. Also, in the UK, with a standard drivers license, one can tow a maximum of 3500kg (7,700lbs) total vehicle and load weight, gross combined vehicle weight GCVW. In the States the allowable GCVW is 26,000lbs before needing a CDL license. 26,000lbs at 75mph is a lot of weight at a high speed to be able to tow without any special training on how to handle such a load. Because of these different limits the powers that be have decided that Americans are to stupid to safely tow higher weights at higher speeds with smaller vehicles. The lawyers are the ones that set the 2000lbs tow limit on the US CX-5, not because it can't pull more, put because people won't know how to properly load the weight, the tongue weight and manage their speed in regards to towing.

Personally I believe that if you have trailer brakes, weight the tongue properly and keep your speeds below 60mph you'd have no problems pulling a greater then 2000lbs load. You just need to be smart about it.

 

[MikeM.]

I towed our 2 four wheelers yesterday. Believe me, I am encroaching if not over 2000lbs. I found no issues with power, I did have issues with bumpy roads in which I felt the trailer making the rear of the cx5 dance around a bit. My load was very well distributed.

So I certainly believe air bag inserts would help.

I think that would tow better on bumpy roads if your trailer had a longer tongue and/or the trailer had bigger wheels/better suspension. Also, the tow ball looks to be an inch or 2 too low for that trailer. A riser would help. Airbags in the rear springs may or may not improve it but that would just be a Band-Aid fix for what amounts to a tow setup with poor geometry/balance.

I've towed a lot of trailers over the years using various tow vehicles and getting the geometries right is just as important as the proper tongue weight balance and more important than exactly how heavy it is.

 

[fdew]

I towed our 2 four wheelers yesterday. Believe me, I am encroaching if not over 2000lbs. I found no issues with power, I did have issues with bumpy roads in which I felt the trailer making the rear of the cx5 dance around a bit. My load was very well distributed.

So I certainly believe air bag inserts would help.

I have found that usually when "the trailer making the rear of the cx5 dance around a bit" it is because of to little tongue weight. Fortunately this is easy to check Go to your hardware store and get a couple of 40 lb bags of water softer salt, or play sand, or cement. (Whatever you or a neighbor can use). Put first one and then two bags on the deck of the trailer as close to the front as possible (Right under the front ATV.) Go for a ride and see what you think. I have a trailer that I tow a lot that has a fixed load. It didn't tow well so I tied the above and 40 lbs did the trick. There are now two 20 lb lead bricks bolted under the trailer.

 

[Lbear]

This type of trailer would work better. Longer neck, bigger tires, leaf suspension, and the trailer sits level (important)

Trailer Size = 5x10
Weight = 850 lbs
Tire Size = 15 x 5
Axles = Dexter Easy Lube Axles
LED lights
2" Coupler
Bolted Jack

 

[fdew]

This type of trailer would work better. Longer neck, bigger tires, leaf suspension, and the trailer sits level (important)

That is a nice trailer The larger wheels will last longer. A leaf suspension is one of many good suspensions. If I was going across country and had the choice I would take that one. The Tirton trailer is also a quality trailer it is aluminum construction, torsion spring suspension, and smaller wheels. Nothing wrong with any of that. Yes, small wheels will cause more abrupt trailer movement when going over bumps and holes. but it should be fine. I pull a trailer with 8 in wheels and have taken it to multiple states over all kinds of roads and at all speeds up to 70 MPH. No shake, no dance, no sway. It just goes where it's towed to.

I would keep the trailer, raise the ball to make it level, and play with tongue weight. That trailer should tow just fine.