Towing Weights

[lgordo]

Hi All,
Just curious what people are towing with the 2014 CX-5 2.5L Auto transmission and any issues! I know the manual states 2000lbs, and the Australian CX-5 is much more. Just wanted to get some numbers for my own use. I'm able to get a class 2 hitch.
Thanks

 

[fdew]

I have been towing a 900 lb trailer a lot this summer with two people and some stuff in the car. No issues at all on any roads hills, ETC. i am using a class 1 hitch.

 

[metalfab]

I'd keep it under 1600lbs (combined weight of people, gear and trailer). Never good to get to close to the max. tow rating. I've been reading 70-80% of the max load rating is a safe number.

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

I imagine the higher tow #'s in Australia also require trailers with electric brakes.

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

How many did you intend on carrying>?

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

My trailer will actually carry that (somewhere around 2300 or 2400 lbs is the limit) but obviously I won't do that with the CX-5.

2K pound pallet of energy logs barely makes it squat.

 

[CC58]

I'd keep it under 1600lbs (combined weight of people, gear and trailer). Never good to get to close to the max. tow rating. I've been reading 70-80% of the max load rating is a safe number.

What is the max? In Europe the exact same CX-5 is rated to tow 3600 pounds. I'm not suggesting you tow that amount, but I wouldn't fret about running close to the 2000 pound US rating. I did just that towing across US and CX-5 behaved very well, just make sure the tongue weight is 10% of trailer weight and not over the 150 pound tongue rating.

 

[Brouno]

Hello,

I already towed something like 3500-4000 pounds (2 horses in a van), a number of times
In Europe CX-5 AT/MT >= 150 HP is given that can towed 4400 pounds with a braked trailer (max 8% slope)

I have a CX-5 2.2D MT 175 HP

All without any problem at all, apart a significant rise in fuel consumption ;-)

 

[CX5Dude]

It's not what you can tow should be the question, it's what you can stop! Anything over 50% of vehicle weight should have electric or surge brakes. Also, watch the tongue weight. if it squats the rear of the vehicle too much, you will have steer-ability issues at higher speeds.

I tow a 300lbs sail boat on a 150lbs trailer and I do not feel it behind the vehicle. However I have had 2000lbs on the same trailer crawling back from home depot and due to the low speed, no problemo! Stops where all well planned in advance during the 5 kilometre trek!

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

firestone ride rite airbags ~$99 help with squatting and bouncy braking. you can just slip it in and use a bike pump. they are in my reference thread under the Mitsubishi mirage autocross in my signature.

 

[lgordo]

All good info guys, thanks!

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

As a footnote too little weight on tongue also creates it's own sway issues.

It's not what you can tow should be the question, it's what you can stop! Anything over 50% of vehicle weight should have electric or surge brakes. Also, watch the tongue weight. if it squats the rear of the vehicle too much, you will have steer-ability issues at higher speeds.

I tow a 300lbs sail boat on a 150lbs trailer and I do not feel it behind the vehicle. However I have had 2000lbs on the same trailer crawling back from home depot and due to the low speed, no problemo! Stops where all well planned in advance during the 5 kilometre trek!

 

[metalfab]

In our part of the world we have about 100KM of flat highway and then its all mountains passes galore for 100's of KMs. Towing anything more than 50% of the load max. would be unsafe in my opinion.

 

[pjensen641]

I just towed a small aluminum utility trailer with a motorcycle about 1800 miles. Done this several times. I tow up to two bikes. Weight would be about 1300lbs total. I tow at 65 to 70 mph and get 20-24 mpg depending on wind. Bikes are not aerodynamic at all. Normally run in 5th and with hills and wind will have to downshift to 4th and run up to 4K rpms to pull hills. I bet I have over 5,000 miles doing this. Planning to change the transmission fluid soon with 40K miles on the clock.

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

I just towed a small aluminum utility trailer with a motorcycle about 1800 miles. Done this several times. I tow up to two bikes. Weight would be about 1300lbs total. I tow at 65 to 70 mph and get 20-24 mpg depending on wind. Bikes are not aerodynamic at all. Normally run in 5th and with hills and wind will have to downshift to 4th and run up to 4K rpms to pull hills. I bet I have over 5,000 miles doing this. Planning to change the transmission fluid soon with 40K miles on the clock.

So you are towing with the 2.0L?

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

I just towed a small aluminum utility trailer with a motorcycle about 1800 miles. Done this several times. I tow up to two bikes. Weight would be about 1300lbs total. I tow at 65 to 70 mph and get 20-24 mpg depending on wind. Bikes are not aerodynamic at all. Normally run in 5th and with hills and wind will have to downshift to 4th and run up to 4K rpms to pull hills. I bet I have over 5,000 miles doing this. Planning to change the transmission fluid soon with 40K miles on the clock.

your diff fluid too, btw do you use firestone ride rites?

 

[lgordo]

Thanks all, East Coast of Canada and lots of flat here! Used to towing a 8000lb trailer so I'm aware of the do's and don't just getting a feeling what people are towing cause the truck is no longer in the household and looking at a smaller Seadoo boat!

 

[pjensen641]

So you are towing with the 2.0L?

Yes. A 2.5 would be ideal. However, im not in the market until they bring the damn diesel here. Not zoom zoom enough my arse....excuses.

 

[pjensen641]

your diff fluid too, btw do you use firestone ride rites?

No need for any suspension work. I run aboud 50 lbs of toung weight.