Driving Your Vehicle

If You Decide to Tow a Trailer

~2min read

Here are some important points if you decide to tow a trailer:

  • Consider using a sway control device. Ask the trailer hitch dealer about sway control.
  • Do not tow a trailer during the first 1,200 miles (2,000 km) to allow the engine to break in properly. Failure to heed this warning may result in serious engine or transmission damage.
  • When towing a trailer, be sure to consult an authorized HYUNDAI dealer for more information about additional requirements, such as a towing kit, etc.
  • Always drive at a moderate speed (less than 60 mph (100 km/h)) or the specified towing speed limit.
  • On long grades, do not exceed 70 km/h or the posted towing speed limit, whichever is lower.
  • Carefully observe the weight and load limits specified on the following pages.

Trailer Weight

Hyundai i30. If you decide to pull a trailer?

What is the maximum safe trailer weight? It should never weigh more than the maximum trailer weight with trailer brakes. But even this may be too heavy. It depends on how you plan to use your trailer. For example, speed, altitude, road grade, outside temperature, and how often your vehicle is used for towing a trailer are all important. The ideal trailer weight may also depend on any special equipment you have on your vehicle.

Tongue Load

Hyundai i30. If you decide to pull a trailer?

Tongue load is an important weight to measure because it affects the gross vehicle weight (GVW) of your vehicle. Trailer tongue weight should not exceed 10% of the total loaded trailer weight, and must be within the maximum trailer tongue load limit.

After you have loaded the trailer, weigh the trailer and then the tongue separately to make sure the weights are correct. If they are not, you may be able to correct them by moving some items around in the trailer.

WARNING

Observe the following precautions:

  • Never load the trailer with more weight at the rear than at the front. The front should be loaded with approximately 60% of the total trailer load; the rear should be loaded with approximately 40% of the total trailer load.
  • Never exceed the maximum trailer weight limit or the towing equipment limit. Improper loading may cause damage to your vehicle and/or personal injury. Check the weight and load at a commercial scale or at a highway patrol station equipped with scales.

Information

Engine performance decreases with increasing altitude. For every 1,000 m above sea level, starting at 1,000 m, reduce the vehicle/trailer weight (trailer weight + gross vehicle weight) by 10%.

Check Weight and Distance When Towing a Trailer

Hyundai i30. If you decide to pull a trailer?

M/T: Manual Transaxle
A/T: Automatic Transaxle
DCT: Dual Clutch Transaxle

Test yourself

A quick Hyundai i30 quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.