will it work: towing xcountry with Elantra 2003?

  • Thread starter Thread starter dns564
  • Start date Start date
That rating in the link you provided has been quoted as very
questionable in other threads that I saw. My manual allows for a 1000
pounds trailer w/out brakes.
My dealer strongly discouraged me from twoing any trailers as I posted
above.
 
That rating in the link you provided has been quoted as very
questionable in other threads that I saw. My manual allows for a 1000
pounds trailer w/out brakes.
My dealer strongly discouraged me from twoing any trailers as I posted
above.

Did he give you a valid reason or is he just an idiot? There's no reason
that you can't tow with an Elantra. I towed my utilty trailer with my
old Excel without any problems. I haven't put a hitch on my Elantra yet,
but that's only because I haven't needed to use the trailer.
 
Hi,

I need to move from Colorado to Montreal, Canada. I'll take no
furniture, but a 46" HDTV (150lbs), books (small office - say 5-7 small
shelves of books), clothes. The trailer I'd like to use is the Uhaul 4'
x 6' Trailer (see http://www.uhaul.com/guide/?equipment=trailer4x6). So
if it is 670 lbs when empty, then with my stuff it will be roughly 1000
lbs. Add to that some stuff in the car and no passengers.

Uhaul people say it is OK to do. My dealership said no - do not do tow
a trailer period: bad idea.

I have a 2003 Elantra GT 5door, 2.0l engine, manual, which I like a lot
and want to keep.

I could sell the TV, but my stuff still would not fit in the car. So
I'm considering a trailer and keeping a TV, which can save me some $2K
(it is a nice 46" Hitachi TV 2 year old, works perfect).

Anybody had an experience driving like this for a long distance?
Thank you.

Why don't you just ship your stuff?

It cost like $1 a pound with insurance.

Chris
 
Hi,

I need to move from Colorado to Montreal, Canada. I'll take no
furniture, but a 46" HDTV (150lbs), books (small office - say 5-7 small
shelves of books), clothes. The trailer I'd like to use is the Uhaul 4'
x 6' Trailer (see http://www.uhaul.com/guide/?equipment=trailer4x6). So
if it is 670 lbs when empty, then with my stuff it will be roughly 1000
lbs. Add to that some stuff in the car and no passengers.

Uhaul people say it is OK to do. My dealership said no - do not do tow
a trailer period: bad idea.

I have a 2003 Elantra GT 5door, 2.0l engine, manual, which I like a lot
and want to keep.

I could sell the TV, but my stuff still would not fit in the car. So
I'm considering a trailer and keeping a TV, which can save me some $2K
(it is a nice 46" Hitachi TV 2 year old, works perfect).

Anybody had an experience driving like this for a long distance?
Thank you.

Why don't you just ship your stuff?

It cost like $1 a pound with insurance.

There's places where you can go and all you have to do is drop off your
stuff. They shrink wrap it all on a skid.

Chris
 
I really would like to, could you please elaborate on the procedure you
have in mind, what places? I went to a post office, and they told me
they will not ship a TV of this size (45x40x25 inches, 170-pounds). At
FedEx I could not get a clear picture from a clerk I asked.
Thanks.
Denis
 
I really would like to, could you please elaborate on the procedure you
have in mind, what places? I went to a post office, and they told me
they will not ship a TV of this size (45x40x25 inches, 170-pounds). At
FedEx I could not get a clear picture from a clerk I asked.
Thanks.
Denis

Look in the yellow pages under "Shipping" etc.

The place I'm talking about was in Vancouver all I had to do was box
everything I could, then drop it all off. A week later a transport
truck dropped a pallet with all my stuff shrink wrapped on it off at my
parent's house in Ontario.

I had guitars, three amps, a TV a standing mirror even and it was all
fine.

Chris
 
That rating in the link you provided has been quoted as very
questionable in other threads that I saw. My manual allows for a 1000
pounds trailer w/out brakes.
My dealer strongly discouraged me from twoing any trailers as I posted
above.

I was trying to tactfully point out you rdealer was, at best,
clueless. Hyundai engineered the tow capacity for the Elantra so it
could compete with other cars like the Subaru's. I don't know what
prompted them to do it but they did. On one hand in that class of
vehicle it does not take a lot of work to go from 1000 to 3000 lb
capacity. On the other hand there are a lot of folks who won't tow
with a car because they are brainwashed to think they need a truck.
They are wrong.

FWIW, I think you are looking at the wrong trailer. If it was me I
would do one of two things.

1. Buy a used open cargo trailer that will weigh about 300 to 400 lbs
and then box the stuff you want to move. You will probably be able to
trash the trailer for less than the rental fees. A used snowmachine
trailer would be ideal as it has a windbreak on the front. That
should be marketable at home,eh?

2. Rent the smallest van you can get that will let you put your
stuff in the truck and tow your car behind it. A tow dolly will
suffice on the elantra as you can tow with the front wheels on the
dolly and the rears free wheel anyway. I would also set it up to
return the rental in the US, either Massena or Plattsburgh. This
approach pretty much takes the worry off the car's capacity. You can
load thngs in the car too as long as you don't get silly like filling
it with books. I'd probably pu the TV and books/heavy things in the
van and clothes, bedding, computers, etc in the car.

1 free opinion worth every cent paid for it,
;-)
 
Thank you,

Good ideas. I tend to think at this point that shipping would work for
me the best.
 
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