Kia Sportage: Driving with a trailer

Towing takes practice. Before joining open traffic, spend time getting familiar with how your Kia Sportage and trailer handle and brake together. The added length and weight make the combination less responsive than the vehicle alone, so allow more time and space for every manoeuvre.

Before setting off, inspect the hitch and its platform, safety chains, electrical connectors, lights, tyres and mirror positions. If the trailer has electric brakes, begin moving the vehicle and trailer, then operate the trailer brake controller by hand to confirm that the brakes work. This also helps you check the electrical connection.

During the journey, stop periodically to check that the cargo remains secure and that the trailer lights and brakes are still working correctly.

Following distance

Leave at least twice the distance you would normally keep from the vehicle ahead when driving without a trailer. The extra space gives you more time to respond and helps reduce the need for hard braking or sudden steering.

Passing

When towing, you need a longer clear stretch of road to pass safely. Because your Kia Sportage and trailer take up more length, wait until you are well clear of the vehicle you have passed before returning to your lane.

Backing up

Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand. Move your hand to the left to guide the trailer left, or to the right to guide it right. Reverse slowly and, whenever possible, ask someone to guide you from outside the vehicle.

Making turns

Take turns wider than usual so the trailer clears soft shoulders, kerbs, road signs, trees and other obstacles. Avoid abrupt steering or sudden manoeuvres, and signal well before you turn.

Turn signals when towing a trailer

Towing requires a different turn-signal flasher and additional wiring. When you signal a turn or lane change, the green arrows on the instrument panel flash. If the trailer is connected correctly, its lights should flash as well to warn other drivers that you intend to turn, change lanes or stop.

The green arrows on the instrument panel may continue to flash even if a trailer light bulb has failed. Do not assume that drivers behind you can see your signal: check that the trailer lights work from time to time, and every time you disconnect and reconnect the wiring.

Do not connect trailer lights directly to the Kia Sportage lighting system. Use an approved trailer wiring harness.

Have a professional workshop install the wiring harness. Kia recommends contacting an authorised Kia dealer or service partner.

WARNING

Using a wiring harness that is not approved for the vehicle can damage its electrical system and may cause personal injury.

Trailer light connection detection

This feature is available only with genuine accessories, including a tow bar and wiring harness, that can detect a connected trailer and notify the vehicle systems. To recognise a trailer after its socket is plugged in, the system requires either the brake pedal to be pressed or the turn signals to be activated. The electronic control unit detects the trailer through the power drawn by its lights and then informs the vehicle systems.

After the trailer is disconnected, press the brake pedal or activate the turn signals again so the control unit can detect that the trailer lights are no longer drawing power. Any assistance systems that were switched off can then turn back on automatically.

The driver remains responsible for checking that every electrical connection is secure and that all trailer lights work before and throughout the journey. Always verify their operation manually.

CAUTION

Use only genuine electrical connections. Do not splice trailer wires or connect them directly by other methods. Incorrect wiring can damage the Kia Sportage electrical system and cause malfunctions.

Driving on grades

Before descending a long or steep hill, reduce your speed and select a lower gear. Without a suitable lower gear, you may need to brake continuously, which can overheat the brakes and reduce their effectiveness.

On a long uphill climb, select a lower gear and reduce your speed to around 70 km/h (45 mph) to help limit the risk of engine or transmission overheating.

CAUTION

• When towing on a steep grade greater than 6%, watch the engine coolant temperature gauge closely. If the needle moves towards “H (HOT)” or 130°C (260°F), pull over as soon as it is safe and allow the engine to idle until it cools. Continue only when the temperature has fallen sufficiently.

• Choose a safe speed based on the trailer’s weight and the steepness of the climb to reduce the risk of overheating the engine or transmission.

Parking on hills

Avoid parking your Kia Sportage with a trailer on a hill whenever possible. If the trailer moves unexpectedly, people could be seriously injured or killed, and the vehicle or trailer could be damaged.

If parking on a hill cannot be avoided, follow these steps carefully:

1. Move the vehicle and trailer into the parking space. Turn the steering wheel towards the kerb: to the right when facing downhill or to the left when facing uphill.

2. Apply the parking brake and switch off the vehicle.

3. Place wheel chocks against the trailer wheels on the downhill side.

4. Start the vehicle and hold the brakes. Select Neutral, release the parking brake, then slowly release the brakes until the trailer’s weight is resting against the chocks.

5. Apply the brakes again and reapply the parking brake.

6. Switch off the vehicle. Release the vehicle brakes while leaving the parking brake firmly applied.

WARNING

• Parking on a hill with a trailer attached can result in serious injury or death if the trailer breaks free.

• Never leave the vehicle unless the parking brake is firmly applied. If the engine is running and the brake is not securely set, the vehicle could move suddenly, causing serious injury or death to you or others.

When you are ready to leave after parking on a hill

1. Apply the brakes and keep the brake pedal pressed while you:

   • Start the engine;

   • Select a gear; and

   • Release the parking brake.

2. Ease your foot off the brake pedal slowly.

3. Move forward slowly until the trailer is clear of the wheel chocks.

4. Stop and have someone retrieve and store the chocks.

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