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Per the owners manual, the Santa Fe with the 3.3L engine is rated for 3500 lbs "maximum towing weight" (with trailer brakes). The manual also says hitch weight (tongue weight) is 350 pounds (10%). My trailer weighs loaded up about 3300 pounds so I am not exceeding the max towable weight of the vehicle. For added safety I also have a weight distribution hitch and sway control. Like I said before my Santa Fe pulls it real nice and brakes real good too (thanks also to tandem trailer electric brakes). It just sucks gas!
By the way my trailer is an '07 Fun Finder 189FBS made by CruiserRV. I'm going to buy an air deflector to mount on the roof rack. Hopefully that will improve the mpg.
Also, besides not exceeding the GVWR with passengers, cargo and trailer tongue weight, you need to be careful not to exceed the weight rating of each axle. It's not uncommon to find that a rig may be o.k. from a GCWR and GVWR standpoint, but still be exceeding the weight limit of the rear axle.
You can sometimes address that last issue with the use of a weight distributing hitch. Your posts say, in fact, that you are using a weight distributing hitch. My recollection, however, is that the Santa Fe owner's manual specifically warns against using a weight distributing hitch, which is typical for unit-body vehicles (weight distributing hitches are really designed for use with body-on-frame vehicles like conventional trucks). What hitch (make and model) are you using?
Going to a VW/Infiniti/BMW dealer today to look at a Pontiac SV6 loaded minivan. I'll let you know what they offer just in case someone else has this question down the road prior to published values coming out.
Do you have any experience towing with this vehicle? Do you know if a two package can be added as an after-market item?
Thanks for any help.
Gordon
depending on how much you will be towing, the Touring PKG also includes an oversized radiator and little transmission cooler. I also think the suspension is a little different.
if it is a small light pull...this all does not matter IMHO...I went for the Pkg and bought my hitch from Etrailer as well (Drawtite) Great outfit and CHEAP too. Mine had the "prewired trailer wiring" (the big rip off) which caused me to buy the special wiring adaptor from Hyundai (still could have used the Etrailer Modulite if I wanted to...this was much easier,and does not give Hyundai any warranty "squiggle" room :P but also and additional $80...I think the Modulite wiring with T connectors is about $35! Hope this helps
Um, not really. It true that it is easy to add a hitch and wiring harness, but that's not what the Hyundai factory "tow prep" is. In fact, the Hyundai factory tow prep (included with Touring Package on SE and Limited models) doesn't include the hitch and wiring harness, as those are dealer installed accessories. The factory tow prep consists of an upgraded radiator and fans, trailer pre-wiring (so a trailer wiring harness just plugs in and does not require splicing), AND upgraded suspension. With the Touring Package (tow prep and 3rd row seat), the Santa Fe AWD's gross weight rating is increased from 5,291 lbs to 5,556 lbs, and the towing capacity is increased from 2,000 pounds to 3,500 pounds. You still need to add a hitch and wiring harness.
So just putting a hitch and wiring harness on a Sante Fe without the tow prep will not give you the ability to tow as much as a Santa Fe with the factory tow prep package. You'll still be limited to a 2,000 pound trailer, and a 5,291 lb gross vehicle weight.
I bought a 2007 Limited AWD with Touring, so mine came with tow prep. I did not get the dealer-installed hitch and wiring harness, which are something like $500. Instead, I bought a hitch from e-trailer and installed it myself, and got the Hyundai plug-in wiring harness from my dealer's parts department for $81, which I also installed myself. The end result is that I spent about $200 for the hitch and wiring, but my Sante Fe will safely tow a 3,500 lb trailer.
I do appreciate the extra info though, especially the specific details about weight limitations. There have been a few postings in the past where people are unhappy with trying to tow more than the vehicle is rated to pull. One should also note that hauling large loads on vehicles that are no necessarily designed to do so can be very bad on a transmission.
Also thought you may be interested to know that the wiring harness from etrailers also requires no splicing. It is plug and play much like the factory harness.
In the past hyundai has threatened to void the electrical warranty (Not legal but who has the $$ to fight them) if you add 3rd party mods, adds etc...Just an FYI.
That type of harness has been around a Long time and works well and is cost effective.
Funny since the "official splice harness" from hyundai is probably the same inside the converter box (as is the plug and Play version)..
Like the other poster, I bought my Hitch (drawtite) from etrailers and plug n play harness from Hyundai...about $200 total. I added a new ball, receiver and locking hitch pin so the total was enough to get the .99 cent fgt deal from Etrailers.
Auto manufacturers do not want anyone infringing on their territory! That is the only reason I spent the $80 for the official plug and play harness...Modulite=$35 and for the xtra few $$ I feel better about the warranty...no room for them to squiggle!
You are 100% correct, the SF is NOT a truck and thus is somewhat limited in towing capacity. Have fun with your SF!
Gordon
1) I had the autolocks programmed at the dealer on the first visit back. Somewhat related to this, I know that they will not auto unlock when the vehicle is placed in park or turned off but is there some programming that can be done to turn the interior lights on when the vehicle is turned off. I've gotten very used to this feature in all my other cars (save the Dodge Magnum as it seems Chrysler isn't big on this) and find it odd that it doesn't happen in the Hyundai.
2) The factory brochure refers to the rear wiper as "intermittent" but all I see is either continuously "on" or "off." I haven't tried to mess with the intermittent control for the front to see if it has any effect on the rear yet, but I doubt it. Anybody know? To me, on a rear wiper an intermittent setting is more useful than a continuous setting.
3) What I'm getting from recent posts is that the only way one would have the "towing package" is if the vehicle is equipped with the "touring package." I've researched and it appears that a towing package is not a stand-alone option at all. It would seem that if an aftermarket transmission cooler was added, one could bump the standard 2,000 lbs. to 3,500. In my experience with other vehicles, the trans. cooler (also sometimes an engine oil cooler) is the key component to greater tow limits (anybody can add a hitch, and I'll add that it does seem ridiculous that a towing package doesn't come standard with one from the factory). The only thing that concerns me is the discussion about there being an upgraded suspension with the 3rd seat, touring models. I wonder if there is a substantial difference here that really affects towing?
Thanks in advance for anything you all could provide.
2024 Ram 1500 Longhorn, 2019 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2019 Ford Mustang GT Premium, 2016 Kia Optima SX, 2000 Pontiac Trans Am WS6
2. The rear wiper is actually quite cool in its operation. When you turn the switch to the "On" position, the wiper runs continuously for around 10 seconds, then automatically changes to intermittent. The interval cannot be adjusted.
Now i'm afraid that Hyundai will drop the standard transmission also.
Many Santa Fe autos are produced in Korea and shipped to many countries. Please if you know where a supply of Santa Fe autos are available with the standard transmission please reply.
According to Hyundai, the "tow prep" that comes with the Touring Package included upgraded radiator and fans for increased cooling, and the trailer pre-wiring. I don't recall whether a trans oil cooler is part of the package, but I don't think it is. FYI, I've never heard of an "engine oil cooler" and the trans and engine oils do NOT intermingle. If you have a trans oil cooler, it cools the oil in the trains only - not the engine oil. The engine oil temp is controlled by your engine cooling system (radiator, fans, water pump, etc.) which keeps the block temp within the prescribed range.
As for suspension, all that I know for sure is that the Touring Package results in a higher GVWR. It's not higher by a lot -- something like 250 pounds or so. That could be the result of the cooling upgrades alone, or it could indicate stiffer springs, different shocks, larger brakes, or any combination thereof. Since Hyundai doesn't say, anything is possible. I imagine that it is possible to make reasonable aftermarket additions to safely tow more than 2,000 pounds, but you're almost certainly voiding your warranty if you do.
Right, I realize that engine and transmission oils do not intermingle. Not sure where I got engine oil cooler from, as I was thinking about a power steering cooler as the other type that is sometimes found. My '00 Ram Air Trans Am has one of these, although in this application it is for performance and not towing.
I looked at some SFs this evening at the dealer and found some (all with touring pkg) that clearly had the transmission oil cooler while others did not. If equipped, it is a black cooler located just behind the grille on the driver side. ALL of the SFs also had another, much smaller silver part that looks like another type of cooler behind the grille on the passenger side. It is located lower than the other but still just in front of the A/C condenser. I mistakenly thought this was the trans. cooler on mine, but I've now confirmed that mine does not have the towing package.
Interestingly, every SF I looked at also had the harness for trailer wiring tucked inside the left quarter panel so this apparently isn't limited to those with the actual trailer package.
2024 Ram 1500 Longhorn, 2019 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2019 Ford Mustang GT Premium, 2016 Kia Optima SX, 2000 Pontiac Trans Am WS6
Ummm. All Santa Fe's that are shipped to USA or Canada are made in AL. Including the 5 speed manual. Most Americans don't want a 5 spd so most dealers don't order them. If a dealer has one on the lot, it is so they can place the ubelievable price ads that say buy a Santa Fe for 18k. If you really want a 5 speed ask your dealer to do a search. HMMA made the '07 until June of this year. Montgomery Vehicle Processing (the company that handles US & Canada shipping for HMMA) has not had time to ship out the remaining '07s. The vehicle you are looking for may be in a storage lot in Central Alabama. Your dealer will have to work for the sale but if they want the sale bad enough...
No Santa Fe's or Sonatas are shipped from Korea to the US.
view from Outside the vehicle under the rear driver's side fender well....2 pigtails in the harness. Best done lying on your back looking up! A creeper helps.
Information I received that the GLS with standard transmission is assembled in Korea came from what I thought was reliable information. It is clear that you are better informed and I was delighted with your response. Please tell me what is the source of your information that I may be better informed in the future. Do you know if the 07 GLS has been delivered with the standard transmission and the premium equipment package? I notice that on earlier Hyundai BUILD YOUR OWN internet sites the area where you would add the PREMIUM option to the vehicle it did not say "AT" (automatic transmission only). Now it clearly states "AT" in the area where you would add the Premium Option. I am pursuing your instructions regarding the dealers ability to search and pursue the vehicle that I desire.
Many thanks
I, too, have been told that 2007 Santa Fe GLS models with manual transmission sold in the U.S. are built in Korea and not Alabama, at least earlier in the model year.
I see what you mean regarding the HyundaiUSA web site. In the "build your own" section, if you add options to a GLS FWD or AWD it clearly implies that the optional automatic transmission ("AT") is required in order to add the Premium, Touring, or Ultimate Package. Oddly, it allows you to select any of the packages without also adding the automatic transmission; this could just be a web site fluke.
The 2007 Santa Fe brochure does not specify anything about whether or not these packages are available on GLS models with the manual transmission.
If you go to Edmunds.com => New Cars => Hyundai => 2007 Santa Fe and then select any of the GLS models with manual transmission (with or without XM, FWD or AWD), then "Price with Options", you'll see that none of the packages show up as available options. According to Edmunds (and I've found their info to be very accurate), the only options available on GLS models with manual transmissions are carpeted mats, cargo tray, mud guards, and first aid kit. All of the packages are shown as being available on GLS models with the optional 4-speed automatic.
I spoke to my dealer this afternoon. He said that for the entire 2007 model year he has not received a single Santa Fe GLS with manual transmission; they're quite rare.
I just checked the Fitzmall.com web site. They have several GLS 5-speeds in stock (2 FWD and 3 AWD). They all have carpeted mats and 1 has the cargo tray but that's it as far as options.
From all of this I'd have to conclude that none of the packages are available with a manual transmission. Sorry to have to give you the bad news.
Good luck- and if you are able to find any details please post.
I'm concerned because the current radio and surrounding trim is gray. I worried that it might look a little awkward.
It would be great if someone could post a picture....
I use Yahoo Music subscription on my MP3 player. That service does not allow me to create MP3 disks.
I love the Santa Fe, but there is no excuse for not having an audio input.
Does your Santa Fe have XM? If so, another thing to look into is the location of the XM receiver. (I don't know whether it's a separate receiver or integrated into the head unit.) If it's a separate receiver, it's quite possible that an input jack can be wired into it. I've actually heard of this being done with other cars. While I don't know the technical details, I can tell you that it has worked for others. To listen to the MP3 player, you'd select one of the XM modes (1, 2, or 3) and tune to channel 0. You'd then hear only the output from your MP3 player.
It may be worth checking with a skilled car stereo installer to see whether or not this is possible.
Here's a link to a Norway source that ships to the U.S.-- I've not yet found a U.S. source.
http://www.xcarlink.no/Default.asp
I have no personal experience with this device but it might be worth a try.
As far as 5 spds not being on dealer lots... Dealers order the vehilces on their lots. They don't just 'show-up.' Just like any other commodity the inventory is not shipped until ordered. The only thing shipped is what the retailer orders.
Car dealers actually buy the autos they sell. The dealers buy them from distibutors/factories. They have to pay interest, insurance on them, etc. That's why you have a better chance of getting a great deal on a car they have had for awhile. In states that have inspections with visible stickers/expiration dates you can tell how long a car has been on the lot (EX: there's a '07 GLS, 5spd, AWD at Hyundai of ILM. The expiration date on NC Inspection sticker is Feb '08... Therefor the car has been on the lot since Feb...)
If you go to other dealerships that sell other cars and look on the lot... most of the vehicles will be mid-level vehicles in the model line. You may find a base model with a few options in the back of the new car area... Next to the used cars... Dealers order what sells. Manual transmissions with base options don't sell... In the middle of big city, say, New Orleans, LA... you would be hard pressed to find, say, a Base 4X4 Jeep Libery sitting on a dealer's lot.
Seems the most popular Santa Fe model ordered was the FWD SE. AWD GLSs are out there... They built them... Your dealer just has to work for his money....
The problem is very real for those looking for a Santa Fe GLS with manual transmission. Technically (according to the brochure and Hyundai's web site), they're available. The trouble is, very few dealers actually have them and no dealer can order them specifically configured for a customer. Pretty lame IMO.
The dealers do get holdback to help defray that interest expense. That's why many love special orders - the holdback can be pure profit. And your point about buying a car that's been on the lot a while is true too - those are really costing the dealer just sitting there. Often the owner will give a money spiff or bonus to the salesperson who moves them off the lot.
Hyundai holdback is 2% of the total invoice. (link).
True, but Hyundai's method is no different than the Japanese brands, Toyota in particular. On paper there are a huge number of different configurations, but in reality the vast majority of vehicles built are in relatively few configurations and getting a configuration that is out of the mainstream can take forever. Of course that doesn't stop dealers from talking about "ordering" a vehicle, knowing that the customer thinks they mean "order" in the GM/Ford/Chrysler sense of the word, when it really means wait until something close to what you want gets built, which could be months later or never. This system makes less and less sense as more and more Asian auto plants get built here in the U.S., but I don't see any signs of it changing.
As far as any 2007 Santa Fe goes... you can't order any of them. They are not building them anymore. I was stating that the dealer will have to work harder and try to get te distributor (Montgomer Vehicle Processing) to locate the exact Santa Fe.
The OP had said his dealer had not seen a manual all model year... Simply because he had not tried to get one!
jt
I wanted a clean installation, and after vising a few audio shops I settled on a Best Buy that had an tech with an advanced rating who was willing to modify the input jack and power switch. Best Buy doesn't carry wired FM transmitters, so I brought him an Audiovox unit, along with a stereo mini jack and a rocker switch from Radio Shack to replace the unit's standard phono jacks and unsightly red power switch. which he soldered to the Audiovox unit. The mini jack is cleanly installed between the heated seat buttons next to the power plug, and the rocker switch is installed in an open area next to the ESC/Dash Panel dimmer/Fog light switches. The total cost was about $175.
NeilP
After much consideration, however, I leaned away from these to the top rated hand held unit, the Garmin Nuvi 660 and was actually moments away from ordering it when I read the post. What attracted me to it were the FM modulator capabilities for playing the navigation instructions and MP3s from the GPS unit through the cars stock stereo system and, when paired with a bluetooth phone, it also acts as a hands-free unit, all of which would be useless if the FM modulator capabilities were inhibited.
Now, I am once again giving the Pioneer systems more thought. What scares me about the Avic-Z2, simply put, (besides the price) are the moving parts (hard drive and screen). The more moving parts, the more to break down. So back to the Avic-D3.
I’ve seen many previous posts from people who had installed this unit (D3) in the 07 Santa Fe. I have a few questions that I don’t want to clog up this forum with. Would any of you who have installed this unit be willing to drop me an email so I might ask a couple of (probably stupid) questions? (grandillusion@mchsi.com) Thanks!
Why not ask them right here? All will benefit.
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