Towing with the 4.6

[orthoman]

Need to get rid of a lot of stuff, or just increase my options for the best touring car I have ever owned. I know the 4.6 has a racing/traction rear, but why can't use the horses to tow even low loads with low tongue weight? Will I destroy the car, I figure i will have to remove all traces of the tow bar to prevent warrantee issues. Anyone have the answer to tow or not to tow?

 

[Mark_888]

Need to get rid of a lot of stuff, or just increase my options for the best touring car I have ever owned. I know the 4.6 has a racing/traction rear, but why can't use the horses to tow even low loads with low tongue weight? Will I destroy the car, I figure i will have to remove all traces of the tow bar to prevent warrantee issues. Anyone have the answer to tow or not to tow?

There is no problem with towing, especially if 1500 lbs or less (assuming that your trailer is properly balanced).

 

[Jimmmmbo!]

The drivetrain will handle it fine. Hyundai doesn't warranty the car for towing so keep that in mind. I think it's more for the integrity of the chassis than anything else since they likely didn't design it with towing in mind.

That being said, a number of people have towed with it without problems. I just wouldn't be pulling big boats or such.

 

[msitter]

I have towed my bike (810 lbs) on a 5x8 trailer (500 lbs) cross country several times with nothing more than lower fuel economy. No problems with weight, acceleration or braking and the dealer has never mentioned the hitch being a problem. The only issue is the departure angle with the Curt hitch. You have to be careful when entering or leaving a steep driveway. Otherwise all is good.

 

[Jimmmmbo!]

... and the dealer has never mentioned the hitch being a problem ...

Careful. The dealer does not represent Hyundai corporate.

I agree that a less than 1,000 lb tow-load is likely nothing to the Genesis. But if anyone "expects" no resistance from Hyundai for drivetrain or chassis issues when you've been towing over the long term, they're fooling themselves.

 

[Mark_888]

Careful. The dealer does not represent Hyundai corporate.

I agree that a less than 1,000 lb tow-load is likely nothing to the Genesis. But if anyone "expects" no resistance from Hyundai for drivetrain or chassis issues when you've been towing over the long term, they're fooling themselves.

I don't know about any other model year of the Genesis Sedan, but the 2009 Owner's Manual has these references to trailer towing:

• Don't tow a trailer during the first 1,200 miles (2,000 km) of operation.
• Do not tow a trailer while the compact spare tire is installed.
• Perform more frequent maintenance under the Severe Usage Conditions schedule if Towing a Trailer, or using a camper, or roof rack. (As an example, that means oil changes at 3000 miles instead of 7500.)

Nowhere in the 2009 Owner's Manual did I find anything that says you cannot tow a trailer, nor does it say that towing a trailer will invalidate the warranty (so long as you follow the rules above). If I missed something, or that prohibition is included in a later model year Owner's Manual, I am sure someone will mention that.

The 2009 Owner's Manual also says that one should make sure not to exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) as specified in the sticker in the drivers door jamb. According to the 2009 Owner's Manual, to find out the actual loads on your front and rear axles, you need to go to a weigh station and weigh your vehicle.

Note that there is no mention of the V6 versus V8 in the 2009 Owner's Manual when discussing trailer towing, except that the GVWR and GAWR maximums are probably different.

 

[Jimmmmbo!]

Page 5-70 of the 2012 owners manual, section titled "Trailer Towing"

"We do not recommend using vehicle for trailer towing."

 

[Alwaysforward]

I would imagine that this will void warranty

 

[Jimmmmbo!]

Another spot in the 2012 manual on page 5-65. A little more confusing but I think they just took common language for all their cars in this section, and then added the caveat.

 

[Jimmmmbo!]

Nowhere in the 2009 Owner's Manual did I find anything that says you cannot tow a trailer, nor does it say that towing a trailer will invalidate the warranty (so long as you follow the rules above). If I missed something, or that prohibition is included in a later model year Owner's Manual, I am sure someone will mention that.

While there is no outright statement stating that towing will invalidate a warranty, I wouldn't try to challenge them in a legal situation based on the statements from the owner's manual I previously posted.

I was only speaking to what Hyundai would not warranty. I didn't say it would invalidate it. Two different ideas.

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[Jimmmmbo!]

Sorry, not trying to be a PITA, but just providing one more bit of info. From the 2012 Owner's Handbook and Warranty Information, in the section titled "What Is Not Covered":

- Any device and/or accessories not supplied by Hyundai.
- Modifications, alterations, tampering or improper repair.
- Parts or accessories used in applications for which they
were not designed or not approved by HMA.

 

[ifonline]

Seems to me that "what is not covered" does not equal "will void warranty." Likewise, "not recommended for towing" does not equal "will void warranty if you do," especially since the owner's manual also explains how to properly tow with the Genesis.

 

[Mark_888]

Page 5-70 of the 2012 owners manual, section titled "Trailer Towing"

"We do not recommend using vehicle for trailer towing."

Yes, I noticed that in the Owner's Manuals in later model years. However, since they don't prohibit towing, and the 2012 Owner's Manual contains much the same wording about Trailer Towing as the 2009 Manual (no towing during first 1200 miles, no towing when using compact spare tire, if towing then use Severe Maintenance Schedule, etc), then towing is de facto allowed under the warranty if you follow those rules (and also follow rules for maximum gross weight and axle weight). Otherwise, if towing were prohibited, then there would only be one reference to towing which stated it is not allowed under the terms of the warranty.

Now, as to what a dealer may say is always going to be pure speculation, because often times they will say anything that puts money in their pocket, rather than what is the truth. They would much rather do a non-warranty repair than a warranty repair because they don't get reimbursed as much by Hyundai for warranty repairs. Despite what dealers want you to believe, new car product warranties are governed by the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, and enforced by the Federal Government (in the USA), and are not determined at the whim of the service advisor.

 

[Jimmmmbo!]

Seems to me that "what is not covered" does not equal "will void warranty." Likewise, "not recommended for towing" does not equal "will void warranty if you do," especially since the owner's manual also explains how to properly tow with the Genesis.

As I mentioned to Mark earlier, I didn't say it would invalidate your warranty. I simply said that Hyundai is not under obligation to warrant the car for damage due to non-recommended use.

By example, let's say that as a result of towing a part of the frame became twisted, causing the car to "crab" (drives at a diagonal). Hyundai could say that under normal use that twist would never have occurred, and it only occurred because of towing, which they explicitly stated is not recommended. They would have legal standing to not be bound to fix the problem under warranty. Obviously, an arbitrator would have to assess that and make the final decision, but I simply just wouldn't go there.

Yes, I noticed that in the Owner's Manuals in later model years. However, since they don't prohibit towing, and the 2012 Owner's Manual contains much the same wording about Trailer Towing as the 2009 Manual (no towing during first 1200 miles, no towing when using compact spare tire, if towing then use Severe Maintenance Schedule, etc), then towing is de facto allowed under the warranty if you follow those rules (and also follow rules for maximum gross weight and axle weight). Otherwise, if towing were prohibited, then there would only be one reference to towing which stated it is not allowed under the terms of the warranty.

I agree that towing is allowed. I'm simply saying, as described above that Hyundai can have legal standing to not cover repairs under warranty for problems they determine to have been caused by towing.

 

[Mark_888]

I agree that towing is allowed. I'm simply saying, as described above that Hyundai can have legal standing to not cover repairs under warranty for problems they determine to have been caused by towing.

If the trailer hitch is properly mounted, and the trailer is properly balanced, and the rear axle weight limit is observed, there is not going to be any problem caused by towing. Some engines/transmissions cannot handle towing, but with a small trailer that is not a limitation for the Genesis V8 (or even the V6). However, if one is towing a trailer, plus having 5 large passengers inside the car, and several large dead bodies in the trunk, then one may exceed the weight limit and it would in that situation could be a problem.

 

[ifonline]

...and several large dead bodies in the trunk...

I've found that four is the maximum number of dead bodies I can stuff into the trunk before it all goes south.

 

[Jimmmmbo!]

If the trailer hitch is properly mounted, and the trailer is properly balanced, and the rear axle weight limit is observed, there is not going to be any problem caused by towing. Some engines/transmissions cannot handle towing, but with a small trailer that is not a limitation for the Genesis V8 (or even the V6). However, if one is towing a trailer, plus having 5 large passengers inside the car, and several large dead bodies in the trunk, then one may exceed the weight limit and it would in that situation could be a problem.

Agreed.