Kia Seltos is sleek and sophisticated, with great features of advanced technology and an all-wheel-drive capability. You can drive it anywhere you want, and so there's no doubt why a lot of car-lovers prefer this model! But can it be flat towed? If you're anticipating an answer to this question, fret no more because we did all the research for you!
Kia Seltos cannot be flat towed since it's not fit to function in that way. Since it's an SUV, flat towing can damage the transmission and drivetrain. Not only that, the vehicle's bumper is likely going to suffer from physical damage if you tow it.
This car's exterior checks all the boxes of modern-styled SUVs, and so it's vital to know how to take care of it, especially in towing situations. You can read further and have an in-depth understanding of Kia Seltos and why it just isn't capable of being flat towed.
Reasons Why Kia You Can't Flat Tow Kia Seltos
Kia does not recommend that you flat tow most of its SUVs because of several reasons involving how the vehicles are engineered. Below are the important key features you need to understand so that you don't make the mistake of flat towing Kia Seltos.
Kia Seltos Specifications
Its front has full LED headlights with daytime running lights, turn signals, and a fog signal. Its bumper has Kia's signature tiger-nose front grill made of aluminum silver plastics which makes the front compete with the rest of modern-looking SUVs.
Going through the vehicle's specifications: its engine type is 2.0 liter, In-line 4-cylinder with a displacement of 1999 cc. It has a fuel delivery system of a Multi-Port Gasoline Injection (MPI). It has a maximum horsepower of 146 at 6,200 rpm and maximum torque power of 132 lb-ft at 4,500 rpm with an Intelligent Variable Transmission.
Kia Seltos suspension type in the front is a McPherson Strut and coil spring, and the rear is a Couple Beam Axle with Coil Springs. The brakes in front are disc-type, and the rear brakes are drum.
Highlighting these specifications is equally important because for you to understand what it's capable and engineered for, and with some of the specifications mentioned above, it's only fit for smooth driving. Aside from this, there are a few engine types that Kia Seltos offers you so you can take a look at its specifications too.
Towing Capacity
The maximum brake towing capacity of Kia Seltos ranges from 2,400 lbs settling down to 1,200 lbs if the load is unbraked.
However, the Kia Seltos S Turbo and SX Turbo's towing capacity can pull 2,750 lbs but can still drop to 1,200 lbs when it comes to an unbraked load.
That being said, Kia Seltos is not fully equipped to be flat towed by any RV or motorhome. Doing the opposite can turn the vehicle to drastically suffer from terrible results to its engine, transmission, and AWD configuration.
But with the towing capacity of Kia Seltos mentioned above, it can pull a small teardrop camper if you wish to really take it to the outdoors. It provides you with convenience and the advantage of what the Kia Seltos can pull off since it can weigh about 1,500 lbs.
What To Do When Towing The Kia Seltos?
If you haven't got any options and you really need to bring the vehicle with you, there are important measures you might need to do and remember when towing the vehicle, which we are going to tackle in this discussion.
Flat towing Kia Seltos is inadvisable, however possible with the right amount of limitations and safety precautions.
In the event of towing it, it's important that you purchase the right tools to make this work efficiently. You will need a towing hitch, harness, and safety chains to guarantee the tongue connection between the hitch and the trailer so it won't skim off the road in case both vehicles disconnect.
A towing hitch is hooked onto the vehicle's chassis to connect it to the trailer. Selecting the right kind of towing hitch is essential as this influences how effective the towing is going to be.
This CURT towing hitch is known to do the right job! It's strong, versatile, easy to install, and can pull 5,000 lbs of trailer weight. It's fully tested to be durable as it is rust, chip, and UV-resistant.
Click here to see CURT's towing hitch on Amazon.
This MICTUNING wire harness is fit to install on any kind of trailer vehicle since it can tidy wires. At the same time, it's conveniently flexible and has the best sealing performance to function with the trailer hitch.
See Mictuning's harness on Amazon.
The safety chain is by far the most needed gear to make your towing safe. It keeps all the trailer hitch components are adequately connected together. This VULCAN safety chain is fit to serve its purpose since it grades 70 chains and hooks. It can pull up to 4,700 lbs.
See Vulcan's safety chain on Amazon.
Some Other Things To Consider
Kia Seltos will need a break-in period during the first 1,200 miles, and if not complied, it is possible that it will damage the transmission whether it's automatic or manual.
Recommendations from Kia manufacturer when driving if the vehicle is being towed:
- Continually run the vehicle at 60 mph on highways and any straight roads.
- Keep the vehicle under 40 mph on slopes and curved roads.
- Turn off the air conditioner when passing sloped roads and curves to avoid the engine from overheating.
What To Do With Kia Seltos Instead Of Flat Towing It?
Overall, if you don't want to risk towing your Kia Seltos there is a much better alternative to this.
Instead of flat towing your Kia Seltos, you can choose to flatbed tow it. As its title suggests, flatbed towing involves a flatbed truck onto which you can load your vehicle. Its truck bed comprises a hydraulic system that allows your vehicle to move either upward or downward.
It's conventional, safe, and, most importantly, hassle-free that saves your time and money! We have listed the benefits of flatbed towing to give you some useful insights:
- Flatbed towing prevents damage to the towed vehicle since it is placed on a platform. Unlike plain flat towing, which can potentially scrape the vehicle's bumper since both the trailer and towed car are near the ground.
- The hooks, chains, and trailer hitches can inevitably disconnect when applied with too much speed, specifically when passing some bumpy roads. With flatbed towing, these problems will never occur.
- Flatbed towing lessens transmission damage, drive configurations, engine parts, tires, and ignitions.
- Flatbed towing provides a good amount of safety on the road because the towed vehicle is simply strapped in the flatbed. Unlike flat towing, the vehicle can sway and cause nuisance along the road.
What Kia Vehicles Can Be Flat Towed?
Since the Kia Seltos has some minor inconveniences when it comes to towabilty, Kia has other models that guarantee you the possibility of flat towing. Some of these vehicles are the following:
Kia Soul GT
The Kia Soul GT has a manual transmission. It's flat towable since it has four wheels down and has a towing capacity of 2,000 lbs.
For further details on flat towing the Kia Soul GT, check out "Can You Flat Tow A Kia Soul?
Kia Forte GT
The Kia Forte GT has a funky styling ensured with a powerful engine with a 1.6 inline-four cylinder gasoline that can set out 200 horsepower.
It has the same towing capacity as the Kia Soul GT that is 2,000 lbs.
In Closing
Now that you know the setbacks of flat towing a Kia Seltos, the decision is up to your convenience on how you want to tow it! Just be mindful of the probabilities and risks that come along with it.
Above all, make safety a priority because traveling and towing take a lot of responsibility.
You can also check out similar articles on our site:
Can A Kia Sportage Tow A Camper? [Inc. 6 Practical Examples]