Trailer Towing (2012 OB 2.5i 4cyl)

[crabjoe]

Originally Posted by Idlejunk

Just picked up my 2013 2.5i Premium CVT. The dealer installed a 400lb /4000 lb class 3 hitch with a 7 pin connector and my trailer brake controller. I haven't towed with it as I only have 150 miles on it... I plan to tow a larger pop-up trailer (1650 lbs empty, 2200-2300 loaded w/ trailer brakes) and a 19' aluminum boat (about 2500lbs on the trailer) on occasion. Apparently trailer brake controllers can be done on 2013's... All functions work fine.

Do you have any idea on how the 7pin connector was hooked up? Can you take a look at the connector for the brake controller to see if it looks from come from a factory wiring harness or if they pulled additional wires?

In the past, all the vehicles I've owned, that was prewired for a brake controller, had a connector for the brake controller already under the dash.

Thanks!

[Idlejunk]

I'll take a look in the daylight tomorrow. I'm guessing they wired it in as the dealer did not do the install. They took the car to a hitch/truck cap type place to have the install done as they said they had never installed a trailer brake controller.

I'll be towing a horse trailer on Friday - will be the first try with the new equipment. 1500 lb trailer, 1000 lb horse...

[mikelipke]

I will be very interested in your assessment of how the 173 ponies pull the one horse!

[Idlejunk]

The trailer brake connector is custom wired in, definitely not connected to any factory harness.

I will take a picture for everyone with the trailer hooked up... Note - this is not my primary horse hauler... just needed for the task this weekend - and I'm curious to see how it will do.

[mikelipke]

As am I.
I just hard wired my controller and seven pin, but have not tried pulling my 1800 lb pop up

[Idlejunk]

Originally Posted by mikelipke

I will be very interested in your assessment of how the 173 ponies pull the one horse!

Didn't try the horse trailer as 2 horses were loaded instead of one - and that would have put the total load well over max towing... But I have hooked up my 19' boat. No issues - tows it exceptionally well - even in the hills. Starts and stops confidently. Corners very well. I'm sure I have some of the 2013 suspension upgrades to thank for all of this. CVT had no issues figuring out what to do on hills.

My boat is just shy of 2700 lbs on the trailer.

The amazing bit of this is the improvement in fuel economy after towing. I have 3700 miles on the car. It's been averaging 25.2 MPG combined since new. Since towing about 40 miles, the average fuel economy has increased to 27.8MPG on the exact same drive using the exact same fuel.

I've held my observation for 3 fuel ups to be sure the trend continued - it has...

Towing the boat achieved 15.6 MPG on the OB - which is right in line with the MPG achieved when towed behind my Nissan Frontier (14 - 15 MPG) or with our Dodge Grand Caravan (17 - 18 MPG).

[mikelipke]

WOW is all I can say. My trailer is 1800 lbs, so should pull like a dream.

[Idlejunk]

Tows like a champ. 2800 lbs in tow (with a brake controller installed of course). Tows fine in the hills of NE Ohio / NW PA.

Only one horse on board!

[mikelipke]

How much of a milage hit, if you know?

[Idlejunk]

16 mpg in rolling hills. I now average 29.1 on my daily 70 miles commute.

I towed snowmobiles all winter and routinely got 17mpg towing them. I have 13,500 miles on the car, roughly 1/4 - 1/3 are with a trailer of some kind in tow (19' boat, a 19' pop up camper, snowmobiles, or a horse - though I won't use this for the horse often, it was more curiosity).