Parts Needed to Tow a 2,200 lb GVWR Trailer with a 2009 Saturn Vue

Question:

Hi There, I hope you can help me. I am 100 new to the trailer game and am a little lost. I have a 2009 V6 Saturn Vue and I am looking to purchase a River Rockwood Freedom 1640 pop up camper trailer. I believe my car has enough power to tow this, but reports on the web are all over the place. That said, what hitch and ball mount would you recommend? Thank you for your time and help. I really am very wet behind the ears when it comes to this. I look forward to purchasing from you.

asked by: Dan R

Expert Reply:

Whenever you need specifications on your vehicle, especially when it comes to weight capacity, the best place to go is straight to the owner's manual. I looked up an online version of the manual for your 2009 Saturn Vue and found on page 4-37 that if you have a 2.4L engine then your max trailer weight is 1,500 lbs. If you have the 3.5L or 3.6L engine then your max trailer weight is 3,500 lbs.

Since the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) of your River Rockwood Freedom 1640 looks to be about 2,200 lbs your vehicle will be able to handle the weight unless you have the 2.4L engine (also note that the Vue Red Line cannot tow a trailer). Be sure to follow any other weight guidelines highlighted in your owner's manual.

I recommend installing the Draw-Tite Max-Frame # 75556 for a trailer hitch. It has a Gross Towing Weight (GTW) of 4,000 lbs and a Tongue Weight (TW) rating of 400 lbs. These are greater than your Vue so you will be limited to the 3,500 lbs trailer towing limit set by Saturn.

You also need wiring to activate the lights on your trailer. For wiring # C56026 would be the correct harness. This plugs in behind your tail lights and then gets powered by the hot lead that is run up to the battery. The great thing about this installation is that is bypasses your vehicle wiring so in case something happens to your trailer wiring it will not backfeed into your Vue.

One of the most popular ball mount kits that we have is the Curt # C45036 which comes with a ball mount that has a 2" drop, a 2" diameter hitch ball, and the pin and clip to secure it all to your trailer hitch. You need to check out the attached ball mount article to ensure that the 2" drop is correct for your application.

For towing applications where the trailer weighs at least of the weight of the tow vehicle we recommend using a Weight Distribution (WD) system to help keep everything level and help with trailer sway. The Fastway e2 # FA92-00-0450 would be great for your towing situation. You will just need a hitch ball like the 2" diameter part # 40038. A thin-walled socket like part # EQ70-00-4800 is helpfil to install the hitch ball as there is limited clearance on the hitch head.

I have attached some helpful videos and articles for you to check out as well.