Parts Needed to Safely Tow a Pop Up Camper with a 2016 Kia Sedona

Question:

Hi there, I have a few questions about towing with our 2016 Kia Sedona and parts we might need, so thank you in advance for your help: 1 Theres a pop up that we want to buy and tow with a 2016 Kia Sedona. In talking with a local trailer company and my mechanic, they say we need a transmission cooler. The problem with that is if we install a transmission cooler we void the vans warranty. Do we really need a transmission cooler if the pop up GVW is 2200# and the Sedona can pull up to 3500# with an electric braking system? Will we burn out the transmission and the engine? 2 Also, we were told we could not add a traditional brake controller and so need to get a bluetooth controller. Can you confirm? 3 We need an axle bag system. Are there axle bags with air compressors so we dont have to inflate it ourselves? 4 It was recommended that we get a sway control hitch, whats your opinion and do you sell them? 5 What wiring harness would we need? Do we only need a 4 pin is that the right term? harness if we have a separate electronic braking system? Or do we need a 7 pin harness as well? Is there anything else we would need? And will towing a 2200# GVW pop up destroy our engine/transmission if only loaded to #2200? Thank you!

asked by: Asher S

Expert Reply:

1. Normally I'd say that your 2016 Kia Sedona would be just fine as long as the pop up has brakes, but since your towing capacity without brakes is only 1,000 lbs it would be a good idea to install one. As far as the warranty is concerned you are protected by the Federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. The Act states that if something breaks on your vehicle and you take it in for warranty repair, the dealer must honor your warranty unless whatever modifications you have added to your vehicle actually caused the problem in question.

When choosing a transmission cooler you want to get the largest one that will fit inside your engine bay. Something like the Derale 19-Row Stacked-Plate Transmission Cooler Kit # D13403 is a great option as long as you have enough room for the dimensions of 13" wide x 7-5/16" tall x 2" deep.

2. You most definitely can install a traditional brake controller, it will just be more of an involved installation since your vehicle doesn't have wiring already ran for it. If you want to go with a traditional controller I recommend the Tekonsha OEM Wiring Kit # TK24FR which comes with a plug for a Tekonsha controller like the popular P3 # 90195 or the cost-effective Primus IQ # TK90160 (which are my 2 recommendations).

3. There is an air bag kit that will fit your Sedona, which is the Firestone Coil-Rite # F4138. There are compressor kits that you can install like the Firestone Air Command I # F2158 that allows you to install and monitor the bags from inside your vehicle.

4. Sway control would be a good idea to add, but with a smaller, low-profile camper I'm not sure how much you will actually need it. If you want to use it then we have the traditional friction units like the Reese # 83660 (also need part # RP26003) which would be good for you. Just keep in mind that you need to disengage this prior to backing up.

5. The wiring kit # TK24FR that I recommended up at number 2 comes with a 7-Way socket which is what you need for trailer brakes. The 4-Way (or 4-Pin like what you said) will only carry trailer lights so a 7-Way is needed for brakes.

Aside from all of this you need a hitch, which I recommend the part # 75894 with wiring bracket mount # HM48625, and a ball mount kit like part # 989900 to wrap up your towing equipment.

This is quite a bit to take in so I'm linking a few key videos that you can check out as well as a link to our selection of helpful articles that you can reference for additional information when it comes to towing and all of these different parts.