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The Official Santa Cruz Towing Thread

318K views 1.1K replies 186 participants last post by  Norskie  
#1 ·
A lot of discussion about the towing capabilities as well as parts and accessories needed to tow with a Santa Cruz.

So whether you have naturally aspirated Cruz, rated for 3500lb towing or a Turbo and its 5,000lb rating, lets talk towing here!

Hoping to see updates on a 7 pin connection becoming available. As well as if there will be a plug and play input for an external brake controller.

Anyone else planning on towing?

If so, post up pics and discuss here!
 
#2 ·
As soon as a Santa Cruz is available with a 7 pin and brake control input avaialble as a factory option or dealer installed accessory... I will be using it to tow my 1700BH Winnebago.

Image


The local Hyundai dealer has quoted a trade on on my MB in the picture.

Hoping the Cruz will be up to the task.

My 17' Winnie is 3100lbs dry and has trailer brakes. Add battery, propane, water and gear, it will have a combined 3700lbs (trailer scale weighed) to lug around.

We had planned to tow the Winnie with an Ascent (5000lb rated), but plans abruptly changed so we need to sell the Benz to get a vehicle that can tow.
 
#360 ·
As soon as a Santa Cruz is available with a 7 pin and brake control input avaialble as a factory option or dealer installed accessory... I will be using it to tow my 1700BH Winnebago.

Image


The local Hyundai dealer has quoted a trade on on my MB in the picture.

Hoping the Cruz will be up to the task.

My 17' Winnie is 3100lbs dry and has trailer brakes. Add battery, propane, water and gear, it will have a combined 3700lbs (trailer scale weighed) to lug around.

We had planned to tow the Winnie with an Ascent (5000lb rated), but plans abruptly changed so we need to sell the Benz to get a vehicle that can tow.
We are also hoping to tow a trailer (max loaded weight of 3500lbs)....having trouble find a weight distribution rated hitch for the Cruz we have ordered, nor can I find any specs on the factory hitch (specifically whether or not it is rated for weight distribution.......anyone know anything further on this?
 
#4 ·
I hear that... much too much confusion. NOW it is sorted out. There is now both a 4 and 7 pin cable. 7 pin will be a late delivery. Tow bar has been there all along, but early confusion on 7 pin pushed interested SC ppl to make a change to a Maverick. That could have been better planned, given the 5k towing is a big selling point. Just saying..
 
#10 ·
"People act like this 7 pin is some magical cheat code for towing".

Im not disagreeing. But how can a multi-billion dollar company launching ANOTHER new vehicle touting a 5000lb tow rating NOT deliver on this?

Fact, even in the latest test drives with the media Hyundai is being VERY strategic in their towing demonstration.

Two jet skis on a lightweight trailer so as not to exceed their unbraked trailer towing rating.

Its clearly not as easy it may seem. And as always, follow the money, lawyers and fine print.

Going "after market" or going to "uhaul" for something so simple doesnt pass the sniff test.
 
#12 ·
But how can a multi-billion dollar company launching ANOTHER new vehicle touting a 5000lb tow rating NOT deliver on this?
For sure it’s very shortsighted by them, clearly Hyundai is not serious about towing, nothing but marketing fluff - no real substance here :cry: pathetic, they should be ashamed.

However this not unheard of, for example the Ford Ranger which is rated to tow 7,500lbs requires a $495 tow package. Need a brake controller? Not included, so you must pony up another $527. This is from Ford, the leader in truck sales, yet it takes $1,000 in options just to do it. Yikes! Talk about embarrassing.

Where are people tapping in for the brake controller though? I imagine that would be the hard part, as it should be somewhere you can see and adjust the gain, no?
Like the answer to everything these days - Bluetooth! https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Brake-Controller/Curt/C51180.html?
 
#15 ·
This is what I’ll be towing. Around 2k lbs dry, probably 2500 lbs loaded up, has trailer brakes.
1248

Not only does my Outback not have a brake controller, it didn’t even have an option for a class 3 hitch from the factory OR dealer (class 2 only), so aftermarket was the only way to go for the hitch and 7 pin harness. Thankfully we live in 2021 and the trailer actually came with a wireless brake controller mounted to the front of the trailer :) There are ways around needing a brake controller in the vehicle.
 
#17 ·
They dropped the ball for sure... but this is so common I put this down to the typical marketing BS you get from every OEM.

For example my "track ready" Z51 Corvette requires several modifications per the owner's manual to be driven on track - including installing special brake ducts, applying different alignment specs and changing various fluids (oil, diff & brake) only after all this work is finished can you actually run a few laps at speed. But don't worry your friendly Chevy dealer will happily assist once your credit card is approved for these services. Oh don't forget - when your finished enjoying your track day the car must be returned to its original street spec (all work above un-done) or your warranty could be voided.

In the end this 7 pin mess could be a bean counter problem. I bet they ran the numbers and realized that most people will never tow, or will tow something that only requires a 4 pin (like me) and thus they could save a few bucks on every SC that leaves the factory. But the marketing department wanted the "tows 5,000lbs" bullet point in their PowerPoint so here we are.
 
#18 ·
Overall, I think Hyundai would have sealed more early sales by at least announcing a factory 7-pin WITH trailer brake as an accessory option. Yeah, it would be an option. It would cost more. I'm cool with options. Not everyone wants/needs it, but some do - even if they ultimately never use it. I don't know that I'll want or need a trailer brake controller or even tow much of anything with the SC. But I also intend to keep it for 10+ years, and you never really know what will happen/change in that time. I'd rather have it equipped with something factory, covered by and not voiding any warranties on a brand new vehicle than not. The 4-pin will probably be fine for me. It would be great if there was at least a place in the dash for a controller to be added later. Is there one? I'm not sure, from my memory of the Tucson dash or the interior videos of the SC.
 
#22 ·
I was always aware of them on the Maverick. It would be so nice to have such a list for the Cruz...
For sure. So either the SC is over built and doesn’t need this stuff or Hyundai has no clue the type of abuse towing creates. Glad there is a 10 year warranty.
 
#23 ·
Just thinking out loud, for example, if you design and manufacture the radiator a little oversize, it could accommodate the additional load of towing. One part can cover both normal and towing capacity. Less parts to stock and inventory, simpler assembly line. Maybe more cost effective than designing and manufacturing two different parts. The KISS principle. Maybe just build towing capacity into the few necessary parts rather than build a normal vehicle and a towing capable vehicle.
 
#24 ·
That does make sense considering the base model has a 3500lb capacity. So you are probably right in that its "internals" are pre-designed to tow.

The issue most of us have is that it cant tow more than 1500lbs without trailer brakes, turbo or not.

It would be great to see a properly, fully documented, "here is what you need to tow to capacity".

Like the Ford 4K package.
 
#25 ·
The issue most of us have is that it cant tow more than 1500lbs without trailer brakes, turbo or not.
I wonder how much of that is CYA by the lawyers. My trailer has no brakes and my 20 year Dakota has rear drums yet still manages fine with approximately 2,500lb stacked behind it. Granted I’m in ruler flat FL which feels like cheating.
 
#29 ·
I was looking under the Santa Cruz. In the compartment under the driver side rear wheel well is a pig tail. I am assuming it is the View attachment 1360 plug and play trailer wiring harness. Has anyone else noticed this?
Yes... that is where it goes according to the install instructions (y)
 

Attachments

#33 · (Edited)
See image 4. 4 and 7 both plug in there. But I would add, that should be the spot to add a break controller as well. The controller modifies the signal to trigger the trailer breaks (adjustable by voltage). The controller is basically a pass through for some pins... other pins have their signal modified when you break. Since there is no 3rd party controllers, they don't show any of that info yet. There is a BT controller that does the same thing, but plugs into the 7 pin plug near the hitch.

For every recent controller I have installed, there is a cable where one end goes into the controller, the other end is a "T" connector. That "T" connector goes between the factory plug and the cable, which runs to the bumper.

Hard to know 100% until a 3rd party controller comes out. I am curious if they left a way to run the controller end to the inside of the cab to be mounted. Dodge is same, but it plugs in under the dash. That makes is easy to mount the controller under the dash. Is there any plugs or holes near it where that can happen?
 
#34 ·
I recently had a brand new Subaru Ascent, it came equipped, from the factory with a plug inside the dash on the left side where the driver's knee is. Just had to pop open the fuse box or look underneith.

I had the dealer install a Subaru hitch that came with a 7 pin attached to the hitch.

All I needed to do was plug in my Tekonsha brake controller to that plug in the dash. The controller sat nicely in a front cubby, though many Ascent owners screwed the brake controller into the fuse box cover. A $10.00 replacement part, if they wanted to go back to 'stock'.

On the trailer/hitch side, all I had to do was plug the trailer's 7 pin male/out cable to the hitch mounted 7 pin female in.

Hoping this is how it will go with the Cruz.
 
#35 · (Edited)
This is not that complicated... below are the facts as we know them currently -

#1 all SC models are pre-wired for a trailer harness. The pig tail pictured above allows for adding such a harness, its totally plug-n-play, anyone who can use zip ties can do this job.

#2 the currently available 4 pin harness just runs the trailer's lights. If your trailer's weight is under the limit, OR your state doesn't require trailer brakes, OR if your trailer has no brakes (like mine) your good to go at this point.

#3 if for any reason #2 doesn't apply to you then you need a 7 pin connector plus a brake controller. This gives you the extra wires needed to control the trailer brakes plus power the trailer lights.

#4 the 7 pin harness is not available yet from Hyundai, but the part is coming (part# K5F61AU400) welcome to owning a brand new vehicle with limited support and parts during its launch. However a Kia part (#S9F67-AC500) is available that appears to fit. This should be plug-n-play.

#5 you can convert a 4 pin to 7 pin via an aftermarket plug-n-play harness. Head off to Amazon and you'll find plenty, just make sure its not just an adapter but actually has the wires required to install #6. For example this one: Amazon.com: CURT 57672 Dual-Output 4-Way Flat Vehicle-Side to 7-Way RV Blade Trailer Wiring Adapter , Black: Automotive

#6 to actually control the trailer brakes with the 7 pin you need a separate brake controller. This is a little black box that does the magic. Hyundai not does make any such part so it will have to come from the aftermarket.

#7 normally the brake controller is wired under the dash with a knob of some kind to adjust the sensitivity and power of the brakes. We don't know if these wires are available under the dash on the SC yet.

#8 to eliminate the problem of #7 you can get a wireless controller.

#9 no reason to reinvent the wheel as Hyundai Palisade owners went thru this 7 pin brake controller pain already, they've done all the homework for us, follow their advice: 2021 7-pin harness

If I'm wrong (happens all the time, just ask my wife) then please correct me and I'll edit this post.
 
#36 ·
... #6 to actually control the trailer brakes with the 7 pin you need a separate brake controller. This is a little black box that does the magic. Hyundai does NOT make any such part so it will have to come from the aftermarket.
Insert "not".

Great info.
 
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#39 ·
Would love to see, via the official release of test drive reviews next week, a Cruz was outfitted to be tested towing up near its marketed max.

I understand what a 7 pin looks like.
I want to see it installed and in use along with a brake controller towing something more than unbraked max (1650lbs i think).

With TFL, Straight Pipes, Motortrend, MotoringTV etc at the helm.

I get the sense we will only see very VERY light duty tow reviews. Like a jetski, dirtbike or two.
 
#40 ·
I get the sense we will only see very VERY light duty tow reviews. Like a jetski, dirtbike or two.
I'd like to be able to tow my car to the track. It's street legal but it's not practical to dive to other the out of town tracks. Even at 5000# it seems like it will be close but I don't have any experience in towing. My car is currently about about 2750# and a lightweight hauler is about 1500#. I saw an even lighter trailer at 1060# and while the bed dimensions are big enough, it's SUPER close. I'm guessing that I should be looking at a trailer with a bit of room to spare. If anyone is knowledgeable in towing cars, I'd appreciate any information you have to share.
 
#56 ·
The Truth About Cars- "Santa Cruz turbo all-wheel-drive models packing a heavy-duty transmission cooler".
I called BS on that. Zero confirmation, nobody else has reported it. However I guess its possible all AWD models have some kind of cooling not found on the FWD models but I bet its just part of the AWD system and not separate, additional cooler.

I think any towing is going to affect acceleration; I guess the question is how bad was it? And what do they mean about burdening the transmission?
I too wonder what their point of reference is. Anytime you tow the acceleration and transmission are going to suffer some. Well unless you've got a diesel ;)

Re pin connections. 4 pin is standard, 7 pin exisits in myth and legend.
The 7 pin is real, it has been shown in a video. The secondary 4 pin in the dash for a brake controller has never been confirmed and personally I doubt they put one in.
 
#48 ·

Towing Pains
According to the manufacturer, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz can tow up to 5,000 pounds. During the media launch, we did a few runs with a trailer carrying a personal watercraft, which represented a combined weight of 1,100 pounds—or 22 percent of the vehicle’s maximum towing capacity.

That relatively light load did affect acceleration and made it harder to go up small hills at a steady speed. The transmission also felt burdened by the task at hand. So, if you need to tow on a regular basis, the Santa Cruz may not be the right pick.
 
#49 ·
Hmmmm. Perhaps it's wishful thinking on my part, but I kind of wonder about the comment about the acceleration and burdened transmission. I say that because they cite the 5000# towing capacity as a Strong Point but don't mention the towing experience as a Weak Point. I think any towing is going to affect acceleration; I guess the question is how bad was it? And what do they mean about burdening the transmission? They also said the turbo/DCT pairing was a Weak Point but don't mention this anywhere in the article. IDK, feels like a somewhat weak review and I'm taking it with a grain of salt.

On a side note (but related), I noticed that the power output is similar to the 2.3 liter EcoBoost found in the Ranger; which has a 7500# tow rating (the Ranger also weighs about the same or more depending on trims). Probably apples and oranges in that comparison (the transmissions are surely different) but if the Ranger can do 7500#, I don't see why the SC would have an issue with 5000#.