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Topic: Santa Fe - 5 seater

Supatramp

23/11/2015 at 2:08pm
Location: Ayrshire Scotland
Outfit: Santa Fe CRDi + Swift Conqueror 645

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I know there have been several posts previously about the Santa Fe, however I have a specific query about the 5 seater, without Self Levelling Suspension.

Rightly or wrongly, I got the impression that some people weren't 100% happy with the 5 seater and no SLS. I've had an original Sorento with SLS, and currently have an updated original model without SLS, and noticed no difference when I got the current car. However, the 'old' Sorento was always a different kind of beast to the Santa Fe.

So.........my question is, what caravan/s have 5 seater Santa Fe owners towed with their cars?

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David.

I used to be indecisive, but now I'm not so sure!

ENOCH

24/11/2015 at 3:28am
Location: TEESSIDE
Outfit: SWIFT FAIRWAY 530

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We had a 2011 Santa Fe and have towed 3 different caravans with it, all around 1550kg MPTLM. The car performed really well with all 3 vans but we found it became very low at the back when hitched up with the van and struggled at times to get the caravan hitch low enough to connect to the towball. I resolved the issue by fitting MAD springs. We have recently upgraded to a 2014 Sorento 7 seater and the van tows level and we have no issues when hitching up.

birdman101

26/11/2015 at 9:10am
Location: Milton Keynes
Outfit: 2023Archway Woodford

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We have 2011 5 seater and tow 1500kg .This motor does not have SLS, but tows better than my previous Sorento which did have it.I towed with the Sorento Auto for 10 years with no problems.I changed to the Santa Fe Auto which has 193 BHP compared to the Sorento which had 138 BHP and with this large increase in power, is even far more economical on fuel solo and towing.I have found when hitching up there is no difference in drop to the Sorento and when towing feel no difference to what the Sorento did.Overall well pleased with performance after about 5000 miles of towing.

SantaFe RMK

01/12/2015 at 10:54pm
Location: Woburn Sands Milton Keynes
Outfit: Santa Fe 2014 Coachman 560 VIP 2013

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I have a 64 Santa Fe 5 seater Auto premium, we pull a 2013 Coachman VIP 560/4, not a problem at all, get about an average of 25 mph towing. Only snag is the Witter towbar as fitted as Original equipment, it tends to drop, Witter have fitted stronger bolt and higher torque on the bolts, I have fitted spring washers as well. Have a look on the caravan club website on disscussions. Just done 20,000 miles in 15 months. Great car bad satnav.

MadFrank

04/12/2015 at 2:55pm
Location: Stratford Warwickshire
Outfit: Eccles 640 - BMW 520D Tourer

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I had a 2010 Santa Fe 2.2 Manual Style and it was a great towcar - pulled my 1750KG Twin Axle with no issues.

No SLS or anything like that - but had no problems with rear of car sagging or the van being uneven

Only got rid of it when arthritis in my knees started marking the clutch usage a little more painful than was worth putting up with.

Supatramp

04/12/2015 at 5:17pm
Location: Ayrshire Scotland
Outfit: Santa Fe CRDi + Swift Conqueror 645

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Quote: Originally posted by MadFrank on 04/12/2015

I had a 2010 Santa Fe 2.2 Manual Style and it was a great towcar - pulled my 1750KG Twin Axle with no issues.
No SLS or anything like that - but had no problems with rear of car sagging or the van being uneven
Only got rid of it when arthritis in my knees started marking the clutch usage a little more painful than was worth putting up with.

Thanks for your comments, but it's my understanding, rightly or wrongly, that the new model's rear suspension might be 'softer' that the previous model's.

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David.

I used to be indecisive, but now I'm not so sure!

SantaFe RMK

21/12/2015 at 5:52pm
Location: Woburn Sands Milton Keynes
Outfit: Santa Fe 2014 Coachman 560 VIP 2013

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As I mentioned before,on my 2014 5 seater, my witter bar kept dropping, I forgot to mention it was the bolt on fixed alko type, since refitting the towbar with the higher torque bolt and the spring washers I have towed for over 1000 miles and it no longer drops. I have also deliberatly had the nose weight at over 100 kgs to check it out with my Coachman 560/4, I have also towed my friends Unicorn which is very nose heavy, both vans at almost 1600 kgs, with no problems. And the springs seem to be well up to the towing job.

stevo1

21/12/2015 at 9:10pm
Location: UK
Outfit: None Entered

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Could you clarify please, when you say "tow bar drops" did it move when bolted to the plate ?

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stevo1

21/12/2015 at 9:11pm
Location: UK
Outfit: None Entered

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Could you clarify please, when you say tow bar drops, did it move when bolted to the plate ?

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SantaFe RMK

29/12/2015 at 9:42pm
Location: Woburn Sands Milton Keynes
Outfit: Santa Fe 2014 Coachman 560 VIP 2013

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Stevo, by dropping, what was happening is the crossbar that the flanged tube is fitted to has two bolts on each side and the bolts are not a close tolerence, you have to jack the towbar up as highas possible and then torque up the four bolts. As I mentioned with an alko hitch its about 1 inch further back from the center of the rear axle, that Hyundai, "Recomend" , with spring washers and a torque of 139 ft lbs , on the new bolts supplied by Witter it no longer drops, I believe from others that the swan neck from witter doesnt drop.
Hope this helps.
Hutch.

stevo1

30/12/2015 at 11:12am
Location: UK
Outfit: None Entered

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Cheers Hutch

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Supatramp

15/1/2016 at 8:05am
Location: Ayrshire Scotland
Outfit: Santa Fe CRDi + Swift Conqueror 645

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Well folks, been and gone and done it.

Picked up yesterday a 14 reg 7 seater Premium, complete with a detachable towbar and foldaway socket. Very pleased with it on the 240 mile run home, and all being well, off on Sunday with the Conqueror on the back.

Thanks again for your advice and comments.

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David.

I used to be indecisive, but now I'm not so sure!

blueexpo97

15/1/2016 at 3:12pm
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Enjoy.

Did you get it local?

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XVI yes?

As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.

Supatramp

15/1/2016 at 9:38pm
Location: Ayrshire Scotland
Outfit: Santa Fe CRDi + Swift Conqueror 645

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Quote: Originally posted by blueexpo97 on 15/1/2016
Enjoy.

Did you get it local?

You must be pretty local to me. I actually picked up 2 cars on the same day, one from Yorkshire, the other Lancashire. The Santa Fe, and a Skoda Octavia, and of course there's a dealer for both brands barely 30 minutes from me.

I'm sure if I'd been wanting brand new cars, they'd have been happy to order them for me, but get me what I wanted? Not a chance! A pretty poor show all round I'd say! And to make things even worse, their official Santa Fe demo is being used by one of the Ingram family, so if you want a test drive, there's a load of palaver.

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David.

I used to be indecisive, but now I'm not so sure!

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