Fixed Tow bar Kia Sorento

Stewart P
Stewart P Forum Participant Posts: 31
edited November 2022 in Towcars & Towing #1

I've just purchased a 2019 Kia Sorento KX3 and have booked it in at the local tow bar fitting company who have fitted a tow bar to the Land Rover Freelander I previously drove. I said I wanted a fixed tow bar rather than a detachable and was given the standard warning that with rear parking sensors there is a risk that they will be set off by the tow bar when the caravan is not attached. Can anyone who has had, or has currently got, a Sorento of this age advise if they have had any issues with a fixed tow bar?

Peter

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Comments

  • dave the rave
    dave the rave Forum Participant Posts: 806
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    edited November 2022 #2

    I can tell you that there is no problem with my 2015 to 2019 model.My only wish would be auto turn off when reversing with the caravan attached!I turn them off manually at the initial manouvre but then they re activate if I pull forward for another bite!

  • Waffler
    Waffler Forum Participant Posts: 149
    edited November 2022 #3

    Agree with fluffy one. Our 2018 KX3 has a fixed ball. No problem.

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,425 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2022 #4

    Isn't there a switch to switch off the parking sensors? 

    Also we had a KIA fitted towbar and electrics and somehow it knows when the caravan is connected to the electrics and switches them off automatically, just a thought.

  • dave the rave
    dave the rave Forum Participant Posts: 806
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    edited November 2022 #5

    On mine there is a manual switch on the centre consul but I need to turn it off every time I pull forward and then reverse.The car rear foglights and reverse lights turn off automatically when connected to the caravan.

  • Trini
    Trini Forum Participant Posts: 429
    edited November 2022 #6

    Just a heads up.

    When we bought our 2015 Sorento we asked about a tow bar being fitted and were informed if it was fitted 'away' from Kia any electrical problems which may occur during the 7 year warranty may not be covered.

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,425 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2022 #7

    Yes same here, clever really, or so it appears to me.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited December 2022 #8

    it should be easy enough for a competent auto spark to modify your car's wiring to turn off the rear parking sensors when your trailer/caravan it attached .... (everything is easy if you know what you're doing 😉 )

     https://www.caravantalk.co.uk/reverse-parking-sensors-and-towing/

  • Amesford
    Amesford Forum Participant Posts: 685
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    edited December 2022 #9

    Some years ago the good lady who used to work at the Austin and her job was in the management car lease scheme, one of the managers who had fitted a tow bar to an Austin princes  rang the department to say the back doors would not shut properly so he was asked to bring it in, on inspection the tow bar had been fitted incorrectly and the body work had been stretched so much the back doors would not stay closed

  • dave the rave
    dave the rave Forum Participant Posts: 806
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    edited December 2022 #10

    As a person who ran a specialist tow bar fitting company for 30 years I find that extremely hard to believe !!I am trying very hard to remember the mounting points for the tow bar on a princess but as I recall there is no way that the tow bar could cause a "stretching" of the rear of the car so as to prevent the doors closing correctly!

  • Amesford
    Amesford Forum Participant Posts: 685
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    edited December 2022 #11

    I have checked with wife she contacted her ex boss and he has confirmed that's what happened 

  • dave the rave
    dave the rave Forum Participant Posts: 806
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    edited December 2022 #12

    I would love to see the engineers report!!It is more likely that whatever was attached to the towbar was far too heavy!

  • Stewart P
    Stewart P Forum Participant Posts: 31
    edited December 2022 #13

    Thanks for all your positive replies, all booked in to fit the towbar on 13th. I thought I had seen a few Sorentos on CAMC sites with fixed bars but not 100% sure so worth asking before as I could have specified the detachable if there was any doubt.

    Just need to make sure my Milenco Grand Aero mirrors fit now!

    Peter

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited December 2022 #14

    My question is why would you choose a fixed bar when there's a detachable option? 🤷‍♂️ IMHO towbars are a necessary evil but ugly ..... but each to their own

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited December 2022 #15

    Less faff when using the fixed typewink

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited December 2022 #16

    is it? 🤔 It takes me seconds to fit or remove a detachable bar ... and the ball doesn't rust when it's sat in my boot when not in use.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2022 #17

    I have a fixed tow bar on my Volvo and it doesn’t effect the reversing sensors however as soon as I mount the detachable hook on OH car the alarms immediately sound.  I’m guessing it’s how and where the sensors are fitted.  No rust on either of our tow balls 

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited December 2022 #18

    no rust on mine either & it's a leccy deployed one that lives on the car all the time .... but some balls do rust when left outside subjected to the elements ... just look at many of the fixed towballs 😉

  • dave the rave
    dave the rave Forum Participant Posts: 806
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    edited December 2022 #19

    Milenco can supply special "stepped" pads to fit the Sorento mirrors and they provide a very stable mount.Your local accessory shop will probably stock them or they are available on line.

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,425 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2022 #20

    I have a Sorrento and Grand Aero mirrors and no problems at all so hopefully you'll be alright.

  • Amesford
    Amesford Forum Participant Posts: 685
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    edited December 2022 #21

    And hurts your shins 

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited December 2022 #22

    Never hard that on the numerous tow vehicles, must be better than needing it seems a kneeling pad to save your knees when fitting the det hooksurprised

  • Amesford
    Amesford Forum Participant Posts: 685
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    edited December 2022 #23

    Ours is electric wink

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2022 #24

    I have never had the need to go down on my knees to fit a detachable tow bar undecided

    Bend legs, insert, click all done.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited December 2022 #25

    Oh no!! Something else to go wrongwink

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited December 2022 #26

    No back problems thensurprisedwink

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited December 2022 #27

    the hard part then is standing back up again! 😂

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited December 2022 #28

    So's mine 😉

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited December 2022 #29
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited December 2022 #30

    so .... nothing electrically operated in your Sorento then 🙄😉

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2022 #31

    ... and minelaughing

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