tough situation

[mattydipps]

okay, where do I begin?

I've recently made a decision to go back to school and change careers. in doing so ive decided to lower down my expenses to a bare minimum each month just incase i have to lower my position down at my current job (and pay) to focus more on school, if i start falling behind or if i dont have much time to get on school.. so i decided to get rid of my tow rig and get into a much more fuel efficient car.. i picked up a 2011 hyundai sonata... (awesome cars if anyone is thinking about them)... the owners manual.. and a few forums ive search.. suggest to NOT tow with the car.. and honestly im not sure if i want to take that risk.

so i have a couple options..

throw a hitch on my moms car and have to plan on going out with the ski around her schedule... she doesnt like to drive my car...

buy a cheap beater to get me to and from the dock... (im not crazy about this option.. kind of negates the money im saving on my new car with an added insurance payment)

rent a dock slip and keep the ski stored on a floating dock for the summer..

sell the ski and move on... ( NOT A BIG FAN OF THIS ONE!!!)

i have a buddy of mine who owns a marina and will rent me a slip for really cheap a month.. so i would have to buy a floating dock.. not a big deal but heres the catch..

how can i flush the ski after every use if the ski never comes out of the water? what are the chances of someone with sticky fingers taking my ski ? what are the overall risks im taking leaving my ski in a random marina sitting on top of salt water for months at a time?

i know a couple buddies who leave their skis on floating docks in marinas for the summer.. but they ride yammys and id rather hear it from seadoo guys..

 

[LouDoo]

It sounds to me that you best option is to borrow your Mom's car. SeaDoo's don't do well in salt, I wouldn't keep one at the dock even on a float. Actually Yamaha's do better in salt water than SeaDoo's.

Lou

 

[KK40384]

Honestly just put a hitch on the Hyundai and call it a day. I towed my ski with a Ford Fusion before. I have a friend that pull a doubly trailer with a dodge stratus. Great ideal? No but a single ski and trailer are usually under 1500 lbs which is a class 1 hitch. Your Hyundai can easily handle it as hong as you don't load up on luggage and go on long trips.

 

[Spimothy Leary]

i'd sell the 2011 car, assuming you don't commute 50 miles a day, and go back to an old late 90's 4banger pickup.

and ps.. if its a 2 smoker on a single trailer, a hyundai will tow it most likely.. i'd be shocked that it wouldn't.

 

[Ryan331]

Having worked for the company I know a lot of things the public won't know.. I will NEVER EVER own a hyundai/kia.. I'll only drive one as a rental if I'm at a podunk airport that doesn't have another car available

That said, I vote for using your mom's car and talking her into letting you use her car anytime you need to tow with it..

 

[KayakNFly]

I tow mine with a 2006 Mazda 6. (96 xp). Installed the tow hitch myself, hitch on car is rated to 2000lbs. In the USA it says not to tow. My same car built at the same factory but sold to Australia or New Zealand is rated at 2000lbs. No transmission cooler or anything extra. The towing is an upsale here and as such all the major car manufacturers say not to tow with the sedans and then get you to buy a more expensive truck or SUV. Incidentally some SUVs have the same frame, transmission etc as some sedans. Ford's explorer is basically the same as the Taurus with a different body style. My car has the same base frame as the ford ranger and escape of the same year, with a different engine, but the 4 cyl engines in those cars are rated at 2000lbs towing. So who knows....

The biggest issue will be in regards to insurance and liability if you are towing and it's not rated for it, differs state to state. I know my rig, trailer and ski only weighs 680 lbs. Had it weighed to get trailer registered. Just stuff to think about but there will be people who say no and people who say yes. Your choice. If its light and you aren't towing far and our state laws aren't too bad I'd do it.

 

[red2blue]

trade your hyundai for a jetta tdi....2K towing and better mpg while doing so...heh

 

[LouDoo]

I still think in your situation, Mom is the best solution. Mom's always come through.

Lou

 

[NX EXA]

I'd say put the hitch on it. A lot of small cars in the US now rate "do not tow". I have a Mazda 3 and it's the same "do not tow". I've had a tow hitch on my car for 4 or 5 years now and have towed more things than probably 75% of the vehicles in my city and have never ever had an issue, and I'm on lowered suspension. I've had 2200 lbs on a trailer rated 2000 lbs max and the only problem wasn't even from the car, the weight blew out the tyre plug from a plugging job, that's it! I wouldn't sweat it, it's just a cover-up thing for the US market. You'll be fine.

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

Hitch up the Snotta!

 

[richardpr]

Today i saw a 80's 3 cylinder suzuki forza towing a gtx. I'm sure the hyundai can handle it