Towing with a Kia Niro EV - Walkthrough

In this video, we answer some FAQ's about our fully electric towing setup, and walk you through the modifications we did to make this possible.
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Parts:
Curt Class III Hitch
www.etrailer.c...
Hitch Clamp
www.amazon.com...
Tongue Weight Ball Mount
www.amazon.com...
4 Pin Trailer Harness - Kia Niro
www.etrailer.c...
4 Pole to 7 Pole Adapter
www.etrailer.c...
Tekonsha 90250 Wireless Brake Controller
www.amazon.com...
Music:
3am by Tokyo Music Walker / user-356546060
Creative Commons - Attribution 3.0 Unported - CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: bit.ly/3am-tok...
Music promoted by Audio Library • 3am - Tokyo Music Walk...

[@stephenclay6852]

That range is amazing with that much weight on the trailer. It proves that electric cars can tow

[@ECOBRAP]

Yes, very cool and we are looking forward to testing more!

[@shawnnoyes4620]

Curt Trailer Hitch and Wiring Harness worked perfectly! Thank you sir!

[@LJLion]

Your video about Niro ev is pretty informative. You should post more often for more traction and subscribers.

[@ECOBRAP]

Hi L L, that was the plan until the shelter in place happened! When things start opening up, we will get back to it, so make sure to subscribe yourself! Thanks for watching

[@Vance69ify]

Thanks so much for sharing this video and all of the statistics about the car. I feel much more comfortable with doing this same project on my car for a snowmobile trailer. :)

[@ECOBRAP]

you are very welcome!

[@keegan854]

Cool video. I learned several things about towing. Thanks for sharing!

[@xrotaryguy]

Thank you so much for this video!!! I really want my regen to do all my braking until I actually press on the brake pedal. And I don't want to keep messing with the brake balance to make this happen. So I plan to install a Road Master RM-751000 auxiliary brake pedal switch. It aims a IR signal at the fire wall so there's no messing with extra brackets under the dash.

[@79ped]

Thanks for your video. Where I'm from we do have some really strict rules regarding motorvehicles - from a electrified bicycle to the biggest trucks - making it illegal to tow with an EV (there's only a few EVs with towing certification - being the highest class of Teslas and so). It unfortunately stopped me from buying a Niro, since I have to tow my boat from time to time .. such a shame

[@jan-olovsandwall7940]

In Sweden you only allowed to pull 300kg with E-Niro

[@mountainevrhightower6741]

Super detailed and informative!

[@grecopena]

Excellent job! You really did your homework. I’m guessing you do pretty well with your Miata on the track. Also like your bikes, with and without motors. I also have a Kia Niro, but a hybrid and love it. My other cars are a 2010 Toyota Prius which was my wife’s daily driver before the 2021 Niro. It’s now my daily , except for when I really need to driver and jump in my 2004 Porsche C4s. Last toy that we love is our 1996 Safari Trek RV. That’s where our carbon footprint goes way down. Fun on a budget!👊🏽

[@shaladdis]

Hey Gregory, do you tow with your hybrid Niro? Thinking of getting one to tow a coffee trailer wanted to get some real world info!

[@CuriosMindDIY]

I'm also intererested to know what @Shal Addis is asking

[@CuriosMindDIY]

@@shaladdis great question

[@1riwa]

You are industrious!

[@realweston]

Yay!

[@fiddlesteven]

I have a 2020 Bolt. About the same size as a Nero EV. Same horse power rating. Would be interesting to see if a Bolt can tow. There is a nice 2" receiver hitch available.

[@ECOBRAP]

We are big fans of the Bolt. That being said, the hitch is much more limited (I believe it was 300lbs tongue weight, 2000lbs towing), and worth noting that the bolt is a smaller wheelbase vehicle, and also does not have independent rear suspension which will make it slightly less stable while towing. We are fans of smaller cars towing, just stay within all rated limits and state/federal laws and drive safe!

[@Luigi13]

I have a hybrid Kia Niro 2018 and I wonder by toeing anything less than 2000 lbs how it will affect its performance. This video is very through and well made. Thanks.

[@ECOBRAP]

Hi Gino, because the hybrid Niro has a much more complicated/sensitive transmission, it will be much more limited by towing larger weights for long periods of time. 2000lbs around town might be fine, but for a hybrid we would stick to 1000-1200lbs. Just our opinion!

[@Luigi13]

@@ECOBRAP Thanks for the reply, I definitely don't want to tow than once in a while and 1000 lbs would be more than enough. Again thank for getting back to me, appreciate it.

[@dmcgarrie]

hi, great video, do you think this could work with a 2021 Kia e-niro? (here in the uk the e-niro became the niro ev back in 2021, I have the older e-niro - not sure if that was the same in other geos). My needs are purely to be able to tow a boat from a parking bay to a launch slip, a few hundred yards and back rather than full open road towing. Boat + trailer/engine is approx 1800lbs. Guess I'm not sure how the e-niro differs from the niro ev in the ability to mount the hitch. Don't really want to have to change my car! thanks

[@VlogSquadNI]

Do you have an Catullus video on how you installed the 7pin electrics for the trailer lighting (excluding the brake) That would great to see as I thought your hitch install video is great. Thanks

[@ECOBRAP]

Unfortunately not, but here is the jist of it: We used the 4 pin harness that ties into the taillights (plug in, no wiring harness modification required) Then we inserted that 4 pin plug into a 4-7 pin converter, and all we needed to do was add a power line (and brake controller wires, if you don't have a wireless controller mounted to the trailer like we do). We just ran a small 12-14gauge wire from the battery (also using the fuse that comes with the 4-7pin converter), through the firewall into the pedal compartment, and then underneath all the drivers side trim panels all the way to the trunk, where it tied into that 4-7 converter! Feel free to ask any questions you may have

[@itsjustmark]

If you keep your regen on 1, instead of 2 or 3, your brake lights won’t come on.

[@robertseguin376]

thank you forthe info according to you how much can you tow in pounds with kia niro ev 2021.

[@christiedohaniuk4806]

I am interested in putting my KTM 300 dirt bike across the back of my 2019 Nero EV on a carrier. I never did see the results of your test. Did you ever make a video for that? I would like to know what you found.

[@ECOBRAP]

I use a carrier and carry my 225lb Yamaha C3 with no problems, but I prefer using a small motorcycle trailer instead, especially for bigger bikes!

[@bossman8303]

I was just curious how hi you inflated those air bag suspension aids in Lbs. Great job but a gutsy move. Kudo's.

[@ECOBRAP]

Airlift recommends 50PSI max pressure, so that is the number we stick to!

[@creating4creator]

Is there a difference between the PHEV and the EV in terms of being able to tow?

[@CuriosMindDIY]

Do you or have you heard about someone towing with a Kia Niro Hybrid by any chance? I'm thinking of building a lightweight trailer, approx 1000lbs or less, all together. I just want to know if its possible, my hybrid is 2018

[@robertseguin376]

merci les info d' apres vous jusqu' a combien ont peut remorquer en livres avec le niro ev 2021 merci.

[@artpaul83]

You think it would tow a 92 bayliner?

[@bootlessxfly1]

This is a great setup. Would doing this void your warranty?

[@ECOBRAP]

can't be 100% positive, but it shouldn't unless they can prove you were towing, or that towing caused an issue with the vehicle

[@jonathangomez7507]

Thanks for posting this. Do you think it could tow a trailer with a 3500 lbs GVWR and tongue rate of 110-150lbs?

[@ECOBRAP]

Hi Jonathan, can you clarify? Type of trailer? And the actual weight of the trailer, not the GVWR. The GVWR just states how much the trailer CAN carry, not how much it actually weighs.

[@jonathangomez7507]

@@ECOBRAP Thanks for clarifying that. I'm thinking of getting a fiberglass trailer dry weight around 1100lbs.

[@ECOBRAP]

@@jonathangomez7507 our personal opinion is that it should be fine! and if it is 1100lbs, you might not even need trailer brakes either

[@psyliscience3660]

Thanks for this video, It alleviates many concerns with what I want to do. Very helpful! However, I've been in contact with my Kia dealer, because I was worried about the warranty, especially if I am leasing. The response was: Kia makes OEM bike rack carrier's, but not an OEM tow hitch. "Now in the case of the Niro EV you will be leasing, since it is NOT rated by Kia for any type of towing capacity, if you did attach an aftermarket hitch and used it to tow just about any type of wheeled attachment and weight you would be in violation of the warranty from the start." If possible I would love to have a convo with you about the information you have. I would love to tow a small sailboat, but don't want to potentially void anything, in case there is a larger issue that comes up. If you're open to a conversation, Let me know how I can contact you directly. Email is best for me. Thanks!

[@rickluannehill93]

What about a 2019 Kia Niro hybrid? Are there any significant differences in towing capacity/necessary adjustments? Thanks

[@ECOBRAP]

Hi guys, neither the hybrid nor the EV are rated to tow, we just went ahead with it anyways and acknowledge an increase in warranty/liability risk. That being said, the EV transmission is extremely simple, while the hybrid Niro is a more complicated system (dual clutch 6sp automatic) that might not handle extra weight well. For that reason (along with the additional power and regen braking in the EV), we would feel more comfortable towing more weight with the EV than the hybrid. Just my personal opinion, any hybrid system I would likely limit to 1000-1500lbs, again just from personal experience and stories that I have heard!

[@shanefreeney1043]

Was this the Electric version or Hybrid... Have you tested a trailer on the fully electric car

[@ECOBRAP]

Hi Shane, this is all being done on our fully electric Niro!

[@shanefreeney1043]

@@ECOBRAP That's great thanks for the quick response

[@PhillipMcCartII]

Just so everyone knows the part number listed in this video doesn't work for 2021 Niro EVs.

[@ECOBRAP]

Interesting, which part number in particular? The brake light wiring harness?

[@PhillipMcCartII]

@@ECOBRAP C13329, the hitch itself.

[@ECOBRAP]

@@PhillipMcCartII as mentioned, the hitch needed some modification of the bolt holes, are you saying the hitch now won't fit the newer model at all? different frame size?

[@PhillipMcCartII]

That is definitely my fault for not watching your install video. Thanks for the reply!