How to Pick Out (and Install) a Hyundai Trailer Hitch

The Hyundai Palisade comes standard with a tow package. Here’s how to install it.
Written by Brad Marley
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
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You might not think of Hyundai as being particularly rugged, but the Hyundai Palisade comes standard with a trailer prep package that you can add a towing package to. 
Hyundai is known by drivers around the world for its quality, safety, and reliability. But when you think of vehicles that tow campers, Hyundai is not at the top of the list because it just doesn’t give off the vibe that it can pull a lot of weight. And the fact of the matter is that there just aren’t a lot of Hyundais with the all-wheel-drive capability to tow. 
So you might be surprised to learn that the Hyundai Palisade has all-wheel drive and is capable of towing up to 5,000 pounds, which is a hefty number. 
Jerry
, the super app for car owners, is coming in hot to help you pick a trailer hitch for your Hyundai Palisade. We’ll also share pointers for upgrading your
car insurance
before you hit the road! 
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Which Hyundais come with a trailer hitch? 

The Hyundai Palisade comes standard with a trailer hitch that can tow up to 5,000 pounds. It’s the only vehicle in the Hyundai family that has one. 
The price and towing capacity will remain the same on the Hyundai Palisade, no matter which trim level you choose. When it’s equipped with a trailer hitch, it can tow up to 5,000 pounds. 
Below are the prices of the components of the trailer hitch if you want to set it up.
Model
Maximum towing capacity
Trailer hitch price
Ball mount price
Hitch cap price
2022 Palisade (SE, SEL, Limited, Calligraphy)
5,000 lbs
$199.95
$109.90
N/A

Can you put a hitch on a Hyundai Santa Fe? 

Even though the Hyundai Santa Fe doesn’t come standard with a trailer hitch, that doesn’t mean you can’t install one. It is built to hold one, so you can buy an aftermarket hitch for installation.
When the trailer hitch is installed, the Santa Fe is capable of towing up to 3,500 pounds. This is the height of its capacity, so you can’t tow anything heavier, even when you have the hitch hooked up. 

How to pick a Hyundai trailer hitch

If you bought or leased a Hyundai and you want to put a towing hitch on, it’s important you choose the right one. There are a few different options:
  • Receiver hitch: This is the most common type of hitch. They attach to the vehicle’s frame and meet the proper safety standards. The optional hitch you can choose when you buy a Subaru is a receiver hitch. 
  • Front-mounted hitch: If you want to carry your stuff in the front of your Hyundai, a front-mounted hitch might do the trick. Consider adding a hitch that mounts to the front of the vehicle’s frame instead of the back. 
  • Bumper hitch: A bumper hitch doesn’t have the secure placement of a hitch mounted directly on the frame, so it won’t carry as much weight. But it does have the advantage of adjustability. 
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Genuine Hyundai trailer hitches vs. aftermarket hitches for Hyundai

So now ask yourself: do you want to install
the real Hyundai deal
or an aftermarket part?
Obviously, aftermarket is going to save you some money. And no matter where you go to buy a hitch—say
Amazon
or
U-Haul
—it’s not hard to find one that is going to fit your Subaru. Of course, if you decide to go with genuine parts, you can rest assured the hitch you buy will fit right away and you won’t have to return something if it doesn’t fit. 

Intro to trailer classes

No matter where you shop for your hitch, it’s very important to buy the right hitch for the right trailer class. They are organized into five classes by weight:
  • Class I: Up to 2,000 lbs
  • Class II: 2,000 to 3,500 lbs
  • Class III: 3,500 to 8,000 lbs 
  • Class IV: 5,000 to 12,000 lbs 
  • Class V:10,000 to 25,000 lbs 

The best Hyundai Palisade trailer hitch

Pair with a Class III hitch, your Hyundai Palisade can haul up to 5,000 pounds, if necessary. 

The best Hyundai Santa Fe trailer hitch

If you have a Hyundai Santa Fe, you are also aiming for the Class III trailer hitch in order to reach the Santa Fe’s maximum towing capacity of 4,000 pounds. When the hitch is properly installed, you can tow a medium-sized camper. 

The best Hyundai Sonata trailer hitch

The Sonata is on the smaller side, so it shouldn’t surprise you that a Class I trailer hitch is going to be your go-to hitch. You’re not going to have a ton of towing power, but we’d venture to guess you didn’t buy a Sonata to tow your camper all over. With a Class I hitch, you can tow things like a small boat or a couple of snowmobiles.

The best Hyundai Tucson trailer hitch

If you have a Tucson, you’re going to want to do some towing. This means buying a Class III trailer so that you can tow up to 3,500 pounds. With that capability, you can tow ATVs, snowmobiles, or a couple of jet skis. 
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The best Hyundai Elantra trailer hitch

Since the Elantra is a sedan, you know right away it won’t tow a lot of weight. So no surprise that it can only use a Class I trailer hitch. But it’s something, which means you can haul a few kayaks or canoes to your favorite lake or fishing spot. 
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How to install a trailer hitch on a Hyundai 

When it comes to installing trailer hitches on Hyundais, there are two options. If you have the tools necessary, and you don’t mind getting your hands dirty, you can do it yourself. Or, if you want to be sure it’s done right, head over to a professional.
You can get a professional installation at a local Hyundai dealer or wherever you get your car worked on. The cost will usually run between $100 and $250 for labor, plus the cost of the equipment. All told, the average installation will cost somewhere in the range of $300 to $600.
If you want to do it yourself, start by looking in your toolbox. You will need: 
  • A socket set
  • A ratchet and ratchet extension
  • A swivel socket
  • A torque wrench
  • Work gloves, safety glasses, and a work light 
The Hyundai hitch will come with detailed instructions. Follow them carefully. Here are some tips:
  • Put the vehicle up on a jack if that’s possible. This will give you easy access to the rear of the vehicle, which is where the hitch goes. 
  • The towing hardware weighs a lot! Since it can top 50 pounds, it might help to have a friend help you lift it.
  • Torque all of the bolts based on where the instructions tell you to. 
MORE: The 10 best SUVs for towing

How to upgrade your Hyundai insurance

Presto! You’re ready to haul whatever it is your heart desires. But before you hit the open road, let
Jerry
help you upgrade your
Hyundai insurance
Shopping for car insurance the old-fashioned way is no longer the best way. With Jerry, filling out forms and enduring long phone wait times are a thing of the past. Now, we’ll help you find the lowest rates on the coverage you need in under a minute. And, you won’t have to compromise to find an affordable policy. 
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is an awesome tool to find rates personalized to your specific needs! I’m literally still sitting at the dealership and already finalized my new insurance so I can drive my new car off the lot.” —Charity R.
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FAQs

The cost to install a trailer hitch will vary depending upon the parts, the labor, and where you get it installed. Most of the labor costs you see will run around $50 to $100 for the installation and the between $150 and $200 for the parts.
Most likely. The Hyundai Santa Fe is one of the most capable SUVs around. It has a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. That’s more than enough for a trailer. You can tow things like small boats and dirt bikes, which should satiate your towing hunger.
No. A trailer hitch does not come standard on a Hyundai Elantra, but you can buy aftermarket hitches so that you are able to tow.
No. A trailer hitch is not standard equipment for any Hyundai Tucson, but you can buy one and install it yourself.
No, the Hyundai Sonata is not built to tow. With a towing capacity of 500 pounds, you should refrain from trying to tow anything behind it.
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