Anyone towing with a Honda Pilot?

[GCervak]

Is anyone out there towing with their Honda Pilot? If so what are you towing and how much does it weigh? We’ve been looking at replacing our Ford Explorer and my wife really likes the styling of the AWD Pilot, however I’m leery of its towing ability. All the literature says the max tow rating (when equipped with a dealer installed trans cooler and hitch) is 3500 lbs or 4500 lbs if it is towing a boat. Huh? Well according to the dealer, a boat is more aerodynamic and the weight is better distributed then a camper. My boat/motor/trailer/gas and gear come in at 4100 lbs. Any thoughts?

 

[garycinn]

Re: Anyone towing with a Honda Pilot?

If you, the wife, and kids all come in at under 400 lbs and you don't tow in the hills, you should be good to go . Otherwise, I would seriously consider a "bigger" mid-size SUV -- Trailblazer maybe?<br /><br />Personally, I wouldn't want to cut it that close. If you had a mile tow to the local lake and never ventured farther, sure. On paper, it may sound like a good idea, but in reality I think you will be very disappointed.

 

[garycinn]

Re: Anyone towing with a Honda Pilot?

There will be some that will say you need a 1 ton dually with diesel -- just to be on the safe side, but I would want to be more in the 5K to 6K range for a 4K load.

 

[Nos4r2]

Re: Anyone towing with a Honda Pilot?

Over here this is a Honda Pilot- you had me confused for a minute there!

 

[DJ]

Re: Anyone towing with a Honda Pilot?

or 4500 lbs if it is towing a boat. Huh? Well according to the dealer, a boat is more aerodynamic and the weight is better distributed then a camper. My boat/motor/trailer/gas and gear come in at 4100 lbs. Any thoughts

I think you answered your own question. Too close for my taste.

 

[Johnshan1]

Re: Anyone towing with a Honda Pilot?

Way too close to drop major cash on to find out for sure that its too much trailer....

 

[gewf631]

Re: Anyone towing with a Honda Pilot?

I Do!!!<br /><br /> But I'm towing an 18' Starcraft (aluminum), so my tow weight is probably half of what you're looking-at.<br /> I know the new Ridgeline has a higher capacity, so maybe the '06 Pilot will as well.<br /><br /> This is quite the active Pilot forum You could ask over there if you're that interested!<br /><br /> Or just get a Tourag

 

[johnjsa]

Re: Anyone towing with a Honda Pilot?

I've got a 2000 Honda Passort, very simlar to a Honda Pilot, with a V6, 4 wheel drive. I pull a 15 foot Bomber bass boat with a 75 HP motor & you can hardly tell you have anything behnd you, except on big hills, of course. I would expect the Pilot to do fairly well with most boats, nw some of the 20+ footers with 200's & so on, dual axle trailers, I would question.

 

[Eric K.]

Re: Anyone towing with a Honda Pilot?

I have a 2005 Pilot and pull a 2800lb SeaRay 180DC with outboard without trailer brakes here in flat Florida. You should be able to pull 4500lbs and 4 passengers according to the manual. I think it would pull it easy. The Pilot pulls better than my 2002 Dodge Dakota with V8 auto and 3.55 gears. My Dakota was rated at 4800lbs with those gears and no passengers or gear in the back. The Pilot has it all over my old Dakota. Unless you have driven the Honda Pilot you don't know what it can do. It really is amazing how easy it pulls my boat. Hope this helps. I have the full tow package from dealer installed. Let me know if you have more questions.

 

[nrladeere]

Re: Anyone towing with a Honda Pilot?

We just replaced our Expedition with an 05 Pilot. The 255 HP is impressive and far outshines the small V8 in my old Expo. I don't pull my boat with it but may give it a try this year. I think it will handle 4500 with ease. Honda is notoriously conservative on these things.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Anyone towing with a Honda Pilot?

I would think twice about useing the Honda Pilot for towing 4500 lbs because of the following fine print on the towing spec from the Honda website:<br /><br /> b) Requires transmission oil cooler and power steering fluid cooler and may require surge-type or electric trailer brakes (1,000 lb.+), weight-distribution hitch (1,850 lb.+) and sway control (2,000 lb. +). <br /><br />Maximum towing capacity may vary depending on passenger/cargo load of vehicle. Consult the owner's manual for complete details.<br /><br />c) Rating applies to boat towing only.<br /><br />d) May require procedure that includes running the engine for 3 minutes at the beginning of a trip and at least every 8 hours thereafter. Consult owner's manual for complete towing procedure information.<br /><br /><br />Note that item D is listed as required for the Pilot. Don't know why.<br /><br />In addition, you need to subtract the total passenger and cargo load from the max towing capacity. So a fully loaded Pilot will have a reduced towing capacity. <br /><br />Interesting note: Says Premium fuel should be used if towing over 3500lbs.<br /><br />My opinion is that there are too many conditions/restrictions/requirements placed on the vehicle to make it perform like you want. The real tip off that the vehicle is at its limits is it needs trailer brakes on a tow over 1000 lbs. Geez, even my Town Car can tow 2000 lbs without trailer brakes, load level hitch or sway control and it weighs 400lbs less than the Pilot. I think Honda is doing whatever they can to get the tow rating up for comparison purposes.

 

[Johnshan1]

Re: Anyone towing with a Honda Pilot?

Our '99 Chevy Blazer is rated at 6,000 lbs without the warnings and after towing 3000 lbs with it I wouldnt tow much more. The Pilot isnt going to take a 4500 lbs load well at all. Think about it, Honda makes cars, not trucks until just recently. They are known for their fuel economy and the motors that wont quit, bottom of the barrel econo-boxes for the most part. I wouldnt hitch a ton of weight onto it...<br /><br />Does the Pilot even have a full frame?

 

[Eric K.]

Re: Anyone towing with a Honda Pilot?

Johnshan1, I had a 93 Blazer and it wouldn't pull near as good as my Honda Pilot. Pulls better than my 02 V8 Dakota either. No it doesn't have a frame and doesn't need one to pull anything. That's old school. You shouldn't comment on the Pilots towing ability without knowing first hand. It's funny how people will give comments on other vehicles that they know nothing about! Sorry but come on.

 

[Johnshan1]

Re: Anyone towing with a Honda Pilot?

Comparing a '93 Blazer to a '99 is weak at best.<br />Your problably right, it was a weak tow vehicle. <br /><br />You tow 2800 lbs, your problably right when you say that its a great tow vehicle, for that load. Hitch up 4500 lbs and see if the Dakota or the Pilot is then the choice. You shouldnt comment on things that you dont know about first hand.<br /><br />If having a solid frame is old school, why do all heavy duty vehicles that tow heavy trailers have a real frame? Sounds like your just upset about my thoughts.

 

[Johnshan1]

Re: Anyone towing with a Honda Pilot?

Gotta remember we are asking about towing at just about the rated capacity, it wouldnt take much to throw him right over the rating. I am not saying its not a good tow vehicle for under 4000 lbs lets say, but hes talking about pushing it right to the max. Theres a reason for the tow rating, dont go over it.<br /><br />Eric unless you helped engineer the vehicle, I would refrain from telling the guy to go for it just because it pulls 2800 lbs ok doesnt mean it wont fall flat on its face at 3500 lbs. Ive towed a lot and ive had vehicles do just that with as little as 500 lbs added on the trailer.

 

[Eric K.]

Re: Anyone towing with a Honda Pilot?

I pulled my boat also with my sisters 02 Blazer and wasn't impressed at all. My 93' had the enhanced Vortec V6 200 horses and yes I do know the difference. I didn't say ladder frames were old school. Being able to pull 4500lb without a ladder frame is old school thinking is what I said. I am upset with your thoughts because you don't own a Pilot and are commenting on it when first hand knowledge was what was asked for.

 

[Realgun]

Re: Anyone towing with a Honda Pilot?

The Pilot is just a rebadge Isuzu Rodeo. In pulling anything if your at the limit don't go over. Either get a Vehicle that will handle the weight or don't get the boat. Safety first. I don't want you to cause me or mine a problem because YOU thought it was ok.

 

[BrettNC]

Re: Anyone towing with a Honda Pilot?

Just follow the conditions in the manual and do a test drive for yourself and you'll be fine. There are too many dumb*sses here who feel like they have to justify their vehicle.

 

[BrettNC]

Re: Anyone towing with a Honda Pilot?

By the way Realgun, the Passport is a rebadged Rodeo. Not the Pilot. It's a good thing that I take everything on any forum with a grain of salt. Just as you should mine.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Anyone towing with a Honda Pilot?

I believe the Pilot has either 4.11:1 or 4.34:1 axle ratios which are a definite advantage for towing, especially if at or near the maximum towing limit for the vehicle. Makes the engine buzz a little higher but better than lugging. Pilot torque is 250 lb/ft at a rather lofty 4600 RPM hence the deep gears. Hitch up & go. Just make sure you can stop the load.