Towing With Honda Pilot
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Topic: Towing With Honda Pilot
Posted By: Traveler
Subject: Towing With Honda Pilot
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2014 at 8:53pm
Anybody out their that tows with a Honda Pilot? We are shopping for an R Pod now, but concerned if Pilot 3.5 liter V6 strong enough. We like the new 179 for most parts. The weigh on its door was around 2700 lbs then add fluids, personal load, assume equal 3500 lbs easy. Our TV rated to tow 3500 lbs. We are concerned if be happy with power in hills, interstate traveling on long trips.
Thanks for any input, especially Honda Pilot owners.
Dennis & Sharon
2011 Honda Pilot
No Pot Yet
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Traveler
Dennis & Sharon
Looking for Pod
Live Alabama & Florida
TV 2011 Honda Pilot 6 cyl
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Replies:
Posted By: podsuperior
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2014 at 7:35am
We have a 177 and a 2007 Honda pilot - rated at 3500 pounds.
We mostly do local outings - within a few hours of home on county roads / highways - at 55 / 60 MPH I feel like the Honda does a adequate job.
If I were climbing mountain passes I don't think I would be very happy with our set up, but for the midwest I feel it works fine for our purposes.
We did put an anti sway bar on which did help.
When it is a time for a new vehicle I will be looking for something with at least 4500 capacity.
Love the Pilot though - 150,000 miles and nothing has ever gone wrong with that thing!
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2011 RPOD 177 - 2017 Tacoma
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Posted By: Markie
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2014 at 9:05am
I also have a Honda Pilot (2013 touring, 4500lb towing). The original reason for purchasing the Rpod 178 was the towing weight of 3500 lbs loaded. I thought a 1000 lb margin would be adequate. And since we already had the Pilot the R-pod was the obvious choice.
Unfortuanatly I haven't pulled the pod on long trips to really stress the Pilot on arduous long hills, but my experience has been on flat open road & highways the Pilot feels more stable than my 98 Silverado pickup truck . However, on hills and mountains of Pennsylvania the Pilot lacks power to accellerate. It could use more power under the hood. I wish I had more experience towing with larger vehicles to make a better comparison. But, for local camping I love it.
BTW there is another thread on the forum of a Pilot owner pulling out west. Do a search for Honda Pilots tow vehicles , you will find it interesting reading. Happy trails!
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Mark & Vicki
R-POD 178 & 2015 Silverado 5.3L
Weimeraner "Zeke"
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Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2014 at 9:11am
I am a former Pilot and Rpod owner. I towed an RP172 with a 2010 4WD Pilot rated at 4500#. I assume from the 3500# rating your Pilot is not 4WD. The 4WD package adds the all wheel power distribution and a transmission fluid cooler. The 172 came from the factory at 2400# before I started adding stuff. Just adding two batteries, two full propane tanks, full water heater, and two bikes brought it up over 2700#. Then you pack it up.
I specifically selected the 172 with the Pilot's capability in mid. The Pilot handled the job on flat ground at low elevations with no problems. A WDH such as the E2 is a must. Moderate hills were slower, but still OK. Towing in the Colorado mountains demonstrated the full story. The Pilot was severely stressed going up mountain passes, but it made it; sometimes down in 1st and 2nd gear at 10-20 MPH. The added transmission cooler was absolutely necessary.
So bottom line: I think a 2WD Pilot pulling a 179 would be marginal on anything but flat low elevation roads. I would suggest getting an additional transmission cooler and a ScanGauge to monitor transmission temperature. A WDH is really required for comfort and control, especially with 2WD which is really front wheel drive. In hilly or mountainous country you will be out of TV and out of engine.
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Charlie
Northern Colorado
OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD
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Posted By: Traveler
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2014 at 2:11pm
Charlie, we had a Honda Pilot 2003 AWD rated 4500 lbs tow capacity. Good SUV. Never used for towing, had motorhome then sold due to high cost diesel. Went to current 2011 Honda Pilot 2WD 3500 tow capacity, it does have a tow package with transmission cooler. From what you have said and others it is not the best TW, even for an R-Pod, if you plan to travel all types of terrain like we do. This Forum is very helpful thanks to you and others like you for good honest input.
Thanks,
Safe and Happy Travels,
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Traveler
Dennis & Sharon
Looking for Pod
Live Alabama & Florida
TV 2011 Honda Pilot 6 cyl
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