Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Honda towing (Read 1044 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Honda towing

Yahoo Message Number: 18493
In my earlier working life I was in the car business so I have had a variety of toads over the years including four Hondas. All have had automatic transmissions.
I have towed two different Accords, a CRV and presently tow a Pilot. Only the CRV and the Pilot have specific towing instructions in the owners manuals.
The Accord's owners manuals do not mention recreational towing but are quite compatible as long as you follow the instructions, namely:
1.Hookup with transmission left in neutral after having been run through the forward gears.
2.Never hookup after having the transmission in reverse as it's last position.
3. Always stop periodically and start the engine followed by running the vehicle in the forward gears for a few minutes. The recommended period is around 250 miles, if memory serves me right.
4. Be sure the radio and a/c are off.

My last Accord was equipped with factory navigation and I encountered a dead battery after more than 4 or 5 hours of driving. After that one incident, I made it a habit to stop every two hours or so and run the car for 5 minutes to keep the battery charged and lubricate the transmission.
As far as the new Element is concerned, I'd be surprised if Honda changed their transmissions in 2006 so that towing is not recommended. To be sure, I would bypass any salesman's opinion, or even shop manager's opinion, and go directly to the owners manual. I'd bet a gallon of diesel that the manual still mentions towing as an authorized procedure.
I once towed a Lexus RX300 for just over 500 miles and the transmission went bye-bye. Lexus was good enough to replace it under warranty and I sold the wonderful little car because I didn't want to hassle the transmission problem.
IMHO, the Pilot is a great car to tow. Great manners, quiet, smooth, seats 7, hey, it's a Honda. A little heavy, but you can't have it all.

Larry
Intrigue
10762

Re: Honda towing

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18495
Larry.... I'm with you. I have towed pickups, two different Accords and now a 2004 Pilot. One manual trans (Ford Ranger) all others automatic. Not a speck of trouble on any of them, as I have followed the instructions you outlined to the letter. I was told that the engine should be run every 8 hours. I have gotten into the habit of starting it whenever we stop at a rest stop or lunch, just to be certain. I was concerned about the weight difference between the Accord and the Pilot, like from 2400 to 4500 lbs. (Maybe not exact) Frankly, I could not tell the difference, and it had no effect on MPG, which I found hard to believe.

I found the comments on the Element interesting. Maybe next time.

Bob Fuzak

'02 Magna #6148
)

Re: Honda towing

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18496
Hi All, Now it's time for me to add my 2 cents worth.
We went to a Honda dealer today, specifically to look at and maybe trade for a 2006 model. The salesperson was super and showed us all the gizmos etc. but as soon as we heard us mention that we wanted to tow it he took a time out, went to the office and brought out what appears to be a service bulletin from Honda dated August 2005.

It reads, and here I quote word for word:
Not all Honda models are approved for flat-towing. Models are approved only after going through extensive testing by our R & D folks. Here are the models currently approved. Additional models might be added

'05 Models

* Accord (except Accord Hybrid) * Civic (except Civic Hybrid)
* CR-V
* Element
* Pilot

'06 Models

* CR-V

Based on my salesman's input the other '06 models may be towable four down but Honda will not honor any warranty work if the vehicle has been used this way. (I assumed that was drive train warranty work).
I called Honda customer service myself at 800-999-1009 and the CS representative confirmed what the bulletin stated and there is no information when or if this status will change.
So there it is. Honda has drawn a line in the sand (and this may apply to Accura and the Saturn Vue also).
The problem appears to be caused by excessive warranty work maybe caused by owners not following the correct vehicle set-up procedures. I have not personally verified this statement and have no numbers to back it up.
In our case we are already out of warranty anyway after three years and 36000 miles so if the transmission fails now it will be my nickel anyway. It looks like we will keep the vehicle until it reaches 100,000 miles then donate it to someone!

David

David & Karen

2000 Intrigue 11062
40 ft Single slide. PT
2002 Odyssey TOAD

Re: Honda towing

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18521
David,

I have a 2000 Honda Accord and the manual does not say you can tow it for long distances but I did get a letter from Honda stating that while they had not tested it for towing that they could find no reason that it could not be done....as long as the well know procedures of starting the engine and running it for a specified number of minutes then engaging the lowest gear and advancing the gear shift through all forward gears and then to neutral. I have towed mine this way over 60,000 miles without a problem.

Now, for the warranty issue. Sometime during my first year of ownership I received a letter from Honda stating that due to frequency of failures of transmissions that they were extending the warranty on my transmission to 7 years and 70,000 miles. Not sure if this applies to any other models but it does apply to the 2000 Accord. You might want to check to see if the warranty extension applies to your model in the event you do have a problem within the 7 year period.
Ray

2000 Intrigue

Re: Honda towing

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18525
Quote from: travman100

David,

I have a 2000 Honda Accord and the manual does not say you can tow > it for long distances but I did get a letter from Honda stating

that

Quote
while they had not tested it for towing that they could find no > reason that it could not be done....as long as the well know > procedures of starting the engine and running it for a specified > number of minutes then engaging the lowest gear and advancing the > gear shift through all forward gears and then to neutral. I have > towed mine this way over 60,000 miles without a problem.

Now, for the warranty issue. Sometime during my first year of > ownership I received a letter from Honda stating that due to > frequency of failures of transmissions that they were extending

the

Quote
warranty on my transmission to 7 years and 70,000 miles. Not sure

if

Quote
this applies to any other models but it does apply to the 2000 > Accord. You might want to check to see if the warranty extension > applies to your model in the event you do have a problem within

the

Quote
7 year period.

Ray

2000 Intrigue

Quote from: F102508@A...
> Hi All, Now it's time for me to add my 2 cents worth.
>

> We went to a Honda dealer today, specifically to look at

and

Quote
maybe trade

> for a 2006 model. The salesperson was super and showed us all > the gizmos

> etc. but as soon as we heard us mention that we wanted to tow

it

Quote
he took a

> time out, went to the office and brought out what appears to be

a

Quote
service

> bulletin from Honda dated August 2005.
>

> It reads, and here I quote word for word: > >

> Not all Honda models are approved for flat-towing. Models > are approved

> only after going through extensive testing by our R & D

folks.

Quote
Here are the

> models currently approved. Additional models might be added > >

> '05 Models
>

> * Accord (except Accord Hybrid) > > * Civic (except Civic Hybrid) > > * CR-V
> * Element
> * Pilot
>

> '06 Models
>

> * CR-V
>

> Based on my salesman's input the other '06 models may be > towable four

> down but Honda will not honor any warranty work if the vehicle > has been used

> this way. (I assumed that was drive train warranty work).
>

> I called Honda customer service myself at 800-999-1009 and > the CS

> representative confirmed what the bulletin stated and there is

no

Quote
information when

> or if this status will change.
>

> So there it is. Honda has drawn a line in the sand (and > this may apply

> to Accura and the Saturn Vue also).
>

> The problem appears to be caused by excessive warranty work > maybe caused

> by owners not following the correct vehicle set-up

procedures.

Quote
I have not

> personally verified this statement and have no numbers to back

it

Quote
up.
>

> In our case we are already out of warranty anyway after

three

Quote
years and

> 36000 miles so if the transmission fails now it will be my

nickel

Quote
anyway.

> It looks like we will keep the vehicle until it reaches 100,000 > miles then

> donate it to someone!
>

> David
>

> David & Karen

> 2000 Intrigue 11062
> 40 ft Single slide. PT
> 2002 Odyssey

TOAD

DAVID&Karen the same thing happen to me look at a 2005 honda all of the 2005 can be tow. not the 2006. I saw a 2006 here in porland, or. having a new tow bar put on it. He "DID NOT KNOW YOU CAN NOT TOW. THE 2006. HE CALLED AND WAS TOLD "no" YOU CAN'T TOW IT." HE WAS NOT A HAPPY CAMPER. Capt. Dan 20000 A. #30498

Re: Honda towing

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18531
-I also have a 2000 Honda Odyssey that I tow 4 down and have for about 15,000 or 20000 miles for the last few years. The transmission went out about a month ago and I took it to Honda. They replaced the transmission at their cost and gave me a new extended warranty for 7 more years or 100,000 miles. It seems that Honda used defective transmissions in most of their units from 2000=2003 and have had to replace tons of them. They knew it was a tow car but it made no difference they still replaced it.

sapp122

91 cc prevost

Re: Honda towing

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18532
From: "sapp122" sapp122@...>

Quote
-I also have a 2000 Honda Odyssey that I tow 4 down and have for > about 15,000 or 20000 miles for the last few years. The transmission > went out about a month ago and I took it to Honda. (snip)
I wonder if anyone who tows a vehicle with speed/distance limitations or other requirements has complied 100% of the time.
I've heard many instances of folks disregarding "55mph max towing speed" limitations, for example, 'cause "no problem so far!"
I love the fact that our toad has no speed/distance limitations or other requirements or limitations.

Dick (& Geri) Campagna
'98 36' Intrigue #10571
Mfd: 11/97

(still not sold)

Honda towing and Brake Buddy

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18537
Greetings!

...a another CR-V tugger checking in.

I have yet to make this mistake and hope I never do. I use a Brake Buddy on the CR-V (not that I need it, but am unwilling to be held negligent in case of a crunch). If I am driving a long day in the coach, I will run the CR-V engine while refuelling to circulate the juices and top the battery. Don't forget to deplete your power brake accumulator after your periodic start/run during the day, or you will scorch your tires the first time the BB activates.

I turn the sensitivity WAY down on the BB to keep its use to "emergency only".

One mistake I HAVE made was during an overnight layover in a pull- through spot. After arrival, I forgot to secure the CR-V (run it to charge the battery and then shut it down completely (and lock it up). I can guarantee you that your battery will be DOA after the key sits in "Accessory" all day and all night.

I would be tempted to "upgrade" to a Pilot someday. The CR-V rides a bit like a Model A and could use a bit more leg room. The weight difference is a bit of a put-off however.

Is anyone else disappointed with their CR-V (All Wheel Drive) fuel economy? 21 MPG in a 3000 pound Honda stinks! Admittedly, I use the A/C most of the time. I could probably save the gerbils a lot of work by opening the moon roof and turning off the air.

Just my two cents.
Jay

Sunny St Augustine

05 Inspire DaVinci 51457

Re: Honda towing and Brake Buddy

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18538
From: "pelicanreef120" wjay@...>

(snip) > Is anyone else disappointed with their CR-V (All Wheel Drive) fuel

Quote
economy? 21 MPG in a 3000 pound Honda stinks!
In their test of an automatic transmission Honda CR-V, the Aug '05 issue of *Consumer Reports* said: "Expect 21 mpg overall"
They also said the vehicle weighs "3,585" lbs ... a little heavier than you thought.

Dick (& Geri) Campagna
'98 36' Intrigue #10571
Mfd: 11/97
(still unsold)

Re: Honda towing and Brake Buddy

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18540
Greetings Jay

We tow a 2000 Honda CRV and use the Blue Ox brake. We tend to average 25 MPG which is mostly non city but not much 65 MPH expressway stuff. We have almost 80,000 road miles and around 15,000 towing miles. The car is reliable, comfortable and we have no complaints. I am 6'3" and the leg room front and back is fine.

Mike and Marg Keogh
98 Intrigue 36 #10538
00 CRV

Re: Honda towing and Brake Buddy

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18546
Hi Jay,

We had an 02 Honda CRV and sold it becuase it was way to small. Jean is 5'9" and I am 6'1". Leg room for more than a quick jont to the store was lacking. (With only 4.6k miles on it we sold it for only $2500 less than what we paid for it) and bought an 05 Acura MDX. The price was about double but the confort is triple.

We liked the CR-V but love the MDX.
We use a Blue Ox toe bar and the BrakeBuddy system. Can't tell either cars are behind our Intrigue.
The gas milage for the CR-V was 22 to 26 MPG and the MDX is about 19 to 21 MPG. The increase in comfort is well worth the expense (to us). The resale value on both are GREAT.

Russ and Jean
05 Intrigue
11883