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Old 08-16-2013, 10:33 PM   #1
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Towing with Honda Pilot

Hello:

We own a 2012 Honda Pilot and are looking for travel trailer that we can tow well with it. Found the Escape Trailer site and these units seem like a great option.

I prefer the 19 foot, but am worried at 4000 lbs it is too heavy for the Pilot, which according to my owners manual has a maximum towing capacity of 4500 lbs. We live in the north and will need to drive through alot of mountains.

I would love to hear from folks who are towing with the Pilot as to their experience with it. Thanks!
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Old 08-16-2013, 10:47 PM   #2
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Jim Bennett should reply, if he's not on the road. He tows a 19' with a Honda Pilot, very successfully.
I think you may be off on your weight for the 19'. I think it is much less than 4,000 lbs.
If you don't see a JB post soon on this topic, try a search of Honda Pilot and you'll come up with lots of previous posts on topic.
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Old 08-16-2013, 10:51 PM   #3
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Thanks. I took the 4000 lbs from the Escape website. That what they post as the weight.
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Old 08-16-2013, 11:08 PM   #4
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That's the gross vehicle weight rating. The posted dry weight is 2510 pounds.
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Old 08-16-2013, 11:11 PM   #5
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I'm no expert on the ratings, but 4,000 lbs. is the maximum the trailer and contents should weigh. You take the dry weight, add propane, water, any options that are not in the basic package, add your clothing, dishes, all your personal effects and you need to stay under 4,000 lbs.
My 17B, with optional shower and loaded for a couple weeks camping comes in around 2,800 lbs.
You will have no problems with the Honda Pilot.
My buddy tows his 19' with a Hyundai Santa Fe. I tow my 17B with a RAV4 V6.
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Old 08-16-2013, 11:50 PM   #6
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I have a 2010 Honda Pilot 4WD with a tow package and it tows my 19' Escape just fine. Yes, it is rated at 4,500lbs. I've even gone off-road several miles in soft sand in the desert with no problem. My trailer is also loaded up on the high end of the weight limit with four 6 volt batteries in the front box. Most 19's weight in less than 3,700 lbs fully loaded. I also add a 17' canoe on top of the Pilot from time to time like Jim Bennett does. I use a WDH because my trailer is front heavy and it helps a lot. Jim didn't for a long time and I think he recently added an Anderson Hitch.
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Old 08-17-2013, 03:05 AM   #7
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We tow our 19ft with a V8 4Runner (rated to tow 7000 lbs). We weighed our 19ft totally loaded (we travel with close to empty water and holding tanks) and it was 3000 lbs plus the hitch weight of about 300 more pounds.
This is a great resource for towing info. Travel Trailer Weight Calculator
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Old 08-17-2013, 08:30 AM   #8
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You can also find typical loaded weights at "Trailer Weights in the Real World". Frederick Simpson has weighed many trailers at rallies, etc & others have added their trailers to the list. Because a spreadsheet file cannot be added at the Fiberglass Forum, with Frederick's permission, I have added a .xls Excel file that can be sorted, etc at my LakeshoreImages site.

There are a couple of Escape 19's listed. For anyone who does an accurate trailer & tongue weight of any trailer, Escape or not, I'd appreciate having you email me a copy so I can add it to the spreadsheet.
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Old 08-17-2013, 05:40 PM   #9
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The Honda Pilot is on my wish list to purchase as a tow for my Escape 19. I think you have an excellent tow vehicle.

As important as weights is how the vehicle is equipped. It seems every year Honda changes what comes with what, so you will have to answer the question as to how your Pilot is equipped. A towing package is a must, usually includes a transmission cooler, oversize alternator, hitch, wiring with a 7 pin Bargman plug and the ability to connect a brake controller in the cabin.

If you have this, you then need to understand the concepts of gross combination weight rating (GCWR). Find this rating for your Pilot and now combine everything you will be taking: Pilot, Escape trailer, people, auto fuel, clothes, food, canoes, grills, propane in tanks, fresh water and waste water etc . . . Now compare the two numbers. It is not mandated but generally accepted that you should add a 10% fudge factor to calculation, sort of a safety net.

From the "Trailer Weights in the Real World" the filled Escape 19 seems to average about 3,700 lbs. Passengers, fuel and gear can add around 850 lbs to your car, maybe more. The curb weight of an Pilot I found (yours may be different) was 4,310. This gives me a total for this example of 8,860 lbs, tack on a safety factor of 10% takes it to 9,740.

They make 11 different trim models of the Honda Pilot, you need to find the GCWR for your particular model and plug in more exact numbers that fit your situation. Sometimes you need your vehicle VIN and call Honda USA to get a correct answer.
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Old 08-17-2013, 05:50 PM   #10
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Originally Posted by fudge_brownie View Post
They make 11 different trim models of the Honda Pilot, you need to find the GCWR for your particular model and plug in more exact numbers that fit your situation. Sometimes you need your vehicle VIN and call Honda USA to get a correct answer.
Sorry, with most of my time booked up with camping and fishing I don't have time for all those details...
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Old 08-17-2013, 07:07 PM   #11
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I think if you cut way back on the fishing rods, tackle and only eat dehydrated food while camping you maybe able come up with calculations that meet the approval of your insurance carrier. Each person can only bring one change of clothes and a bar of soap. No reading material, entertainment items, electronics allowed. This is a fishing and camping trip remember.
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Old 08-17-2013, 07:32 PM   #12
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What's the soap for?
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Old 08-17-2013, 10:55 PM   #13
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What's the soap for?
Yea!!! I am an engineer and my wife has beat me into submission for so many years that I longer want to get very technical about anything anymore!...but what's the soap for
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Old 08-17-2013, 11:02 PM   #14
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To grease the drawer slides ...
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Old 08-17-2013, 11:10 PM   #15
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Originally Posted by CADreamin View Post
To grease the drawer slides ...
Oh! OK!
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