Towing 19'with Honda Pilot - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Escape Tech > Towing and Hitching
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 03-29-2016, 09:23 AM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: North GA, Georgia
Trailer: Casita
Posts: 48
Towing 19'with Honda Pilot

Anyone have experience towing the Escape 19 with a Honda Pilot AWD? The Pilot's rating is 4500 lbs.
Trav is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-29-2016, 09:31 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,532
I did it for years. A very capable tow vehicle. Only on steep climbs did it falter, and not too bad. I went 4 years without a WDH, but then did add one, and it did help with some to keep both units feeling as one.

Like any mid-sized SUV, the fuel economy drops drastically when towing, but it was a fantastic vehicle to drive while the trailer was in camp.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
Jim Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-29-2016, 11:30 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Missoula, Montana
Trailer: Escape 19, 2018: Last Best Escape
Posts: 395
Agree with Jim: Honda Pilot is a good all-around the vehicle, which makes it perfect for towing a 19'. We started with a 17' and were concerned that the Pilot might not be up to a 19' but no worries. We use the Andersen WDH and feel quite comfortable on the road. True, gas mileage sucks when towing but what else is new?
__________________
2018 Escape 19: Last Best Escape
2015 Escape 19 (previous): Escape Goats
2011 Escape 17 (previous): SittEscape

Honda Pilot 2019
ksitte is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-29-2016, 12:39 PM   #4
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: North GA, Georgia
Trailer: Casita
Posts: 48
Planning to order the 19' on April 1. Was hoping the Pilot would do the job. Thanks for the quick reply.
Trav is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-29-2016, 09:13 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Anne H's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2016 19'
Posts: 126
I'm towing a 19 with the new redesigned 2016 Honda Pilot, rated at 5,000# if you get their transmission cooler. So far, so good!
__________________
Anne H and, recently, Fay Wray, the cat
<b>en Plein Air</b> - 2016 19' Escape; 2016 Honda Pilot
https://rightbrainrightlane.blogspot.com/
Anne H is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-30-2016, 12:46 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2015 Escape 17A
Posts: 2,344
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anne H View Post
I'm towing a 19 with the new redesigned 2016 Honda Pilot, rated at 5,000# if you get their transmission cooler. So far, so good!
We have a 2011 Pilot, and the Honda manual prohibits use of a WDH.
Does the new 2016 Pilot have the same restriction/warning?

Ref. note: see this post regarding frame damage due to a WDH:
http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f1...th-4000-3.html
See post #22.
dfandrews is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-30-2016, 02:52 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
Quote:
Originally Posted by dfandrews View Post
Ref. note: see this post regarding frame damage due to a WDH:
http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f1...th-4000-3.html
See post #22.
The issue Steve (hotfishtacos) had with his Pilot was only with the hitch receiver (which is also the bumper support). There was no damage to the frame.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-30-2016, 03:17 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
Quote:
Originally Posted by dfandrews View Post
We have a 2011 Pilot, and the Honda manual prohibits use of a WDH.
Does the new 2016 Pilot have the same restriction/warning?.
Honda owner's manuals can be downloaded. This is what the 2016 Pilot manual says:
Quote:
Weight distribution hitches
Your vehicle is designed to tow without the need for a load distributing hitch. If you wish to use one, please consult your trailer maker for proper installation and set-up. Improper set-up could degrade the handling, stability, and braking performance of your vehicle.
I could not find any other reference to WD hitch use; so no, there is no restriction. For many hitch receivers and vehicles, weight-distributing mode is allowed higher tongue weight than weight-carrying mode, but apparently not in this case, so WD is also not encouraged.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-30-2016, 04:14 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,532
This is what the 2009 Manual says.

Quote:
Weight Distributing Hitches
A weight distributing hitch is not
recommended for use with your
vehicle, as an improperly adjusted
weight distributing hitch may reduce
handling, stability, and braking
performance.
It only says not recommended with reference to problems should it be improperly adjusted. I had no problem at all with mine, though I never found a need to crank it up as much as recommended to get good performance. Perhaps over tensioning could lead to failure?
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
Jim Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-30-2016, 04:25 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Bennett View Post
Perhaps over tensioning could lead to failure?
The usual problem with an over-applied WD system - which was recognized at least 40 years ago - is that it reduces the traction available to the tug's rear tires without changing the mass location, making the rig prone to "folding up" (jackknifing) in severe cornering conditions.

Yes, I agree that over-application can also damage structure of the hitch, tow vehicle, or trailer by applying high forces in inappropriate directions.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-30-2016, 04:30 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Bennett View Post
This is what the 2009 Manual says.
Quote:
Weight Distributing Hitches
A weight distributing hitch is not
recommended for use with your
vehicle, as an improperly adjusted
weight distributing hitch may reduce
handling, stability, and braking
performance.
The 2014 manual has exactly the same statement. 2009 through 2015 models years are the previous (second) generation, so it makes sense that they would all have the same towing information. Given the 4500 pound trailer weight limit, I assume that Trav is asking about this generation.

2016 is the first year of a new (third) generation of Pilot; the weight limits are raised and the WD statement has changed.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-30-2016, 04:31 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
Toyota RAV4 manual also says WDH is not recommended. Took me six years to find out what that meant. Toyota said they do not have a relationship with a manufacturer of weight distribution hitches, so they cannot recommend any particular one.
It's all in the details.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-30-2016, 04:47 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo View Post
Toyota RAV4 manual also says WDH is not recommended. Took me six years to find out what that meant. Toyota said they do not have a relationship with a manufacturer of weight distribution hitches, so they cannot recommend any particular one.
I don't believe that final explanation from a Toyota rep is anything like the correct answer, but it doesn't really matter... Honda is very clear about the reason that they recommend against WD for the second-generation Pilot - and warn against misuse for the third-generation Pilot - right in the statement in the manual.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-30-2016, 04:53 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
Doesn't matter to me either.
The receiver has been attached and in use with WDH for eight years. Last service I asked them to look at the receiver and they reported on the work sheet that everything was A-OK.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:20 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.