Honda pilot 03

[opto55]

I am thinking of buying an boat, motor and trailer. 3500 #' s The trailer is single axle. Do I have enough truck to do the job? Pilot 03. Thank you.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Honda pilot 03

this is what the honda site says for the 6 cylinder 2008 Pilot, but i would not try it without really good trailer brakes.

Towing
The Pilot 4WD can tow up to 4,500 pounds, rivaling the towing capacity of many body-on-frame SUVs.
*Towing requires the addition of the Honda accessory trailer hitch and hitch ball. Refer to the owner’s manual for additional towing information

 

[Bondo]

Re: Honda pilot 03

I am thinking of buying an boat, motor and trailer. 3500 #' s The trailer is single axle.

Ayuh,..... What He says,.....
And,.......
I gotta believe that Trailer is Maxed out Too......
3500lbs. is Alot on a Single Axle......

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Honda pilot 03

The Honda Pilot and Ridgeline share power trains. I've told this story before and I'll tell it again. I will be up front by saying both are great vehicles. They, like so many current V6 powered vehicles perform well due to the high reving, high horsepower engines. That however, does not necessarily make a good combination for towing. On a 500 mile road trip with a friends Ridgeline towing a boat very similar to mine which was being towed by my S10 Crew Cab, we had a good opportunity to compare towing performance. We made a rest stop on the interstate and my friend commented that the Ridgeline transmission was constantly up and down shifting and that he had a heck of a time trying to keep up with me -- and I wasn't speeding. I asked if he was towing in overdrive and he said no. My S10 tows very nicely in OD at 2100 RPM and only very long steep grades requires that I pop it out of OD. Our first gas stop proved that RPM costs money. The Ridgeline got 14 MPG while my S10 got 17. Both the Ridgeline and the S10 develop 250 lb/ft of torque. The difference is the S10 develops 90% of that torque at 2000 RPM. The Ridgeline at 4200. While it's true the Honda will run at 4200 for a lifetime without breaking a sweat, busy transmissions and high rpm do not make a good towing combination, especially if loaded close to the towing maximum for the vehicle. I certainly don't imply this is a bad tow vehicle. I do want to point out that it's important that you know what you are dealing with. If fuel economy is not important to you, or towing is infrequent this is a moot point. I can't imagine what the fuel economy would be at the 4500# limit (if that's what the Honda is rated for). Once could expect better mileage than that on a full size Taho.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Honda pilot 03

Something is fishy with what your buddy said. If his Pilot is set up like my Odyssey, he does not have an OD -- he simply has D, followed by 3, with OD totally automatic.

I have the same exact engine, but depending upon year, probably a different tranny.

I have plenty left at 70 MPH in 3, plenty of passing and no shifting on my tranny what so ever.

My Ody is a heck of a tow vehicle. I would imagine the Pilot would be too.

I would want disc breaks on that trailer I I had it loaded with 3500# and was towing with the pilot. Comparing my trailer with discs to my buddies single axle with drums, and my other buddies dual axle with drums, they don't compare.

 

[bamafutbal]

Re: Honda pilot 03

11mpg on my 03 pilot on I10/I75 pulling a double axel 3500-3800 pound boat at 65-72mph