Honda Pilot squats when towing my boat - What's acceptable?

[petriw]

I am pulling a DORAL 170 Sunquest with an 05 Honda Pilot. Trailer, boat, motor and gear probably weighs close to 2200 pounds. My Honda squats badly and I wonder if I should be concerned? Is this normal or should I be concerned? Vehicle seems to handle fine. Ride does seem to suck though! What are my options?

Thanks all

Wade

 

[JB]

Re: Honda Pilot squats when towing my boat - What's acceptable?

What is the weight on the hitch coupler? If your guess on the rig weight is correct it should be around 220#.

A weight distributing hitch should prevent the squat, but I would look into air shocks or other means of adjusting the vehicle attitude.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Honda Pilot squats when towing my boat - What's acceptable?

How much does it squat? If it's just settling a little there probably isn't a problem. If it's actually pushing the back down lower than the front, it sounds like too much weight on the tongue. Maybe your boat sits too far forward on the trailer?

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Honda Pilot squats when towing my boat - What's acceptable?

What is the weight on the hitch coupler? If your guess on the rig weight is correct it should be around 220#.

A weight distributing hitch should prevent the squat, but I would look into air shocks or other means of adjusting the vehicle attitude.

Weight distribution hitches are a no-no with unibody's... The twisting action will probably rip the hitch right off.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Honda Pilot squats when towing my boat - What's acceptable?

I put some monroe load adjusting shocks on the rear of my Honda Odyssey to help with it's squatting. However, mine only squatted about an inch. I agree with the prevous poster, you boat might be sitting too far forward on the trailer.

 

[JB]

Re: Honda Pilot squats when towing my boat - What's acceptable?

I put some monroe load adjusting shocks on the rear of my Honda Odyssey to help with it's squatting. However, mine only squatted about an inch. I agree with the prevous poster, you boat might be sitting too far forward on the trailer.

If there is too much weight on the hitch (over 10% of rig weight, ready to launch) the correct solution is to move the axle forward and not mess with the boat if it is correctly positioned on the trailer.

If the boat is incorrectly positioned, go back to square 1 and rerig the trailer from the beginning.

Moving the boat around is the wrong way to balance a trailer.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Honda Pilot squats when towing my boat - What's acceptable?

The Pilot is rated for 4500#/ 450# tongue weight IIRC, so it shouldn't have a problem with your rig if it's set up properly.

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Honda Pilot squats when towing my boat - What's acceptable?

Need to check tongue weight.