Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
Gulf Stream Owners RV Forum
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 05-19-2010, 08:47 PM   #1
jetliner
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 19
Default Towing a 2003 Honda Odyssey

All,

I want to tow an 03' Odyssey on a dolly. I understand most Honda's cannot be towed with a tow bar including our mini van. I acquired a Master Tow 80THD with Hyd Brakes to do the job which meets all the weight and width requirements..

A few questions from a procedural standpoint for those of you out there with experience on this.
1- Once you climb the vehicle into the tire slot, do you set the parking brake once parked?
2- if yes, do you leave the transmition in Park as well as the parking brake set for the towing? IOW, does the parking brake locks all 4 tires?
3- Is there any minimum time you recommend running the engine before driving the vehicle after towing? Honda doesn't have any info on that.
4- Is there any speed limit while towing that I should be aware of (not road limit) that could make handling of RV more difficult if not observed?
5- Any gouge on how often should I grease the bearings on the dolly and check brake fluids?

Thanks in advance
__________________
Gulfstream Sun Voyager
1999 Diesel Pusher M-8362
275 HP Cummins
jetliner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-19-2010, 11:11 PM   #2
Chuck v
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,025
Default

Jetliner,

I tow the Acura MDX four down and it is an AWD. I did quite a bit of searching about this topic and found many older Honda models are can be towed. How did you come to believe that your car cannot be towed?

The Remco site states that your vehicle is tow ready without any modifications and gives specifics here:
http://www.remcotowing.com/vehicles/273 ... &year=2004

The Roadmaster site also lists proper base plates for your Honda...

Chuck
__________________
2007 Tour Master T40C
Acura MDX toad

"It takes a great deal of time to recover from any improvement..."
Chuck v is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2010, 05:23 AM   #3
jetliner
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 19
Default

Hi Chuck,

I could not find specific towing information on the owners manual so I went to the local Honda dealer and asked. They said with the exception of some civic models, all Honda vehicles should not be towed as it will overheat the transmission and eventually leading it for failure.

Do you know If you set your parking brake does it hold all 4 wheels or just the drivetrain (FWD) ? Thanks again.
__________________
Gulfstream Sun Voyager
1999 Diesel Pusher M-8362
275 HP Cummins
jetliner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2010, 10:56 AM   #4
Chuck v
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,025
Default

Sorry, I don't know the specifics of the parking brake on your Odyssey. You can try jacking up one rear wheel and see if it is free to turn when the parking brake is set.

Yes, the Honda dealers are pretty non-committal on the tow capabilities of their models -- most likely an inoculation against warranty claims, etc. My Acura specifically has a section in the manual on being towed behind a motor home with a detailed procedure to set it up in regard to cycling through the gears to circulate the transmission fluid prior to towing. If a brain dead owner did not do that conscientiously, it might result in more service claims than the manufacture thought they were liable for and so they just quit publishing that the MDX was tow capable after the 2005 model year...

Chuck
__________________
2007 Tour Master T40C
Acura MDX toad

"It takes a great deal of time to recover from any improvement..."
Chuck v is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2010, 07:03 PM   #5
jetliner
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 19
Default

I also own a 2009 Accord that the owners manual states it is not designed for towing. However, it does say that if due to damage you must tow it with the front wheels on the ground, you must turn the engine on, step on the brake and go through all gears and go from D to N to ensure transmission fluid flows in all gears.

My Odyssey operates with the same limitations, but I was concerned towing it flat for long periods of time. You are also limited to 50 MPH max speed and 35 MPH continuos. Thanks for your input.
__________________
Gulfstream Sun Voyager
1999 Diesel Pusher M-8362
275 HP Cummins
jetliner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2010, 08:35 PM   #6
Chuck v
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,025
Default

Jetliner,

I double checked with the Motorhome Magazine dinghy towing guide for 2003 http://www.motorhomemagazine.com/output.cfm?ID=201493 and it only lists the CRV, Element and Pilot as recommended for towing flat, so I stand corrected.

My Acura MDX (similar mechanically to the Pilot...) also is approved for flat towing up to 65 MPH and 8 hours with out reinitializing the transmission cycling regimen...

Chuck
__________________
2007 Tour Master T40C
Acura MDX toad

"It takes a great deal of time to recover from any improvement..."
Chuck v is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
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

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Towing Ultra Supreme Class A 1 10-28-2012 03:51 AM
Generator Honda 2000i Marvin Travel Trailers 4 07-01-2011 01:32 PM
2007 HONDA ACCORD CUBE MAN Class A 4 11-03-2010 07:00 PM
Towing ? Nanaeve Class C 9 11-14-2009 05:41 AM
Towing 08 HHR chamberlain Class A 3 07-27-2008 09:56 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:18 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
×