Can a 2017 Pilot pull this?

[DennisT]

Had the same question with the Jeep Liberty we had.

By the numbers it was more than capable of towing various things.

In reality, when you tried, it ended up being unstable. Combination of the vehicle height, wheelbase, etc. The info came from various people that tried towing things and the combination was about unable to be controlled.

Just additional info for you - sometimes even if the numbers all work out, it may not be a good combination overall.

Good luck and stay safe.

 

[fluffywhitedogs]

The 28' is out. We're now looking at a 21'. Thank you for the wisdom!

I think its truck drivers that believe SUVs shouldn't pull trailers. If I owned an enormous pickup, I'd probably be in that camp!

Have a tongue scale coming today. Everyone (and even Honda) says if your tongue is over/under weight or not between 10 and 15%, adjust your cargo. If I can keep gross trailer under 5 and tongue 10-15% (and it's not windy) its a go. Otherwise a smaller trailer it is!

I was just coming on to say that the previous combo would be a hard no in my opinion. I'm glad you've pivoted to a safer option.
I tow a 21' 4500 dry weight trailer with a Dodge Durango Hemi (8 cylinder, factory tow package =7400 tow capacity). I tend to travel alone and pack pretty light, but I will tell you, I can feel it when the tanks are full, and I would not tow it that way for long! I also have to be super cautious about loading, because the max tongue weight for my vehicle is 720lb. (I've passed for now on adding a second battery and upgrading the mattress based on that!) Also, when I consider the tongue weight as part of my vehicles total payload capacity, it limits what I carry. So I'd say even with the smaller trailer, you'll have to keep all of this in mind.

 

[DennisT]

Relative of ours had a 28 foot trailer they towed with an SUV.

The tow vehicle was a hemi Grand Cherokee Jeep.

More than capable by the numbers for what they were towing.

Depending on the wind, semis going by, etc it was a “white knuckle” experience at times going down the road.

Personally I’d go with a pickup for towing if we went that way.

 

[TheLooks]

What everyone is saying without saying it is that wheelbase plays a more important role then payload or pulling capacity. This applies to jacked up short bed truck as well. I have seen about everything you can imagine going down the road.

 

[Bigblockyeti]

Question:why are people always trying to pull trailers with " toy cars/SUVs?

Because $30K pickup trucks now cost $70K and you can't buy an 8 passenger truck for $42K like you can an SUV from several manufacturers.

When did a Pilot become a "toy"?

 

[TheLooks]

When it was first introduced to the market.....?

I should add to that.....Honda makes great motorcycles, I have a Goldwing, and great reliable vehicles. But they are not heavy duty in anything.

 

[Rosy]

Because $30K pickup trucks now cost $70K and you can't buy an 8 passenger truck for $42K like you can an SUV from several manufacturers.

When did a Pilot become a "toy"?

The Pilot isn't $42k any more either...

 

[Bigblockyeti]

The Pilot isn't $42k any more either...

A very well equipped one isn't, I don't buy vehicles filled with high margin, fragile gadgets.

 

[Ringer]

My buddy bought a new AWD Pilot a couple of years ago to pull a 20' trailer. He did one trip then sold it and bought a half ton truck. Said the car was just not designed to tow much of anything. Braking would be a major concern for me.

 

[jaydee325]

A very well equipped one isn't, I don't buy vehicles filled with high margin, fragile gadgets.
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You'll be waiting a while. Anything listed in the SW Michigan area are $50,000 and up.

 

[Bigblockyeti]

My buddy bought a new AWD Pilot a couple of years ago to pull a 20' trailer. He did one trip then sold it and bought a half ton truck. Said the car was just not designed to tow much of anything. Braking would be a major concern for me.

If you have your trailer brakes set up correctly, the tow vehicle will be stopping very little additional weight besides itself, the trailer brakes will will stop the trailer. If he didn't have them set up correctly, he's in the firm majority. An F250 is needed for a two seater Jetski, for a three seater an F450 is the minimum required to pull it safely. Skill is acquired, sadly many skip the acquisition step and blame equipment, tools, software, others, etc. when everything is less than perfect.

Waiting for a reasonably priced car, SUV, truck or whatever often requires an honest dealership (price gouging = non-honest) and a willingness to wait for what you want to be built. The manufacturers know that people don't have patience and want their XYZ now even if it makes for an XYZ with more failure opportunities at 25% greater cost.

 

[TheLooks]

That's an assumption on your part, not a bad guess generally. But you don't know the other party. Honda's in general are not meant to tow. I would be more concerned with frontal area dragging down the drive train with wind load.

 

[Rosy]

A very well equipped one isn't, I don't buy vehicles filled with high margin, fragile gadgets.
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We needed one with captain's chairs in the second row for our kids, which naturally only come in the high end trims. Our 2022 Touring was about $53k USD.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Because $30K pickup trucks now cost $70K and you can't buy an 8 passenger truck for $42K like you can an SUV from several manufacturers.

When did a Pilot become a "toy"?

My late wife called full size PU's real trucks!!! That would imply everything smaller is a toy!

I was given a ranger once. She advertised it and found a 1500 and gifted it to me. Her comment was if you want a truck get one!!!
Her logic was hard to argue!!!

 

[offroader09]

A pony will pull a cart for a short distance and a Ox will pull a cart forever. Just depends on what you are trying to accomplish.