I'd like to add a trailer hitch to my wife's Honda Pilot. Intended use would be small enclosed trailer like you might rent from U-Haul, or a flat bed trailer.

We've never had a vehicle with a trailer hitch, and we don't know anything about what concerns that might cause in terms of engine & transmission wear.

Can anybody summarize what precautions we should take, or what we should look out for?

I'd get at least a 2" class 3...don't mess with the smaller ones.

Get a 4 pin light kit too.

As long as you're not towing with it all day everyday, there's really no issue here.

Get the wiring harness from the Honda dealer. The wires are there, just need to connect to the harness.

I'd worry about making big rigs look like toys.

HONDA!!!!!

Bigger transmission cooler
Magnetic inline filter on cooler line
Transmission temperature gauge
More frequent fluid changes
Always used Honda fluid

With a transaxle I would probably look at a trans cooler if you plan on towing with any regularity or any significant weight... if it does not already have one.

[This message has been edited by p_bubel (edited 11/19/2012 11:35a).]

I'd worry about your wife driving with a trailer

FWD or AWD? Be aware that your max weight is significantly lower on FWD.

My mom has a pilot and put a hitch on. The very best thing to do is put these in the back. She wore through the back tires really quick without the bags. The stock rear suspension just wasn't strong enough to keep out the negative camber.


Edit: I suck at grammar

[This message has been edited by Agineer (edited 11/19/2012 7:15p).]

I spoke with dealership and they wanted $1755 to install Honda trailer hitch ($875) and upgrade cooling and trasmission systems ($880). I laughed and told them I could get a hitch installed for about $300 at U-haul (not that I plan to do so, but I could get it done for way less). He suggested having someone else do the hitch and then bringing it in for them to do the upgrades to cooling & tmission.

Driving with a trailer might be interesting. But I have to back out of a pretty tricky garage space everyday so I know how to maneuver my vehicle. I've only hit the house once.

Our 2006 Pilot doesn't have a hitch nor do we tow with it. But even in FWD, it is rated for 3500 lbs if the towing kit is installed. Unfortunately with newer Pilots they don't sell the factory hitch as an accessory. The Honda hitch for ours is about $225. Wiring harness $125 or so. Transmission cooler could be added too.

If I were towing a jetski (~1000 lbs) I would just add a hitch and wiring. I wouldn't worry in the least about the rest of the car.

But those charges from the dealer are laughable.

Aren't they always?

Mine's an '07, so the kit's available. We won't be installing ourselves. Any suggestions on a good place to take it in Houston to install it?

[This message has been edited by combat wombat™ (edited 11/20/2012 12:05p).]