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Topic Closed2014 Honda Pilot and 178/179?
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psikes View Drop Down
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Joined: 30 Jul 2014
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Posts: 18 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: 2014 Honda Pilot and 178/179?
    Posted: 30 Jul 2014 at 7:48pm
Just wondering if our new Honda Pilot 4WD is safe to tow either of these. I know the numbers work but would appreciate some real life experiences. I currently tow a 23' TT with a F250 diesel but we have done our big trips and want to scale back a bit.

Thanks, Phil
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Leo B View Drop Down
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Posts: 4508 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jul 2014 at 7:50pm
Welcome to the group. We tow our 179 with our Dodge Grands Caravan through the mountains of Northern Vermont and New Hampshire without any problems so far. You Pilot should have no problem with either one
Leo & Melissa Bachand
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hogone View Drop Down
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Posts: 1042 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jul 2014 at 8:55pm
keep the 250
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Posts: 1797 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jul 2014 at 8:57pm
Phil,

Here's my personal experience towing a 172 with a 4WD Pilot. There's no problem with the Honda pulling, controlling, and stopping the 178/179. Although they weigh 4-500# more than my 172 there should be no safety issues on level ground at sea level. I purposely chose the 172 because I knew I'd be towing in the Colorado mountains. Hills and elevation are not the small gasoline engine's best friend. So I found the Pilot would tow fine approaching the mountain passes, but 6% inclines were a challenge The gearing on the Pilot is such that 2nd was too high and 1st was too low for some of the steeper inclines. Fortunately some of the same passes were self limiting to 15 MPH and the higher you go the slower you go. That said I went over several 10-11000 ft. passes, just slowly. If you have a good and properly adjusted brake controller, and do it properly, you'll also have no problem coming down. 

So the bottom line is you can do it, but slowly. And we love the West! Enjoy.
Charlie
Northern Colorado
OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD
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Posts: 1042 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jul 2014 at 9:00pm
keep the 250
Jon & Pam
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techntrek View Drop Down
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Posts: 9059 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jul 2014 at 9:28pm
I'll repeat what hogone has repeated.  You have the 250, keep it.  I have a 2010 Suburban with an 8000 pound towing limit, long wheel base, and over 300 hp and torque.  The power is great at lower altitudes, but hauls last year over 7000 feet, and this year as high as 10,000 feet left it feeling like it had 100 hp and torque up there.  There were long mountain passes in the Rockies where I was in 2nd doing 40, but similar passes in the Appalachians thousands of feet lower I had power to pass anyone.

Your 250 is designed to tow - high torque, hp, and long wheelbase.  
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Posts: 67 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jul 2014 at 9:37pm
Honestly I wouldn't tow any vehicle that is not really designed for towing,regardless of what the manufacturer says it's towing capability is.

Sure,mini-vans and small to mid-size Suv's and trucks will pull it,but rapid wear will result as they will be constantly straining,cooling systems maxed out,brakes at the limit,trans running real hot,etc,etc.

A full size truck or SUV is what I would recommend for longevity and peace of mind,especially during an emergency when an evasive lane change or panic brake is required.
FOUND OUR NEW-RETRO TEARDROP!!!
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Posts: 18 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jul 2014 at 11:01pm
I could tell some horror stories about my F250 but just suffice it to say that we were stranded three times on our last trip. We would love to lose the diesel and step down to a smaller trailer. I do appreciate all the comments. We will be doing very little mountain driving staying mostly on the coast of Washington and Oregon.

Thanks, Phil
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Posts: 9059 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Jul 2014 at 9:49pm
I started off towing my pod with a Toyota Sienna.  It was fine most of the time.  Decent pickup from a dead start, no sway issues, etc.  Then I had a long day towing in a very strong headwind.  I was literally flooring it to do 45 and my mpgs that day fell through the floor.  That's when I knew I needed to move to something more capable.  Even though you will spend most of your time inside the envelope, eventually you'll hit a condition which will be outside the envelope.  Just something to think about.

It is unfortunate if the 250 is unreliable, that does change your situation.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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psikes View Drop Down
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Posts: 18 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Jul 2014 at 9:58pm
On days like that, we will just park it and spend the day sightseeing or playing my banjo! Getting stranded three time on the same trip has led me to totally distrust the F250. I am sure reading a lot of posts from people towing with the Pilot and getting good results. At this point, most of our travels will be short haul and restricted to the a West coast. We are almost ready to pull the trigger on a 178, sometime in the next two weeks.

Thanks for all the input, Phil 
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