Honda Odessey Towing - Event Date: 06 Mar 2016

Originally posted by Captiankd I want to thank everyone for your input, it has been very helpful.  I picked up our new r pod 171 Tuesday in Sebring fl and brought it home some 65 mile on flat roads. My 2015 Honda Odyssey with a weight distribution hitch and sway bar brought it home. The only problem is that the transmission ran 70% of the time in a lower gear. Instead of 2000 to 2500 rpm I was running at 3000 to 3500 rams. I could not really stay at 65 mph and the car kept going down to 55 mph. I do have a transmission cooler which I guess helped the transmission. But I are really worried about going out west and into the Rockies. I am going to take a beating if I trade the new Honda for something else. What should I look for? A used Ford Expedition or what. Do you think I can rent some think for a couple of months for towing? Again, I need help.

I'll refer you back to the above post.
My comment that over-rides any other of mine would be: Do what the Honda guy says. With mountains, headwinds and thinner air for the engine (reducing horsepower), I wouldn't plan on any BETTER performance.

Will you make it there and back? My guess is yes. It may not be pretty at times, but you should make it. I made it there and back on less than your Honda's 248 horsepower - and I got the pictures to prove it:

Rocky Mts.

However, if you can survive the drive there, it will be worth it. I found the place truly breathtaking. Pictures don't do it justice.

Originally posted by StephenH David,Thank you for the link to your pictures. That is the kind of traveling I want to do with our R-Pod. I think I'll talk with my wife about a trip up the Blue Ridge parkway first as a warm-up before heading out to the Rockies.

You are very welcome!

Not to hijack the thread but....

I did the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive (Shenandoah N.P.)- I think, back in the fall of 2007. It would be one I believe you would find memorable. I started in Cherokee (South) and drove North - with reservations, about mid-point, at the Linville Falls campground.

Only planning 2 days for the drive was a big mistake. The road is demanding and there is much that could be seen along the way.

At the time, I was pulling a Coleman popup with a 2005 Dodge Caravan. This was no problem but, I seem to recall one or two low underpasses that RVs would have to detour around (due to height clearance).

Anyway, good luck. I think you would like it.

If you get a Ford p-up or expedition used be aware of the 5.4 v8. Make sure the spark plugs have been changed to the new one piece plugs. Otherwise it could be costly to replace them.I tow 171 with f150 5.4 v8. I tow at 65-70 mph easy.If I replaced my current truck I would replace with f150 5 liter v8. With tow package for at least 5 k. With my current TV I don't need weight distribution or sway bar.

As to the bridges on the blue ridge Pkwy they handle huge motorhomes & 5th wheels. I have gone the distance on it with the pod with out a problem.

The only parks that have limits on trailers is Glacier national park (road to the sun limits total TV+trailer lengths) & Zion thru tunnel which is width of trailer.If to wide you pay extra for a escort as they close the tunnel to one-way traffic before you can go thru. There may be other parks with restrictions but these are the park I know of.

Originally posted by StephenH Thanks for the advice about not rushing the Blue Ridge Parkway. I was thinking along those lines. I'll have to double-check the height before we take off on that adventure. I was looking at the National Parks Service Blue Ridge Parkway Directory & Travel Planner.http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/v.php?pg=73This is available as a PDF download as well as online. When I read that the speed limit is 45 mph or lower, I knew this would not be a fast trip.

Well, you seem to be doing your "homework" regarding the Parkway.
Please forgive me but, I have slept a night or two since 2007 and:

I may not be accurately remembering and/or
Those troublesome spots may have been remedied in the interim (nice).
If that is all you are seeing, I bet it is up to date and reliable. It is good that you are checking.

Let me know if you can travel at 45mph. Also, let me know if you can hit 30mph (posted) in the Southern half. I kind of got a chuckle out of those signs. (Maybe in a Ferrari or on a motorcycle) I think my average was closer to 20mph - and that was pulling only a 995lbs popup.

Plunging down
stand on the brake
downshift
hard right
hard left
immediately up
back on the gas
upshift
hard left
hard right

Repeat the above for about 10 hours and you'll make it from Cherokee to (mid-point) Linville Falls.    It get's a little easier up North and Skyline Drive ain't too bad at all - you might actually hit 45mph up there.

I have a 179 and was pulling it with a 2013 pilot and had no problems never even used equalizer bars just a sway bar.Just leased a new silverado with the 4.3 V6 and don't see a whole lot of difference. Good luck you shouldn't have any problems with your pod being lighter and the same motor we had in the pilot.