We bought a 2006 Pilot specifically to tow. We got a 2wd because it states in the manual it can be towed behind motorhome. Our problem now is, the motorhome dealer we contacted to order base plate said they are not available, because Honda changed the Pilot from '05 to '06. This is our first motorhome and know nothing about rigging a tow vehicle.
By the way, the 2006 Pilot 4wd cannot be towed.
Please help
This isn't going to make you feel too much better, but if you haven't read through Deen's Odyssey Saga you might want to do so.
I'm a long time Honda fan, but their handling of this issue is inexcuseable. I hope you have better luck. I was ready to buy an '05 Odyssey, fortunately I read Deen's story. I looked at the '05 Pilot, and almost bought one, but the '06 added a few more standard features, so I was going to wait for their availability to increase AND wait to make sure Honda hasn't changed their mind on the '06's about towing. From your post, it appears that they might have done just that.
To the best of my knowledge, other than the addition of a 2WD platform, I didn't know there were any powerline changes to the Pilot from '05 to '06. I didn't see any mention of them in the literature.
Once again, welcome and good luck. Please keep us updated on your findings.
~Rick
2005 Georgie Boy 3625 DS on a Workhorse W-22 (Class A)
Rick, Gail, 1 girl (16-Angel, Lexi96.org), 1 girl (11), 2 boys (12 & 9).
2001 Honda Odyssey, Demco Aluminator tow bar & tow plate, SMI Silent Partner brake controller.
Thank you for your response. We were first told that it is not towable, and the manual in the 4wd vehicle said not to tow behind motorhome, but when we read the manual in the 2wd, it reads exactly as the manual in the '05, so we bought with that understanding. I am trading in my Infiniti M45 for the Pilot, so I really hope I can find a base plate!
I know the person in charge of procuring new vehicles to be fitted for brackets at RoadMaster. Will give her a call tomorrow and see if they have any info on the '06 Pilot. RoadMaster doesn't list one for them and there is no listing on the RoadMaster site that they want one for fitting. May mean that it's already in the works or that it isn't even being planned.
Even though Honda has told people that the '05 and '06 Odyssey's are not towable RoadMaster still lists the bracket kits in their catalog.
Thanks for the update...but I'm a little perplexed. I don't believe there were any changes done to the chassis between the '05 and '06 Pilot AWD. There are some apparent changes to the front facia, so I could see where a new tow plate might have to be designed to accommodate it.
Did your contact at Roadmaster state that the 2006 AWD Pilot is NOT towable?
If that's so, I'd sure like to know what Honda changed...other than their mind.
Thanks for the update...but I'm a little perplexed. I don't believe there were any changes done to the chassis between the '05 and '06 Pilot AWD. There are some apparent changes to the front facia, so I could see where a new tow plate might have to be designed to accommodate it.
Did your contact at Roadmaster state that the 2006 AWD Pilot is NOT towable?
If that's so, I'd sure like to know what Honda changed...other than their mind.
Thanks for the post.
~Rick
Rick, According to my contact the front end structure was changed so they had to design a new bracket. Don't know why Honda would change their minds about towing the AWD, maybe for the same reasons they changed their minds about our Odyssey!! Just CYA? Who knows, they won't tell us why on the Odyssey either.
My 06 Pilot 4WD does not offer towing suggestions in the manual. My salesman told me that Honda took out all towing references in 06 including CRV! Been towing 02 MDX with great success...now will tow my 05 crv which still has instructions in manual. Next time a Jeep??
Joan and Bruce
05 Excursion 39L
powered by 350 KittyCATS on a Spartan
2010 Traverse LT toad (Blue Ox & Breakbuddy)
...and a "road dog" named Max and his gabby sister, Abby.
"May the wind be always at your back and your destination the one you chose"
Hello, again. After not being able to find a face plate, I contacted Blue Ox as well as Demco to see when they would have one available. As a result, we are taking our Pilot to Blue Ox on Nov. 9th to have it fitted with the base plate, then they will begin production. Don't know how long that will take for production, however. Demco wasn't interested in taking care of it right now, said it would be spring.
I spoke with my Honda salesman and he was familar with the recent Honda service bulletin for flat towing. For 2006 the bulletin says the CRV and Pilot are ok for flat towing. I had him pull the owners manual out of a AWD 2006 pilot and he said on page 222 is the familar good-for-8-hours routine.
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