I just recently purchased a 2002 Honda CRV automatic to use as a toad for my RV. The owners manual has a specific section dedicated with instructions to tow the vehicle behind a motorhome.
For the automatic, it outlines the procedure; Start, then shift through each gear, P, R, N, D, 2, 1, then back up to N, then let idle for 3 minutes, stop engine, turn key to allow steering wheel to move, hook up and go (for a maximum of 8 hrs). It specically warns that if the tranny is shifted from reverse to neutral, then towed, it will ruin the transmission....
Questions...is any one out there towing an automatic honda CRV?, does anyone know why it's so important to go thru the gears in such a specific order?...I'm not a transmission guy....Thanks
Newbie Tim
We tow a 2005 Honda CRV and we follow the book. I assume the recommendations are based on the requirements for proper lubrication.
The manual also says to change the transmission oil every 30,000 miles if towing the CRV. I just changed the tranny oil this week, and it was VERY dark after only 25000 miles, so I assume that towing does cause some temp increase in the tranny.
Changing the tranny oil is a two step process, fill, run through the gears as you described, do a short drive and repeat the process. The tranny takes aprox 3.5 quarts each time. Honda has its own high price oil >$9 per quart, however other brands meet the same spec's and are in the $5-6 range.
I would change the tranny oil prior to towing, just to be safe.
The Beave
30' 1997 Beaver Monterey
(The shortest DP we could find)
2005 Honda CR-V
Remco surge brake
The owners manual is very specific in regards to towing the CRV.
Dont question it or do it any other way.. Many of us have towed our CRV's thousands of miles doing the proceedures outlined in our manual without any problems. this is the only way tranny oil is properly dispersed throughout your transmission. (So I've been told)
You just bought a great car to use as a toad.
There is only one warning I might give.
When making sharp turns in loose sand, as pulling in or out of a campsite in the desert etc. keep a sharp eye on your front wheels as the may flop over and not track true due to the tires not getting a good grip as on pavement. Its happened to me about 3 times. allways a slow speed in a sharp turn.
Remember to turn off your accessories and the cruise control switch over on the left dash to eliminate all parasitic elect. draw.
ENJOY
Ron
2002 34HD Winnebago Journey DL, Cat. 330/freightliner
2004 Honda CRV - Garmin 1490t
Great wife & Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
TT/N
To go through all the gears. If you overshoot N and go into R on the last shift go back to P and start over.
After you shut off the engine you must pump the brakes three or four times to bleed the vacuum from the vacuum assist brakes. This is usually part of setting up the tow breaking system. If you don't, the brakes may lockup the first time you use them after taking off.
2000 Sea Breeze F53 V10 - CR-V Toad
Some RV batteries live a long and useful life, some are murdered. Get a Digital Multimeter and Learn How to Use It
garym114 wrote: To go through all the gears. If you overshoot N and go into R on the last shift go back to P and start over.
After you shut off the engine you must pump the brakes three or four times to bleed the vacuum from the vacuum assist brakes. This is usually part of setting up the tow breaking system. If you don't, the brakes may lockup the first time you use them after taking off.
I think a clarification is in order.
You do not have to pump your brakes normally as in just towing your
CRV.
HOWEVER, IF you are using a Brakebuddy system, that is part of the proceedure in setting up the brakebuddy, which I use.
I cant comment on other brands of brake assist systems.
I've towed an '06 and an '09 Honda CR-V for thousands of miles. The one thing we always do is follow their recommended shifting sequence. We've never had a problem. I can't say we're as anal about only towing for 8 hours though.
That procedure is very important if you want to make sure that the tranny is properly lubricated for up to 8 hours. I have a 2002 CRV and have towed it about 40,000 miles, never over 8 hours at a time. I sometimes do the shifting process again when we stop for lunch if I think we might approach the 8 hour mark later in the dqy.
( the extra lubrication never hurts in my opinion) Great Toad and follow the manual to the letter.
Othertonka
2004 Southwind 32VS 8.1 Workhorse chassis
2002 CRV Toad
U. S. Gear Unified brake system
Retired Fire Captain, SFD
I tow a 2005 CRV and find it to be a great tow vehicle. Do yourself a favor and only use Honda transmission fluid. An associate of mine was a lng time service manager for a Honda dealership and he could tell you of the tranny failures from those that used the lower cost substitutes. How much will you really save over the life of the vehicle? The other fluid that requires regular changes is the rear differential if it is all wheel drive. Again, a special Honda fluid.
We tow a '07 CR-V AWD. We have 56,000 miles of driving and another 52,000 miles of towing (108,000 miles total). I have always followed the transmission sequence and we have had no problems.
The co-pilot and I usually never drive over 7 hrs and if we are towing close to that, I'll stop and run through the gears at our lunch break. I think the Honda is about one of the best 'toad' vehicles to tow. Great fuel mileage, seats five, awd and plenty of storage in the back.
MM.
Mr.Mark
2008 Monaco Dynasty, 42.2 ft., 4 slides, 425 hp clean-air Cummins diesel
2013 Honda CR-V EXL, AWD, w/Nav, SMI Air Force One vacuum-assisted braking
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