Nv Guy

Reno NV

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It's not just weight, don't overlook wind resistance. If you have a 10 MPH headwind, the load on the TV is increased substantially.
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JRscooby

Indepmo

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Before you go to dealer, check your vehicle, by VIN to find out what the ratings are. Not sure I would want to start the discussion with "I did this which is a excuse to void my warranty" when troubleshooting the problem.
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Cwilson333

Beach

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Joined: 05/20/2023

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Changing out burnt fluid is usually a band aid. Once it's hot enough to burn fluid something else is also burnt, or in the least was exposed to excessive wear. You're now on borrowed time. Take it to a good transmission shop, not a dealer. Doesn't a Honda Pilot have a CVT? That's a whole different conversation.
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Bumpyroad

Virginia

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Joined: 12/01/2005

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Nv Guy wrote: It's not just weight, don't overlook wind resistance. If you have a 10 MPH headwind, the load on the TV is increased substantially.
when I was comparing a pilot vs my highlander, the pilot was rated to tow 5,000 lbs. towing a boat, 3500 towing a trailer.
bumpy
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Cwilson333

Beach

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Bumpyroad wrote: Nv Guy wrote: It's not just weight, don't overlook wind resistance. If you have a 10 MPH headwind, the load on the TV is increased substantially.
when I was comparing a pilot vs my highlander, the pilot was rated to tow 5,000 lbs. towing a boat, 3500 towing a trailer.
bumpy
Ratings are one thing, reality another. If you go to the Honda Ridgeline forums you'll see thousands of posts in a thread named Ridgelines can tow. I'm pretty sure the Ridgeline has the same basic power train / chassis as the Pilot. Those guys tow all sorts of ridiculous combinations and weights successfully, although most of them appear to be first class Duesenberg Knuckleheads lol. Doesn't change the fact that once fluid is burnt brown the number of miles/days until your sitting along the road is limited.
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ScottG

Bothell Wa.

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It sucks but you're going to have to do something different or you're going to be in for repeated and extremely expensive repairs.
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valhalla360

No paticular place.

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Bumpyroad wrote: Nv Guy wrote: It's not just weight, don't overlook wind resistance. If you have a 10 MPH headwind, the load on the TV is increased substantially.
when I was comparing a pilot vs my highlander, the pilot was rated to tow 5,000 lbs. towing a boat, 3500 towing a trailer.
bumpy
This brings up an important difference.
Boats slip thru the air easier than a brick (which is the aerodynamics of your average RV). They don't highlight it but manufacturers have a maximum frontal area for towing.
Assuming you were towing on mostly flat ground, being overweight may not have been the big issue. Fighting the wind could have overloaded it.
Also, what does "tow weight goes to 5000 with atf coolant" mean? Do you mean if you add a transmission cooler and are you sure that's the only change required to increase the tow rating?
Reality is these unibody station wagons are marginal tow vehicles. If you want to tow a 2000lb utility trailer 20 miles from the local home depot, it can work but maxed out it not a great idea.
Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV
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Beverley&Ken

Tottenham,Ontario

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Am I reading the original post correctly? You bought? the Pilot in January and they had to change the transmission fluid twice to get rid of the burned smell , that was long before towing. If that's correct, the transmission was badly damaged, long before you started towing. Hopefully covered by some type of warranty.
Ken
2006 Winnebago Outlook 29B E-450.
2012 Honda CR-V AWD
Blue Ox Aventa LX tow bar and Brake Buddy Vantage.
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Grit dog

Black Diamond, WA

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OP, whether your car will tow that trailer again capably or not is not where you should be headed.
After what happened, best money is selling it, now.
Then you can buy something that won’t smoke the trans towing your camper.
Win win.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold
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Grit dog

Black Diamond, WA

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Beverley&Ken wrote: Am I reading the original post correctly? You bought? the Pilot in January and they had to change the transmission fluid twice to get rid of the burned smell , that was long before towing. If that's correct, the transmission was badly damaged, long before you started towing. Hopefully covered by some type of warranty.
Ken
Nope you didn’t read it correctly. Back of the line and try again. (Although the OP wrote the post about as weirdly worded as I could imagine).
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