Even Honda does not have a good answer. I know it says 3500 lbs. minus passengers and cargo. How absurd. How does one go fishing without gear or people. I am thinking about buying a used boat that is around 2900 pounds but if I subtract people and gear I can't tow the boat. Any help would be appreciated.
Odyssey 2015 towing capacity?
tigershark
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Even Honda does not have a good answer. I know it says 3500 lbs. minus passengers and cargo. How absurd. How does one go fishing without gear or people. I am thinking about buying a used boat that is around 2900 pounds but if I subtract people and gear I can't tow the boat. Any help would be appreciated.
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Should have bought a Chevy Suburban maybe? According to the Honda website, that is correct towing capacity. The Ody is a unibody vehicle and not a body on frame, the former can't tow much, as you've already discovered, while the latter is more robust for towing.
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You can tow anything you want but you might burn up the transmission.
The van can tow 3500 lbs on a unit equipped with brakes (boat or pop up). The van needs to be properly equipped with a tow package(including a transmission cooler). The towing capacity is not reduced by the passengers. The only thing that would need to be watched is the gross combined vehicle weight rating (not sure what it is) Probably one of the main issues is that with the van loaded and a high tongue weight from the tow unit, the back will squat without load assist shocks or air bags. Rest assured, the van can tow 3500 lbs.
The problem is a rating is just a number, but towing is a far more intricate application than a simple weight. Wind resistance plays a huge part as does elevation change. I towed a pop up camper all over the country at 500 lbs over the gross combined rating with no issues and no transmission problems at 166K when the van got totaled. Low wind resistance, properly equipped, synthetic fluids, etc.
How far, how often, and at what speed? If this a pretty much a local thing less 500 miles a year that's far different than cross country in 14 hour jags at 70 mph.
How far, how often, and at what speed? If this a pretty much a local thing less 500 miles a year that's far different than cross country in 14 hour jags at 70 mph.
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Don't forget the ATF cooler!!!
And if you have 8 people in the van you can't tow anything!!!!! It decreases according to the number of passengers.
The capacity is reduced according to page 401 of the owners manual or page 93 of the 2015 owners guide.
At least that is what the new guide I was provided after Honda recalled my original 2015 manual.
Not sure what the old manual said because they took it as part of the recall... LOL
And if you have 8 people in the van you can't tow anything!!!!! It decreases according to the number of passengers.
The capacity is reduced according to page 401 of the owners manual or page 93 of the 2015 owners guide.
At least that is what the new guide I was provided after Honda recalled my original 2015 manual.
Not sure what the old manual said because they took it as part of the recall... LOL
The manual is designed for use by both intelligent people and idiots. Only you get to decide which rule system to use.
If you are an idiot, use the tow rating by number of passengers system. But even there, that tow rating is for a LOW profile trailer like a small boat or a popup camper, not a walk-in cargo trailer.
The other system requires both math and critical thinking skills. Most people CAN do this, but are too lazy. Thus the idiot system. I don't have the manual in front of my anymore, but it essentially comes down to a rating in which the empty van + 300# of people and stuff can pull a 3,500# trailer. Probably (more on that later). If people and stuff are more than 300#, you have to start deducting the excess directly from the tow rating. My 03 had a GCVWR (total allowed weigh of van, people, stuff and trailer) of 8,265#. Empty van with tow gear weighed about 4,465#.
So you have to check that ALL of the following are within specs:
1. Trailer weight is below max tow rating of 3,500#
2. Front axle is below GAWR.
3. Rear axle is below GAWR with trailer attached. A Weight distributing hitch can fix this if you go a bit over.
4. Van with trailer tongue attached and people and stuff inside is still below GVWR. Believe it or not, you can pass 2 and 3 above and flunk this one.
5. Total combined rig must weigh under GCVWR.
Now you know why they include the idiot chart in the manual!
If you are an idiot, use the tow rating by number of passengers system. But even there, that tow rating is for a LOW profile trailer like a small boat or a popup camper, not a walk-in cargo trailer.
The other system requires both math and critical thinking skills. Most people CAN do this, but are too lazy. Thus the idiot system. I don't have the manual in front of my anymore, but it essentially comes down to a rating in which the empty van + 300# of people and stuff can pull a 3,500# trailer. Probably (more on that later). If people and stuff are more than 300#, you have to start deducting the excess directly from the tow rating. My 03 had a GCVWR (total allowed weigh of van, people, stuff and trailer) of 8,265#. Empty van with tow gear weighed about 4,465#.
So you have to check that ALL of the following are within specs:
1. Trailer weight is below max tow rating of 3,500#
2. Front axle is below GAWR.
3. Rear axle is below GAWR with trailer attached. A Weight distributing hitch can fix this if you go a bit over.
4. Van with trailer tongue attached and people and stuff inside is still below GVWR. Believe it or not, you can pass 2 and 3 above and flunk this one.
5. Total combined rig must weigh under GCVWR.
Now you know why they include the idiot chart in the manual!
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