Honda pilot towing

[dZtRailer]

How careful does one need to be in the amount if gear they would be putting in their rig/TV, if say they wanted to tow a Bigfoot 25B17.5G.

TV is a 2016 AWD Honda pilot.

Thanks

[Spongelander]

Part depends on whether or not you're using a WD hitch. Essentially, load your gear, and head for a nearby scale. Weigh each axle, compare that to your Pilot's front and rear axle gross weight ratings.

We do not use a WD hitch for our 17' Casita, towed with a 4Runner. With a heavy kayak on top, at least 350# of tongue weight, and additional gear, our rear axle weight came in at 3450#, at capacity. Still have 300# to spare up front.

We are trying different setups to see what we can carry differently, in order to leave a bit of capacity.

[dZtRailer]

I guess I'm wondering prior to purchasing or looking at a used one. If it was brand new or I could do what you've suggested then perhaps.

But yes more than likely I would use a WD hitch

[Glenn Baglo]

Suggest you go to your Honda dealer with your VIN and find out what your vehicle is equipped with and what it is rated to tow. Then, go on from there.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by dZtRailer

How careful fires one need to be in the amount if gear they would be putting in their rig/TV, if say they wanted to tow a Bigfoot 25B17.5G.

TV is a 2016 AWD Honda pilot.

thats a 4500 lb GWR trailer. its also 8' wide and 8'8" tall, so has a big wind load. I'd be very hesitant to tow something that heavy and large with a FWD-centric vehicle like the minivan derived Pilot.

[Steve L.]

The web quotes a 3500-5000 pound towing capacity range and a ~1400-1600 payload (tongue weight counts against this number).

Two of three Bigfeet in Fred's database (17.5) are in the low 4000 pound range and therefore exceed the lower tow vehicle capacity.

It turns out I don't care enough to try and figure out by implication what your actual tow rating and payload is. That's pretty much your job. Being a conservative tower and lacking information, my opinion is I wouldn't tow the Bigfoot pairing never mind worry how the payload is distributed.

[dZtRailer]

I did look at the database and see that the BFs (that were listed) are in the high 3s. My vehicle is rated at 5000lb with the tow package that was installed. Again as much as I would want a truck that's not in the foreseeable future. As such I was asking if anyone has any experience towing a BF with my specific vehicle or in general with a SUV which generally had the same tow capacity.

[WizWid]

Originally Posted by dZtRailer

I did look at the database and see that the BFs (that were listed) are in the high 3s. My vehicle is rated at 5000lb with the tow package that was installed. Again as much as I would want a truck that's not in the foreseeable future. As such I was asking if anyone has any experience towing a BF with my specific vehicle or in general with a SUV which generally had the same tow capacity.

I tow a 2002 Bigfoot 17CB with a 2017 Durango RWD. It has a tow capacity of 7200/720. I personally would not tow it with a 5000 capacity tow vehicle.

Jim

[dZtRailer]

Question then. I've read and seen many individuals towing a 19' escape trailer with SUVs with the same tow capacity and people rave about towing it and the ability tow. And the weight isn't that much different.

[iamjiwjr]

My Acura MDX has a 5000 limit. With a 4500 GVW baseline, I wouldn't think the Pilot (MDX's honda peer) has enough towing capacity for it.

[thrifty bill]

Originally Posted by dZtRailer

Question then. I've read and seen many individuals towing a 19' escape trailer with SUVs with the same tow capacity and people rave about towing it and the ability tow. And the weight doesn't that much different.

I’d find those threads and send the authors private messages. I haven’t seen those threads.

Realize everyone’s towing experience is different. Some are happy going 40mph up steeper grades, some travel light, some haven’t had a white knuckle experience (yet). Some live in the flat lands and only take short trips (weekend campers). And then you have the options or lack of on their Escape 19s.

Ultimately the decision is yours.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Escapes are generally lighter than Bigfoots. I go by the trailer GWR rather than curb weight as I'm usually pretty loaded when traveling, for instance tomorrow I'm rolling out to 6 nights of boondocking, so I'll have a full water tank before I leave, 18G of water is about 150 lbs.

pretty much everyone I've ever seen towing a BF 25B23 is using a 2500 class truck or heavier.

[dZtRailer]

Originally Posted by thrifty bill

I’d find those threads and send the authors private messages. I haven’t seen those threads.

Realize everyone’s towing experience is different. Some are happy going 40mph up steeper grades, some travel light, some haven’t had a white knuckle experience (yet). Some live in the flat lands and only take short trips (weekend campers). And then you have the options or lack of on their Escape 19s.

Ultimately the decision is yours.

Fair enough... I do understand that... And I apologize, I've seen used trailers with individuals selling their escapes that state they used an SUV to tow it. (And sure maybe that's why they are selling).

[dZtRailer]

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

.....

pretty much everyone I've ever seen towing a BF 25B23 is using a 2500 class truck or heavier.

I wouldn't know about the BF 25B23.... But I'll take your word on it.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by dZtRailer

Fair enough... I do understand that... And I apologize, I've seen used trailers with individuals selling their escapes that state they used an SUV to tow it. (And sure maybe that's why they are selling).

many SUVs, such as Toyota 4Runner, Ford Expedition, Chevy/GMC Tahoe and Suburban, are full frame truck based with RWD-centric drive, and are more suitable for towing heavier loads than the socalled 'crossover' FWD/AWD unibody vehicles.

[WizWid]

Originally Posted by dZtRailer

Question then. I've read and seen many individuals towing a 19' escape trailer with SUVs with the same tow capacity and people rave about towing it and the ability tow. And the weight isn't that much different.

You started off asking about towing a Bigfoot 17. Now it's an Escape 19. What is your actual question?

[dZtRailer]

Well I changed the question (or the thought behind it) because the weight of the Bigfoot trailer and the escape are within the same range +/- a very small margin. I was curious why it seems like there isn't a vote of confidence for a pilot to be the TV but on the escape forums I see many towing an escape with the aforementioned SUV.

[WizWid]

Originally Posted by dZtRailer

Well I changed the question (or the thought behind it) because the weight of the Bigfoot trailer and the escape are within the same range +/- a very small margin. I was curious why it seems like there isn't a vote of confidence for a pilot to be the TV but on the escape forums I see many towing an escape with the aforementioned SUV.

Gotcha.
As John pointed out, the Bigfoot is "boxier" and presents a larger frontal area to drag through the air. So it needs a "bigger" SUV to comfortably tow it.

[Justus C]

Originally Posted by widgetwizard

Gotcha.
As John pointed out, the Bigfoot is "boxier" and presents a larger frontal area to drag through the air. So it needs a "bigger" SUV to comfortably tow it.

I had the opportunity to view a Bigfoot 17CB I was hoping to buy and an Escape 17B side by side. That made it very clear to me why the owner had expressed some doubt that our Highlander was appropriate for the Bigfoot. It dwarfed the Escape. I saw one picture of a Ridgeline pulling what appeared to be a 17' Bigfoot and it just looked comical.

[John in Santa Cruz]

our f250 would quite comfortably pull a big bigfoot. my wife likes the rear queen version, I think thats a 25' ? we'd use a WDH with that rig. but we're happy with our E'21, and a bigfoot 25RQ is $$$$$$.