Honda Pilot

[WillyH20]

Does anyone tow an 18 ft fiberglass boat with a new Honda Pilot? I really like the looks and setup and am considering buying one.

[RoadrashPaul]

I had a 2018 model. I would think it would tow that boat just fine. The newer ones are even better than the one I had.

[OleCdub]

I absolutely saw a Honda Pilot Saturday towing a Nitro Z20 near Allatoona Lake here. Might be touch and go if the ramp got slick.

[davidsa]

the awd model with you and a buddy will do great. It will be overloaded with a family of 4, light luggage and the boat. My 18ft glass boat weight is about #3700. So that would exceed weight rating on the 2wd model.

[Buck456]

I've towed a 20TRX with an older pilot. It done fine. I just wouldn't tow it in the mountains. Keep it out of overdrive, and do the transmission fluid drain and fill.

[OH_Ranger]

Wife has a Passport. Same engine and drivetrain. She pulls a 21' a couple times a year. It works for the occasional pull. You might be ok with an 18 footer. The unibody noise is annoying.
We bought it new and added the factory trans cooler.
Overall her Passport is awesome. No issues. Just replaced brakes for the first time (back only) at 80,000 miles.

[Randrat]

My daughter has a Trail Sport and it is rated for 5400 lbs. towing.

[fishfry]

If you have it, use it. If you are buying a new car, I would look at other options. I have one but it is a 2015. We have pulled small boats with it and it worked, but it is not impressive to say the least. Lots of down shifting and very little braking capability.

[drainplug]

My previous vehicle was old style Pilot, liked it a lot, and yes, I also towed my previous Sabre 600 miles to our place in Canada! The Pilot Trail Sports are sharp looking.

[ECobb91]

My previous vehicle was old style Pilot, liked it a lot, and yes, I also towed my previous Sabre 600 miles to our place in Canada! The Pilot Trail Sports are sharp looking.

i know you did the drive for over 40 years buuuuuuuutttt was it really 600 miles

[JoshKeller]

i know you did the drive for over 40 years buuuuuuuutttt was it really 600 miles

Pretty sure we all agreed it was only 597 and he was highly exaggerating.

[FrancoCialone]

Since Toyota is now using a 4 cylinder turbo in their Highlander, when my 2014 has to be replaced, will be going to a Honda Pilot but I'm just towing a 16 1/2 ft. Lund.

[bman5150]

I test drove a 2025 Honda Pilot AWD Black Edition before settling on a ‘25 Ford Explorer Platinum AWD w/ the TT V6. The Pilot would tow my 18’ Ranger, but it doesn’t compare to how the Explorer or my old Jeep Grand Cherokee with the hemi V8 tows. I’m not sure why, but the Pilot I test drove seemed extra soft off the line. I owned two prior generation Pilots and they didn’t feel slow at all. The 2011 towed reasonably well. The low end torque with the new DOHC V6 just doesn’t seem great even compared to prior Pilots with the SOHC V6. Again, I’m sure it will tow but not as well as you might think in hills/mountains.

[Bassmastermatt16]

why why why. I get it if your in a pinch, but cmon. Theres a reason the boat ramp parking lots are not filled with honda pilots. Seriously, go look at any boat ramp parking lot, that's what you should tow with

Everyday there is a new thread in this category...

[bman5150]

Double post - delete

[ECobb91]

why why why. I get it if your in a pinch, but cmon. Theres a reason the boat ramp parking lots are not filled with honda pilots. Seriously, go look at any boat ramp parking lot, that's what you should tow with

Everyday there is a new thread in this category...

don’t need a 1/2 pickup to tow an 18ft boat. Lots of SUVs are fully capable. I’d say atleast 1/3 of the vehicles at ramps around here are SUVs that are like the pilots (5000lb capacity). I much rather have an SUV over pickup as they’re easier to park, don’t have to worry about anything getting wet, can lock stuff inside when camping…

[wackyjoe]

22 Pilot AWD tows my 18' Ranger just fine

[bman5150]

I don’t understand why people just can’t wrap their head around towing with anything less than a full size pickup truck. And some folks are very passionate about expressing their view on this, lol.

i mean, sure…if I had endless money; lots of extra parking space/garage space; didn’t have a family and could dedicate one vehicle to just towing my boat…sure, I’d get a full size pickup truck AND a unibody large suv to tote the family around in.

Mere mortals like me need a vehicle that multitasks :-)

[BigCranks]

Wife drives a '16 pilot awd. It handles my 21 ft bullet on short tows. No problem with wet ramps. Don't use it on the road though.

[lugbolt]

my coworker does, well his is 19', weighs about 3700 lbs total. On their third transmission. 157,000 miles as of yesterday.