Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
I have talked with my local service mgr and with Honda directly, and they both said that if i install any aftermarket tanny cooler, etc. and something happens to the tranny that they will not honor the warranty. their argument is that the aftermarket part has not be proven by Honda and therefore is most likely the problem. My argument is that that is BS because an aftermarket oil filter will not void the engine warranty.
Honda told me something about i could have a detailed analysis done and if it was not due to the aftermarket parts then they would cover it, but if the cannot complete confirm then i also have to pay for the analysis (which is "intensive and most garages don't like to do it" Honda's words).
Here are my questions:
1) If I get the tow hitch & wiring kit installed by U-Haul, will it void the vehicle warranty?
2) The vehicle is leased and due to be returned in a few weeks. Will Honda accept the vehicle back with the hitch installed or would I have to remove it prior to returning it?
3) And since its a one time tow, would I need to get the tranny and ps coolers?
Thank you in advance for your help.
Here is the interesting thing, STRAIGHT FROM HONDA. If you have a cooler installed by a third party, they will still not cover the warranty on any transmission issues unless they can absolutely prove it was not related to the cooler. Their thinking is that they cannot confirm it was installed correctly so they will not cover any issues. My dealer told me they could run some checks and determine cause (but it is an expensive test) and if it turns out to be non-related to the cooler, they will cover the test and the work, if not, than you pay for work and now the test too.
I would recommend asking your dealer with the lease their thoughts, but i am guessing they will tell you it voids any warranty. You could always have the hitch and wiring removed after you are done. Should be relatively easy to do yourself.
small trailer only once to our new place, to carry items we will need until the movers deliver our stuff. After that I would use the hitch only for a bicycle rack. Anyone think I'll be ok with just a hitch and no tranny cooler?
Your engine will be worked but should not be a concern much there. It is the transmission that you should be more concerned with. It will be at the limit of the capacity for sure, but i tow nearly that amount with our little camper and three kids and the Odyssey does fine with it. Uphill climbs are a lot longer and more challenging than without anything behind you, but slow and steady wins the race here. I like to try and get a little extra momentum going downhill to aid in the next uphill when possible.
A few things you should definitely have with that much weight behind you:
- a trailer with brakes that are connected to your braking
- upgraded transmission cooler (required if any part is still under warranty and you are concerned about using said warranty)
- load distributing hitch with anti-sway bars. I have the Equal-i-zer hitch. There are others, but this one works nice for me. I barely feel anything when passed by a semi. Of course wind gusts are a little more evident than not towing, but not as bad as they would be. I think it does a real good job.
- upgraded power steering cooler is recommended. I have one, but not sure it is completely necessary.
With a 2006, I would guess that your warranty is pretty much done, so you do not have to worry about nullifying that (Honda requires a tranny cooler when a hitch is present or the warranty is voided). If you are only looking at the amount of material that I would consider typical luggage for an extended trip (you must include the weight of the trailer too mind you), then you may be okay. I am by no means a transmission expert, but do have some mechanical inclination. Bikes for sure you don't need one for, but if your weight is getting up into the 1000+lb range with the trailer weight and supplies, you may start to consider one. It is not worth losing the transmission over for sure. The total towing capacity is 3500 lb for the Ody, which includes passengers (driver excluded), luggage, trailer, hitch, and trailer load. So you must consider all of that.
Think of it this way...The Ody seats 7 passengers (excluding driver). At an average weight of 150 lb, that is 1050 lb, throw in luggage at say 50lb per person you are at 1400 lb. That would be standard operation for the van on a trip with a large family. You would not use a transmission cooler for that without towing anything, so that may be a guide. These are just some numbers I threw out there.
Considering that, plus the trip length, and geography (flat, hilly, mountainous), perhaps you can make a judgement call for your situation.
How much real difference would a weight disti uting hitch make?
A weight distributing hitch, if set up correctly, would make quite a bit of difference, IMHO. First off, if you are driving where your front wheels lose traction, that would seem unsafe, and it could cause an accident. :surprise: The weight distributing hitch will take some of the load and push it back through the frame allowing the tow vehicle to equalize.
Imagine that you put a lot of weight on the very back of your camper. This would push down the back of the camper thus pushing up the tongue. This, in turn, lifts the back end of the tow vehicle which puts more weight on the front end of the TV pushing it down (i.e. weight distribution)...thus giving more traction to your front (pull) tires. This is what the WD Hitch does. It lifts the tongue and back of the TV allowing the weight to distribute throughout the entire package (TV and camper).
I use the Equal-I-zer. Equalizer Website There are others that are just as good though, I just like this one. It also is an anti-sway. For all WD hitches, there is some adjusting that needs done initially and a small learning curve to set them up each time, but pretty straight forward.
Hope that helps.
Just read a message you posted regarding towing.
We were wondering what you tow on your Odyssey? We have a 2010 and had a tow ball attached thinking that it would be more than capable of towing our little pop up caravan that weighs in at 1200kg / 2650lbs...but when we checked out it's specs we accepted that our Holden sedan was going to have to be the camping car, as we didn't want to take the risk with the Honda!
We are now considering upgrading our suspension to help with the load, so that we can use the Honda, but it doesn't like you did that. Are towing a reasonable size caravan/camper?
Any more advice for someone who would really like to use their Odyssey a lot more!!
Thanks for your time.
One other thing -- you mentioned the hitch ball, but do you have the heavy transmission and power steering coolers (they are add-ons)? I wouldn't try towing without those, from what I've read, the transmission really won't tolerate towing without the heavy cooler.
Honestly, I am very surprised with how well the Odyssey handles things with the right hitch. Very good tow vehicle. Now if I were camping year round every weekend it may be a bit much for wear. Unfortunately, we are probably going to have to upgrade in a couple years or sooner since our family has added a couple more additions, and with them growing larger, that adds weight. That is a good thing though. So a bigger camper, and a bigger TV?$?$?$ IMHO, there just is no other minivan, so we will keep it for day trips, etc.
http://www.etrailer.com/fitguide.htm
Anyone have suggestions? I know Chalet has some options.
Anyone else have suggestions?
It's rated for towing up to 3500lbs, I have an electric brake, and I believe there was a recall on it where they added a tranni cooler.
What do you all think? Do you think I will have any issues?
I read about it potentialling voiding warranty that tranny cooler is not installed. Does it apply if I just want the hitch for bike mount?
Thanks.
I am looking to tow a 1000 lb utility vehicle on a utility trailer for 100 miles maybe once or twice a month.
I have yet to purchase the trailer and here is my question.
Do I purchase lightweight single axle 6x 12 trailer that weighs 750 lbs without trailer brakes? Makes for 1750 lb combined towing weight.
Or do I purchase double axle 6x12 trailer with trailer brakes that raises weight of trailer to 1400lbs? Making for combined towing weight of 2400 lbs?
Service manager at dealership recommended the single axle trailer without brakes to keep the weight as low as possible.
Any advice appreciated!