honda pilot pulling a 20 thompson boat

[tjf]

Hello need some advice and info please, 05 honda piolit and gonna pull a 91 thompson bow rider boat. It has a 3.5 liter any advice, also have a calkins trailer galvanized trailer single axle what is the weight of the trailer I think the boat weighs 2200 pounds but not sure of the trailer.. I will only be towing about 500 miles a year all flat and no lauching with it, any advice would be great thanks.. Its a cutlass 195

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

get a trailer with brakes and change your transmission fluid 3 times a year..get a trans cooler and pray you dont have to replace that $3K transmission...o yea do not pull it in over drive. O yea..better check the weight of that boat again..most 20' boats are well over 3k LBS..probably closer to 4..most likely slightly over the towing capacity of your vehicle...you can get a decent used F-150 with a V-8 for around $2500

 

[NYBo]

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

If it's a Carrara 200, the dry weight is listed at 2525#. With fuel and assorted other stuff, call it 3000# even. Add 500# for the trailer if it's a single axle. Your towing limit is 4500#, so do the math. In other words, I think you'll be fine with what you're planning. Caveat: Check your owner's manual to see if you have to deduct the weight of passengers and luggage in the Pilot from the towing capacity. Some manufacturers require this, others don't. However, I also agree with Sparkie about trailer brakes and a transmission cooler. Changing the fluid three times a year is not necessary, though.

 

[tjf]

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

Its a cutlass bow rider...

 

[tjf]

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

Thanks for advice...

 

[tjf]

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

Thanks for advice

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

I would think you will be ok, but it will work at it. I pulled a snowmobile trailer this weekend (2100 lbs combined with the sleds) with my Acura MDX (3.7L, has trans and PS coolers) and was surprised how hard it worked on the hills. Not excessively, just downshifted (sometimes 2 gears) and held higher RPM's up the hills. It's a honda, and as such is perfectly happy running 5000 RPM's for a few minutes at a time (my Chevy 8.1L would be spitting all the shiny parts out if it had to do this). Good luck with it.

 

[tjf]

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

Thank you

 

[NYBo]

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

Its a cutlass bow rider...

Ah, then it's not a 20-footer, it's 18' and only 2200#, like you thought. Even better than I stated in my previous reply. You should have no trouble on flat land.

 

[JRgt205]

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

Here is my 2008 ridgeline (same motor) hooked up to a single axle steel trailer with a 20 ft glastron.
read the owners manual for proper towing gear selection. use 91 or 93 octang fuel when towing.
you should be fine, I have not towed it a lot as of yet (5 or 6 times) you will feel the hills for sure. and some kinda trailer brake is a must.

 

[NYBo]

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

The Ridgeline has a 5000# towing capacity vs 4500# for the Pilot. But he'll be comfortably under the limit anyway. And he said he'll be towing on flat ground.

 

[tjf]

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

Thanks very nice boat...

 

[tjf]

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

Ok thanks

 

[tjf]

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

Not sure can I put brakes on a trailer that does not have them, or cheaper to buy another trailer?

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

new axel with brakes is about $400 I think...just remember you can get an old truck to pull with for a couple of grand..it may sound like a lot but full size trucks were made to pull trailers..by the time you add up all of your load in your boat and trailer plus your passenger and cargo weights..you will be getting real close to maxing out the towing capacity...some people have transmission trouble and never pull a trailer, those Honda tannys are very pricey..last quote I heard was $3500. I can not image not having a truck anyway it comes in handy for all kinds of things besides boat pulling. I have always had me a truck so maybe I am just spoiled..and I am just a regular working guy with 4 kids and a wifey..while you may be ok to tow your boat with the honda..my opinion is you are putting yourself into a high risk of transmission damage..by the time you get an axel with brakes and install electric brake switch on your honda and wire everything up..you will be probably close to $700-800 ...

 

[NYBo]

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

Not sure can I put brakes on a trailer that does not have them, or cheaper to buy another trailer?

Sure. Just buy a complete kit like this one.

But are you sure the trailer doesn't have brakes already?

 

[tjf]

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

Well I do have a truck but thats gonna pull my camper. See we head for the shore front tier town for a week so thats why I was hoping if I just do this once a year..

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

well that makes more sense...that is a really cool brake system NYB posted..should work fine...drive slow specially when taking off...turn off over drive..install trans cooler and you should be fine for once per year..I change my trans fluid almost every oil change..I use synthetic mobile 1 oil..by change i mean I drain the pan which is only about 4 quarts on my honda odessy..supposed to be the same trainy as in the pilot. it is real easy and I hope will help my trannys to last for 300,000 miles which is my goal for my accord also.

 

[tjf]

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

Re: honda piolit pulling a 20 thompson boat

Not sure how to start a new post but does anybody know anything about a 1991 thompson br 3.7 mercrusier. I got at the end of last year in good shape had motor running and sounded good. Is this sea worthy and what size gas tank is in this? thanks