towing late mod,CRV, with 310hp,V10

Thanks for all the info. I just made the deal on an 09.
Now Have to get base plates Installed, ready brake hooked up, lights, ready to go.
Thinking of Blue OX, or Demco. Have Roadmaster, now.

Thanks to all,
Chuck

CarlGeo..... then, what is the purpose of the valet key if it won't start the car? The valet person would be stuck. Not sure if I understand the purpose of that key unless Honda gave you a 'towing' key.

Safe travels,
MM.

Dale.Traveling wrote:
My primary toad is an very late model Accord but the next one currently in the driveway is an 05 CRV. One advantage of the CRV that no one seems to mention is the higher position of the base plate as compared to a sedan. You want the tow bar as level as possible and with the Accord I have to use a drop hitch adaptor. With the CRV won't need it.

Just follow the owner's manual procedure concerning going thru the gear range to insure you are in a true neutral. The towable Honda transmission is a constant mesh for the forward gears with individual hydraulic clutch packs for each except reverse. For reverse it uses a hydraulic servo to engage a hub and associated gears along with a forward gear clutch, usually one of the higher gears. Shifting out of reverse will release the clutch but Honda recommends cycling thru the forward gears to insure the servo deactivates. Whenever you stop run

the engine a bit to circulate the transmission oil to cool down the transmission and change the transmission oil regularly. My Accord takes 2.8 quarts for a change and only takes a few minutes. Only use Honda transmission oil!
You won't be able to remove the ignition key with the transmission in neutral and possibly not lock the doors with the key in place and the engine off which can make some owners a bit nervous. To get around the potential of the car driving it's self away have a dumb key (non-chipped) cut. To start the car with the dumb key hold a chipped key against the dumb key when turning. The sensor should detect the chipped key and allow you to start the engine. Once running the immobilizer is deactivated and you can drive the car but once you shut down the immobilizer will activate and not allow the engine to start.

My 2008 CRV came with a factory supplied 'valet', non-chipped, key which I use when towing.

pa traveler wrote:
The 2014 CRV are they auto transmission? Looking for auto to tow and wife to use thanks.

Yes, the 2014 model is towable with the auto transmission.
Honda switched to a CVT auto trans with the 2015 model and
the owners manual states it is not towable. We had an 05 CRV
and now a 2014 CRV and its the wife's daily driver.

The 2014 CRV are they auto transmission? Looking for auto to tow and wife to use thanks.

We tow an '06 CRV. It is a great little car, gets decent gas mileage and can't even feel it back there. Only drawback is you need to start the engine and let it run every 300 miles or so to circulate the tranny fluid. No big deal. Gotta stop and stretch my legs anyways.

Forgot to mention one thing, even with the older V10 and the lower horse power rating you could have the CRV in park and someone inside with the brake pedal to the firewall before you feel the car back there. I have felt a very small amount to side sway a few times with the Accord but nothing that really caught my attention.

You'll take a bit of a fuel usage hit but shouldn't to painful. I only see about 1/2 MPG drop in my travels east of the Mississippi River. Just keep the coach engine RPM up on long hill climbs and don't let your downhill speed get away from you.

GrampaR123 wrote:
Dale Traveling, I thought the same thing about the height of the baseplate all those years we were towing our 2002 CRV, but after setting up our 2013 CRV for towing, lo and behold the baseplate on the newer car was 4 inches lower, necessitating a drop dowh hitch after all. When they make body style changes to the newer cars, things happen.
Just sayin'

We don't require a drop hitch on 2013 CR-V. It's not much different, if at all, compared to our 2007. It seems to be very even with little drop difference between the coach and car.

MM.

Dale Traveling, I thought the same thing about the height of the baseplate all those years we were towing our 2002 CRV, but after setting up our 2013 CRV for towing, lo and behold the baseplate on the newer car was 4 inches lower, necessitating a drop dowh hitch after all. When they make body style changes to the newer cars, things happen.
Just sayin'

Chuck, just wanted you to know I own a 2014 CRV and it's the last year model of CRV's can be towed all 4 wheels down. The 2015 CRV's cannot be towed all 4 wheels down due to a transmission change by Honda in 2015! Have fun I love mine!