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bobmoore1954's avatar
bobmoore1954
Explorer
Feb 13, 2014

2007 Honda Element Towing Advice

I want to tow my 2007 Honda Element, Manual Transmission, AWD behind my motorhome. The Owners Manual does not give advice on how to do it, other than to say in the EMERGENCY TOWING Section that towing on 2 wheels will damage parts of the 4WD System. In the same section it says 'The only way you can safely tow your vehicle is with a flat bed truck...any other method of towing will damage the drive system'.

My local Honda dealer advised I remove the drive shaft. And it should then tow just fine.

Wonder if anyone has done this, or might have comments on whether this should work.

Moved to Dinghy Towing forum from Towing.

  • naturist's avatar
    naturist
    Nomad
    Feb 13, 2014
    All AWD vehicles MUST have all 4 wheels turning at the same rate or expensive damage will occur within just a few miles. I know this having had a differential explode in flames only 30 miles into the trip.

    You can tow it on a trailer (all 4 stopped) or maybe you can tow it all 4 down, since it has a manual transmission. But I would NOT simply disconnect the drive shaft to the rears and tow it 4 down. It might work that way on a dolly with the fronts up. Be sure you find out from Honda what will work and what won't.
  • wny_pat1's avatar
    wny_pat1
    Explorer
    Feb 14, 2014
    Are you sure you have AWD??? Everything I find says it is 4WD. There is a difference. Remco says it can be towed, but "Officially from both Honda and REMCO the vehicle is not towable. However, we at Remco have a large number of customers who are flat-towing that vehicle behind their Motor Home and they are not having any issues." And I know of several who tow a Honda Element.
    source: Remco Indusrties - Towing
  • moose888's avatar
    moose888
    Explorer
    Feb 16, 2014
    I tow a 2011 Element 4 wheel drive automatic no problems. I towed it about 2000 miles so far with NO issues. Don't go over 65 mph . Get the procedure for the Honda CRV for flat towing it's the same drive train. We love the ugly Element it does everything we want and then some.
  • mentalarson's avatar
    mentalarson
    Explorer
    Jul 07, 2014
    I have a 2003 AWD MT Element.
    I bought it at 130K miles.
    The tranny fried at 132K miles after towing it 4,000 miles.
    The manual says it's towable.
    My fried differential is telling me something different.
    I'm SERIOUSLY bummed, and I hope I can find a solution.

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