Forum Discussion

rpodcamper's avatar
rpodcamper
Explorer
May 16, 2017

Ford F150 VS Honda Odyssey

Hi Everyone,

This is my first post here.

Why is a Ford f150 so much better than my Honda Odyssey for towing a trailer. Both vehicles have about the same width, the GVWR is about the same for both. The Ford is about 4” longer ( that will help some). The Fords 3.5 (non ecoboost) has only about 15% more horsepower and 13ft lbs more torque. The Odyssey has 4 wheel disc brakes that are 12.3” (front) only slightly smaller than the ford. I know the ford will have stiffer suspension and that will help with stability and load capacity. The Odyssey has a 5 speed trans and the Ford has a 6 speed ( that will help some). Is there really that much of a difference between the vehicles.

My trailer has a GVWR of 3700lbs. I don't really want to debate the suitability of the Odyssey because I have it set-up for towing and we tow our trailer almost dry to keep everything under capacity and most importantly, I am replacing it with a proper TV.

Thanks in advance.
Tow Vehicles
  • BenK's avatar
    BenK
    Explorer
    May 16, 2017
    One is a truck...other a car...both "can" tow that trailer...one will do it better and last longer doing that

    One can MANHANDLE the situation better than the other when Mr Murphy crosses your path

    I own an Odyssey and several trucks, knew the difference long ago before buying the van...this is like trying to explain sex to a virgin...but you already answered your own question...

    rpodcamper wrote:
    Hi Everyone,

    This is my first post here.

    Why is a Ford f150 so much better than my Honda Odyssey for towing a trailer. Both vehicles have about the same width, the GVWR is about the same for both. The Ford is about 4” longer ( that will help some). The Fords 3.5 (non ecoboost) has only about 15% more horsepower and 13ft lbs more torque. The Odyssey has 4 wheel disc brakes that are 12.3” (front) only slightly smaller than the ford. I know the ford will have stiffer suspension and that will help with stability and load capacity. The Odyssey has a 5 speed trans and the Ford has a 6 speed ( that will help some). Is there really that much of a difference between the vehicles.

    My trailer has a GVWR of 3700lbs. I don't really want to debate the suitability of the Odyssey because I have it set-up for towing and we tow our trailer almost dry to keep everything under capacity and most importantly,

    I am replacing it with a proper TV.



    Thanks in advance.
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    May 16, 2017
    The F150 is so much better but I don't want to debate the Odyssey because it is set up for towing. Honda doesn't want to debate it either....tow limit 3,500 pounds. Couldn't find pay load limit. You and I are Southern Californians and the great drought is apparently over for now but I've rolled into campgrounds that had water two hours earlier. That would wreck a night's camping if you had dry or nearly dry tanks. The difference? From Frank's song..."Night and day..."
  • RSD559's avatar
    RSD559
    Explorer
    May 16, 2017
    One huge difference is that the Honda doesn't have any kind of transmission cooler. My son bought a used Odyssey and had to replace the transmission after about 6 months. It had towed a tent trailer in it's previous life. He had the transmission shop put in a cooler after it was replaced.
  • rpodcamper's avatar
    rpodcamper
    Explorer
    May 16, 2017
    "but you already answered your own question..." I probably should of asked is a base F150 a big enough improvement over the Odyssey or should I be looking at a more powerful model.

    "Couldn't find pay load limit." The Odyssey weighs 4400 lbs and has a GVWR of 6018 according to the door sticker.

    "Honda doesn't have any kind of transmission cooler" I have a large B&M trans cooler and a PS cooler and a WDH.
  • Grit_dog's avatar
    Grit_dog
    Navigator
    May 16, 2017
    Short answer, yes it will do better with a trailer over all. It's a pickup truck, designed for towing and hauling, not carrying groceries and soccer balls.
    Even if you get the stripped down little NA 6 banger, it shares a lot of components with trucks rated to haul or tow twice as much or more as it's rated for.
    Your Odyssy is still rated for.....not towing much.
  • bikendan's avatar
    bikendan
    Explorer
    May 16, 2017
    minivans like the Odyssey have all the wrong things for towing: unibody construction, front wheel drive, limited payload capacity, lack of tow gearing choices, limited towing capacity, less torque.

    trucks have all the right things for towing: rear wheel drive, higher payload and towing capacities, more torque, variety of rear end ratios, integrated brake controllers, tow/haul gearshifter button, ladder frame construction.

    minivans are designed primarily for moving lots of people, trucks are designed for pulling/hauling weight.
  • gbopp's avatar
    gbopp
    Explorer
    May 16, 2017
    You're comparing apples to oranges.
    BenK said it clearly. One is a truck, the other is a car.
  • brulaz's avatar
    brulaz
    Explorer
    May 16, 2017
    bikendan lists the big differences.

    But I disagree that trucks always have better payloads than vans.
    Heavily decked out trucks have lower payloads. Pay close attention to the yellow door jamb sticker when you look for a new vehicle.

    You don't need much of a truck to tow 4000#. If you want something smaller than a full size pickup, check out the Chevy Colorado, you can even get it in a diesel which is great for towing. Or in full size, the RAM Ecodiesel would be an awesome tow vehicle. But again, watch the PAYLOADS. They can be low in diesel trucks especially.

    And, hey, even a SUV rated at 5000# tow capacity could pull 4000# when properly equipped. How much of a tow vehicle you need depends a lot upon how much towing you will be doing, and whether the vehicle will also be used for commuting or whatever.
  • horton333's avatar
    horton333
    Explorer
    May 16, 2017
    rpodcamper wrote:
    Hi Everyone,

    This is my first post here.

    Why is a Ford f150 so much better than my Honda Odyssey for towing a trailer. Both vehicles have about the same width, the GVWR is about the same for both. The Ford is about 4” longer ( that will help some). The Fords 3.5 (non ecoboost) has only about 15% more horsepower and 13ft lbs more torque. The Odyssey has 4 wheel disc brakes that are 12.3” (front) only slightly smaller than the ford. I know the ford will have stiffer suspension and that will help with stability and load capacity. The Odyssey has a 5 speed trans and the Ford has a 6 speed ( that will help some). Is there really that much of a difference between the vehicles.


    My trailer has a GVWR of 3700lbs. I don't really want to debate the suitability of the Odyssey because I have it set-up for towing and we tow our trailer almost dry to keep everything under capacity and most importantly, I am replacing it with a proper TV.

    Thanks in advance.

    Are you arguing engineering instead of marketing and perception? That's going nowhere on this forum.
  • rhagfo's avatar
    rhagfo
    Explorer III
    May 16, 2017
    If you like Honda's and like the small trailer get a Ridgeline! They have a 5,000# towing capacity, and most are all wheel drive. Towed a max load from Portland to Denver with a 2006 Ridgeline and the experience was great, I was truly impressed how well it handled during the trip.
    There is nothing wrong or unsafe about towing with a unibody vehicle.

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