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 bot...
Forum Discussion
With a unibody on ladder frame...the frame does the towing, not the body
With a monocoque...the body does the towing...
Am NOT saying the Odyssey can not tow...anything can tow and the key is it's ability to manhandle the rated trailer & setup during the situation when Mr Murphy crosses your path.
Weakest (note: not the only one, just weakest) link in the Odyssey will be the automatic and is a known weak link
Either you have the right sized or not spot on, nor is there time to re-setup...
Vehicle torsional rigidity is not the only thing in regards to towing....that torsional rigidity is more so for handling when used as a car. Important as how it steers during those instances where the suspension worked hard and must keep the tires on the pavement...but then IMHO, you are going too fast for that condition/terrain/ambient/etc
The amount of flex is designed into a truck with a unibody sitting on a ladder frame. Trucks used to be designed for work and longevity. Most half tons of today are more geared towards the fashion statement crowd who value ride quality more than towing performance, IMHO
Look up the towing section in your Odyssey glove box manual. Here are pictures from mine and note that
My Odyssey glove box manaul
Note how the MTWR changes with both factors: Aux ATF cooler and number of occupants (that should also factor in the stuff for each person)
You should compare the rear GAWR between the F150 and Odyssey. Maybe the newer ones have a higher GAWR, but don't think much more. Most half ton's will have a rear GAWR in the 4,000 lb range
Not many glove box manuals list GCWR, but Honda does and another should compare between the F150 and Odyssey
With a monocoque...the body does the towing...
Am NOT saying the Odyssey can not tow...anything can tow and the key is it's ability to manhandle the rated trailer & setup during the situation when Mr Murphy crosses your path.
Weakest (note: not the only one, just weakest) link in the Odyssey will be the automatic and is a known weak link
Either you have the right sized or not spot on, nor is there time to re-setup...
Vehicle torsional rigidity is not the only thing in regards to towing....that torsional rigidity is more so for handling when used as a car. Important as how it steers during those instances where the suspension worked hard and must keep the tires on the pavement...but then IMHO, you are going too fast for that condition/terrain/ambient/etc
The amount of flex is designed into a truck with a unibody sitting on a ladder frame. Trucks used to be designed for work and longevity. Most half tons of today are more geared towards the fashion statement crowd who value ride quality more than towing performance, IMHO
Look up the towing section in your Odyssey glove box manual. Here are pictures from mine and note that
rpodcamper wrote:
"minivans like the Odyssey have all the wrong things for towing: unibody construction" "Are you arguing engineering instead of marketing and perception?" From an engineering standpoint the unibody construction could have greater stiffness than a pickup truck. One of the most important factors contributing to stiffness is the height of the section. A pickups weakness is the gap between the cab and bed and the section is only as tall as the frame rails, whereas the unibody mini van is full height from front to back. Watch this video around 40 seconds to see how much a pickup flexes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJZVUnOduH4
My Odyssey glove box manaul
Note how the MTWR changes with both factors: Aux ATF cooler and number of occupants (that should also factor in the stuff for each person)
You should compare the rear GAWR between the F150 and Odyssey. Maybe the newer ones have a higher GAWR, but don't think much more. Most half ton's will have a rear GAWR in the 4,000 lb range
Not many glove box manuals list GCWR, but Honda does and another should compare between the F150 and Odyssey
