New tow vehicle for my tent trailer - we aren't truck people
Currently we have a Honda Pilot and pull a Jayco 1206. Would like opinions on good choice for a tow vehicle.
Forum Discussion
Check your Honda owner manual. On my Odyssey, the towing section notes that you really will have more towing power using premium gas. The Honda JA35 V6 (my van and your Pilot) is high enough in compression ratio that it had to pull timing after a short period of sustained power output using 87 gas to prevent pind (detonation). When you use 91, it won't pulling timing and you really will get more power out of it on those hills.
Note that this does NOT mean more power in unloaded stoplight green situations. In those situations, the cylinder temps are cooler and timing doesn't get retarded.
Depending on the year of your Pilot, a newer one might also be geared different. Our 03 Ody ran at very low rpms in OD for fuel economy. Our 2012 Ody runs higher and gets fuel economy (not towing) via the VCM cylinder deactivation, so it is geared higher and tows better. If your Pilot is old enough to not be VCM equipped, a new one will feel more powerful when towing.
Note that this does NOT mean more power in unloaded stoplight green situations. In those situations, the cylinder temps are cooler and timing doesn't get retarded.
Depending on the year of your Pilot, a newer one might also be geared different. Our 03 Ody ran at very low rpms in OD for fuel economy. Our 2012 Ody runs higher and gets fuel economy (not towing) via the VCM cylinder deactivation, so it is geared higher and tows better. If your Pilot is old enough to not be VCM equipped, a new one will feel more powerful when towing.
