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
It may also be a matter of perception and learning to drive a bit different. During normal driving the computer is programed for max fuel efficiency, and will shift up as quickly as it can. You will rarely even see 3000rpm, and then only on enthusiastic acceleration for a short time.
Attach a trailer and you and now seeing a lot more time at 3000rpm and over. To someone used to every day driving, it seems the vehicle is working a lot harder. Climb a hill with the engine sitting at 4000 or 4500 rpm and it may seem like it is going to blow up. Most OHC engines make their power 4000-4500rpm, and are designed to spend time running at that rpm without trouble. However since this behavior is never really observed during non towing, it creates the perception that something is wrong.
This is especially true for the J35A4 in your Pilot, which makes peak torque at 4500rpm and peak power at 5500. Do not be afraid to let it run!
Also, the computer does not really adjust when you hook a trailer up. It will still get into high gear as quickly as it can and stay there under light throttle, but hit a small hill/bridge and it will downshift to make the power required to climb, then quickly upshift as soon as you let off the throttle. Same with climbing rolling hills, shift down under load, but back of a little and it will shift up. This hunting generates heat, and also leads to the feeling of inadequate power. When I am climbing hills or mountains, once the vehicle downshifts I will manually select that gear on the shifter so it holds, even when I let my foot off slightly, then when I add throttle again, the engine is already at rpm and power is there, not lagging while the trans shifts down again. This goes a long way in making the vehicle feel more responsive.
One other note, the poster who mentioned 91 octane is right on. I have owned a car where the factory tune put the engine at the wall power wise with nothing further to be gained short of replacing internals, but in order to only require 87, the computer would pull timing pretty quickly. Using the 91 allowed the engine run at rated output.
Attach a trailer and you and now seeing a lot more time at 3000rpm and over. To someone used to every day driving, it seems the vehicle is working a lot harder. Climb a hill with the engine sitting at 4000 or 4500 rpm and it may seem like it is going to blow up. Most OHC engines make their power 4000-4500rpm, and are designed to spend time running at that rpm without trouble. However since this behavior is never really observed during non towing, it creates the perception that something is wrong.
This is especially true for the J35A4 in your Pilot, which makes peak torque at 4500rpm and peak power at 5500. Do not be afraid to let it run!
Also, the computer does not really adjust when you hook a trailer up. It will still get into high gear as quickly as it can and stay there under light throttle, but hit a small hill/bridge and it will downshift to make the power required to climb, then quickly upshift as soon as you let off the throttle. Same with climbing rolling hills, shift down under load, but back of a little and it will shift up. This hunting generates heat, and also leads to the feeling of inadequate power. When I am climbing hills or mountains, once the vehicle downshifts I will manually select that gear on the shifter so it holds, even when I let my foot off slightly, then when I add throttle again, the engine is already at rpm and power is there, not lagging while the trans shifts down again. This goes a long way in making the vehicle feel more responsive.
One other note, the poster who mentioned 91 octane is right on. I have owned a car where the factory tune put the engine at the wall power wise with nothing further to be gained short of replacing internals, but in order to only require 87, the computer would pull timing pretty quickly. Using the 91 allowed the engine run at rated output.
