towing a popup with 2008 Odyssey - assorted questions

https://letstowthat.com/honda-odyssey-towing-capacities/

Looked it up for you, you need the trans cooler etc for the 3500 lb capacity. Check the vehical per the chart.

mkirsch wrote:
Please understand the vast majority of participants here, myself included, tow almost exclusively with heavy duty pickup trucks. Their opinions of smaller vehicle tow capabilities are tempered by what they currently use to tow. They will tell you WHAT THEY WOULD NOT DO, not necessarily what can/should not be done.

see my profile, i've been here a long time. Someone on rv.net knows the answers to my questions. I thought about posting in the popup forum but then i figured i'd find people here who had graduated from a minivan to a real TV.

None of the towing guides mention any sort of tow package for the odyssey. They all just say "3500 lb"

And a lot people say it's a really great TV for a minivan. My hunch is that the 3500 lb limit is more about handling than about the power train.

Y-Guy wrote:
This might be of help; Honda Odyssey Towing Capacities From 2000-2020 Good resource - 2008-2010 Models

You can find the Owners Manual here.

I met a local guy who tow with his Odyssey, and he mentioned he keep it at 2000 capacity.

Please understand the vast majority of participants here, myself included, tow almost exclusively with heavy duty pickup trucks. Their opinions of smaller vehicle tow capabilities are tempered by what they currently use to tow. They will tell you WHAT THEY WOULD NOT DO, not necessarily what can/should not be done.

Does this Odyssey have the tow package on it now? Does it have a receiver hitch? If it doesn't have a receiver hitch it probably has nothing else for towing. Then you have to factor in the cost of adding all that equipment for just one trip.

If the documentation states the vehicle can tow 3500lbs, it can tow 3500lbs. In the passenger classes of vehicles they usually allow for adequate payload capacity to tow the rated amount, AND have the vehicle reasonably loaded with people and stuff. That is also probably with whatever towing equipment option package the manufacturer provides, but you can emulate that with aftermarket equipment.

Etrailer.com had a kit for it with all the wiring you need, and even had a video on how to install it.

If you do not want to install it yourself, UHaulit stores will usually install one for a price of course.

You would need a break controller and most have upgraded cooling systems added. Addtionally, bump stops or air bags to correct the sag. And ot depends on the weight of the pop up. Go lighter and not with the 3500 lb ones. Lots tow with them, but with the added mods listed.

We towed a popup with a Pilot, which is the same engine and trans as an odyssey, but I think it does have a stiffer suspension.

It did do pretty good with it, but it did lighten the front end some. Our Pilot was all wheel drive, and when starting going uphill in the rain, you could feel the front tires start to spin, and then the rear drive would kick in, so not sure how much spinning the odyssey would do.

It does not have wiring for a brake controller, but you can wire one in. I did that on our Pilot, it is not to bad, but you have to run wires the length of the car underneath it, so that is a bit of a pain.
Etrailer.com had a kit for it with all the wiring you need, and even had a video on how to install it.

This might be of help; Honda Odyssey Towing Capacities From 2000-2020 Good resource - 2008-2010 Models

You can find the Owners Manual here.

Wireless brake controller is your easy solution for brakes. Can't comment on the suitability of the vehicle, but being the better part of 15 years old, the miles/condition of it are as important as the as-designed vehicle capabilities.

I towed a large pop up with a Windstar (definitely a less capable vehicle than an Oddessy) and it pulled like a champ. It had a 3500 lb tow rating & the trailer weight very close to that. Power & stability were not an issue. But I would not do it without a weight distributing hitch.

The trailer had electric brakes, something I would not want to be without in all but the smallest utility trailers.