towing jayco x17Z feather ultra lite with hond pilot ex 4w/d

IIRC, the Pilot is not rated for a WDH and is not recommended for towing such as your HTT. I could be wrong...it's been known to happen. Have you considered something like an Expy or a Sequoia?? Likely others will have more solid info. Thinking what you're interested in as a tow vehicle and what's suitable may not be the same thing.

Not a recommended row vehicle. It is designed as cuv since first introduced. Number 1 attributed: move people, number 2 carry dog in rear
Not designed for off-road use nor towing.

I see two problems. One, the dry hitch weight is nearly 400 lb and once you get loaded it will probably be 500 lb or more. Check the hitch weight rating of the Pilot, you may be over. Second, your trailer has a large frontal area (8' wide) and will push a lot of air; you could do ok if you keep your speed down around 55, but beyond that it might struggle and do a lot of shifting (which is hard on a transmission). Weightwise you are within the limit and have plenty of cushion. So the first thing to check is the hitch weight rating, and if it's ok and if you are comfortable with a slower pace, then you could get it.

Personally, for that trailer I'd lean more toward a Lexus GX460 which has a V8, or a V8 or diesel Jeep Grand Cherokee/Dodge Durango.

I didn't think a Honda Pilot could tow anything. Might be wise to look at a different tow vehicle. Also, I wouldn't rely on what a salesman might say either. They have been known to stretch the truth a bit.

Check the Hybrid section of the JaycoOwners forum. There are a number of threads discussing this very topic, with comments from Pilot/17Z owners. Definitely will need tow package, HD trans cooler, sway bars, etc.

go wild wrote:
"Definitely will need tow package, HD trans cooler, sway bars, etc

Standard towing jargon. If the cuv can't use a wdh then it has no business towing anything but utility trailer, popup, boat.

I wouldn't buy any Honda for a tow vehicle, except for a popup/A-frame, due to their anti-wdh policy.
we were going to buy a Ridgeline for a tow vehicle for our Roo, cause we loved it. Especially the DW.
but once I found out about this policy, I dropped it from consideration.

As far as I know, Honda is the only auto company that has such a policy.
this tells me that they don't trust their products as tow vehicles and no Honda should be towing a HTT/TT without one.

You people are crazy! I owned a 2003 Honda Pilot for 8 years, and it towed our Jayco Kiwi perfectly. Yes, we used a WDH- with no problems. It towed much better than our Ford Exploder, and we never got a check engine light. The Pilots are tough, and they are not just some cute SUV. I beat the******out of ours towing in the mountains, deserts, and up the grade to Bishop CA many times. It never let us down.

I think our Pilot had 200,000 miles on it when we traded it in. It was the most reliable vehicle we ever owned. I know we exceeded 3500lbs towing with firewood and full water tanks, plus 3 adults, 2 kids, and a fat dog. It was the little engine that could...

Crazy is admitting negligence and boasting an UVW in a signature

jonaz wrote:
You people are crazy! I owned a 2003 Honda Pilot for 8 years, and it towed our Jayco Kiwi perfectly. Yes, we used a WDH- with no problems. It towed much better than our Ford Exploder, and we never got a check engine light. The Pilots are tough, and they are not just some cute SUV. I beat the******out of ours towing in the mountains, deserts, and up the grade to Bishop CA many times. It never let us down.

I think our Pilot had 200,000 miles on it when we traded it in. It was the most reliable vehicle we ever owned. I know we exceeded 3500lbs towing with firewood and full water tanks, plus 3 adults, 2 kids, and a fat dog. It was the little engine that could...

you didn't address Honda's anti-WDH policy. what if the WDH had damaged the unibody chassis? i seriously doubt that Honda would have warrantied it.

a close friend owned a similar Pilot. he thought he could tow his Starcraft 19 HTT thru the Sierras.
after a white knuckle roundtrip, he swore he'd never do it again.
luckily, he had a Silverado 1/2 ton to do the job.