04 pilot toad light wiring

[Kenmartin1]

Getting ready to run wires from coach to 04 honda pilot for flat towing... Anyone know where to get a wiring diagram for this? I'm assuming there's a way to tap into tail lights without running a wire all the way to the rear. Should the honda battery be disconnected when towing and running power from the coach to the honda taillights? Thanks for any suggestions.

[bobpam54]

very interesting..thanks guys.. this forum is very informative.

We loved our pilot and would love to get another some day..

WE now have a Honda crv and we like it fine but its no pilot when it comes to ride and comfort. It makes a great tow car tho. we had problems with the battery going flat and I ordered a charging box from iRV brake and I hope that it takes care of that issue. We are just about ready to take off ( we're flapping our wings now)

Warmer weather here we come

yahooooo
Bob

[Kenmartin1]

Sjthaxter, I like your idea and was wondering what path you followed to the rear? What type of diodes should I buy and where to buy them? Where do the diodes go in the wiring... in line with each wire to the coach? I also read about a guy adding extra bulbs to his honda taillights, so the motor home has a separate system. Your method does seem easier.

[TempatureContro]

We have towed an 04 MDX (same as Pilot) for 8+ years, 48K miles. Used a US Gear braking system. Just plug in the 6 wire connector which covers the lights and braking system including a charge line. I installed 6 Diodes in the rear light housing as the MDX has separate amber blinkers, but could have used 4 and had the brake lights work as the blinkers. Had a non-smart key made to lock the door, as a smart key must be used in ignition to unlock steering wheel.

[RayChez]

bobpam54 wrote:
hello you guys
Are you guys saying that you can flat tow a honda pilot? I use to own a honda pilot and we loved it but we were told that we could.t tow it so we have a honda crv now. I would love to tow a honda pilot because we love the bigger vehicle.
How about the new ones? Can they be towed?
I know that it is not listed as a tow vehicle but so are other vehicles and people still tow them

maybe its risky and could cost you...I don't know

Bob

The 4WD Honda Pilot could be towed up to 2005. All you had to do before towing was to run it for a minute or two through each gear, then put her on neutral and she was ready. One of the best vehicles I have ever owned.

I think Honda discontinued publicizing that the Pilot could be towed because some RVer's were just not running it through the gears and probably causing damage to the transmission. Just my opinion though, not really sure.

[PF_PM]

Dave is correct. Honda allows Pilot towing through 2005 using the proper ready sequence. Ours has 205,000km and has been towed approx 27,000 miles. No issues. I use the magnetic lights on the roof but I also installed a battery disconnect so the battery wouldn't go dead after six hours. The only reset to do after towing was to enter the code for the radio.

[sjthaxter]

Ken,
A little more info. The Honda forum is at Piloteers.org. Honda does sell a cable harness to connect to the trailer connector, but it is quite expensive. I cut the connector off, and connected the diodes directly to each wire, (stop, left and right turn, and tail light). You can figure out which wire does what by turning each of those on and checking for 12V at the wire.
Honda took the "towable behind a motor home" out of the owner's manual in 2006. I think some of the newer models may be towable, but without Honda's blessing your warranty may be voided. Our Pilot has 140K on it, and is still going strong!

[Dave_in_TN]

bobpam54 wrote:
hello you guys
Are you guys saying that you can flat tow a honda pilot? I use to own a honda pilot and we loved it but we were told that we could.t tow it so we have a honda crv now. I would love to tow a honda pilot because we love the bigger vehicle.
How about the new ones? Can they be towed?
I know that it is not listed as a tow vehicle but so are other vehicles and people still tow them

maybe its risky and could cost you...I don't know

Bob

Bob, my understanding is that Pilots were flat towable until sometime during the 2005 model year.

[bobpam54]

hello you guys
Are you guys saying that you can flat tow a honda pilot? I use to own a honda pilot and we loved it but we were told that we could.t tow it so we have a honda crv now. I would love to tow a honda pilot because we love the bigger vehicle.
How about the new ones? Can they be towed?
I know that it is not listed as a tow vehicle but so are other vehicles and people still tow them

maybe its risky and could cost you...I don't know

Bob

[RayChez]

I used to tow a Honda Pilot, but all the wiring was done at the dealer where I bought my coach. There must be a way to connect tail lights,stop lights and turn signals because I had them working on mine.

You ask if the battery has to be disconnected and the answer is no. Never had to pull a fuse or anything. Just hook up the cable and go. They did install some kind of diode box to prevent the battery from going dead, prevents some kind of back feed. Not sure!

Mine was the Honda Pilot EXL fwd and it can be towed. I towed it for eight years. Very good vehicle, a little on the heavy side at 4200 lbs. Now I tow a CRV which is much lighter.

[sjthaxter]

Ken,
I just did this this summer. After lots of research I found that there's a trailer connection in the storage tray just inside the tailgate. I installed diodes to isolate the Pilot wiring from wiring running from motor home. I did run wires under the Pilot to a grommet in the bottom of the storage tray. They could be run through the firewall and back under the carpet. After the 100 degree day I picked to do this I should have gone the carpet route, but...
For more information on where to find the trailer wiring do a search on Piloteers.com. It's an excellent forum for help with all the oddities of the Pilot. Some on there will try to tell you the Pilot can't be flat towed. Ignore them!!
Hope this helps you. It is not a simple installation.