Towing a 2015 Honda CR-V "four down"

[mountainviewer]

Well, IMHO, Honda has certainly "shot themselves in the foot" by changing the transmission in the 2015 CR-V's to one that prevents 4 wheel down towing. My 2005 CR-V is a great car, and an excellent tow vehicle, and I was all set to buy a new 2015 CR-V to replace it. But, NO, Honda in its great wisdom, decided to ignore the RV towing market (yes I know its just a speck in their sales needs), and replace an otherwise great 5 speed automatic with this "variable ratio", or whatever they call it non-towable tramsmision.
Well, all I can say is "I hope they choke on this unwise move"!!!

I am no longer a Honda advocate.

Comments?????

[soren]

DownTheAvenue wrote:

mountainviewer wrote:
Well, IMHO, Honda has certainly "shot themselves in the foot" by changing the transmission in the 2015 CR-V's to one that prevents 4 wheel down towing. My 2005 CR-V is a great car, and an excellent tow vehicle, and I was all set to buy a new 2015 CR-V to replace it. But, NO, Honda in its great wisdom, decided to ignore the RV towing market (yes I know its just a speck in their sales needs), and replace an otherwise great 5 speed automatic with this "variable ratio", or whatever they call it non-towable tramsmision.
Well, all I can say is "I hope they choke on this unwise move"!!!

I am no longer a Honda advocate.

Comments?????

My comment:
Probably no more than several hundred sales were made solely on the 4 down tow capability. Honda has much bigger things to worry about than keeping those old goats happy!

"several hundred sales" Sorry, but no.
On a trip down the east coast during snowbird season I see at least a hundred hanging off the back of motorhomes. I had mine serviced at a Tampa area dealer recently. The service advisor told me that they have a steady stream of angry customers who simply cannot believe that Honda would do something so dumb. Honda probably had little choice when it came to increasing economy, but it comes at a cost of thousands of lost sales to RVers.

[Heisenberg]

I have read here that Ford builds a CVT vehicle, the Flex I think, which is towable 4down. Perhaps if enough people let them know Honda will adjust their CVT build on the CRV and Fit to permit 4down towing. The squeaky wheel gets oiled.

[Dutch_12078]

vermilye wrote:
The RAV4 cannot be towed 4 down (or, for 4 wheel drive versions, on a dolly). On top of that, they got rid of the V6 & tow package in 2013; my 2010 is a great tow vehicle for my 17' fiberglass trailer, but I'll have to look elsewhere for the next one...

We're currently towing a Remco pump equipped 2011 RAV4 4WD automatic quite nicely. Previously, we towed a 2002 RAV4 4WD automatic. Towing miles for the two cars is in excess of 40,000. The 2002 is still in service as our spare vehicle that we leave at our Adirondack cottage in NY.

[J-Rooster]

Pangaea Ron wrote:

tinkerer wrote:
That was a major reason we Bought the CRV in 2014. So far it's a great car.;)

x2

X-3, I'm planning on running my 14 into the ground! I'm also a Honda Owner/ RV Owner that is very disappointed in Honda. I'm sure it is in the Honda round files but, I did write them a letter to let them know that I wasn't happy with there choice and that I will not buy another Honda product!

[et2]

KO wrote:
I also discovered the problem about towing a 2015 Honda CRV - yesterday. I was getting ready to put a tow kit on my car when the Lady told me you can't tow 4 down. She said it is the Feds who mandated all new cars sold after 2017 must have at least 32MPG. In order to make this happpen - Constant Velocity Transmissions (CVT) are being installed. CVT cannot be towed or lub pump installed to get around it.

I guess I am buying a tow dolly...

And you believed her? The true 4x4 market will never succumb to a CVT. And it will probably never hit 32MPG. That's why they came up with the gas guzzler tax.

[vermilye]

The RAV4 cannot be towed 4 down (or, for 4 wheel drive versions, on a dolly). On top of that, they got rid of the V6 & tow package in 2013; my 2010 is a great tow vehicle for my 17' fiberglass trailer, but I'll have to look elsewhere for the next one...

[justlou]

mountainviewer wrote:
Comments?????

I'm sure Honda will get more sales out of the increased MPG's than they would get out of RV'ers towing 4 down.

[wcjeep]

What about the Rav4 or Mazda CX5? I think both still use a 6spd transmission.

[DownTheAvenue]

mountainviewer wrote:
Well, IMHO, Honda has certainly "shot themselves in the foot" by changing the transmission in the 2015 CR-V's to one that prevents 4 wheel down towing. My 2005 CR-V is a great car, and an excellent tow vehicle, and I was all set to buy a new 2015 CR-V to replace it. But, NO, Honda in its great wisdom, decided to ignore the RV towing market (yes I know its just a speck in their sales needs), and replace an otherwise great 5 speed automatic with this "variable ratio", or whatever they call it non-towable tramsmision.
Well, all I can say is "I hope they choke on this unwise move"!!!

I am no longer a Honda advocate.

Comments?????

My comment:
Probably no more than several hundred sales were made solely on the 4 down tow capability. Honda has much bigger things to worry about than keeping those old goats happy!

[KO]

I also discovered the problem about towing a 2015 Honda CRV - yesterday. I was getting ready to put a tow kit on my car when the Lady told me you can't tow 4 down. She said it is the Feds who mandated all new cars sold after 2017 must have at least 32MPG. In order to make this happpen - Constant Velocity Transmissions (CVT) are being installed. CVT cannot be towed or lub pump installed to get around it.

I guess I am buying a tow dolly...

[JALLEN4]

By changing to the new transmission, the CR-V had a dramatic increase in fuel mileage. I would guess that added feature will result in far more sales than what is lost to a very limited market.

[Dale_Traveling]

Anyone know if a transmission oil pump will allow CVT four down towing?

[DrewE]

rr2254545 wrote:
Much discussed and beaten to death on here.

The Fit also bit the dust.

Get a Jeep and you will be a happy camper - I do not miss my Fit at all

To be precise, the automatic (now CVT) Fit cannot be towed four down. The manual transmission versions still can safely be towed four down, and the owner's manual describes all the steps needed to do so.

Edit: this is of course in reference to the 2015's. Earlier automatic Fits could be towed safely.

[Pangaea_Ron]

tinkerer wrote:
That was a major reason we Bought the CRV in 2014. So far it's a great car.;)

x2

[Sooboy]

To the OP, our local Honda dealer still has 6 brand new 2014 CRV's in stock. Yours may too....and potentially at a nice discount.