Towing Honda Odyssey 4 wheels down

Some friends of ours tow a Odyssey and the only problem they've had is with the battery running down on a long (1,500 mile) trip, possibly due to the draw from their BrakeBuddy. I believe their Honda is about a 2006 or 2008.

what does the owner's manual say under either towing behind a motorhome or recreational towing. I "assume" you are talking about a large motorized wheelchair? I have seen plenty of smaller ones sitting on a hitch mounted platform on the rear of a vehicle.'
bumpy

Call Remco. They can tell you.

To late to call Remco but their web site says I need to use a dolly on a 2014 Odyssey. Now I am towing a GMC full size conversion van but am having problems with the Remco pump. I want to down size to a mini van. The 2014 Odyssey was my first choice. I would like to know what your friends had to do to tow their Odyssey.

I tow a 2006 Odyssey. I only added the usual stuff (base plate, taillight wiring, BrakeBuddy with breakaway), and no transmission pump. I just go through the "emergency towing" procedures every 5-6 hours and haven't had any problems after over two years. However, I know the newer Odysseys are a new generation and may operate differently.

I've been researching old threads on Odssey towing. Somewhere in the last couple of years there was a transmission change and the new one is NOT towable (maybe with a pump). The non-towable trannys are 6 speed models as I reacall. I have read reports of successful towing up through 2010 models. That may extend up to 2012, but I don't recall any reports on the 2011, 2012 yers.

My choice is a 2008 EX-L, primarily budget driven. Got a couple of dealers looking for one for me now.

The Touring models usually cost a grand+ more than the EX-L. Some, maybe all, have different wheels/tires which may be less common than the EX. Nice vehicles though.

Try this link for an in-depth discussion.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/22744990.cfm

I think they canned the Odyssey towing about 8 years ago (give or take a year). Friends at our park in Florida had their transmission burned out. It was replaced under warranty but Honda told them at the time that they would no longer see it on the list of vehicles that could be towed flat. If you tow flat now and the transmission goes you are on your own for replacement.

I had this info from earlier.

Odyssey: trying to determine if i can flat tow my 2014 honda
Resolved Question:
trying to determine if i can flat tow my 2014 honda odyssey touring model behind my RV. I towed my 2010 5 speed with no issues - I know Honda is not going warranty any issues - I just want to know if it can be done. My friend tows his 2011 6 speed behind his RV with no problems
Submitted: 9 months ago.
Category: Honda
Eric
Expert: Eric replied 9 months ago.
HI,

Yes, you can tow it. It can be towed as a dinghy(flat towed), using the same procedures you used for the 2010 model

Ask Your Own Honda Question
Customer: replied 9 months ago.
Just confirming you are aware that this is the 6 speed tranny vs 5 speed
Expert: Eric replied 9 months ago.
HI,

Correct, the 2014 is a 6spd trans versus the 5spd for the 2010. The 2014 with 6spd trans can be dinghy towed. You use the same tow procedure as the 2010. There is no difference in the tow procedure between the 5 and 6spd transmission.

Eric, Automotive Repair Shop Manager

I purchased an 08 last weekend and intend to have it rigged and tow it. The Roadmaster website lists a set of brackets that fits 05-10 Odyssey XL's - part # 1556-1 (does not fit vehicles with the additional cooler in the tow package). I already have a Roadmaster Sterling tow bar so that brand is most cost effective for me.

I haven't checked Roadmaster for models later than 2010.

In the thread I cited earlier (thread now closed) one of the posters was towing the Odyssey 4 down with a 4 bike rack on the rear and two bikes inside the van. Most of the posters with vans later that 06 were refreshing the setup procedure after 4-5 hours. That thread closed in 2010, but only one poster stated any know problems, and they were of the "Uncle Fred" said variety. No poster cited a problem from towing their own Odyssey.

Seems to me that the manual for the 2014 Odyssey is pretty clear on this issue:

Page 407 of the Manual in PDF

Towing Your Vehicle
Your vehicle is not designed to be towed behind a motor home. If your vehicle needs
to be towed in an emergency, refer to the emergency towing information.
Page 407 of the Manual in PDF

When you check page 539 for towing instructions they want front wheels lifted off the ground. So, a dolly is the only option if you care about the warranty. If the Odyssey was towable, I would certainly have considered buying one.

If your transmission fails, it is going to be difficult to hide the fact that it has been towed flat.