2012 Honda Pilot / 21 RBH hybrid trailer

[exit32mama]

Hi Everyone
I think I finally found the perfect trailer for our family. As you read this, please note that even though I am a woman, we have flipped roles in our family, so I am the power tools, engineering, math and car wife 🙂 Aka, I will understand technical terms you reply with.

I have a 2012 Pilot with a tow capacity of 4500lbs. The trailer I found is a 2007 R vision trailsport 21RBH. ***Link Removed***the NADA listing. Per that, it is 2900 Lbs UVW. hubby is 300lbs and shrinking, I'm 150, my kids are 60 and 40 each and growing.

My biggest safety qualification for a trailer was dual axel, which this is.

We usually only go away for long weekends and in the summer. We pack light, and have the option to grocery shop once up there versus towing it with us.

I did this calculation online

Truck's Payload/CCC
1340
The truck's payload (aka "cargo carrying capacity") is found on a "Tire and Loading Information" sticker on the doorjamb and reads, "The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed XYZ kg or ABC lbs."
Driver's Weight
150
A common misconception is that 150 pounds is included in the doorjamb sticker; this is not the case. The entire driver's weight has to be deducted from the payload.
Weight of Passenger(s)
500
Total up the weight of all of your passengers (don't forget the furry ones!). Also estimate and include the weight of infant, car and booster seats if you have little ones.
Weight of Hitch
100
A safe estimate is 50-100 pounds for travel trailers and 250 pounds for fifth wheels.
Weight of Traveling Comforts
200
In the cab, we often travel with a variety of entertainment options for the kids (iPads, iPods, games, books, magazines, dolls, toys, pillows, blankets, etc.), a GPS, couple of maps, Big Rig book and a small cooler of drinks, cold snacks and a bag of snacks separate than that.
Weight In/On Truck Bed
Enter weight
In our truck bed, you'll often find a ladder, firewood (or equivalent), fire grill, wood blocks, sewer hose holders and misc. destination needs (for instance, when going to the beach- beach chairs, boogie boards, etc.). We also have a heavy 150 pound roll top truck bed cover. For folks in travel trailers - include the topper if you have one, bikes, kayaks, etc.
Misc. Extra Weight
Enter extra weight
Anything not previously mentioned should be included here. If you carry bikes on a front hitch, include the weight of the hitch and bikes. Pretty much if you or a previous owner have added anything to the truck from when it was delivered from the factory, it has to be accounted for.
Camper Type
Travel Trailer/Bumper Pull
Fifth Wheel
Camper Weight View Current Page Link
You're adding approximately 950 lbs. to the truck. You have 390 lbs. of payload capacity. Travel trailers typically have 10% - 15% tongue weight which gives you a maximum loaded camper weight of 2,600 - 3,900 lbs.

Do you all think this is ok? I went heavy on the passenger weights.

[jonaz]

I towed a 3000 lb Kiwi trailer for about 5 years with our 2003 Honda Pilot using a weight distribution hitch. It did great, no problems. The Honda Pilot is one tough SUV. We live in the mountains, and it got a severe workout.

[RinconVTR]

Interesting. Another Honda Pilot towing thread.

You'll be just fine as a weekend warrior properly set up with a WDH and tires aired up to max cold.

Read my post here;
https://forums.goodsamclub.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/29475711/gotomsg/29481357.cfm#29481357

[PAThwacker]

Btw I bet that sucker will weigh 4100lbs for a weekend and 4400 for 3 to 4 day event. No way would I use a minivan without slider doors.

[PAThwacker]

my 5.3 liter trailblazer could not tow my 21 foot hybrid camper.

[kw_00]

My wife's got the Acura version of what you have. Nice SUV and capable as well. That being said, short trips will be good. A lot of heat will be placed on the transmission though. I believe that it will work for now, but suspect with true wieght you may be searching for a dedicated cheap older truck to tow with in the future. Just my thought, anyway enjoy camping and let us know how it's working out. A lot of info can be found here on this board, you goto read through some things but don't be afraid to ask. Keep the Honda though even if u buy an older truck just to pull with. Honda/Acura Pilot/MDX are really good SUVs, wife's got the SHAWD. Unbelievable handling, one of the best AWD systems ever put on the road for sure. Those SUVs will go several hundred thousand miles without any issues.

[ib516]

I towed a 17' hybrid which scaled at 3500# with a 2006 Pontiac Torrent with a 3500# tow rating. It didn't do well with headwinds or hills, but it got me around for a summer with no issues with overheating, breakdown, or transmission. It had 110,000 miles on it at the time too. It was all I could afford after the divorce. I stayed local (no trip to the mountains) and enjoyed camping.

Like I said, there's certainly better choices out there for towing, but there's nothing wrong with running what you have if the situation dictates.

[jarata1]

I trailer my 16 ft trailer about the same weight with a 2005 honda pilot never had a problem make sure you get the breaks for the honda that hoom up with your trailer .Your not going to the Rockies or anything

[IdaD]

The Pilot has a pretty solid drivetrain and good power. My wife drives a 2010 Awd version as her mommy wagon but we did tow our pop up for quite a few years with it and it did well (not quite 4000 lbs, so big for a pop up). The air resistance would make towing harder but I think it would be fine as long as you kept your speeds reasonable. We live in Idaho so our towing was in much more challenging terrain than you'll encounter, and I'm honestly not sure a taller trailer in your area would be much or even any more challenging overall compared to what we did with our Pilot. I think the hardest hill we did with that particular combo was probably Galena summit which clocks in just under 9,000 feet.

[Campfire_Time]

exit32mama wrote:


I have a 2012 Pilot with a tow capacity of 4500lbs. The trailer I found is a 2007 R vision trailsport 21RBH. ***Link Removed***the NADA listing. Per that, it is 2900 Lbs UVW.

The 2900# UVW is what concerns me. That's "unloaded vehicle weight". What that means is that this is what it weighed at the factory before any options were installed, and well before all your "stuff" is loaded inside. You will never tow the trailer at this weight. Things like AC, microwave, awning, and even sometimes the spare tire are optional items that must be calculated in the "as delivered" weight. Your 2900# trailer very likely weighs in at least 3500#. Now consider the 500# (or more) of "stuff" you will carry in your trailer. And that is indeed packing light. So now you are likely at 4000#. Still doable, but I suspect you'll be looking at bigger more capable tow vehicles after your first season.

I'm not trying to discourage you, just sharing my experience. I have twice towed trailers that were very close to my capacities. It worked, it was safe, but it wasn't ideal. Towing with a vehicle that has some margin is a night and day experience.

BTW, dual axle has nothing to do with safety. It's a myth that dual axle tows better and is more safe. We towed a single axle hybrid for 10 years. Twice on 2 big trips out west. Never a problem. The key is making sure the tires are properly inflated and never exceeding the 65 mph limit of the tires.

[SoundGuy]

exit32mama wrote:
I have a 2012 Pilot with a tow capacity of 4500lbs. The trailer I found is a 2007 R vision trailsport 21RBH.

Do you all think this is ok?

Back in 2006 I made the mistake of trying to tow our (then brand new) 2007 C21RBH TrailCruiser hybrid with our 4.0L V6 Explorer. Brochure dry weight was about the same as you've shown but in reality loaded & ready to camp it weighed ~ 4000 lbs and that poor Exploder couldn't get out of it's own way. We did 2 short weekend trips, then traded for a brand new 2006 5.3L Silverado that had no issues at all towing that trailer. I've always towed since then with a 1/2 ton truck and personally wouldn't consider anything less. That said, you might want to PM forum member Last Train who tows the same trailer I now have - a Coachmen Freedom Express 192RBS - with his own Ridgeline and seems satisfied with the way it tows.

[Dannyabear1]

Also, Honda does not recommend a W/D hitch because pilot does not have a full chassis;

[bikendan]

The biggest issue will be the trailers air resistance.
CUVs like your Pilot, don't have the torque necessary to easily pull the barn door front through the air.

They're fine towing boats because they are much more aerodynamic than a hybrid or conventional travel trailer.
The stress on your Pilot will shorten the life of its drivetrain.

[ib516]

I think you'll be fine. It wouldn't be the most ideal combo for a trip over the Rockies, but just fine for local weekender trips.