We have a 2013 Honda Odyssey and are interested in getting our first camper. Getting a new vehicle is not an option, and we have 3 small children. So far I have only looked at pop ups, but I just found a 17' hybrid trailer on Craigslist that I am interested in. The trailer's total dry weight (including the hitch) is 2716 and its GVWR is 3826. It does have a hitch/weight distribution system and an anti-sway bar.I know the Odyssey can tow 3500#. It has a V6 engine and we plan to get a cooler for the transmission. (And for the power steering too? Is that necessary?) Would it be reasonable to assume that we would keep the weight under 3500 on the trailer, or is that cutting it too close? The van is fairly new and we do want it to last a long time! We live in Florida where it is flat, but we would like to travel all over and be able to drive on mountain roads. (Nothing crazy or off road of course; just your typical family trip to the Smokies for example.). Would this trailer be doable or should we stick with a popup around 1800#?

A quick reply: Your engine can handle it; your transmission cannot. 3826 is dry (no chairs, food, clothes, water, etc). It would pull it but you'd need a new transmission very quickly. Remember, the van is a unit-body.I would stick with a pop-up. Van will pull it great and it will be fun. Amazaing amoutn of room in a pop up.

Yes, the steering cooler is needed because you will be using the vehicle outside its design criteria. This is because you will spend an unusual amount of time maneuvering a trailer into t a camp site. Al that backing requires a lot of slow speed turning which is a load on the PS system and creates lots of heat. A scenario the original vehicle was not designed for. You may be able to get away without it but in my mind it's worth doing it right to keep you from being stuck someplace with a failed component.Many Mini vans and other vehicles require it with the "towing package" as well.

mleekamp wrote:A quick reply: Your engine can handle it; your transmission cannot. 3826 is dry (no chairs, food, clothes, water, etc). .3826 is not dry, it is the total GVWR for that trailer. very lightly loaded it could be under 3500 lbs. Not a good combination however.not sure about the odyssey but when I looked at Pilots in 2011 with a towing package they were only rated for a 3500 lb. RV, 5,000 lbs. for a boat. bumpy

I would stick with a popup, too. I have owned a popup, hybrid, travel trailer and a fifth wheel. I pulled our small popup with my Subaru Impreza and it was a great setup. At that time, there were only two of us, plus our dog. We did lots and lots of trips to the beach because we live in the mountains.

What can I tow with my Honda Odyssey? | Good Sam Community

39 Replies

rsaylor3
Explorer
Apr 22, 2015
We had a 2010 odyssey with the factory towing package for four years. We bought it new and put just over 100,000 miles on her. During that time I towed a 2006 17' key west boat very often. Probably averaged 5-6 trips per month with the average drive being 25-30 miles each way to the boat ramp. Several trips to Miami from Central Florida as well.

It towed great! The rear independent suspension added further comfort to the tow. Never did I have problems with the temps, engine or transmission. I did have to change out the brake rotors twice and resurfaced all the time. Those vans like to eat them anyway.

Now after moving to a truck and a travel trailer, I would tell you to stay with a pop up for sure. I would not want to tow a taller travel trailer with the van even it it was light weight.

A pop up will be a comfortable tow for the entire family. We almost bought one ourselves when we had the van.

Good luck and make sure you change out the tranny fluid often.
brulaz
Explorer
Apr 22, 2015
kellertx5er wrote:
bikendan wrote:
N-Trouble wrote:
Pop-up

Ditto.
Also a full height trailer's frontal area will exceed the Honda's max.

Anyone ever seen published tow vehicle ratings for a trailer's frontal area?

Ford's Trailer Towing guide has them for all models.
12 sq ft for the Mustang,
40 sq ft for the Flex or Explorer with Tow Package.
That's probably the closest to the Odyssey.

The F150 varies according to tow package and whether 5th wheel or not.
kellertx5er
Explorer
Apr 22, 2015
bikendan wrote:
N-Trouble wrote:
Pop-up

Ditto.
Also a full height trailer's frontal area will exceed the Honda's max.

Anyone ever seen published tow vehicle ratings for a trailer's frontal area?
IdaD
Explorer
Apr 22, 2015
Terryallan wrote:
Bluzmar wrote:
Thanks everyone. After reading all of this, I think we will stick with a PUP. I looked at my owner's manual again and it says there is a towing limit of 3,050# when you have five passengers. Of course, that's assuming everyone weighs 150# and my kids certainly don't, but throw in some car seats and all their stuff and maybe we're there.

I had not thought about the height of the trailer and gas mileage. A scamp sounds nice and I did find an RPod on Craigslist, but I don't think any of them would sleep a family of 5 comfortably.

IdaD wrote:

Then when you get to the campsite your wife and kids are free to get in the trailer immediately to start cooking dinner or get their toys out or whatever while you disconnect, drop the stabliizers, and etc.

I suppose the one downside to not getting a trailer is that my *husband* can't get inside immediately to start cooking my dinner. ;)

They wouldn't be going into the TT either. have to move the TT, and raise, and lower the tongue to level. Can't be inside while all that is going on. I believe you have made the right choice.

And there are pups with auto raising roofs. One Fleetwood model would even slide out the bunk ends automatically. Camping with a pup really is a breeze

Once you have the TT/FW leveled side to side and chocked there's no reason people can't be inside while you disconnect it and get it leveled front to back. I do it all the time.

You are correct that some PUPs are faster to set up than others. Mine is a relatively larger model (Fleetwood Bayside) with a manual top, kings on both ends and a slide. To be honest my biggest beef with the PUP isn't so much setting it up at the campground, it's the process of having to set it up and take it down before you leave, then at the campground and a third time when you get home (unless you empty it at the campsite and it's fully dry when you put it down). Those moments when you'd like to grab something quick from the trailer but realize it's stored in a drawer near the back and you can't get to it without opening it at least part of the way can be annoying too.

Again PUPs aren't all bad by any means, and for OP being in Florida and with an Odyssey TV, a PUP is probably the best choice. We just kind of outgrew ours over the years.
marquette
Explorer
Apr 22, 2015
My wife and I had a pup for about 5 yrs and as far as set up I can say it set up faster when I took it alone hunting than when I had help. So speed of set up or take down is a organizational skill. Enough said on that issue. You will find lots of help on the pup forum on ideas for a pup. My observation on them is that they are not created equal. Ease and type of set up varies by manufacturer, storage varies,etc. so find what works for you.
jerem0621
Explorer II
Apr 22, 2015
Bluzmar wrote:
Thanks everyone. After reading all of this, I think we will stick with a PUP. I looked at my owner's manual again and it says there is a towing limit of 3,050# when you have five passengers. Of course, that's assuming everyone weighs 150# and my kids certainly don't, but throw in some car seats and all their stuff and maybe we're there.

I had not thought about the height of the trailer and gas mileage. A scamp sounds nice and I did find an RPod on Craigslist, but I don't think any of them would sleep a family of 5 comfortably.

IdaD wrote:

Then when you get to the campsite your wife and kids are free to get in the trailer immediately to start cooking dinner or get their toys out or whatever while you disconnect, drop the stabliizers, and etc.

I suppose the one downside to not getting a trailer is that my *husband* can't get inside immediately to start cooking my dinner. ;)

Wonderful!

Here is an inside shot of our PUP...lots of room and our trailer has a GROSS weight under 3,000 lbs!

I do a lot of the cooking too, our PUP has an outside grill and I will be bringing my Coleman high stand and Coleman stove so we can do ALL the cooking outside. Good luck in your shopping.

Go visit a few dealers with PUP's and when you decide what you want...do not compromise, stick to your guns and the layout you want will POP up :).

Thanks!

Jeremiah
BurbMan
Explorer II
Apr 22, 2015
kvangil wrote:
Your decision to go with a PUP is a good one. Considering the size of the TT that you may have been able to tow, you'll find that your family of 5 will enjoy the space of the PUP more than they would in a 16-17' TT. We had a PUP for 9 years with 4 small kids and just 2 years ago went to a HTT. The PUP was plenty sufficient. The compromise on long road trips is we'd hotel it instead of setting up camp for one-nighters.

X2

There is a lot of room in all but the smallest pop-ups, much more so than a small travel trailer. The hard-sided TT gives you more options for camping in cooler temps, but since you live in FL, you'll easily get 4 season use from a pop-up since most have A/C and furnaces now.

If you're traveling more than a day away it's easy to stop at an inexpensive motel as a layover.
kvangil
Explorer
Apr 22, 2015
Your decision to go with a PUP is a good one. Considering the size of the TT that you may have been able to tow, you'll find that your family of 5 will enjoy the space of the PUP more than they would in a 16-17' TT. We had a PUP for 9 years with 4 small kids and just 2 years ago went to a HTT. The PUP was plenty sufficient. The compromise on long road trips is we'd hotel it instead of setting up camp for one-nighters.
Terryallan
Explorer II
Apr 22, 2015
Bluzmar wrote:
Thanks everyone. After reading all of this, I think we will stick with a PUP. I looked at my owner's manual again and it says there is a towing limit of 3,050# when you have five passengers. Of course, that's assuming everyone weighs 150# and my kids certainly don't, but throw in some car seats and all their stuff and maybe we're there.

I had not thought about the height of the trailer and gas mileage. A scamp sounds nice and I did find an RPod on Craigslist, but I don't think any of them would sleep a family of 5 comfortably.

IdaD wrote:

Then when you get to the campsite your wife and kids are free to get in the trailer immediately to start cooking dinner or get their toys out or whatever while you disconnect, drop the stabliizers, and etc.

I suppose the one downside to not getting a trailer is that my *husband* can't get inside immediately to start cooking my dinner. ;)

They wouldn't be going into the TT either. have to move the TT, and raise, and lower the tongue to level. Can't be inside while all that is going on. I believe you have made the right choice.

And there are pups with auto raising roofs. One Fleetwood model would even slide out the bunk ends automatically. Camping with a pup really is a breeze
Bluzmar
Explorer
Apr 22, 2015
Thanks everyone. After reading all of this, I think we will stick with a PUP. I looked at my owner's manual again and it says there is a towing limit of 3,050# when you have five passengers. Of course, that's assuming everyone weighs 150# and my kids certainly don't, but throw in some car seats and all their stuff and maybe we're there.

I had not thought about the height of the trailer and gas mileage. A scamp sounds nice and I did find an RPod on Craigslist, but I don't think any of them would sleep a family of 5 comfortably.

IdaD wrote:

Then when you get to the campsite your wife and kids are free to get in the trailer immediately to start cooking dinner or get their toys out or whatever while you disconnect, drop the stabliizers, and etc.

I suppose the one downside to not getting a trailer is that my *husband* can't get inside immediately to start cooking my dinner. ;)