2004 Honda Pilot, decent for towing/heavy snow?

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Zenmervolt

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,514
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My dad's going to be replacing his 1999 Explorer soon (well over 150,000 miles) and he needs something that rides much better because of his back. But we still have a boat to tow (~3,500 pounds), and his job puts him often in northern Michigan in the middle of winter when there's a lot of snow on the ground. The Low Range on his Explorer has come in handy on more than one occasion to let him get out of a hotel parking lot after a storm.

Will a Honda Pilot be able to manage these things? I know the boat is within the Pilot's tow rating, but I was wondering if anyone had towed with a Pilot and could tell me how well it tows. If it tracks OK or if it's a real monster when towing something heavy. I'm also curious about how well the VMT-4 system will work in deep snow. The "Driveline Lock" button seems like it might be sufficient, but I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with it. Dad also keeps around 500 pounds of Semi-truck demo units and literature in the back of his truck all the time. So the Pilot would also have about 500 pounds of weight in the back to carry around all the time. Our current Explorer has a permanent "squat" in the rear.

ZV
 
Zenmervolt

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,514
34
91
Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1
truthfully, id go bigger.

maybe a Jeep, but they are gas hogs.

MIKE
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The Explorer is the third Explorer he's gone through (>150,000 miles on each) and they've done quite well. The problem is that the truck-like ride is aggravating his back and because of his job he's in the truck for a lot of the day. As for gas hogs, the current Explorer has the 302 V8 and gets a little over 17 mpg when he's driving. (I've coaxed 22 mpg freeway out of it.)

Dad needs something that does not ride like a truck, but can tow the boat and handle his job.

ZV
 
R

RagingBITCH

Lifer
Sep 27, 2003
17,618
2
76
One of our family friends owns a restaurant (and has a Pilot) and he routinely buys loads of crap from Sams and Costco every weekend. Nothing that weighs 500lbs but he has no problems hauling stuff around. I think though that if hooked up to a trailer of some sort, it might not do all that well. Oh yea - not that it's that big of a deal, but the Pilot is affected in the recent tranny recall. I'm just not too confident in Honda's trannies lately, even with their "oil jet" fix.

My uncle has a Pilot as well but hauls practically nothing though.

Oh yea - more detailed info about the tranny fix:

http://www.v6performance.net/forums/showthread.php?t=31979
 
M

MikeMike

Lifer
Feb 6, 2000
45,885
66
91
(i might get flamed)

The new Envoy's i know have airride, but i dont know what they can pull.

MIKE
 
NFS4

NFS4

No Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
72,636
47
91
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: NFS4
Problem Solved...7,000 lb towing limit and deadly reliability
Click to expand...
And an extra $8,000 over the deal he'd be getting on the Pilot. I've been trying to steer him back to the Explorers. The things have been bulletproof for us and I _know_ they will tow better. And the new ones are supposed to have a much better ride than his '99.

ZV
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How much for the Pilot? You can get a V8 SR5 FWD or V8 Sport 4WD instead of the Limted. They'd kick the sh!t out of a Pilot in just about any situation.
 
Zenmervolt

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,514
34
91
Originally posted by: NFS4
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: NFS4
Problem Solved...7,000 lb towing limit and deadly reliability
Click to expand...
And an extra $8,000 over the deal he'd be getting on the Pilot. I've been trying to steer him back to the Explorers. The things have been bulletproof for us and I _know_ they will tow better. And the new ones are supposed to have a much better ride than his '99.

ZV
Click to expand...

How much for the Pilot? You can get a V8 SR5 FWD or V8 Sport 4WD instead of the Limted. They'd kick the sh!t out of a Pilot in just about any situation.
Click to expand...
He's looking at a dealer demo Pilot EX with leather (everything except the Nav or DVD system). Said it was under $29,000. He wants the leater seats and all that. I'll have to see if an SR5 can be configured with leather.

ZV
 
M

MikeMike

Lifer
Feb 6, 2000
45,885
66
91
your gunna have to up the budget to get a nicer ride and the towing capabilities you need.

MIKE
 
L

leeland

Diamond Member
Dec 12, 2000
3,659
0
76
I myself was looking at a pilot and a 4runner for our first SUV. We chose the 4runner ( v6 model SR5) and I can't be happier. The reason I went with the toyota before the honda was the fact that every person I asked about the honda and towing was they recommened a tansmission cooler if you were going to be hauling anything. which is an after market addition I guess and I don't know the exact price. The honda did drive smoother and had more trunk space ( could fit a 4x8 sheet of drywall in the back), but the toyota IMHO is a very nice vehicle and handled better in the snow.

The toyota had some limited slip deal in the rear end that adjusted the speed of the vehicle and anti lock braking system to not allow for any fish tailing. Me and the wife took a 4runner and pilot to the same area that had snow and ice all over it( it was a truck stop parking area)

When the pilot was in two wheel drive...I punched it and it spun uncontrolalbly (sp) but when I did the same with the 4runner it would not break loose at all...that for me was the clincher because of the wife and for safety reasons...the difference I beleive is that the pilot is only front wheel drive and only engages the rear wheels when the from slips...I myself did not like that system.
 
JulesMaximus

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,544
924
126
He could get a Toyota Tundra Double Cab 4x4 for the price of the Pilot and have greater towing/hauling capability. They are extremely comfortable too. Very nice truck IMO.
 
3chordcharlie

3chordcharlie

Diamond Member
Mar 30, 2004
9,859
1
81
If he has had good luck with explorers, drag him into a showroom and make him take a test drive in a new one ;)
 
B

bernse

Diamond Member
Aug 29, 2000
3,229
0
0
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
He could get a Toyota Tundra Double Cab 4x4 for the price of the Pilot and have greater towing/hauling capability. They are extremely comfortable too. Very nice truck IMO.
Click to expand...

Very nice truck but awful on gas. Truth of the matter is, with the exception of the Titan (and it's associated teething problems) the Japanese mfgs do not make good units for towing. Sure, they're *rated* for a decent tow weight, but they struggle something fierce.

However, *if* you're towing a 3500lb boat trailer and that's it, you should be fine with the 4-Runner or Tundra or even the Pilot, but if you're ever going to tow anything around 4500+lbs and some length like an RV, you'd be having white knuckle driving and it wouldn't be fun.

My vote so far is for a Tundra double cab or a 4-Runner, even though I am a Honda guy. Beware that Toyota V8 sucks the gas though.
 
Zenmervolt

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,514
34
91
Originally posted by: bernse
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
He could get a Toyota Tundra Double Cab 4x4 for the price of the Pilot and have greater towing/hauling capability. They are extremely comfortable too. Very nice truck IMO.
Click to expand...

Very nice truck but awful on gas. Truth of the matter is, with the exception of the Titan (and it's associated teething problems) the Japanese mfgs do not make good units for towing. Sure, they're *rated* for a decent tow weight, but they struggle something fierce.

However, *if* you're towing a 3500lb boat trailer and that's it, you should be fine with the 4-Runner or Tundra or even the Pilot, but if you're ever going to tow anything around 4500+lbs and some length like an RV, you'd be having white knuckle driving and it wouldn't be fun.

My vote so far is for a Tundra double cab or a 4-Runner, even though I am a Honda guy. Beware that Toyota V8 sucks the gas though.
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The boat trailer would be the heaviest thing the truck would ever tow. And ~3500 pounds is my erring on the side of caution. I know that it doesn't weigh any more than that.

ZV
 
O

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
How about a Town Car? It's got a roomy trunk!

Edit: Forget it. Only 2,000lbs towing capacity. Damn things have become pussy-mobiles over the years! :|
 
Zenmervolt

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,514
34
91
Originally posted by: Ornery
How about a Town Car? It's got a roomy trunk!
Click to expand...
And a puny 1,500 pound towing capacity with only RWD. Not good for northern Michigan, nor for towing a boat. It's a great car, but it does not fit his needs.

ZV
 
S

SuperTool

Lifer
Jan 25, 2000
14,000
2
0
he should test drive the new explorer. It now has an independent rear suspension for better ride.
 
Perknose

Perknose

Forum Director & Omnipotent Overlord
Forum Director
Oct 9, 1999
46,730
10,253
146
That Toyota that NFS4 is a nice vehicle but will still ride like a truck (because it IS one) -- certainly no better than your Dad's Explorer.

From that posted review: "While other SUVs in its class have evolved into kinder, gentler versions of their originals, the 4Runner has retained much of its truckish character. [. . .] If you want a "soft roader," there are plenty [of others] to choose [from]."

Your problem is a tough nut to crack, combining something that rides more carlike with only a 500 lb. load but also can easily tow 3,500 lbs. when called upon to. Which is more important? I'm guessing it's your Dad's back. In any event, he'd better take that Toyota for an extended test drive before he buys one.

IN 2002, though, Ford went to independent rear suspension, IRS, on the Explorers, which should yield a far more compliant ride than before. Still being body on frame based (as opposed to the Pilot's unibody construction), the Explorer should nevertheless retain it's robust towing capacity.

Finally, it's at least conceivable that Mercury's Explorer clone has an even softer tuned suspension. I know it has a different 4WD system. Your Dad might want to check one out.
 
edro

edro

Lifer
Apr 5, 2002
24,326
68
91
A friend has a Pilot (2003) and they pull a 46ft (Searay) boat with it... I don't know anymore than that.
 
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