Equipment Needed to Tow 3000 lb Travel Trailer With 2011 Honda Pilot

Question:

I need to tow a 3000 dry wt ttravel trailer -what are my best options.

asked by: Andy S

Expert Reply:

To the best of my knowledge, the 2011 Honda Pilot came from the factory with a Class III receiver. 4WD vehicles have a 4500 lb towing capacity but from what I understand, the towing capacity of the vehicle decreases as the number of passengers in the vehicle increases. Honda also expressly mentions that weight distribution systems should not be used with their vehicles. You will want to confirm this by reading your owners manual or consulting Honda. Be sure that the fully loaded and ready to tow tongue weight of your trailer does not exceed the towing capacity of the vehicle.

You will need a brake controller to actuate the brakes on the travel trailer. I would recommend a proportional type controller like the Tekonsha Prodigy P2, part # 90885. The If your Pilot already has the 7-way trailer connector at the rear bumper, the install will be very simple. You will need the wiring adapter, part # 3070-P. One end of the harness will plug into the rear of the controller, the other end into the connector located under the dash, under the steering column near the top of the brake pedal.

If your Pilot does NOT have the 7-way, the brake controller will need to be hardwired into the vehicle. The install will be a bit more involved (but still certainly doable). You will need our Brake Controller Install Kit, part # ETBC7, which contains a 4-pole to 7-way adapter. If your Pilot has no trailer connector at all, the 4-pole will need to be added by using part # 118491.

I will link you to instructions, FAQ articles and install videos. The video I linked to shows the brake controller install kit being used on a Honda Odyssey. The install on your Pilot would be similar enough that I believe you will find the video helpful.

You will also need a ball mount and trailer ball if you don't already have one. I've linked you to an FAQ article that explains how to measure in order to determine the rise or drop ball mount you need. If you click the provided link, you can see a good selection of available ball mounts. For a 1-7/8 inch trailer ball, use part # 19260 or # 63845 for a 2 inch ball.