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Member
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Location: KY | Hello all, I have a great 2003 Honda Pilot that I drive daily for work. It can tow a max of 4500 lbs. I will usually haul one horse to horse shows around KY. It has a 3.5L V6. Can I tow a light horse trailer with this? Kristi |
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Expert
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Location: western PA | Yes you can, but........ The Pilot SUV is built more for comfort than it is as a tow vehicle. It has an independent rear suspension which is not noted for stability when heavily loaded, or when being pushed by a trailer. You have a small engine that doesn't produce much HP and then only at a relatively high RPM. Hills will be a problem, and for reliability you would probably have to immediately invest in a HD transmission oil cooler. I don't know how much weight can be placed on your trailer hitch without a serious squatting problem. Do you have an auto load leveling system? Without it you may have to invest in a weight distribution hitch assembly. With a light weight trailer and one horse you may be towing less than your advertised weight of 4500#, With two horses you will probably exceed it. Yes you can pull a trailer. But you will be constantly testing the limits of the Honda's capabilities, and be using it very hard. You will need to have the Pilot professionally set up for the trailer you purchase. There will be several issues to address and they must be done correctly if you are going to be driving safely. In my opinion. I would only pull a rig with your suv if I had no other choices. I've done it with a larger suv that was well set up. There are others that will argue against me, but I feel the safest when pulling with a truck. Gard |
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Expert
Posts: 3853
 
Location: Vermont | With everyone getting rid of bigger trucks...it would be cheaper in the long run to get a new tow vehicle which would pull any average,(read cheaper), 2 horse trailer...than modifying your vehicle and buying a Brenderup Trailer...WARNING...make sure you are sitting down when you get a price quote... http://www.brenderuprealtrailers.com/frames/index.htm |
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Elite Veteran
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Location: md | They had a o horse Brenderup at the MD expo and I think the price was 14K something. ?? |
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Location: sc | IIRC the "max" of 4500# is for a boat, 3500# is for a "regular" trailer. Even though I am usually a voice of reason when the "got to have a big truck guys" show up, I would say your options are pretty limited with a Pilot. I suspect the typical light tongue weight of a boat is why the limit is more for a boat. Brenderups are really the only "low" tongue weight horse trailers you will come across. Good luck. |
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Location: Arkansas | Towing would have issues, for sure. Stopping would be an event in itself. |
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| I am currently on my third Honda vehicle,2 Accords,and a CRV. I think there are more "cons" to trying to pull a horse trailer than there would be "pros" and so far I can't think of any pros myself. You'll wear your vehicle out in a hurry,the tires aren't properly rated for a tow like this,ect ect.I know that the Pilot is one step above the Honda CRV,and my CRV couldn't pull squat.Even with a 6 cyl.engine they just aren't set up for it.The Honda pickup that looks similar to an Avalanche would be a much better choice,or a Titan,ect. |
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Location: Odenville, Alabama | No |
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Location: CA | Oh, darn...I've been trying to get my husband to set his Pilot up to tow his boat, so he doesn't keep "borrowing" my truck. It would be a waste of a good husband if he crashed. I guess I'll have to keep sharing! |
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Regular
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| NO NO NO! I have a Honda Pilot, and I can tell a difference i handling when I have a heavy load in the cargo area. I can't imagine pulling horses with it. It is a GREAT vehicle as a daily driver, but I'll save the horse hauling for the 250. |
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Regular
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Location: TN | I used a Acura MDX fo 3 years pulling a Brenderup. Same engine and towing capicity as the pilot. Never had trouble towing or stoping. |
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Location: Vermont | Originally written by smoothride on 2008-01-28 7:32 AM
I used a Acura MDX fo 3 years pulling a Brenderup. Same engine and towing capicity as the pilot. Never had trouble towing or stoping. "Enquiring Minds" want to know... So what did you pay for your Brenderup? |
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Expert
Posts: 2615
| I would think that by the time the OP made all of the necessary additions to her Pilot,and bought a Brenderup,because,it's sure as you know where not going to pull a 2H aluminum BP w/out problems,they'd be better off investing in a decent used LD pickup. |
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Member
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Location: indiana | I was towing a standard 2 horse bumper pull with a 6 cylinder toyota 4runner, Never pulled more than one horse, never got too far from the neibhorhood. Started to drive 180 miles round tip for lesson's every week. I felt something had to give so I bought a brenderup last summer. It tow's better and I really like the low tongue weight an inertia brakes. I paid around 16,000 for mine but it did have some options on it. Bottom line I still would like a better tow vehicle although the people at Brenderup said what I have is fine. Going up hills or on the interstate I still feel like I need more power. You could call them and they could tell you if what you have would work, I image for a Brenderup trailer it would be fine. Thing is I don't really think I save very much if anything in gas but never did really measure it, just know that it takes me about a full tank with either trailer to make my weekend trip. I would recomend if you do decide to look into Brenderups to see if you can try one before you would buy it. |
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Regular
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Location: TN | It is a 1997 Baron TC, found it in Dallas TX four years ago for 6500.00. Brought it back to Tennessee, my husband cleaned and buffed for three days, looks like new. Spent about 200.00 in replacement parts. |
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Location: sc | Originally written by crowleysridgegirl on 2008-01-28 5:22 PM
I would think that by the time the OP made all of the necessary additions to her Pilot,and bought a Brenderup,because,it's sure as you know where not going to pull a 2H aluminum BP w/out problems,they'd be better off investing in a decent used LD pickup. In addition to a Brenderup...........with a tranny cooler, brake controller, and a WDH the Pilot would pull this trailer, http://www.horsetrailerworld.com/home/trailerdetail.asp?ID=104176 and a 1000# horse just fine. |
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Expert
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Location: sc | http://www.horsetrailerworld.com/home/trailerdetail.asp?ID=141318 http://www.horsetrailerworld.com/home/trailerdetail.asp?ID=139619 |
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Expert
Posts: 2615
| Well,then,she'd better get the warmblood sized brenderup.Did you see the photo of her horse? |
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Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont | Originally written by smoothride on 2008-01-28 6:05 PM
It is a 1997 Baron TC, found it in Dallas TX four years ago for 6500.00. Brought it back to Tennessee, my husband cleaned and buffed for three days, looks like new. Spent about 200.00 in replacement parts. You got a great deal... You will probably make money when you finally sell it... |
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Location: Arkansas | What is the rear end gear ration in that Pilot? |
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Posts: 1416
Location: sc | Originally written by flyinghfarm on 2008-01-28 9:02 PM What is the rear end gear ration in that Pilot? 4.38 |
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Coconut Creek, FL | Brenderups are very roomy inside. A good friend had one and I was skeptical that my 15.3 very wide long bodied QH would fit. We loaded him up and to my surprise he had plenty of head room, length & width. They are larger inside than they look. She's on her 2nd one, sold the first one for what she paid for it and the person still has it. They certainly fill a need for many people. |
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Expert
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Location: Rocky Mount N.C. | How about "RICE" horse trailers. There were several around my area back in the early 80's, they belonged to several "hunter folks" and they pulled them with Jeep Cherokee's (XJ), haven't seen a new Rice trailer in years. Are they (U.K.) still importing them to the U.S.? |
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Member
Posts: 17
Location: KY | I got the point, guys! How about a Tahoe or Yukon? What kind of rear end does it need to pull just about any horse trailer? I'm thinking of a 2 or 3 horse slant with dressing room now that I know I need a bigger truck. BTW....The filly in the picture is a TWH, she is only 14.3 now and will be 2 in April. My other is a TWH broodmare and is 16 hands and about 1150 lbs. |
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Veteran
Posts: 270
Location: Roanoke IL | If you're going for a tahoe or yukon, you may as well just get a truck. Those don't get any better gas mileage than a truck. My chevy 3500 crew cab diesel gets 17mpg, and my friend's gas tahoe only got 15 if she was lucky....and that's not even pulling anything. Most of those hitches are only rated at 5000lbs. A trailer with dsg. room and 2 horses would be close to maxing that out...you don't want to have to weigh everything that you put in your trailer and worry about merging or going uphill. If you do decide to go with an SUV, get a weight distributing/equalizer hitch setup. Amanda |
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Veteran
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Location: Tennessee | Originally written by krisell26 on 2008-01-29 6:13 PM
How about a Tahoe or Yukon? What kind of rear end does it need to pull just about any horse trailer? I'm thinking of a 2 or 3 horse slant with dressing room now that I know I need a bigger truck.
Here's the specs on a new Yukon: http://www.gmc.com/pdf/Yukon_web_specs.pdf
Looks like the strongest puller will be an XL 2WD 3/4 ton with the Vortec 6.0L and 3.73 rear end. It shows a rated 9700 lbs trailer capacity, but I suspect the real-world capacity will be somewhat less once you load up the vehicle and look at the combined weight rating. It should pull a nice 2H bp trailer, though.
Unless you need the enclosed interior space of the Yukon, a good 1/2 ton pickup will give you about as much capacity for less money, along with the option of going with a GN if you choose. If you want to haul 3 horses, I would go with a 3/4 ton. |
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 Expert
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Location: Home of Wild Turkey Whiskey | I'm going to play devil's advocate here, the thinking seems to be if you are towing 3 horses you need a 3/4 ton vehicle. My wife tows a three horse slant all steel Titan Avalance BP trailer with three horses in it, one of them is a pony weighs about 500lbs. the other two easily will go over 1000lbs. With a 06' Cadillac Escalade with towing package. It has a tow rating of 8100lbs. It has the 6.0L engine, I have driven this set-up and it does fine, no problems merging into traffic, no problems stopping. I personally drive a CC Duramax/Allison I am hooked to a LQ trailer at least once a week(I build them). When I hook up to a 14' LQ empty, it is alot heavier feeling than my wifes setup is loaded. Sure I have more power and brakes than she does, but I also have to be much more careful due to all the extra weight. What I am trying to get across is that a 1/2 type(Truck/Tahoe/Escalade) with a 3 Horse BP is much safer than a 1 ton with a loaded up LQ trailer. If you are buying a 3/4 or 1 ton truck to tow a BP, then you must have more money than sense. Here is the trailer we tow with the Escalade, http://www.horsetrailerworld.com/home/trailerdetail.asp?ID=137824 |
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Member
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Location: KY | I need the space and the third row seat because I have 3 kids and a dog! This vehicle will be used as our vacation vehicle. I really don't have a need for a truck as big as some of you are mentioning. I will probably buy a trailer that weighs 3000 lbs MAX and mostly one horse maybe two sometimes. I am thinking that equals around 5500 lbs with everything including tack. Everything I've read about the Tahoe states that it is capable of towing 8200 lbs, which gives me a good surplus. Anyone agree? I will be towing around KY, about a 2 or 3 hour radius of our home. |
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Member
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Location: KY | That is an awesome trailer you make! Do you make a 2 horse version? The Tahoe or Yukon will probably have a 5.7 engine. I can't afford a new one. I'm looking at an 03-05. Someone else has eaten the depreciation! |
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Expert
Posts: 1416
Location: sc | Originally written by krisell26 on 2008-01-30 6:36 AM I need the space and the third row seat because I have 3 kids and a dog! This vehicle will be used as our vacation vehicle. I really don't have a need for a truck as big as some of you are mentioning. I will probably buy a trailer that weighs 3000 lbs MAX and mostly one horse maybe two sometimes. I am thinking that equals around 5500 lbs with everything including tack. Everything I've read about the Tahoe states that it is capable of towing 8200 lbs, which gives me a good surplus. Anyone agree? I will be towing around KY, about a 2 or 3 hour radius of our home. A Tahoe will do a fine job for you. HWBar is correct about people "thinking" you needing a 3/4 ton for a BP being just plain silly. Ive mentioned before the brakes on the new Tahoe are larger than on my Duramax.......and they feel like it. A lady we trail ride with recently traded her 2000 Chevy 2500 3/4 ton for a new Tahoe, she prefers the new Tahoe. Said it has more power AND stops better. Whatever you end up with make sure it is set up to tow, tranny cooler, 4.10 rear, hitch, trailer plug etc...........
Edited by chadsalt 2008-01-30 6:52 AM
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Expert
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Location: Home of Wild Turkey Whiskey | Originally written by krisell26 on 2008-01-30 6:45 AM
That is an awesome trailer you make! Do you make a 2 horse version? The Tahoe or Yukon will probably have a 5.7 engine. I can't afford a new one. I'm looking at an 03-05. Someone else has eaten the depreciation! I didn't make that trailer, I convert Living Quarter Trailers. There is a Dealer in Versailles Ky. that sells Titan. We bought the Escalade used and saved over $15,000.
Edited by HWBar 2008-01-30 7:02 AM
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Veteran
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Location: Tennessee | A Tahoe will do a fine job for you. HWBar is correct about people "thinking" you needing a 3/4 ton for a BP being just plain silly.
Just to be clear, in my previous post I suggested a 3/4 ton Tahoe (the Yukon XL, actually). She could go with the 1/2 ton Tahoe, but she'll sacrifice about 1600 lbs of towing capacity.
Sure, a loaded 4H bp will probably tow better than a pimped LQ empty. It'll tow better than a flatbed with a Cat D6 on it, too. I don't think the OP was asking about towing LQs or D6s, though.
Edited by Towfoo 2008-01-30 7:14 AM
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Expert
Posts: 2615
| We once owned a 3H slant steel GN trailer which we pulled with a 1/2T Chevy pickup and it didn't do just "fine." We couldn't STOP. |
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New User
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| You can tow a brenderup as others have posted. I towed my 2 horse Prestige TC with a 1997 Mercury Villager minivan through the mountains of PA with NO problems. I purchased the 2000 Brenderup new for $11,500. I could not, at the time afford a $20,000 + truck plus a $5,000 + trailer and I needed the space in the van for the kids. This trailer has cost me ZERO dollars in maintenance and is now a full 8 years old. The only thing I've had to pay for is routine inspections while all my friends are nickel and dimed to death to keep their trailers safe and running. There is no brake controller to worry about. And never have I had any issues braking. No worries about overloading the back of your tow vehicle with the 165 pound fully loaded tonque weight. It's easy to hookup yourself. Easy to park - it has an emergency break so no chocking of the wheels is necessary. I love the long ramp - I hate to see horses butts hanging out the back of a 2 horse trailer. No need for stabilizer bars - I have never had this trailer sway on me - ever. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 379
Location: Columbia, TN | I bought a new Pilot in Sept. and they told me that if I put a trailer hitch on it. It would cost $900 because it had to have an oil cooler and some other stuff or it would void the warranty. I was just wantin a receiver hitch so I could carry my bicycles. Guess I will just put them in the back of my dually. |
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Member
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Location: KY | That's a good deal. The jerk at my Honda store quoted me $1500 for everything I would need to tow. |
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Member
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Location: KY | While I have you all, we're also considering the Sequoia, Expedition and a V8 Explorer. I've heard they can tow more than you think. |
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Veteran
Posts: 296
Location: Tennessee | I've heard they can tow more than you think.
Don't go by what you've heard or what people think. Go by facts. Weight specs are readily available from the mfgrs. |
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Can I tow a light horse trailer with a Honda Pilot?
