We're looking to buy a trailer hitch for our 2005 Honda Pilot. We're planning on using it to tow a small trailer filled with a washer- dryer, furniture, etc. Do we need to install a transmission cooler and -- I can't remember the other item that I've heard about. ?? Any help would be appreciated!!!
Transmission Cooler and heavy duty Power Steering Cooler are probably overkill. I'd still recommend maybe getting the OEM hitch from these guys. I got my Pilot with the towing package, and the hitch is nice. I have gotten after market hitches before that don't fit so nicely as the Honda hitch. The price seems good. http://www.handa-accessories.com/pilext.html G-Man
Thanks G-Man- That makes sense to me. I was wondering if it might be overkill for what we're using it for. Thanks for the website. I'm going to call some local places to see how much it will be to install. Seems like it's easy. Lordy knows I can't install it, and my husband is always working. Thanks again!
I have heard that Honda will refuse to honor warranty claims involving the transmission if there's a hitch installed but no transmission cooler. I don't know whether it's true, but you wouldn't want to find out the hard way. It's one reason I haven't had a hitch installed on my '01 Odyssey, even though I'd use the hitch only for a bike rack, not for towing. Presumably your transmission will be less subject to the potential for claims than mine, but you never know. Paul
I just got off the phone with a guy who works for the place I take my Pilot for servicing. He said the Honda will not honor warranty claims after 50,000 miles, which it already has. So we'd have to pay for the transmission anyway. So you might check your warranty. If you have an '01, your warranty on it might be up, unless you bought an extended warranty.
Because of numerous transmission problems in the earlier Odysseys, Honda extended the warranty on the transmission. I don't remember all the details, but I think I'm still within the extended period. I didn't buy an extended warranty, and so far I haven't needed it. Never got a nickel's worth of use out of the one I bought on my '00 Accord.
I have a Pilot as well and have posed the same question to the dealer at Sisley in Ontario. If I have a problem with the transmission and the hitch is installed without the additional expected mechanical pieces, they will not honour the warranty. I guess what you would have to do is to remove the hitch before going for the service.
---------------------------- If they were suspicious and looked, it would be very easy to tell that the hitch had been removed, because the undercoat takes a 'print' of the hitch. 'Curly'
