trailer HONDA PILOT 2003 1.G User Guide

Thebestwaytoconfirmthatyour
vehicle and trailer loads are within
limits is to have them checked at a
public scale. The vehicle and trailer
should be f ully loaded, and all
occupants should stay in the vehicle.Check the f ront gross axle weight.
Limit: 2865 lbs (1300 kg)Check the gross vehicle weight.
Limit: 5952 lbs (2700 kg)
If you cannot weigh the rear axle
directly, calculate the rear gross
axle weight. Subtract the weight in
Step 1 f rom the weight in Step 2.
Limit: 3153 lbs (1430 kg)
1.
2.
3.
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Checking L oads
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Check the gross combined weight. Check the weight of the hitchedtrailer. Write this number down.Check the weight of the unhitched
trailer. Limit: See page .
Calculate the tongue load.
Subtract the weight in Step 5 f rom
the weight in step 6.
Limit: See page .
Range: 5-10% f or boat trailers
8-15% f or other trailers
Gross combined weight should be
decreased 2% f or every 1000 f eet
(305 meters) of elevation.
4.
5.6.
7.
Limit:
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9700 lbs (4410 kg)

Discuss any additional needs with
your trailer sales or rental agency,
and make sure all equipment is
properly installed and maintained.
Since local requirements may vary,
check with appropriate state
authorities to be sure that your
equipment will meet all regulations
in the areas where you plan to tow.Always use saf ety chains when you
tow a trailer. Make sure the chains
are secured to the trailer and hitch,
and that they cross under the tongue
so they can catch the trailer if it
becomes unhitched. Leave enough
slack to allow the trailer to turn
corners easily, but to do not let the
chains drag on the ground.This device is recommended if your
trailer tends to sway. Your trailer
maker can tell you what kind of sway
control you need and how to install it.
Towing generally requires a variety
of supplemental equipment. To
ensure the best quality, we
recommend that you purchase
Honda equipment whenever possible.
Your dealer of f ers a trailer package
that includes a hitch, a ball mount, a
wiring harness, a transmission f luid
cooler, and a heavy-duty power
steering f luid cooler. We strongly recommend that you
have your Honda dealer install a
genuine Honda hitch and the
required f luid coolers. Using non-
Honda equipment may result in
serious damage to your vehicle.
A weight distributing hitch is not
recommended f or use with your Pilot
as an improperly adjusted weight
distributing hitch may reduce
handling stability and braking
perf ormance.
To help prevent overheating, a
heavy-duty transmission f luid cooler
and a heavy-duty power steering
f luid cooler are required f or trailer
towing. These coolers are available
only f rom your Honda dealer.
CONT INUED
T owing Equipment and
A ccessoriesHitch
Weight Distributing HitchSaf et y Chains Sway Cont rol
T ransmission Fluid Cooler andPower St eering Fluid Cooler
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There are two common types of
trailer brakes: surge and electric.
Surge brakes are common f or boat
trailers, since the brakes will get wet.
Electric brakes must be
electronically actuated. Do not
attempt to tap into your vehicle’s
hydraulic system. Any attempt to
attach trailer brakes to your vehicle’s
hydraulic system will lower braking
ef f ectiveness and create a potential
hazard. Honda requires that any trailer with
a total trailer weight of 1000 lbs (455
kg) or more have its own brakes.
See your brake manuf acturer f or
more inf ormation on installing
electric brakes.
Trailer Brakes
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Since lighting and wiring vary in
trailer type and brand, you should
also have a qualif ied mechanic install
a suitable connector between the
vehicleandthetrailer.
All states and Canadian provinces
require some type of trailer lights.
Check requirements f or the areas
where you plan to tow.
To get to your vehicle’s trailer
lighting connector, open the tailgate,
remove the cargo cover, then
remove the rear panel trim. The
connector is on the lef t side. We
recommend that you have your
Honda dealer install a Honda wiring
harness and converter. This harness
has been designed and tested f or
your vehicle.
If you use a non-Honda trailer
lighting harness and converter, you
cangetthematingconnectorand
pins that mate with the connector in
your vehicle f rom your Honda dealer.
T railer L ights
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GROUND
(BLACK)
BACK-UP LIGHT
(GREEN/BLACK) LEFT TURN SIGNAL
(GREEN/WHITE)
RIGHT TURN SIGNAL
(GREEN/YELLOW) BRAKE LIGHT
(WHITE/BLACK)
TAILLIGHT
(RED/BLACK)

Many states and provinces require
special exterior mirrors when towing
a trailer. Even if they don’t, you
should install special mirrors if you
cannot clearly see behind you, or if
the trailer creates a blind spot.
We also recommend that you carry a
f ull-size spare wheel and tire f or your
trailer. Ask your trailer sales or
rental agency where and how to
store the spare. See page f or proper tire size,
page f or how to store a f ull-sized
wheel and tire, and page for
inf ormation on changing a f lat tire.
Remember to unhitch the trailer
bef ore changing a f lat.When preparing to tow, and bef ore
driving away, be sure to check the
f ollowing:
The vehicle has been properly
serviced, and the brakes,
suspension, and cooling system
are in good operating condition. If
you tow f requently, f ollow the
Severe Conditions maintenance
schedule. The lights and brakes on your
vehicle and the trailer are working
properly.
Your vehicle tires and spare are in
good condition and properly
inf lated (see page ).
The trailer tires and spare are in
good condition and inf lated as
recommended by the trailer
maker.
When towing a trailer, we
recommend that you carry a f ull-size
spare wheel and tire f or your vehicle.
Using the compact spare that came
with the Pilot may adversely affect
vehicle handling.
Allitemsonandinthetrailerare
properly secured and cannot shif t
while you drive. Thehitch,safetychains,andany
other attachments are secure. All weights and loads are within
limits (see pages and ). The trailer has been properly
serviced and is in good condition.Towing perf ormance can be
af f ected by high altitude, high
temperature, or climbing steep
grades. Theref ore, premium
f uel is recommended when
towing more than 3,500 lbs
(1,590 kg).
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340 335 308
247 249
Trailer Mirrors Spare TiresPre-T ow Checklist
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The added weight, length, and
height of a trailer will af f ect your
vehicle’s handling and perf ormance,
so driving with a trailer requires
some special driving skills and
techniques.
Foryoursafetyandthesafetyof
others,taketimetopracticedriving
maneuvers bef ore heading f or the
open road, and f ollow the guidelines
discussed below.
Avoid towing a trailer during your
vehicle’s f irst 500 miles (800
kilometers) (see page ).Drive slower than normal in all
driving situations. Obey all local
speed limits f or vehicles with trailers.
To keep the transmission f rom
f requently upshif ting and
downshif ting, drive in D. When
driving with a f ix-sided (e.g, camper,
utility) trailer, do not exceed 55 mph
(88 km/h). At higher speeds, the
trailer may sway or affect vehicle
handling.
Maketurnsmoreslowlyandwider
than normal. The trailer tracks a
smaller arc than your vehicle, and it
canhitorrunoversomethingthe
vehicle misses. Allow more time and
distance f or braking. When you need
to slow down, slowly lif t your f oot of f
the throttle and gradually apply the
brakes. Do not brake or turn
suddenly as this could cause the
trailer to jackknif e or turn over.
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CONT INUED
Driving Saf ely With a T railer
Break-In Period T owing Speed
Making T urns and Braking
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When climbing hills, closely watch
your temperature gauge. If it nears
the red (Hot) mark, turn the air
conditioning of f , reduce speed and, if
necessary, pull to the side of the
road to let the engine cool.
If the transmission shif ts f requently
while going up a hill, shif t down one
gear.
If you must stop when f acing uphill,
use the f oot brake or parking brake.
Do not try to hold the vehicle in
placebypressingontheaccelerator,
as this can cause the automatic
transmission to overheat.
When driving down hills, reduce
your speed and shif t down to D . Do
not ‘‘ride’’ the brakes, and remember
it will take longer to slow down and
stop when towing a trailer.Crosswinds and air turbulence
caused by passing trucks can disrupt
your steering and cause your trailer
to sway. When being passed by a
truck or other large vehicle, keep a
constant speed and steer straight
ahead. Do not try to make quick
steering or braking corrections.
Always drive slowly and have
someone guide you when backing up.
Grip the of the steering
wheel; then turn the wheel to the lef t
to get the trailer to move to the lef t,
andturnthewheelrighttomovethe
trailer to the right.
Follow all normal precautions when
parking, including putting the
transmission in PARK and f irmly
setting the parking brake when you
have f inished parking.
Donotparkonaninclineunlessitis
unavoidable. If you must park on an
incline, turn the vehicle wheels
toward the curb on a downhill and
awayfromthecurbonanuphill.
After parking, place wheel chocks at
each trailer tire, on the downhill side.
If the vehicle wheels slip when
retrieving a boat f rom the water,
shifttofirstgearandturnonVTM-4
Lock (see page ).
Disengage VTM-4 Lock as soon as
the boat is out of the water to
prevent damage to the VTM-4
system.
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3
bottom
Driving on Hills
Handling Crosswinds and
T urbulence
Backing Up Parking
Ret rieving a Boat
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Replace the transmission fluid every
two years or 30,000 miles (48,000
km), whichever comes f irst.
Towing Your Vehicle Behind a Motorhome
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The steering system can be damaged if
the steering wheel is locked. Leave the
ignition switch in Accessory (I), and
make sure the steering wheel turns
f reely bef ore you begin towing.
Improper towing preparation will
damage the transmission. Follow the
above procedure exactly. If you cannot
shif t the transmission or start the
engine, your vehicle must be
transported on a f lat-bed or trailer.

If you get stuck, engage the VTM-4
Lock mode (see page ).
Caref ully try to go in the direction
(f orward or reverse) that you think
will give you the best chance of
getting unstuck.
Donotspinthetiresathighspeeds.
It will not help you get out and may
cause damage to the transmission or
the VTM-4 system.You should never use a jack to try
getting unstuck. A jack only works
on f irm, level ground. Also, your
vehicle could easily slip of f the jack
and hurt you or someone else.
You may be able to saf ely tow a light
weight trailer (such as a motorcycle
trailer or small tent trailer) of f -road if
you f ollow these guidelines:
Do not exceed a trailer weight of
1,000 pounds (450 kg) (including
cargo) or a tongue weight of 100
pounds ( 45kg).(Tongue weight
should be about 10% of the trailer
weight.)
If you are unable to f ree yourself ,
you will need to be pulled out by
another vehicle. Your Pilot is
equipped with f ront and rear tow
hooks designed f or this purpose. Use a nylon strap to attach the Pilot
to the recovery vehicle, and caref ully
take out the slack in the strap. Once
the strap is tight, the recovery
vehicle should apply f orce.
Remember that the recovery vehicle
needs good traction to avoid
becoming stuck, too.
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If You Get Stuck
T owing a T railer
Of f -Highway Driving Guidelines
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