2003 HONDA PILOT tow

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Always use the parking brake when
you park your vehicle. The indicator
on the instrument panel shows that
the parking brake is not f ully
released; it does not indicate that the
parking brake is f irmly set. Make
sure the parking brake is set f irmly
or your vehicle may roll if it is
parked on an incline.
Set the parking brake bef ore you put
the transmission in Park. This keeps
the vehicle from moving and putting
pressure on the parking mechanism
in the transmission making it
easier to move the shif t lever out of
Park when you want to drive away. If the vehicle is f acing uphill, turn
the f ront wheels away f rom the curb.
If the vehicle is f acing downhill, turn
the f ront wheels toward the curb.
Make sure the parking brake is f ully
released bef ore driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or damage
the rear brakes.
Make sure the windows are closed.
Turn of f the lights.
Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the cargo area or take them
with you.
Lockthedoorswiththekeyorthe
remote transmitter.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other f lammable
materials. The three way catalytic
converter gets very hot, and could
cause these materials to catch on
fire.
Parking T ips
Parking
Driving240

To saf ely tow a trailer, you should
observe the load limits, use the
proper equipment, and f ollow the
guidelines in this section.
Be sure to read thesectiononpage if you
plan to tow off paved surfaces.
The
maximum weight you can tow
depends on several f actors. See
page f or limits f or your towing
situation. Towing a load that is too
heavy can seriously af f ect your
vehicle’s handling and
perf ormance.
Your PILOT has been designed to
tow a trailer, as well as f or carrying
passengers and their cargo.
The weight that
the tongue of a f ully loaded trailer
puts on the hitch should be 5 to 10
percent of total trailer weight f or
boat trailers, and 8 to 15 percent of
total trailer weight for all other
trailers. See page f or limits f or
your towing situation.
261
249 249
Off-Highway
Guidelines
CONT INUED
Load Limits
T otal T railer Weight: T ongue L oad:
Towing a Trailer
Driving247
Exceeding any load limit or
improperly loading your vehicle
and trailer can cause a crash in
which you can be seriously hurt
or killed.
Check the loading of your
vehicle and trailer carefully
beforestartingtodrive.

Too much tongue load reduces f ront-
tire traction and steering control.
Too little tongue load can make the
trailer unstable and cause it to sway.The GCWR must be reduced 2
percent f or every 1,000 f eet (305
meters) of elevation. The maximum allowable weight of
the f ully loaded vehicle and trailer is
9700 lbs (4410 kg) with the proper
hitch and f luid coolers (See pagef or inf ormation about f luid
coolers.)
The maximum allowable weight of
the vehicle, all occupants, all cargo
and the tongue load is 5,950 lbs
(2,700 kg).
The maximum allowable weights on
the vehicle axles are 2865 lbs (1300
kg) on the f ront axle, and 3,155 lbs
(1,430 kg) on the rear axle. 253
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR):
Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GA WR): Gross Combined Weight Rating
(GCWR):
Towing a Trailer
Driving248

Î
Î
ÎEquipped with transmission cooler and power steering f luid cooler.
Equipped with transmission cooler and power steering f luid cooler.
Number of
Occupants 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Number of
Occupants 2
3
4
5
6
7
8 Max. T railer Weight
T owing is Not Recommended Max. T ongue Load
Max. T railer Weight Max. T ongue Load
T owing is Not Recommended
Towing a Trailer
Driving249
The corresponding weight limits assume occupants fill seats from the front of the vehicle to the back, each occupant weighs 150 lbs (70 kg) and each has 1 5lbs(7
kg) of luggage in the cargo area.
Total Trailer Weight and Tongue Load Limits: BOAT TRAILERS
OTHER TYPES OF TRAILERS
4500 lbs (2045 kg)
4500 lbs (2045 kg)
4500 lbs (2045 kg)
4300 lbs (1945 kg)
4100 lbs (1855 kg) 2000 lbs (905 kg) 450 lbs (205 kg)
450 lbs (205 kg)
450 lbs (205 kg)
350 lbs (160 kg)
220 lbs (100 kg)
100 lbs (45 kg)
3500 lbs (1590 kg)
3500 lbs (1590 kg)
3300 lbs (1490 kg)
3100 lbs (1400 kg)
2700 lbs (1220 kg) 1200 lbs (540 kg) 450 lbs (205 kg)
450 lbs (205 kg)
450 lbs (205 kg)
350 lbs (160 kg)
220 lbs (100 kg)
100 lbs (45 kg)

Thebestwaytoconfirmthatall
loads are within limits is to check
them at a public scale.
To help ensure a saf e drive to a scale,
or if you cannot get to a public scale
to check the weights of your rig, we
recommended that you estimate
your total trailer weight and tongue
load as described below.
To estimate your total trailer weight,
add the weight of the trailer (as
quoted by the trailer manuf acturer)
together with everything in or on the
trailer. Then ref er to the tables on
page to conf irm that you do not
exceed the limit f or your conditions.To estimate tongue load:
Park the vehicle on level ground.
Measure f rom the ground to the
bottom of the trailer hitch. Write
this number down.
Connect the f ully loaded trailer to
the hitch.
Measure again f rom the ground to
the same spot on the bottom of the
hitch.
Subtract the result f rom Step 4
f rom the result in Step 2 and ref er
to the chart (Fig. 1). If thedifferenceis:
1 = 150 lbs (68 kg)
1¾ = 250 lbs (114 kg)
2½ = 350 lbs (160 kg) 3 = 450 lbs (204 kg)
3¼ = over 450 lbs (205 kg)
If thedifferenceismorethan
3¼ , you have too much tongue
load at the rear. Move or
remove cargo f rom the trailer
and the vehicle, and measure
again.
If the estimated total trailer weight
and tongue load do not exceed the
limits f or your towing situation (see
page ), caref ully drive your
trailer to a public scale. Be sure your
vehicle and trailer are f ully loaded,
with all occupants and cargo you
plan to take on the road.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
249
249
Estimating Loads
T ot al T railer Weight
Tongue Load
Fig. 1
Towing a Trailer
Driving250
’’
’’
’’
’’
’’
’’

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.
CONT INUED
Checking L oads
Towing a Trailer
Driving251

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:
249
249
Towing a Trailer
Driving252
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
Towing a Trailer
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