2020 HONDA ODYSSEY trailer

uuTowing a Trailer uTowing Preparation
538
Driving
■Safety chains
Always use safety chains when you tow a trailer. Leave enough slack to allow the
trailer to turn corners easily, but do not allow the chains to drag on the ground.
■Trailer brakes
Recommended for any trailer with a total weight of 1,000 lbs (450 kg) or more:
There are two common types of trailer brake s: surge and electric. Surge brakes are
common for boat trailers, since the brakes will get wet. If you choose electric brakes,
be sure they are electronically actuated. Do not attempt to attach trailer brakes to
your vehicle’s hydraulic system, as it w ill lower braking effectiveness and create a
potential hazard.
■Trailer light
Trailer lights and equipment must comply with federal, state, province/territory, and
local regulations. Check with your local trailer sales or rental agency for the
requirements in the area where you plan to tow.
We recommend that you have a dealer install
a Honda wiring harness and converter. They
are designed for your vehicle.
1 Towing Equipment and Accessories
Trailer packages and products:
•Ball mount, hitch plug, hitch pin etc.
•Wiring harness kit
•Trailer hitch kit
Are available at a dealer.
1 Trailer light
The trailer lighting connect or is located behind the
left side panel in the cargo area.
Even if you are planning to use the non-Honda trailer
lighting harness and converte r, ask a dealer for the
correct connector and pins.
Right Turn
Signal
Small
Light Stop
Light +B Small
Light
Trailer
Hazard
Light
Left
Turn
Signal
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539
uuTowing a Trailer uTowing Preparation
Driving
■Sway control
This device can be used if your trailer te nds to sway. Your trailer maker can tell you
what kind of sway control you need and how to install it. Improper installation could
degrade the handling and stability of your vehicle.
■Trailer mirrors
Many states, provinces and territories requir e special exterior mirrors when towing a
trailer. Install special mirrors whenever you cannot clearly see behind you, or if the
trailer creates a blind spot.
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540
uuTowing a Trailer uDriving Safely with a Trailer
Driving
Driving Safely with a Trailer
• Have the trailer properly serviced and keep it in good condition.
• Make sure that all the weights and load in the vehicle and trailer are within limits.
2Towing Load Limits P. 536
•Securely attach the hitch, safety chains, and other necessary parts to the trailer.
• Securely store all the items in and on the trailer so that they do not shift while
driving.
• Check if the lights and brakes on the trailer are working properly.
• Check the pressure of the traile r tires, including the spare.
• Turn off the Auto Idle Stop syst em using the Auto Idle Stop OFF button. The
trailer weight can affect your vehicle’s br ake effectiveness if Auto Idle Stop is
activated on a hill while towing a trailer.
• Drive slower than normal.
• Obey posted speed limits for vehicles with trailers.
• Use the
(D position when towing a trailer on level roads.
• Turn more slowly and with a wider turning arc than normal.
• Allow more time and distance for braking.
• Do not brake or turn suddenly.
■Things You Need To Know Before Towing a Trailer
■Towing Speeds and Gears
■Turning and Braking
1Driving Safely with a Trailer
Operating speed when towing a trailer must not
exceed 62 mph (100 km/h).
Parking
In addition to the normal precautions, place wheel
chocks at each of the trailer’s tires.
Remember to unhitch the tra iler before changing a
flat tire. Ask the trailer sales or rental agency where
and how to store the trailer’s spare tire.
1 Towing Speeds and Gears
When towing a fixed-sided trailer (e.g., camper), do
not exceed 55 mph (88 km/h). At higher speeds, the
trailer may sway or af fect vehicle handling.
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541
uuTowing a Trailer uTowing Your Vehicle
Driving
• Monitor your temperature gauge. If it nears the red (Hot) mark, turn off the
climate control system and redu ce speed. Pull to the side of the road safely to cool
down the engine if necessary.
• Shift to the
(S position if the transmission shifts frequently.
Towing Your Vehicle
Your vehicle is not designed to be towed behind a motor home. If your vehicle needs
to be towed in an emergency, refer to the emergency towing information.
2Emergency Towing P. 735
■Driving in Hilly Terrain
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587
uuWhen Driving uRoad Departure Mitigation (RDM) System*
Driving
■Roadway conditions
• Driving on a snowy or wet roadway (obs cured lane marking, vehicle tracks,
reflected lights, road spray, high contrast).
• Driving on a road with temporary lane markings.
• Faint, multiple, or varied lane markings are visible on the roadway due to road
repairs or old lane markings.
• The roadway has merging, split, or crossing lines (e.g., such as at an intersection
or crosswalk).
• The lane markings are extremel y narrow, wide, or changing.
• The vehicle in front of you is driving near the lane lines.
• The road is hilly or the vehicle is approaching the crest of a hill.
• Driving on rough or unpaved roads, or over bumpy surfaces.
• When objects on the road (curb, guard rail, pylons, etc.) are recognized as white
lines (or yellow lines).
• Driving on roads with double lines.
■Vehicle conditions
• Headlight lenses are dirty or the h eadlights are not properly adjusted.
• The outside of the windshield is streaked or blocked by dirt, mud, leaves, wet
snow, etc.
• The inside of the windshield is fogged.
• The camera temperature gets too high.
• An abnormal tire or wheel condition (wro ng sized, varied size or construction,
improperly inflated, co mpact spare tire, etc.).
• The vehicle is tilted due to a heavy load or suspension modifications.
• When tire chains are installed.
• The vehicle is towing a trailer.
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595
uuWhen Driving uLane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)*
Driving
■Roadway conditions
• Driving on a snowy or wet roadway (obs cured lane marking, vehicle tracks,
reflected lights, road spray, high contrast).
• Driving on a road with temporary lane markings.
• Faint, multiple, or varied lane markings are visible on the roadway due to road
repairs or old lane markings.
• The roadway has merging, split, or crossing lines (e.g., such as at an intersection
or crosswalk).
• The lane markings are extremel y narrow, wide, or changing.
• The vehicle in front of you is driving near the lane lines.
• The road is hilly or the vehicle is approaching the crest of a hill.
• Driving on rough or unpaved roads, or over bumpy surfaces.
• When objects on the road (curb, guard rail, pylons, etc.) are recognized as white
lines (or yellow lines).
• Driving on roads with double lines.
■Vehicle conditions
• Headlight lenses are dirty or the h eadlights are not properly adjusted.
• The outside of the windshield is streaked or blocked by dirt, mud, leaves, wet
snow, etc.
• The inside of the windshield is fogged.
• The camera temperature gets too high.
• An abnormal tire or wheel condition (wro ng sized, varied size or construction,
improperly inflated, co mpact spare tire, etc.).
• The vehicle is tilted due to a heavy load or suspension modifications.
• The vehicle is towing a trailer.
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uuWhen Driving uBlind spot information System*
604
Driving
■When the system detects a vehicle1Blind spot information System*
You can turn off the audible al ert, or all the blind spot
information system alert using the audio/information
screen.
2 Customized Features P. 448
Turn the system off when towing a trailer. The system
may not work properly fo r the following reasons:
•The added mass tilts the vehicle and changes the
radar coverage.
•The trailer itself can be detected by the radar
sensors, causing the blind spot information system
alert indicators to come on.
Blind spot information sy stem may be adversely
affected when:
•Objects (guard rails, poles, trees, etc,.) are
detected.
•An object that does not re flect radio waves well,
such as a motorcycle, is in the alert zone.
•Driving on a curved road.•A vehicle is moving from a far lane to the adjacent
lane.
•The system picks up external electrical interference.•The rear bumper or the sensors have been
improperly repaired or the rear bumper has been
deformed.
•The orientation of the sensors has been changed.•In bad weather (Heavy rain, snow, and fog).
For proper blind spot information system operation:
•Always keep the rear bumper corner area clean.•Do not cover the rear bumper corner area with
labels or sticke rs of any kind.
•Take your vehicle to a dealer if you need the rear
bumper corner area or th e radar sensors to be
repaired, or the rear bumper corner area is strongly
impacted.
The system does not operate when in
( R.
Comes on when:●A vehicle enters the alert zone from behind
to overtake you with a speed difference of no
more than 31 mph (50 km/h) from your
vehicle.
●You pass a vehicle with a speed difference of
no more than 12 mph (20 km/h). Comes On
Blind spot information System Alert Indicator:
Located near the outside door mirror on both
sides.
Blinks and the beeper sounds when:
You move the turn signal
lever in the direction
of the detected vehicle. The beeper sounds
three times. Blinks
* Not available on all models
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620
uuBraking uCollision Mitigation Braking SystemTM (CMBSTM)*
Driving
■Vehicle conditions
• Headlight lenses are dirty or the headlights are not properly adjusted.
• The outside of the windshie ld is blocked by dirt, mud, leaves, wet snow, etc.
• The inside of the windshield is fogged.
• An abnormal tire or wheel condition (wrong sized, varied size or construction,
improperly inflated, comp act spare tire, etc.).
• When tire chains are installed.
• The vehicle is tilted due to a heav y load or suspension modifications.
• The camera temperature gets too high.
• Driving with the parking brake applied.
• When the radar sensor in the front grille gets dirty.
• The vehicle is towing a trailer.
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