Honda Civic with Automatic Transmission as a Toad

[Gaetan Lavoie]

I am considering a new toad for towing behind the motorhome. My wife does not want to drive a car with a manual transmission anymore and I don't want to tow a dolly and a car either. I am looking at a new Honda Civic with automatic transmission. It seems that it can be towed on all four if you follow the specific procedure. Remco even sells a $400.00 insurance against damage to the transmission. That is all fine but feedback from actual users (of a Civic with automatic transmission used as a toad) would be more valuable to me.

[Gaetan Lavoie]

I am considering a new toad for towing behind the motorhome. My wife does not want to drive a car with a manual transmission anymore and I don't want to tow a dolly and a car either. I am looking at a new Honda Civic with automatic transmission. It seems that it can be towed on all four if you follow the specific procedure. Remco even sells a $400.00 insurance against damage to the transmission. That is all fine but feedback from actual users (of a Civic with automatic transmission used as a toad) would be more valuable to me.

[Gary RVRoamer]

Hondas are extremely popular as a toad, but recently Honda has stated that towing a new Honda 4 down violates the warranty. I have heard that the CVC is an exception to that, but don't know for sure.

I don't know of anyone who has ever had a problem towing a Honda Acord, Civic or CVC (and I know a coulpe Honda toad owners quite well) , but apparently Honda has had warranty problems they attribute to towing. It may be their imagination, though. Engineers tend to worry when things are used in ways they didn't really intend.

[bellsharbor]

Gaetan,

We have been towing a Honda Civic and then an Accord for 13 years without a problem. You just have to follow the procedure as you mentioned. No fuses to pull, no miles on the odometer and the wife loves the automatic. Honda has never come out and said that they are towable but I did call Honda and they are the ones that sent me out the list of procedures. Happy travels---

[oemtech]

I tow a 97 CRV... When I bought it used I specifically asked if it could be towed 4 wheels down. The salesman pulled a Honda document that showed the procedure. The procedure is:
1) Start the vehicle
2) Apply the brake
3) Move the gear shift level from Park to 1st gear one gear at a time. You pause at each gear.
4) Return the gear shift level to Neutral from 1st gear one gear at a time. Again you pause at each gear. DO NOT go to REVERSE. If you do restart the procedure.
5) Turn the engine off.
6) Turn off the radio including the clock and any other electrical devices
7) If my memory serves me correct you need to repeat this procedure every 4 hours or 400 miles. I also believe they recommended a max speed of 55 mph.

I lock the car with a second key. I also have locks on the tow bar. Lastly I start the car and let it run when I hit a rest stop for a potty break, walk the dog, lunch or what ever.

Lastly, install some form of auxiliary braking. I ran for 2 years before I added one. Man what a difference. I would recommend M & G or US Gear.

[rogueii]

I towed a Honda Accord for 3 years, and traded for a 2006 Honda CRV-AWD. The procedure is as stated by Ometech. It is in the owners manual, the Max speed is 65 mph.

[Gary RVRoamer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">It is in the owners manual, the Max speed is 65 mph. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


You must have an early 2006 model - Honda went on record against 4-down towing part way through the 2006 model year. I received a report from a guy who got his money refunded after ordering a new Odyssey on the basis of it being towable, as all Odysseys up to then were. When his new one came in, it was specifically described as not 4-down towable.

Obviously if your owners manual says it's OK, you are covered. Just be sure before you buy and make sure you see it in writing and not just on the salesman's lips.

Despite all these legalities, Hondas make wonderful toads and frankly I wouldn't worry about towing one myself.

[adj]

I, also, have been towing Honda products for years(10). The instructions I have been living with is to start it up and go thru the gears every 200 miles.
The CRV was Honda towing certified for awhile, but, I believe they backed away from that because the customers weren't following the instructions to the letter. It is very important to go to neutral from the drive position.

I also start the car and go thru the gears in the morning before setting out on the road.

I do wonder what will happen to 4 on the floor towing when AWD and Positrac become the norm.

[UPS 34]

We have an 06 CRV The book says it can be pulled 4 wheel down. Follow procedure

[Stevegd007]

I am a little late to this discussion, but I am towing a 2006 Honda Civic Manual. Have for about a year now. Gone to Washingtion State and back to CA. An to the East coast and back to CA. No problems. I had an older 2004 Civic with an Automatic and also had no problems with this car. Traded up to the newer style of Honda an really like it. The 06 is stronger and has more room. Good luck in your choice.