Is a Honda Element towable?

[dwebcbceo]

I would like to be able to tow a 2007 Honda Element AWD with automatic transmission. The Honda salespeople say it's towable 4-down as does the Remco website. However the Honda owners manual says it is not. The pre-2005 Elements were towable according the the manual but Honda changed that with later models even though there was apparently no significant change in the drive train. Has anyone had first-hand experience with towing a 2007 or later Element or have any relevant information?
Thanks for any help you can provide.

Dave Weber
2008 Alpine Coach SE Limited

[Vegasdan]

Motorhome magazine tow guide only lists the CRV as towable.

[Route 66]

Contact Remco Towing.

[AndrewC]

we bought a brand new one and at the délivry the seleman told me it was towable
i ask him to call at honda at toronto service claim départment and they told him that element are not towable so they had to reverse the sale and give me a CRV
Andre

[Chickadee]

dave:

We purchased a brand new 05 Element when we started full time on the road and it's been and remains a perfect tow vehicle....HOWEVER.... 05 was the last year that Honda approved of using the Element as a tow car. Since then, while a number of folks DO set up and tow newer Elements (06's-current), Honda warranty will NOT cover issues supposedly arising out of towing.

I certainly WOULD purchase another, newer, Element IF, and only IF Honda would once again cover it when towing. I think Honda is missing a pretty good market by not covering newer Elements that are towed, and I've been informally lobbying anyone associated with Honda to re-think this change in policy.

Only option is to go w. a CRV, but, there are too many drawbacks, such as...ya can't put your full sized bikes upright inside the rear (roof too low) compartment, etc. Also, the CRV is a bit too fancy to drive out on some desert, or mtn. road, while the Element can and has handled it VERY WELL.

SURE wish Honda would go back to authorizing towing of Elements.

Steve

[Wanabee FTer]

Steve,
I agree with you about Honda missing the mark concerning authorizing all wheel down towing. Years ago (1989) Honda gave a blanket statement in the form of a TSB stating that all Honda vehicles were 4 down towable. I suspect since there are costs involved in 4 down testing, they now only test the CRV. (As if to pacify the RV market)

[MoonchaserTX]

We're new RV'ers but we bought a Honda Element new back in '03 and we just love it...it is an ideal vehicle in so many ways..we carry two kayaks on Sea Wings on the roof and two mountain bikes standing up inside the Element without removing any parts off the bikes. My owners manual fortunately does say it's OK to tow, plus the local Honda service center where we go gave me a photo copy of an instruction sheet giving the method of going thru the gears etc...all sounds great...Motorhome, two kayaks, two bikes and we still have room to hang stuff on the ladder of the MH or on the receiver hitch on the back of our Element! PS: The Element's license plate is "LIL HUM" as in a goof on Hummers, or a Hummer junior. If this one wore out, I'd go find another one. We're setting it up to tow and are looking pretty seriously at the Ready Brake system

[Wanabee FTer]

When I worked for Honda I remember when the Element was first introduced. People either loved it or hated it. I loved it. It is the epitome of a sport utility vehicle.

[Chickadee]

Hi Wannabee:

After reading some about the Element before we selected it as our tow vehicle, we learned that Honda initially intended the Element's "target market" to be the younger group of buyers such as college age, etc. Turned out that group didn't bite, BUT, most buyers were in the older (ahem!...more senior/experienced ) category.

Say, Wannabee, if ya used to work for Honda, ya got any suggestions as to better ways to lobby that outfit (Honda) about once again approving Elements as "towable?"

Steve & Lynette

[Wanabee FTer]

Yes, lots and lots of letters to customer relations in Torrance CA.
The address is in your owners manual.

[Texun1]

I have an 08 Honda Ridgeline that I wanted to tow. I was told that because of the AWD that it could not be towed. I asked my neighbor that is the VP of training for Ford and he said the same for their AWD cars and trucks. They have to be put on a flat bed to be properly towed.

So I bought a little PT cruiser instead of risking my new truck and warranty.