Towing a 2007 Acura TSX

[rvfellow]

I want to tow my 2007 Acura TSX four down. It is an automatic transmission, front drive. Has anyone had success in towing this model four down or know anyone who has?
Here is what I have heard so far. The owner’s manual says 35 mph max for only 50miles four down. I visited the local dealer who basically acknowledged what some threads have said about other Honda cars – It hasn’t been tested by Honda (Acura) and they do not want to deal with the liability. Remco says they have never experienced any difficulty with this model but they do not offer a TSX standard towing plate for four down. A couple of local shops say they can get a plate modified pretty easy and are willing to do the work. Most knowledgeable people I have spoken to have said that it will likely not be a problem if I follow the Honda Accord Automatic 4 Down procedure, (shift from D to neutral, run engine 3 minutes every eight hours of tow, etc.). Others have said to strictly follow the manufactures recommendations, because an Acura is not a Civic or Accord.
My wife and I do want to keep this car. I am aware of the issues associated with a dolly vs. four down. For me, I would rather go four down but if I am the first in America to try it on this car model, the safest route would obviously be the dolly. Any comments, advice or insight would be much appreciated.

[hooverbill]

Maybe I'm different, but if the manual says 35 mph for 50 miles...that's all I'm doing. Not worth tearing up the trans on a perfectly good car. I tow a CRV...the owner's manual has a section that spells out how to tow it four down...so I know it's okay. I don't place much faith in many of the people who say it's okay, some have an ulterior motive, like selling you a towing system.

" likely not be a problem" is not good enough for me...I would not do it.

JMHO.

[Gary RVRoamer]

The odds are it is ok using the Honda procedure, but its a gamble. The folks at Remco are usually right - they see an awful lot of toads. But the fact that there is no base plate for an Acura TSX says that few people are towing it or even asking about base plates for it (the base plate manufacturers go strictly on market demand). And if few are doing it, Remco may not have solid info either.

See if a dealer can tell you if the TSX transmission is a Honda gear box and used in any other Honda product. If it is, you are very probably ok following the old Honda procedure.

[rvfellow]

Good insight from JMHO, and exactly what my much loved wife has said I should do all along. I was hoping someone would appear out of the blue with, "Don't worry, I'm already towing a 2007 Acura TSX", but so far nothing yet. I spoke to Camping World today and they have the dolly with electric brakes I want for $1,565.00 plus about $170.00 for a Prodigy break contol. I'll pick it up Saturday unless I hear something more definite to convince me otherwise. Incidently, based on many threads, I had gone to the Honda dealor to evaluate CRV's as a toad but I'm not really able to buy/trade right now. It will likely be the next vehicle we purchase down the road. Good call. Thanks again for your response. P.S. I just saw Gary's post after I wrote the above. As it happens, my wife went into the same Acura dealor today that I went into a couple of weeks ago and was told nothing but a party line and that they did not know why I could not tow it. They had said the TSX is the platform of the European Honda Accord, whose market prefers a slightly smaller product. They told her they would research it a bit more and get back to her, but I would be very surprised if they say more than it is a Honda drivetrain. I agree that makes it a good gamble, but I'm waiting to pull the trigger.

[bullheaded]

Might check with a reputable transmission shop that knows the internals of your unit.

[rvfellow]

Thanks all. I followed Bullhead's advice advice and contacted a few transmission specialists who had mixed opinions about four down towing on a 2007 Acura TSX. One said the transmission repairs would be about $3,000.00 if we guessed wrong. I made a strategic miscalculation in mentioning this possible cost to my wife. We now mutually agree that we will not try our luck with the four down towing method on our Acura. After lots of evaluation on dollies, we decided to trade in the Acura for a comparable priced Honda CR-V. After much further analysis, this led to our purchasing a brand new 2011 CR-V for the wife. I have learned much from this whole process, my first series of posts and first RV thread. I ended up saving about $1,800.00 in expenses for a dolly and brake installation, but spending about $16,000.00 after trade for a new car and an installed four down towing system. C’est la vie!! As they say, “ Happy wife, Happy life”. I really like the new CR-V, Roadmaster All-Terrain tow bar , Brakemaster, etc. But next time, I might just go with the cheaper solution that works fine before I educate myself into buying the Space Shuttle! Oh well.