Community Forums

dakotaboy · 10-02-2019, 03:06 PM

Am looking for 2013 or 2014 Honda CRV-AWD to flat tow. Think am pretty well stuck on the CRV, but would appreciate any advice or experience on this model as I am new to the idea of towing a vehicle and am no spring chicken with sore knees. Is there much to do after tow bar is connected? Have to mess with pulling any fuses? Thank you

Newmar2856 · 10-02-2019, 03:48 PM

My 2010 requires pulling a fuse, but I will be installing a Roadmaster fuse master to deal with that. Essentially it plugs in where the fuse goes and allows you to switch it off when towing. I also use a Brake Buddy for supplemental braking. It works, but I’m looking into installing something that I don’t have to put in and take out every time.

Check out the Roadmaster website for options and more info.

As for the CR-V itself, it tows great and has served us well.

**NLOVNIT** · 10-02-2019, 07:44 PM

We have a 2014 with no in-dash nav (prefer without it as it is a big power drain on the battery when towing). Run it through the gears, 5 seconds set on D, then 3 minutes set on N, then turn the key back to ACC & go. No fuses to pull, no having to stop every so many miles to start & run gears.

Be advised the OEM battery is woefully inadequate. We have a Brake Buddy that uses the console 12v receptacle to power it. Had a dead battery after only 3hrs towing. Upgraded to a Grp 24 (the kind that come std in an Odessey) & no more dead battery, even after 6 hours of towing.

Others put in a charge line.

Depending on what supplemental brake assist you get, you'll have to decide. You can use the powered by Google search box above to find prior threads, just type in CRV dead battery.

Lori-

FIRE UP · 10-02-2019, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dakotaboy

Am looking for 2013 or 2014 Honda CRV-AWD to flat tow. Think am pretty well stuck on the CRV, but would appreciate any advice or experience on this model as I am new to the idea of towing a vehicle and am no spring chicken with sore knees. Is there much to do after tow bar is connected? Have to mess with pulling any fuses? Thank you

dakotaboy,
Well, first off, read and follow the owners manual for the specific year CRV you'll be towing. The manual outlines each and every move you need to make, before you're ready to ramble on down the road, with CRV in tow. Second, in our '11 CRV EX-L All Wheel Drive, yes, there was supposed to be, I think, number 32 fuse to be pulled. You had to be a Cirque De Solei pretzel to be able to yank that fuse and put it back in, each time you towed.

Well, the he.... with that. All I did was install a battery charge line from the coach to the CRV to keep that battery charged while towing it. Never once, in approximately a years worth of towing, and quite a few thousand miles, did we EVER have that CRV battery go dead, NEVER! And, that was the factory battery with NAV.

I'm not one of those that over worries about stuff like this. I didn't buy the fancy-shmancy toad battery charge lines. All that's needed is a simple line from the hot pin on the coach trailer plug, that goes to the positive on the battery of the CRV. And of course, put a fuse close to the positive post on the battery. DONE!

I never did setup an auxiliary brake system, just didn't get around to it. Our coach, an '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with the CAT C-7 330HP and Allison MH3000 trans, just seemed to stop and slow down, just fine. But, that was then. Anyway, like stated, I'd just follow the owners manual for the CRV year you intend to tow.
Scott

txcpl · 10-03-2019, 05:22 AM

We have a 2014 CRV and have installed the M&G brake system. It works great. However, I will be installing a charge line this fall as twice we had a dead battery after long days of travel. Up to 5 maybe 6 hours, no problem. But towing after dark with lights on, ate the battery up. I learned my lesson. The CRV is a great vehicle for towing.

MSHappyCampers · 10-03-2019, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dakotaboy

Am looking for 2013 or 2014 Honda CRV-AWD to flat tow. Think am pretty well stuck on the CRV, but would appreciate any advice or experience on this model as I am new to the idea of towing a vehicle and am no spring chicken with sore knees. Is there much to do after tow bar is connected? Have to mess with pulling any fuses? Thank you

We pull a 2013 Honda CRV AWD that we really love! I used the Roadmaster baseplate with the NSA ReadyBrute Elite towbars with built-in ReadyBrake, along with the NSA breakaway kit. I installed a dash-mounted switch with in-line fuse to bypass the accessory fuse. I'm too old and stiff to try to pull that fuse every time!

I used the diode-type wiring kit. I also changed the tiny battery to the larger size that's used with the Honda Odyssy. You'll just need to change the battery tray to do this. Very simple!

We had three Accords before the CRV, but as we got older it was just too hard getting in and out of them. The CRV is just the right height!

Reading this thread may help! http://www.irv2.com/forums/f85/2013-...on-250271.html

Mr.Mark · 10-03-2019, 10:03 AM

We also towed two Honda CR-V's EXL's w/NAV. The first was a 2007 that had the M&G supplemental brake installed along with a fuse cut-off that was installed in a vacant panel on the dash.

The second CR-V EXL w/NAV was a 2013. I had the Air Force One supplemental braking system put on that one as the engine compartment was a little different with the new design and the Air Force One was an easier install. Both systems work pretty much the same. I also had the fuse cut-off switch installed too that was put behind a vacant switch panel.

Honda CR-V's are excellent toads.

I would have bought a third Honda if they were towable four down. The Lincoln does not require any fuse pulling and has a neutral tow mode that is selected from the dash menu (very easy). The MKX is about 700 lbs. heavier than the two previous Honda's but it's a nicer car too.

Good luck and safe travels,
Mark

timjet · 10-04-2019, 04:42 AM

I have the exact same setup as HappyCampers. I got a switch that installs in a blank slot on the left side of the steering wheel that shuts power to the fuse that must be pulled. I simply turn the switch off and attach the car and I'm done. The ready brake elite is about as easy a tow system that you can get.
I believe the AWD version requires tranny fluid changes every so often if towed.

MSHappyCampers · 10-04-2019, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timjet

I have the exact same setup as HappyCampers. I got a switch that installs in a blank slot on the left side of the steering wheel that shuts power to the fuse that must be pulled. I simply turn the switch off and attach the car and I'm done. The ready brake elite is about as easy a tow system that you can get.
I believe the AWD version requires tranny fluid changes every so often if towed.

Honda says every 30,000 miles.

Mr.Goodbar · 10-04-2019, 11:41 PM

We tow a 2014 CR-V and the previous owner had a little rocker switch installed on the bottom of the dash, just to the left of the steering column, that cuts out the compass built into the radio display. The clock setting and the station presets do not get lost. The switch is handy because it is close to the switch where I turn on the Stay-n-Play braking system. Which BTW, is all out of sight, small black control box under the hood, and the actuator and cable is all hidden under the dash on the driver's side.

dakotaboy · 10-05-2019, 07:16 AM

Thanks to all of you for this very helpful and useful information. Will now go ahead and look for a 2013 or 2014 CR-V AWD! Happy Trails

Johnynorthla · 10-25-2019, 04:47 PM

I finally got around to buying a new dinghy tow vehicle . We are making the switch from Dolly towing to flat towing. I Purchased a very nice used 2014 Honda CRV front wheel drive model. My question is about the 65 mile speed restriction. Has anyone towed at a faster speeds, 68-70 mph with this vehicle without any issues? In my travels I did speak to someone with a Ford with similar restrictions and they told me that they switch the transmission fluid to synthetic and change it frequently and this allows them to exceed the 65 mile an hour restriction. Any thoughts, comments, etc...?

docj · 10-25-2019, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

Honda says every 30,000 miles.

Of course, no one at Honda USA could tell me if the 30,000 miles was "odometer miles" or the total of "odometer miles plus towed miles." I'm serious, I escalated this question and the final response was "we don't know how the number was arrived at." Since towing "degrades" the transmission fluid through heating, it's hard to imagine that the number of towed miles wouldn't factor into the fluid change interval. I have the fluid changed every couple of years. IMHO it's cheap insurance.

Mr.Mark · 10-25-2019, 08:26 PM

We didn't tow our two Honda CR-V's (2007, 2013) over 65 mph very often. Generally, it would be coasting to 70-75 mph taking advantage of the momentum.

We never had any trouble with either Honda. We put 69,000 miles of driving the '07 plus another 45,000 of towing (est.) and 39,000 driving the '13 plus another 35,000 (est.) of towing.

Mark