Community Forums

ohiobill · 05-06-2012, 04:54 PM

I'm thinking of towing a 2006 Element awd automatic 4 down. I know Honda has not approved them for towing since 2005. Since they are similar to the CRV, I suspect there would be no problems as long as the CRV towing instructions are followed.

Does anyone have actual experience towing one of the newer ones?

doc · 05-07-2012, 04:43 PM

I work p/t for a Honda dealer. Officially any Element after 05 is not endorsed by Honda as towable. Yet the shop will tell you it is on the same platform as the Civic and Accord. We tow an 03 and would by a new one of they would tell us it is towable. I suspect it might be, but scrambling a transmission if there is a change would be an expensive experience

Wanabee FTer · 05-07-2012, 04:51 PM

According to Remco, 2wd and 4wd are both towable 4 down.

ohiobill · 05-07-2012, 05:51 PM

Thanks for the responses. I agree and suspect there would not be a problem but I hate to risk a transmission to find out. I'll probably go with a CRV, although they don't have the usable cargo space of an Element...

Mr_D · 05-07-2012, 06:02 PM

Actually it's any '05 and newer Element, that's not approved by Honda for four down towing. Went all through that with Honda's legal dept. before they paid us $2,200 not to tow our '05 Ody.
The only vehicles approved since the '04 model year are the CR-V and the Fit now. A few of the '05 Pilots are towable too, but not all.
We tried to get Honda to do a buy back on our Ody to something that was towable and the told us the Pilot wasn't. The CR-V was too small for our needs at the time.

Mr_D · 05-07-2012, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wanabee FTer

According to Remco, 2wd and 4wd are both towable 4 down.

Ask Remco to pay for a new transmission/engine if they're wrong!

Wanabee FTer · 05-07-2012, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Ask Remco to pay for a new transmission/engine if they're wrong!

I wouldn't ask them to reimburse me for a transmission on my Accord (which is also not approved by Honda), that is why I stated "According to Remco"

glarnold · 05-07-2012, 07:22 PM

Two years ago we put a baseplate on our 2006 Honda Element, TWO wheel drive, for four down towing. According to Blue Ox and Honda, NOT on the four wheel drive. Honda instructions must be followed explicitly - shift into neutral from drive, NOT from reverse. Worked fine for the two years we towed it. Have since changed to another system, so no longer have data from Honda.

jmho.

G L Arnold

Mr_D · 05-07-2012, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wanabee FTer

I wouldn't ask them to reimburse me for a transmission on my Accord (which is also not approved by Honda), that is why I stated "According to Remco"

And a good reason not to follow any ones opinion but Honda's. If Remco won't back up their claim with $$ I have no reason to believe them.

Vic Maris · 05-25-2012, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

And a good reason not to follow any ones opinion but Honda's. If Remco won't back up their claim with $$ I have no reason to believe them.

I just put 1000 miles on my Allegro with my 2009 Honda Element in tow. It worked great. I did a lot of soul searching on this but I use the Motorhome 90% for business travel to shows and I really needed the toad as storage for product and then transportation when I get there. The Honda Element is essentially a big box and I can place my entire booth and product inside. I decided that if the transmission fried, it would still be worth it. I came to this decision after trying a rental tow dolly. When I was done I said, "kill me...please." Having a bad shoulder, I realized that surgery would be more expensive and painful than a new tranny.

I think Honda just wants to avoid liability. It is easy to not follow the procedure correctly when you get ready to tow. But it is easy to do. No doubt some people make a mistake and then try and get warranty service. I always take time to make sure it is in neutral, brake off, tow brake switch on and the wheels free. I also stop religiously every 200 miles and run it through the gears. I learned here that it should be placed in Neutral from drive not reverse. I did not know that. But still, it worked great.

I have to say, I love towing four down. Life is too short to live in fear. If I run into any problems on future trips, if my transmission drops out of the back or something, I will report here. Btw, on the last trip, I saw another relatively new Honda Element, in tow and the license plate indicated it was the dingy. So there are at least two of us mad men out there living the high life. ;-)

Vic Maris

JPMaly · 05-25-2012, 11:59 PM

Two years ago, we needed a toad and wanted an Element. I fretted over towing one of the newer ones. It took a while but I found an 04 with 40000 miles. A very well manered toad, gets 24 mpg, and all the band equipment etc fits in the back.

Vic Maris · 05-27-2012, 06:39 AM

24mpg. Wow. You made the right choice. Ours gets only 18mpg. It is a front wheel drive auto. Agree tho, it makes an awesome toad and a most versatile vehicle.