Can A Honda Pilot Tow A Camper? Understanding The Pilot’s Towing Capacity

The Honda Pilot’s incredible size and features make it a promising tow SUV. But can it tow a camper? 

If you have a camper and you’re wondering if buying a Honda Pilot to tow it would be a wise investment, you’re in the right place. 

There’s also a chance you’re on the other end of the spectrum. In other words, it could be that you have a camper and wonder if you can ask someone driving a Honda Pilot for help towing your camper.

Excitingly, you’ll get the information you seek about the Pilot and other SUVs’ towing capacity here.  

Now, let’s answer the question below. 

Can a Honda pilot tow a camper?

Yes, it can. Since its inception in 2003, Honda Pilot has been widely used to tow campers. 

The Honda Pilot can tow a camper weighing 3500 pounds conveniently. And when fitted with an all-wheel-drive (AWD) and ATF cooler, it can tow a camper weighing 5000 pounds. 

Do you care to know more about using Honda Pilots to tow campers? Keep reading!

Can A 2012 Honda Pilot Tow A Camper?

Honda Pilot packs a lot of power and can tow campers. However, campers vary in weight. So how much your camper weighs, including the Honda Pilot’s features, will help you decide if towing is a good idea.

So, what is the weight of the camper a 2012 model of the Honda Pilot can tow?

It all depends on the features the SUV has. If fitted with an all-wheel-drive (AWD) and ATF cooler, a 2012 Honda Pilot can conveniently tow campers weighing 4500 pounds. 

However, without the ATF cooler, and when fitted with an AWD, Honda Pilot 2012 model can tow a camper weighing 4500 pounds. 

Models with 2WD and an ATF cooler can only tow 3500 pounds. However, Honda Pilot 2012 model with 2WD and no ATF cooler can only tow a maximum weight of 2000 pounds. 

Can A 2016 Honda Pilot Tow A Camper? 

Honda Pilots’ towing capability makes the SUV versatile. All Honda Pilots pack a lot of power and are exceptional when used to tow campers and other items. 

But as we explained before, the camper’s weight and equipment the Pilot has, are crucial factors. They’ll determine how your Honda Pilot would perform when used for towing. 

So, can the Honda Pilot 2016 model tow a camper? Yes, it can. Another question is how much weight can it tow?

Well, it all depends on the equipment the Pilot has. For example, a 2016 model fitted with an AWD and an ATF cooler would tow a 5000 lbs camper. 

On the other hand, a 2016 Honda Pilot with AWD and no ATF would tow a 3500 lbs camper. And that’s the maximum weight it can take. 

Keep in mind that a 2016 model with or without an ATF cooler can tow a 3500 lbs camper. It can’t go above that.

A Handy Tip: To determine a Honda Pilot’s towing capacity, consider the year the vehicle was produced and whether it has an ATF cooler or not. The latest models can tow heavier items. 

Again, keep in mind that the ATF cooler increases the vehicle’s towing capacity. 

Can Honda Pilot Tow A Boat?

The Honda Pilot is a smaller version of the SUV. Nevertheless, it still serves as a powerful towing vehicle. 

So, can the Pilot tow a boat conveniently? Yes, it can. But the boat’s weight will decide it. 

However, Pilots, especially the latest models, can be used for towing items weighing 5000 pounds when fitted with the needed equipment. These include the AWD and AFT cooler. 

Just ensure the boat doesn’t weigh more than 5000 pounds. Why? Using an SUV to pull a heavier item can damage the vehicle. It will also be difficult to move such an item down a hill.

Towing Capacity Of The Honda Pilot 2020 Model

The towing capacity refers to the weight the 2020 model of the Honda Pilot can tow. And remember that this is one of the latest Honda Pilot models. 

But, again, the 2020 Honda Pilot’s towing strength depends massively on its equipment. 

A 2020 model that has AWD and AFT cooler can tow an item weighing 5000 pounds. However, a 2020 model with 2WD and AFT can tow 3500 pounds. 

Furthermore, remember that Honda Pilots with towing capacity of 3500 pounds can equally pull other similar heavier items. Here are some examples below. 

• Boats
• Tent trailers
• Pop-up tent trailer
• Personal watercraft
• Small-sized utility trailer

How The Honda Pilot’s Towing Capacity Compared To Competitors

Honda Pilot’s towing capacity is at the same level as many SUVs. In other words, you can use the Pilot to tow items as you would with similar SUVs.

Now, let’s consider the 2021 Honda Pilot. This Honda Pilot can pull items weighing 3500 to 5000 pounds, but other SUV brands out there can do the same thing. 

The 2021 Kia Telluride can tow items weighing 5000 pounds. It boasts an advanced 3.8L V6 engine and 1565 pounds payload capacity and delivers a whopping 295 horsepower. The 2021 Kia Telluride’s impressive cargo space and fuel economy make it a wise choice. 

The next SUV with an almost similar towing rating is the 2021 Mazda CX-9. It can tow items weighing 3500 pounds. The Mazda CX-5’s towing rating is 2000 pounds. 

Besides the Pilot, Honda also makes other powerful SUVs with impressive towing capacity. One of them is the 2021 Honda Passport, which can tow items weighing 3500 to 5000 pounds. 

Another SUV that compares to the Honda Pilot regarding towing capacity is the 2021 Toyota 4Runner. This SUV boasts a 5000 pounds towing rating. 

Volkswagen also makes SUVs with great towing capacity. For example, the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas can tow items weighing 5000 pounds. But keep in mind that the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan’s towing capacity is 1500 pounds. 

12 SUVs With Higher Towing Capacity Than The Honda Pilot

If you are looking forward to towing an item that weighs over 5000 pounds, the Honda Pilot shouldn’t be on your list of capable SUVs. 

But that doesn’t mean the Honda Pilot isn’t a great vehicle. Its towing capacity is 5000 pounds, which is also great. 

However, several SUVs on the market can tow items that weigh more. Below are some examples and the maximum weight they can tow. 

So you can see that these SUVs have almost twice the tow rating of the Honda Pilot. Using them to tow a camper will be a great idea. They’ll pull the camper trailer without stress. 

Conclusion

Can a Honda Pilot tow a camper? Yes, it can. But whether a Pilot can tow a camper depends on the camper’s weight and the SUV’s towing capacity.  

However, when kitted with the needed equipment, Honda Pilots can tow items weighing 5000 pounds. They are powerful vehicles with impressive towing capacity. 

Several SUVs with higher towing capacity exist. You can check the table to make a decision whenever you plan to buy your next SUV.