Is it safe to tow a trailer with my Accord?

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Whatever you do, have them drain the tranny while installing the cooler, and refill ONLY with Honda Z1 ATF. You may want to do it again before the trip (3.4 - 4 quarts) to get your tranny up-to-speed from a protection point of view.

I don't know about the 'towing capacity', sorry.

'Curly'

"DP" wrote in news:1153969014.845000.182070 @b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:

Aren't the towing specs in your owner's manual?

[snip]

You didn't say what year your Accord is, but it seems peculiar that U-Haul would want to install a transmission cooler on your car. Many of Honda's cars came with transmission coolers from the factory. Often, you can find hoses going from the bottom of the radiator to the transmission. I don't know what's on the V6 Accords, but it's something you may want to look into. In addition, there's a transmission filter element on some of the V6 Accords that should probably be replaced if you change the fluid.

Another consideration is that many folks have had problems with V6 automatics. I think that Honda may have solved this problem by now but you might be taking a chance with it.

By the way, if you're moving across the country, then you'll likely want a car carrier and not a tow dolly. I used a carrier for my Civic for a move of about 750 miles and it was so much easier to drive than with a tow dolly. Also look into other companies. The U-Haul's I've dealt with, along with Ryder, never guaranteed the size of the truck you get. Indeed, one time I didn't even get a truck with U-Haul even though I had ordered it 30 days in advance. What's worse is that they refused to even answer their phone because "...they had no trucks to rent."

Good luck whichever way you choose.

Eric

Please look at Toyota groups. I think there a guy wanted to do the same but in a Camry. May be that will help.....

Eric wrote:

First, of course, check out the towing section of your owners manual.

Personally I would not do a cross country move using an Accord as the tow vehicle if you are going to load up the trailer to anything close to the vehicle's full rated towing capacity. Honda's modern automatic transmissions have had quite a few problems and towing is very hard on an automatic transmission, especially over the mountain ranges implied by a US cross country trip. If, however, you are taking I-10 across the southern US then it might be more reasonable.

Personally I think you would be much safer and easier on your vehicle to rent a proper truck and a trailer for the car, then pull the car. If you do so, get the strongest cover you can for the car to help protect it against road rash.

Finally, I would not let the U-haul or other place add a transmission cooler to a Honda. If you must do that, have it done by a dealer where they will use the correct fluid, etc. The same for installing a hitch. Many installers will do a hatchet job.

John

there's plenty of head room for full load - the "real" towing capacity of the accord is over 3000lbs.

the only reason it's not rated higher stateside is that [for some bizarre reason i don't understand] trailers don't have to be braked, so load is reduced to keep them lawyer-free.

Check out Penske one-way. I rented a large van from Tuscon to Knoxville for 800.00 Do a lot of research on the internet. look in different areas near your starting point. Tow the honda behind the van.

I would think you would be OK based on my experience. Years ago, I did the exact same thing with an '83 Subaru GL sedan with a 5sp transmission. The only problem I had was that the electric cooling fan was unplugged. Since I was living in Northern Michigan in the winter, I never realized it was off. Didn't have any problems towing the trailer from Charlevoix, MI to Alexandria, VA. I would think the Accord is a little stronger than the Subaru but I can't say for sure. The Sub had a 4 cylinder.

Bob

You didn't have to cross the Rocky Mountains or Sierra Nevada on that trip. The cross country drive is much harder on vehicles than yours was.

John

I have thought the same thing... maybe its a lawyer thing. I understand the need to be careful with the automatic transmission but the owners manual says only $1000 pounds max towing capacity.

Thanks everyone for their help. Still haven't decided what to do.

jim beam wrote:

i'd tow the trailer. the motor's already got an oil cooler. the drive train can handle it easily. it's not like you're going to be making a habit of it.

I would believe the owners manual on this one. A new transmission is over $3000.

John