Kikeehn -
You live in a wonderful region called The Valley of the Sun. When you get your rig put together and ready to go, it is certain that you will want to leave The Valley of the Sun, and explore some more. At risk of oversimplifying, there are four ways out of the Valley.
You can take I-10 west toward Los Angeles, or east toward Tucson and then New Mexico. Both pretty flat terrain, not much challenge for any tow vehicle.
Or you can take I-17 north to Flagstaff. Or Rte 87 northeast to Payson and then Rte 260 up over the Mogollon Rim. These last two trips are challenging for any rig, with long stretches of 6% grade. If you have not driven either of these routes, why not take a Saturday or Sunday and drive up one of them, just with your current vehicle, no trailer. As you ascend out of the Verde Valley toward Flagstaff, or out of Payson and up over the Rim, think about what it will be like when you are towing a trailer that weighs almost as much as your car, on a day when temps are over 100 degrees, up 10 miles of relentless 6% grade. And then down those same steep miles when you go in the other direction. Kind of sanity check, out of the world of the hypothetical and into reality.
You've made a wise decison to go with the factory tow package. Beyond that, the good news is that the Pilot's tow rating is probably determined in accordance with SAE standard J-2807, although Honda doesn't seem to confirm this. If so, the 4500-pound rating represents real world experience. J-2807 testing is done on a 10 mile stretch of endless 6% grade out of Davis Dam in California. Very similar terrain, so that should give you some confidence. Why not ask the Honda salesman about J-2807?
The bad news is that according to Honda, you have to buy premium gas while you are towing.
Bill
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