Towing with an Odyssey or Mazda Tribute

Towing with an Odyssey: I am going to buy a used 2720 or a 3023 and pull it with a Toyota Siena. I have a 1980 12' Apache that I pulled thru the rockies with a 3.0 L Plymouth Grand Voyager (140hp) and 3 kids and it weighed 2400# loaded. The only time one is slowed down is going up the mountains. For the extra 5 minutes that going in second gear took, why waste the gas the rest of the time. The 3.0 L (194 hp) Siena gets 21 mph with the Apache, boat and motor and 24 mph without when we go to Florida. It's a vacation, take it easy.
J R in Michigan

I found that I was not comfortable pulling my 3023 with a Toyota Sienna. I live in Tehachapi CA and found the Sienna to be lacking in enough power to make it from Mojave to Tehachapi with anything available for emergencies. I also found that it seemed to be lacking in directional control in city (Los Angeles) traffic. I decided to upgrade to something that was more than capable of towing the TM I have. The Sequoia (Tundra Frame) works very well. I have towed normal Travel Trailers, and have had less then pleasant experiences that I did not want to repeat with the TM.

Originally Posted by Mr. Jan Rooks

snip... The only time one is slowed down is going up the mountains. ...snip

That depends on what you mean by a mountain. Anything less than 8,000 feet is a foothill.

I like the comfort on knowing that I don't have to worry if I can climb up a dirt road at 8500 feet. But, I have no idea how high the mountains are anywhere east of Denver.

I did slip once in 2 wheel drive. This was pulling out of a campsite into a hard right 90 degree turn up a slope that was 30 degrees of dust and gravel. I'll let someone else figure out what the percent grade was.

Though I have no plans to intentionally camp in the snow, when camping at the end of November in the Sierras, you can get surprised.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by Mr. Jan Rooks

I am going to buy a used 2720 or a 3023 and pull it with a Toyota Siena (194 hp). I have a 1980 12' Apache that I pulled thru the rockies with a 3.0 L Plymouth Grand Voyager (140hp) and 3 kids and it weighed 2400# loaded.

JR - Note that a loaded 2720 will be 1000 pounds heavier (or a bit more) than your Apache. A 3023 will be more than that, of course. And your kids are bigger now ...

And as PopBeavers posted, I don't know where you went in the Rockies, but it is altitude, not grade, that is the killer, because the engine can't breathe. With our 2720SL behind it, my V-8 Explorer (240 hp / 280 lb-ft torque, FWIW) has a tough time above about 8,000 feet. The approach to the west entrance of the Eisenhower Tunnel in Colorado was a challenge.

Bill

I have 240HP and 242 # of torque. I run with my trailer "pretty loaded" since I have to dry camp most of the time and water is a maybe. I have to bring a full tank of water (40 gallons), a generator and fuel(10 gallons).. I have done the biggest mountains on the east coast not sure I would be comfortable doing the Rockies. Especially with a bigger TM.

I've been researching this Honda Odyssey issue some and read in a friend's 2007 Odyssey owner's manual they recommend WDH for trailers over 1800#. Also, they deduct 150# per occupant over 1. So, if you're hauling the church choir you got nothing left.

I just towed my new 2720SL home with a Ford Ranger rated at 2600#. Other than sqatting real bad (no WDH) it pulled OK. Wouldn't recommend mountainous terrain, though. The newer Odysseys have 100 HP more than my Ranger so I think they would handle the 2720 pretty well with WDH and dealer installed transmission oil cooler.

I haven't read this anywhere but it seems to me you ought to get some kind of credit for the low wind drag of the TM.

A wet and loaded 2720 weighs approximately 4,000 pounds, unless you leave the food, clothes, pots and pans at home.

Applying the somewhat popular 80 percent rule, you need a TV with a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. More if you have any passengers and cargo in the TV.