Can You Flat Tow A Honda Odyssey? (Let’s See)

Towing a Honda Odyssey can be very intense. That is especially true when you don’t know jack about towing cars.

For all the lovers of recreational vehicles wondering if a Honda Odyssey can be flat towed, look no further.

In this article, I’ll be divulging the secrets of towing a Honda Odyssey. So, can you flat tow a Honda Odyssey?

The owner’s manual is crystal clear as regards towing Honda Odyssey. It says that the vehicle should not be towed on all fours as it is not designed to be towed behind a motorhome. Additionally, flat towing Honda Odyssey can cause damage to the vehicle’s transmission, and if the car is still under warranty, you’ll lose that cover.

Can You Flat Tow A Honda Odyssey Behind An RV?

As said earlier, the owner’s manual warns against flat towing Honda Odyssey behind a recreational vehicle.

However, should your Honda Odyssey need towing like in an emergency, it should be towed with the front wheels off the ground.

That is, it should be dolly-towed. 

Dolly-towing the vehicle safeguards the transmission and keeps your warranty intact if it’s not expired. You may learn if you can flat tow your Honda Ridgeline?

Flat towing will cause damage to the vehicle’s transmission, and you don’t want that. You’ll have to cover all the expenses for repairing a bad transmission due to flat towing.

Additionally, it’s important to point out that some people have reported towing Honda Odyssey without having issues.

However, this should be a personal decision, and you should have all the facts clear so that you make an informed decision about flat towing or not.

What Year Honda Odyssey Can Be Flat Towed?

Honda Odyssey of the year 2014 and earlier can be flat towed. Although this is not advisable, many people have said they flat towed their Honda Odyssey for years, and it didn’t develop a fault. 

From 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, down to even 2006 can be flat towed. However, there are certain steps to follow before you can flat tow these Honda Odysseys.

The 2003 Honda Odyssey, which comes with an automatic transmission, can be flat towed. That is possible as long as you stay under 65 miles per hour. 

The 2006 Honda Odyssey can be flat towed because it is an older model.

However, you will need a base plate kit, tow bar, braking system, a lighting solution, and a high-low adapter.  

The base plate kit has been designed so that it fits your vehicle perfectly. Similarly, you can flat-tow the 2011 Honda Odyssey by using certain pieces of equipment.

These pieces of equipment include a base plate kit, a compatible tow bar, safety cables, a lighting solution, and supplemental braking. 

All these pieces of equipment are 100% compatible with each model of the Honda Odyssey, and you can use them to flat tow your vehicle.

However, it is advisable to avoid using a motorhome to flat tow any model of the Honda Odyssey. 

Utilizing a motorhome or recreational vehicle can adversely affect your car’s transmission and cause unnecessary damage.

Plus, if your vehicle is under warranty, you will lose the coverage and have to take care of your vehicle’s maintenance. 

Hence, you have to use appropriate devices to flat tow the model of your Honda Odyssey.

If you are perplexed about the proper devices to use, you can consult your dealership to help you out.

Alternatively, you can call for an emergency towing service to assist you in flat towing your Honda Odyssey. 

How To Tow A Honda Odyssey? 

Towing a Honda Odyssey is an easy task to accomplish as long as you follow a few steps.

However, before I highlight the steps, you need to know what you can use to tow your Honda Odyssey.

You can use a tow dolly to tow your Honda Odyssey. Subsequently, you can opt for flatbed equipment and wheel lift equipment.

Below are the steps to follow if you intend to use a tow dolly to do the job. 

• Step 1: connect the tow dolly coupler to the hitch ball on your vehicle. Ensure that you tighten the coupler and confirm that it’s securely attached.
  
  To make sure the connection is secure, it is advisable that you slowly accelerate your vehicle to a short distance to ensure the connection is 100% secure and ready for take-off. 
  
• Gently link the dolly’s safety chains to your car as a protective precaution. So that if the coupler loses its connection with the hitch ball, the safety chains will maintain the tow dolly connection to your car.
  
• Step 2: Alignment of your towed car. Marshaling your towed car with the truck and dolly before loading up decreases the stress and makes the process extremely easy.
  
  First, confirm that you properly aligned your vehicle, the truck, and the dolly. Afterward, move it to the dolly ramp. 
  
• It’s important to note that your towed car must face forward when you’re loading the car onto the dolly. If your vehicle is rear-facing, it can sway dangerously.
  
• Step 3: Load up your towed vehicle. Start driving your car onto the dolly ramp once you’ve lined it up with the truck and dolly.
  
  However, if your vehicle has broken down completely, you will have to ask for a lot of help from people to assist you in pushing your car onto the dolly.
  
• Step 4: Ensure that your towed car is tightly secured. After you safely place your towed car on the dolly, make sure that its front tires are positioned firmly against the wheel stops and strapped tightly with the tire straps of the tow dolly.
  
  Ensure that you tighten the straps by unlocking and locking the ratchet mechanism and latching the security chains around the car’s frame for extra support.
  
• Ensure to disentangle the parking brake in your towed car to allow its rear wheels to rotate freely.

Factors To Consider Before Towing A Honda Odyssey?

Before towing your Honda Odyssey, you need to consider certain factors. Below are some of the factors. 

• You need to consider the maximum towing capacity of the truck you intend to utilize. It plays a crucial role in determining if you can safely tow your vehicle without any hiccups.
  
  The truck’s maximum towing capacity is the maximum weight it can tow safely.
  
  Before starting the towing process, you need to check your owner’s manual or specification sticker, which you can find on the driver’s lateral door jamb, for precise information on its capabilities.
  
• It’s crucial to note that the vehicle’s weight towed must not surpass the truck’s maximum towing capacity.
  
  So that established, you have to check the weight of the car towed and the towing equipment’s weight.
  
• Ensure to check the specifications of your tow hitch. Although the truck might have the capacity to control your car’s weight, using substandard tow hitch specifications can make your efforts futile.
  
  Instead, thoroughly go through the specification sticker and know if the tow hitch can handle the truck’s weight and your vehicle. 

Honda Odyssey flat tow

Conclusion 

Although flat towing the Honda Odyssey can be detrimental to the vehicle, you can still flat tow some models from different years.

Furthermore, it is dangerous to use a recreational vehicle or a motorhome to flat-tow your car as it may destroy the transmission.

Nevertheless, you can use other pieces of equipment that are 100% compatible with your Honda Odyssey.