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I might buy, but towing?

2870 Views 11 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  srpbep
I am impressed with the MDX, yet concerns about towing keep my and my wallet at bay. I would be toting a 2000 lb pop-up camper and 4 passngers and their gear in all environs, including mountain grades. Any real-life experiences appreciated. I have read the promotional stuff, wanting the real stories, good or bad. Thanks!
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OK, this story might not help in your decision but...

We typically use our Jeep Cherokee for camping and used it to tow a friends pop-up (approx. 2,000lbs) that we had borrowed for a trip. I needed to use the MDX to return it to the friend (about 30 mile trip on Route 95/128 outside Boston). Late morning traffic so were moving along at around 55mph. While I was very cautious starting out, since this is my typical morning commute, I quickly *forgot* that the trailer was even back there. That is until I noticed blue/black smoke appearing from behind me. I quickly pulled to the shoulder (which is taking your life into my own hands in Boston). It turned out that I had blown a tire on the trailer (Thank God for the CVS/Samaritan helper vans) and had been dragging it for probably a mile or two (I *thought* I felt it lugging a little up that overpass ).

That incident notwithstanding, I felt it towed with much more confidence than with our Cherokee with a 5000lb tow rating and a very torquey inline 6.
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Towing using an MDX

My brother and I have a 21.5 feet SeaRay boat with an inboard Mercruiser sitting on a Trail-Rite trailer. Total gross weight without fuel(Which this boat holds 60 gallon of gas) is around 3,560lbs.

I have been using my MDX to tow the boat to a numerous of places for our boating outing and I have not experience ANY mechanical or technical problems. Our trips are anywhere in the radius of 50 miles to 650 miles of driving.

Uh...I dont think you will have a problem with a measily 1200lbs of camper trailer.
Thanks much for the post.....the camper weighs 2000lbs without gear...then add four adults and their gear in the vehicle and your around 3000lbs.....

What about steep grades?:)
This is an MDX -- no such thing as steep grades!:D But I must admit that it doesn't do well at climbing a vertical wall...;)
ctxultra said:
Thanks much for the post.....the camper weighs 2000lbs without gear...then add four adults and their gear in the vehicle and your around 3000lbs.....

What about steep grades?:)
Well we towed the boat on Interstate 15 towards Mohave Lake. There is a VERY STEEP grade called El Cajon Pass. If ANY of you who are truckers or road trippers on the way to Vegas knows exactly what am talking about...IT IS STEEP...

Well needless to say...The MDX doesnt have a problem with climbing over it while sustaining cruising speeds without performance degradation.
I tow a 3100lb 21' (that's dry weight) cobalt with a dual axel trailer on top of that and I thought the MDX did a great job. I couldn't believe how much pickup I had from green-light start ups not to mention how well the MDX drove while at speed. Very controlled, very stable. My wife said she felt like we were pulling the wave-runner!! I kid you not. We pulled it last year with my friends Ford F-150 V-8. Talk about spark knock up-hills and rough ride. The MDX V-6 makes that Ford engine and suspension look like dark-age technology. Go for it. The only thing I added besides the obvious tow package was a full size spare and tire to be on the safe side while towing.
Check out this link from a previous thread concerning the towing capabilities of the MDX.

http://www.boatingmag.com/features/features.html?FeatureID=54

The MDX should be able to tow your 2000 lbs popup camper with ease.
I don't tow anything with my MDX, but I have been reading this addicting message board for quite some time now. From the looks of the transmission cooler that comes with the towing package, I would go for an aftermarket that is larger and has more cooling capacity.

I would be interested in hearing if anyone towes a lot with the all-wheel drive coming on frequently. It sounds like the MDX handles large loads easily on dry (2-wheel drive surfaces), but I think the true test of the transmission would be when all four wheels are turning with a heavy load.
jr8-
"I think the true test of the transmission would be when all four wheels are turning with a heavy load."

Virtually impossible to test! You'd need to be going lest than 18mph and in first or second with VTM4 locked OR you'd need to be on ice 9or gravel or mud) in a constant slippage condition, which would make it tough to evaluate towing....

I'd be surprised if ANY vehicle spends much time towing in AWD/4WD mode (other than at boat docks, etc.)

I do agree that more cooling is always better. I'd add on to my factory aux if I was doing serious towing.

Ard
Thank you to all who provided me with your towing stories, any more would be appreciated. I'm thinking about a Silver 02 touring navi with whip cream and a cherry on top. :D
Re: Whip Cream & Cherry

Suggest you contact Tim at Hondacuraworld.com, he has great prices on all accessories. Betcha you can get extra cherry, extra whip cream, and crushed nuts included and it will still cost less than other dealer's price for plain old whip cream & single cherry.
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