Front wheel drive Honda Pilot

How should a Front Wheel Drive Honda Pilot handle loading and unloading a 18 ft Blue Wave CC. Just curious how front wheel drive will affect loading and unloading a boat as opposed to a rear wheel drive vehicle.

First off, no way would I hook that boat to that vehicle.

That said with the weight of the front end/motor over the drive wheels you should do ok, especially if the ramp isn't already wet.

I wouldn't want to get on the interstate but it'll probably be ok for a short distance.

Not ideal, but workable if it isn't too steep and isn't wet.

Saw an old cherokee one time towing a huge pontoon. I thought that guy was going into the water. He couldn't stop the boat on the ramp. Just slid with the brakes locked up.

I guess getting out of the water isn't the only thing to worry about.

I would not tow with anything that has FWD. I would even stay away from IRS.

My reason for posting this is my father-in-law passed away last December. I'm inheriting the boat and he always towed the boat with a small Chevy S-10. I always thought it was funny and did not think that little truck should be towing a 18ft boat but it handled the task without any problem. I will be fishing lake Livingston primarily. Its only 20 minutes from the front door to the lake. I drive a car and my wife drives the Pilot and figured if a S-10 could handle it, so should a Pilot.

For what its worth though the S-10 is rear wheel drive with a solid axle/shock setup suited a little better to tow than a front wheel drive SUV. Im assuming the s-10 was a v-6? because no way he did that with the 4-banger lol. What happened to the s-10 though? If you got the boat why couldnt you also just use his truck to tow it since thats what he did? Just asking.

I guess a better way to look at is the boat will put most all of its weight on the rear wheels of the s-10 thus giving it better grip for getting in and out of the ramp. Kind of like when people put sand bags in the back of their trucks when its snowy or icy out for better traction. Same principle. If you tow it with the pilot it is still putting the weight on the rear wheels, however since it is front wheel drive you will get less traction because there is more weight on the back (non drive wheels) versus less weight being on the front (drive wheels) hope that makes sense. Front wheel drive vehicles were not meant to tow very heavy loads. I suppose you could do it but Id be very careful about it.

I sell Hondas and own a 2015 Pilot. The typical answer from a dealer would be its only sensible with a 4x4 Pilot (4500 lb towing capacity) and then exercise common sense and caution. Don't follow too closely, don't try to pass with limited space, etc.

There are plenty of Pilot owners on various online Pilot forums doing something similar. You might Google "towing with Honda Pilot" and read some of the threads that search will return.

I still have access to the S-10 whenever I want. Now I have an idea of what to expect and its a good thing I don't have to go very far. I'll give the Pilot a try on a dry ramp and see what happens.

I towed a 21 foot skeeter w/ 200hp motor with a gmc acadia for several years. never had a problem at the ramp. the trailer was a dual axle and had trailer brakes, and I made sure the brakes were always in good working order. I would not be comfortable driving above 60, because even with the surge brakes, I'm not sure how a quick maneuver would come out. the key is - take it easy and allow plenty of room.

I think a pilot is a little smaller than an acadia.