Looking for something that can be towed by a 2007 Honda Odyssey minivan

[brooklynspy]

My husband and I are shopping for a pop-up camper. We ride dirtbikes, but I'm assuming there's not a light enough trailer that we can load bikes onto as well as all our stuff and our kids- if there is please let me know.
That said we have four kids ages 6 and under. We're fine with one that sleeps 6 for now and will probably get something else someday.
The Odyssey's tow weight is 3,500.
A toilet/shower combo inside the trailer is a must.
Which trailers would you recommend? I'm having trouble narrowing down which ones to search for. We used a very junky one from craigslist once. I'm hoping to find something of quality this time.

Thanks!

 

[sawdusty]

Welcome from Texas! Sounds like you need to make a wish list and visit some dealers and look at rvtrader.com to get an idea of what is available within your weight limits. Remember that the 3,500 towing limit includes everything you put in the Odyssey including people plus the camper and anything you put in there. It doesn't take very long to get near your limit.

I'm sure there are others here that will offer more specific info. Good Luck.

 

[Misc99]

Our previous TV was an Odyssey with a tow package (not just a hitch). We made sure the PUP we purchased was light enough not to strain the TV. We purposely did not get a toilet shower combo or a slide out for this very reason.


Mountains, long distances, or even hills can be brutal on a TV's brakes, cooling system, and transmission even with a tow package.
I would rethink your configuration and see what you can set up outside or added like a luggable loo or porta potty. Will you be boon docking?

 

[exploreco]

My husband and I are shopping for a pop-up camper. We ride dirtbikes, but I'm assuming there's not a light enough trailer that we can load bikes onto as well as all our stuff and our kids- if there is please let me know.
That said we have four kids ages 6 and under. We're fine with one that sleeps 6 for now and will probably get something else someday.
The Odyssey's tow weight is 3,500.
A toilet/shower combo inside the trailer is a must.
Which trailers would you recommend? I'm having trouble narrowing down which ones to search for. We used a very junky one from craigslist once. I'm hoping to find something of quality this time.

Thanks!

I think you are going to be very limited in the size of trailer you get because of the size of family and your tow vehicle. I can speak from experience. I don't have 4 kids, but had a similar vehicle as yours.

We were towing with a 2007 Honda Pilot. Had a #3500 tow capacity. 2 adults and 1 young child. If you read the owners manual, those numbers are for small adults (we are not that). We were towing a 10 foot box Fleetwood Santa Fe, which probably weighed 2200-2500#. The Pilot towed it well. I added rear air bags to help with the rear sag. It had one propane tank and a battery. I felt pretty comfortable towing with it.

We then upgraded to our new camper which was a 12 foot box camper with a slide out. It is pushing 3500#. Has two propane tanks and a battery and electric which on the front, so more tongue weight than the previous camper. Even with the air bags, the Pilot sagged a lot. I tried load leveling shocks to help. Was considering a weight distribution hitch. And then add stuff in the back of the Pilot, that just weighed it down more. The Pilot just became more difficult to drive while towing. I weighed it at the scales and it was at the top end of the total combined vehicle weight not including water and the wife and stuff in back. So, we decided to trade for a crew cab F150 pick up. Night and day difference in towing of course.

My dad now tows the Fleetwood Santa Fe camper with his 2006 Oddy just fine. He put air bags on it so it didn't sag but it tows 10 ft box much better. He would not tow the bigger one probably unless it was just a short distance.

Good luck with your search, but a word of advice, just remember to do your own research. I can't tell you how many salesman told me I could pull that travel trailer there with my Pilot. Not trying to say all salesman do that, but I had multiple that tried to upgrade me into a travel trailer that was over #3500 pounds.

Can't recommend any that have shower/toilet combos in them because we specifically were looking for ones without them I would bet though, they will be on the heavier side because they will be bigger trailers, but not sure.

Good luck!

 

[crackerJack]

My previous TV was an Oddy, and I pulled my 12' box Mesa. Loaded with gear, camper and passengers I was right at the max with Reese mini WDH.
It pulled it fine, but was very stressful. I am much happier not being at the max with my new TV.

 

[Jughed]

My husband and I are shopping for a pop-up camper. We ride dirtbikes, but I'm assuming there's not a light enough trailer that we can load bikes onto as well as all our stuff and our kids- if there is please let me know.
That said we have four kids ages 6 and under. We're fine with one that sleeps 6 for now and will probably get something else someday.
The Odyssey's tow weight is 3,500.
A toilet/shower combo inside the trailer is a must.
Which trailers would you recommend? I'm having trouble narrowing down which ones to search for. We used a very junky one from craigslist once. I'm hoping to find something of quality this time.

Thanks!

Smallest toy hauler I know of.
Jayco Baja 10G - toy hauling platform & a place for a porta pottie.
base weight 2500#
rated for 4500# loaded.

2500+600 for bikes/fuel + batteries, water, gear, propane... you are over the TV max, without people and gear in the TV.

 

[arthuruscg]

You can find a 10 or 12ft box pop-up with shower and be with in your weight limit but I suspect you will not be able to tow with any water.
I would avoid slides do to the extra weight.

Sent from my XT1060 using Tapatalk

 

[Misc99]

If you are looking at one and it has AC that will be an added 110 pounds. All amenities are not included in the weight listed on a sticker like the water heater.

We have a Jayco 12 foot box. It has AC, water heater, dinette, U dinette, 2 king beds, propane tank, and one heavy stove, plus a few items we keep stocked. We weighed it on a truck scale and it weighs 2400#s. After we add ourselves, "stuff", and food it is getting up there.

When my DH needed to get a new vehicle, we bought a truck that became the new TV. It is a 4.6L engine, but because it is a truck frame, it tows the PUP so much better.

 

[Miamomof8]

We have the same tv and we bought a 1992 palomino pinto in excellent condition. Sleeps 6, no shower or toilet. Weighs 995#! I thought it was smarter to go light than stress the tv. You can use a shower/potty tent much cheaper than you can replace a transmission.

Plus, fewer frills, fewer systems to fail.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[MikesRaleigh]

We tow our 99 Palomino with our 97 Odyssey. I purposely looked for a PUP with no bathroom or slideout, because with 3 kids a dog and our gear we are right at the max I believe. I added a Transmission cooler but the van does not like hills pulling all of that weight and I am very hesitant to take it to the mountains because of that. I'm afraid if you get something with a bathroom and slideout your Odyssey is not going to like you very much.

 

[silvermickey2002]

Remember that the 3,500 towing limit includes everything you put in the Odyssey including people plus the camper and anything you put in there. It doesn't take very long to get near your limit.

We had a 2005 Ody and agree with this post. We confirmed it when talking with the dealer. Salesman was very knowledgeable about the tow limits on the van. 3,500 pounds includes passengers and gear in the van.

 

[bfahs]

We tow with a 2011 oddy.
We found a pup < 2000 lbs and it does ok.
Per Honda, need to add trains cooler, power steering cooler, and brakes.
I especially suggest the brakes.

Brian

 

[VTRailroadguy]

My experience to date

We bought a 2005 StarCraft 2407 (equipped with trailer brakes) last August and tow it with our 2010 Odyssey. I already had the hitch for a small utility trailer, so I had an aftermarket transmission cooler and brake controller installed. We towed it 230 miles one way through the White Mountains of New Hampshire with three kids (9-7-4), my wife and myself and we made it there and returned. We also towed it 100+ miles to Winhall Brook last fall for the rally and had no issues. A few things I have or will change this season, are as follows:

1. I did a x3 transmission fluid change and replaced with Valvoline Maxlife full synthetic. I have not towed the pop up since the change, but normal driving is smoother than it was with the Honda fluid. The fluid that came out wasn't burnt and had 100k miles on it, so I'm hopeful that this change will only improve on that.

2. I had all 4 brakes completely replaced this winter on the Odyssey. They had reached the end of their useful life and it was apparent on some of the steeper grades with the camper once they started heating up.

3. I will have the kids sit in the second row (rather than the third row) and pack the lighter bulkier stuff in the back of the van and the heavier smaller items in the camper. Moving 170# of kids 2 feet ahead of the rear axle should help alleviate some of the rear sag. Depending on the results, I may add a WDH. We shall see.

Bottom line, I'm at my limit and the motor in the Odyssey pulls it well. The vans are wide and sit low providing a very stable platform to tow with. If you can find a set up within the weight limit, you'll do just fine with the Odyssey.

 

[arthuruscg]

I would agree with how good vans do. These are not the 80-90s mid sized car based minivans. The chassis are designed to be minivans and the width and wheel base has grown to match standard cab longbed trucks (or crew cab shortbed) but with less sidewall flex.

 

[silvermickey2002]

Our 2005 Ody did very well towing the pup cross country on multiple trips. The only issue we ran into was weight limits (pup + gear + passengers). We had to be aware of what we packed.

We had the dealer install the trans and power steering coolers as well as the Honda factory hitch.

The one thing I did not like was the van was low to begin with and the hitch did bottom out a few times going up steep driveways.

Our pup does not have a bathroom, shower or hot water heater. It weighs 1,840 lbs empty. When we load up it's probably about 2,100 - 2,200 lbs.

 

[jk70]

I used to tow our Rockwood 1950 with the odyssey. It has the toilet/shower combo. We are a family of 4 and didn't max out even with all of our gear. I have a post somewhere that shows the weights. I will try to find it.

 

[1380ken]

Look at this https://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/rvd/5504519832.html

 

[bfahs]

O

The one thing I did not like was the van was low to begin with and the hitch did bottom out a few times going up steep driveways.

Our pup does not have a bathroom, shower or hot water heater. It weighs 1,840 lbs empty. When we load up it's probably about 2,100 - 2,200 lbs.

Ours is similar size and we bottom out ocassionally too. The fix for that is airbags in the rear shocks, but haven't gotten around to that yet.

 

[VTRailroadguy]

Look at this https://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/rvd/5504519832.html

That is wicked cool!

 

[Rusty2192]

Look at this https://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/rvd/5504519832.html

Lifetime makes something similar for much less. I saw one in the local sporting good store a few years ago and have loved the idea since.

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/lifetime-tent-trailer-kit/prod7730302.ip?mobiledetect=false