Recommended Tow Bar for Use Flat Towing a Honda Odyssey

Updated 01/05/2015 | Published 01/03/2015

Question:

I lhave a Honda Oddesy I need to tow behind my motor home what size is needed for that size unit. Is 5,000 lb. big enough?

asked by: Charles M

Expert Reply:

Safe and legal flat towing requires a number of components in addition to the tow bar: base plates, safety cables, a lighting/wiring solution and a supplementary braking system (which is needed in most states). For reference I have linked at right an article that covers flat towing basics. This article covers each of the items noted above and includes helpful links to those products.

Also, before flat-towing any vehicle the owner's manual should be consulted to confirm that the particular year/make/model/version can be flat towed. Some vehicles require specific preparation steps before they can be flat towed. Your manual is a good starting point.

As with most things, having extra capacity is a good idea. If your Odyssey is the LX version it may have a curb weight of around 4400-lbs. By the time you add any cargo in the vehicle you may be close to 5000-lbs. With this being the case I recommend going a little higher with a 6000-lb tow bar like the Demco Commander II # DM9511012.

Generally it is best to use a tow bar from the same maker as your base plates. This avoids the complication and expense of adapters. If you can advise the year and version of your Odyssey I will be glad to recommend the correct base plates and a compatible tow bar.

expert reply by: Adam R