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Recommended Hitch and Suspension Upgrade for a 2018 Honda Odyssey  

Published 07/09/2023



Question:

To Whom It May Concern, We have a 2018 Honda Odyssey that we’ve added factory side rails and factory cross bars to the roof. With 4 kids and a dog we are starting to fill the thing up rather quickly and have never been able to take bikes or a boat kayak or canoe when we go camping. I’m looking at adding a hitch and see there are suspension improvements that would prevent the van from sagging as much when loaded. I’d like to explore what our options are for utilizing this van and hauling more, either on the roof or hitch. Can you help me with what are some good options? We currently have a 21 year old Thule cargo carrier we use that is about 7 92” long but that is it.

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Expert Reply:

It sounds like you have your roof top completely covered that's a large cargo box. I would be surprised if you weren't at or over your roofs capacity with it fully loaded. To add a hitch to your 2018 Honda Odyssey, I recommend the etrailer Hitch item # e98855. This hitch is custom fit and bolts to your Honda with included hardware. It is a class III 2" which will give you the most options for accessories and the highest capacity for towing.

Suspension upgrade options for your van are pretty limited. The Timbren Rear Suspension Enhancement System item # T26FR has a 3,500 lbs capacity and will keep your van from sagging. These replace your factory bump stops and limit the amount of travel in your suspension. This is the best option available and it will take care of the sagging issues. The only drawback is they can stiffen up your rear suspension during daily driving.

With the 2" hitch installed you can use any of the following to bring more stuff like kids bikes or have more room inside your van.

Cargo Carrier - 24x60 etrailer Cargo Carrier for 2" Hitches item # e98874

Bike Rack - Hollywood Racks Destination Bike Rack for 4 Bikes item # HR4000

If you end up towing a trailer you will also need a wiring harness item # C56382 and a ball mount kit item # C45534.

I also recommend using the No-Drill Mount Bracket item # 18136 and the item # C42CR to secure the 4-way connector to your hitch. This will put it in an easy to reach spot and prevent the risk of it falling onto the road.

We had a bunch of installation and demonstration videos that we made on Honda Odysseys so I have linked them below. Feel free to email me back with any additional questions.

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