Recommended Trailer Hitch, Wiring, and Transmission Cooler for 2015 Honda Odyssey

Question:

Hi. I have a 2015 Honda Odyssey. Looking to add a hitch and wiring harness. Will be towing a single jetski that weights 664 pounds plus trailer. The trailer says it weighs 205lbs. Total weight is 869 pounds. This is well within specs but the owners manual seems to Recommend a trans cooler for all towing. I used to tow it with a 2006 Odyssey. Did not have a trans cooler and never had a problem. Can I tow my ski without a trans cooler on my 2015 Odyssey? Thanks.

asked by: Barry

Expert Reply:

Starting with the trailer hitch for your 2015 Honda Odyssey I recommend the Draw-Tite Class III # 75270 because of its robust capacities (4,500 pounds towing and 675 pounds of tongue weight) indicating a stronger unit along with its simple installation process that just requires lining up the hitch to existing holes in the Odyssey's frame.

I have attached an installation video on the 2015 Odyssey that you can use for reference.

Then for trailer wiring the Tekonsha T-One # 118521 will work perfectly. This custom harness will plug right into the factory harness on your vehicle that's located behind the driver's side interior trim panel in the rear cargo area. It will provide you with a 4-Way connector to connect with and power the basic signal lights on your jet ski trailer.

Adding a transmission cooler to a vehicle is usually not a requirement but something that will always provide some benefit. The extent of this benefit depends a lot on the tow vehicle as well as the weight of the trailer you plan on towing. With a light trailer like what you plan on pulling that falls well under the capabilities of your Odyssey, an aftermarket transmission cooler probably isn't absolutely necessary but it will still help to keep the transmission temp down while you're pulling the trailer up hills or traveling during those warmer months. Its greatest benefit might not reveal itself until many years down the line when the transmission is still in good condition because of it and you're still taking the jet skis to the lake every weekend in the summer.

I did also take a look at the online owner's manual for your 2015 Honda Odyssey and it does appear that Honda requires an aftermarket cooler to be installed to maintain the vehicle's listed towing capacities. Towing the trailer without an additional cooler, regardless of its weight, may void the vehicle's warranty if something were to happen.

With all of this in mind I do recommend adding a supplemental cooler to your setup.

For your vehicle the Derale Series 8000 # D13501 should work great. It measures 11 inches wide, 5-3/4 inches tall, and 7/8 inch deep. You will just want to make sure you have enough room behind the grille for this to mount. I have attached an install video on an older model Odyssey that you can take a look at.