Parts Needed to Tow a Trailer with a 2016 Honda Pilot

Question:

How do I tell if my 2016 Pilot has a factory 7 way? I called the dealership where I purchased the car and they werent able to tell me. What is a 7 way? If It doesnt have one what are all the parts I would need to tow a trailer?

asked by: Mike

Expert Reply:

I've attached an image of what a 7-way would look like for you to check your vehicle.

Typically the parts to tow a trailer would be a hitch, a trailer wiring harness, a ballmount and a ball. If you have a heavy trailer with breaks you may need a brake controller and weight distribution.

First lets start with what you will need for both applications. A hitch is what you need to use to tow anything of weight with your 2016 Honda Pilot. I recommend the etrailer # e98840 which has a nice look with its hidden crosstube and matte black finish.

Next needed for both applications is to install wiring to transfer power from your vehicle to the trailer lights. I did some research and found out that # 118286 will work whether you have a factory 7-way or not, this will provide you with one.

Now is the step where we evaluate what you are towing and what system will work for you. If you are looking to tow a jet ski, I recommend a ballmount and hitch ball like # AMSC2 and # 63845.

If you were looking to tow a 3,000 lbs trailer then you would want to consider going with a weight distribution system. This will relieve stress from your trailer tongue and transfer it to all axles allowing for a smoother and more controlled ride. I recommend looking at our Stait-Line Systems like # RP66082, they are designed to prevent sway before it starts with their dual cam technology. When you have a trailer of this size it will most likely have brakes and that would mean that you need a way to send power from the tow vehicle to the trailer to apply the brakes. This is done with a Brake Controller. We offer many types but I would recommend the Prodigy P3 # 90195 because it is a proportional controller that has a full display screen that will display errors in full text instead of having codes to decipher.

I have attached a Help article on weight distribution for your convenience.