Class 2 or Class 3 Hitch for 2020 Honda Pilot

Question:

My Honda pilot is rated for 3500 pound towing capacity. Should I use a class two or class III? It is a 2 Wheel Drive 2020 pilot

asked by: Joseph K

Expert Reply:

Class 3 Hitch! If you follow our fitguide here at etrailer, which I also linked below, all our recommendations for the 2020 Honda Pilot are Class III hitches.

I also own a 2019 Honda Pilot, and if there's one thing I've learned from that car, it's that you can never have too many safety features. I feel the same way about hitches. If it fits your vehicle, there is no such thing as too much towing capacity. Even though your Honda Pilot has a 3500 lb towing capacity, it's perfectly fine to use a Class 3 hitch with more capacity than you'll ever use. It's also a great choice since it's easier to find compatible bike racks for 2" hitches as compared to 1-1/4". The only reason you should get a Class 2 hitch is if you are only using it for certain accessories that are absolutely only compatible with 1-1/4" hitch receivers.

So we have two different options for your vehicle: the Curt Hitch # C13146 and the etrailer Hitch # e98840. They are both great Class 3 hitches with similar capacities. The main differences are designs and usages.

The Curt Hitch # C13146 is higher up and has more ground clearance which means it's great with sporty accessories like bike racks and cargo carriers, but it is only 1/2" higher than the etrailer hitch.

The etrailer Hitch # e98840 is designed to be the most low-profile. It has the same design as the Curt Hitch, the main difference is the paint color. The Curt has gloss black paint and the etrailer one has matte black paint. This is also offered at a lower price which is always a plus.

If I had to choose between the three hitches, I'd choose the Curt Hitch # C13146 because it has more ground clearance and I would use it for my sports accessories. I attached a video of the install process of this hitch.

If you want to use yours for towing, you can also pick up a ball mount like the Curt Towing Starter Kit # C45534 or a wiring harness like the Curt T-Connector- 4-Pole Flat # C56291 and other great towing accessories here at Etrailer.com.