Yww

I've been looking at the 2008 RDX as well as the BMW X3, Lexus RX350, Toyota RAV4 V6, ......... and I'm absolutely stunned to find out the towing capacity on the RDX is only 1500 pounds vs 3500 pounds for all the other above vehicles. Do you know why Acura didn't provide a higher towing capacity on the RDX? It just blows my mind a premium AWD SUV like the RDX has such a light weight tow capacity. Your thoughts? Thanks.

vrflyer

Uh yeah, it's a 4cyl - what did you expect?

catnippants

....and a turbo. I think it's pretty rare to allow towing at all with a turbo...(based on my limited experience with them).

Mike

DJ Iceman

Does anyone actually tow anything with any of those vehicles?

loulinjai

I think you brought the wrong car.
I can't imagine an RDX trying to tow a 3500lb load from a standstill up a 15 degree road

XIS

The RDX is not for you, Yww.... Maybe a Yukon or something like that.

vrflyer

Well the the Turbo is irrevlevant (there's many SUV's out there Turboed w/higher towing capacities); now the chassis + tranny + engine displacement is mainly the reason for the RDX isn't able to tow beyond what's recomended.

Animagix

if i wanted to tow anything I would've gotten a tundra.

The Dougler

iTrader: (1)

Please do not quote me, as I can not back up my point at this time, but based on my intro to the ridgeline with Honda's designers they evaluate they're towing capacity differently than other manufacturers. From this point of view the RDX towing capacity is rated at 1500lb with a FULL LOAD of passengers and their gear, while comparatively rated against the competition who can tow 3500lbs does not include the weight of a full load of passengers and gear. If you add the weight of 4 buddies and the requisite gear for the excursion at hand You should come damn near to 3500lbs. I'm not positive if this is the case with the RDX but I KNOW 100% that's how the ridgeline is rated.

ThePlainsman

Why would anyone who needs to tow buy an RDX? That makes as much sense as buying a Corvette when you have a family of five.

Hello, you buy the vehicle that fits your NEED. You don't try to fit your desires (square peg) into your real need (round hole).

If you need to tow, buy a Durango with a Hemi.

levon1830

That's a little unfair.

Maybe the OP is looking to tow a couple of jetski's or the occasional small trailer full of random crap (e.g. helping a friend move a sofa set). Many expect this to be an option while owning any SUV.

If the OP said he expected his RDX to be able to tow a 35-foot camper, I, too, would and ridicule him/her, but expecting the RDX to handle light towing is entirely reasonable.

scudzuki

I tow a motorcycle trailer loaded with my trackbike. I've throw my buddy's bike on with mine (around a ton) and pulled it with no problem. I used to pull the same with my 01 MDX. Honda products of that vintage (TL, CL, Accord, MDX) shared a transmission design and they were known for grenading (go on the message boards, there are reports of 2 or more transmission replacements in the same vehicle). The rated tow capacity of the MDX was then downgraded (service bulletin) to 1500 lbs and only with a cooler installed. I ran that thing all over the place towing 2 and sometimes 3 bikes. I suspect that Honda is just reluctant to push the limit given their experience with that platform and the target audience for the RDX. Regardless, I wouldn't attempt to pull a travel trailer with one.

Joe

mau108

You make a good point. Is there a standard for testing tow capacity or is it at manufacturers discretion?

Although I wouldn't tow a thing with any of my cars nor tie stuff to the roof rack lol I'd agree with others, RDX ain't for your if you wanna tow.

and I don't think its a motor thing, I've seen 1st gen CRV's haul trailer...1st gen crv has a 2.0L B20Z5 motor (156hp approx).

Yww

Thank you for all your responses. I really like the RDX because of its sportiness, responsiveness, compactness, fun factor, value and Acura reliability. However, I do expect any SUV to provide a decent tow capacity that allows you to pull some light to medium loads occasionally. At least I feel it should offer load capacity similar to or close to what the competitors are offering. When the weather improves, I do plan to pull some camping gears, maybe a small boat occasionally as well as the possibility to pull couple of dirt bikes. Am I ever going to pull a 25-foot trailer or a huge yacht? Absolutely not. If I were, I would pick something like a Yukon. However, knowing I have say 3500 pounds or around that would at least provide me with some peace of mind my vehicle has enough reserve to make it thru with light duty hauling without ever worrying about whether I'm at or exceeding the tow limit.

"The Dougler" mentioned that Honda may evaluate their vehicles' tow capacity differently than others. I find that hard to believe a manufacturer would deliberately under-rate their tow capacity (to me that diminishes a selling point). I would think all vehicle manufacturers (at least the ones that have factories here) abide by the same specs issued by SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers). I could be wrong.

Sure the majority of the people who buy RDX, X3 or RX350 will never take their vehicles off-road nor pull any trailers but there are those of us who will occasionally do that. A good example is my neighbor who drives a X3. Each year he rents a U-Haul trailer a few times to help his 2 college kids move out of or into the college dorm and off campus housing. The rest of the time he never tows anything. I just feel Acura is missing the boat for not providing adequate tow capacity on the RDX (just my opinion) and because of this issue, potential buyers like myself are forced to abandon the RDX and consider either the X3 or RX as an alternative.

737 Jock

Admittedly 1500 lbs is less than the X-3 can pull, but it fits the lifestyles of the RDX target demographic, that is; the active professional who wants to "escape" to outdoor recreation on weekends.

For instance this trailer weighs 250 lbs and will carry 3 Honda CRF450 dirt bikes for a total weight (GVW) of 910 lbs;



Alternately, one could tow one large PWC or ATV with different mounting fittings.

A fiberglass utility trailer weighs about 400 to 500 lbs leaving 1000+ lbs for cargo, more than enough for active outdoor pursuits:

Rdxowner

nop i diddn't.

LukeaTron

I have to ask, what kind of track bikes are you running that could possibly add up to a ton with just two bikes? 2 bikes, all your gear, an enclosed trailer and every tool you could you need plus maybe a spare set of tires complete with wheels might be a ton. What are you racing Harleys or something?

scudzuki

A modern 600 gassed up weighs 440 pounds. My trailer weighs half a ton. I have spare wheels, other spares, tools, an EZ up, riding gear. Got a calculator?

Joe

H1K1F1

Get another vehicle.

LukeaTron

I guess the trailer is heavier than I expected. Off topic but what are you riding and what track? I've got a FZR-600 that I've taken up to Beaverun (Western PA) a couple times and it was a blast. Hardly the fastest bike in the world but man that thing is flickable.

scudzuki

2003 CBR600RR with Ten Kate fork cartridges & springs and a Penske shock, the usual intake & exhaust mods, Armour bodies fiberglass. She's seen tarmac a few times for sure, including tucking a cold front tire in turn 5 (everybody crashes in turn 5 at Barber) last October.

I inherited the trailer from my pop. It's a 3 rail that can carry close to a ton in bikes. Pretty beastly but effective.

Beaverun (or da Beave as me & my riding buddies refer to it) is my favorite track. I've ridden Summit Point main, Pocono (east course and FUSA), Beaverun, and Barber (now that's a tough track) but Beaverun stands out. Just the right blend of speed and flow, not too big, and a blind turn or 2 (how'd you like the corkscrew?). Coming out of 10-11 hard on the gas in 2nd up the hill, trying to hold the bike down on the inside of 12 cresting the hill on the gas in 3rd, nice front end wobble at 110 as I pop onto the back straight headed for start/finish but not daring to back off on the gas lest that 750 I've been holding off will sneak past...
Man my heartrate jumped 10 bpm just thinking about it. Hopefully I'll get there for the October STT outing. Let me know if you're going to make it.
Joe

cose25

my 2008 seadoo RXP-X 255 hp ski....no problem. hidden hitch.

vrflyer

Nice!!!

batman

Nice. I plan to pull a 4x6 enclosed when I move down south.

cose25

too bad its around 33 degrees right now....yea, the rxp-x is running 0-50 in 2.9 seconds, yee haw!!

funktional-fitness

I thought towing had to do with a car's ability to STOP!! Considering RDX only has 1 piston calipers for brakes, it aint stopping much!

HondaGuy347

When I get an SUV, likely to be an RDX, I plan on towing with it. I plan on buying a smallish utility trailer, so I can buy things like firewood or mulch in bulk and tow it home, rather than paying to have it delivered. Same with furniture, rent power equipment (aerator, wood splitter, etc) and whatever else I need to. Also like to buy a PWC and/or small sailboat.

I do expect the 1500lb rating to be adequate (give or take, but I don't plan on towing very far or very fast, so if I go over a few pounds it should be fine.) And yeah, I'd consider a Ridgeline, but my wife says they are way too hideous, so SUV it is

brizey

Old thread is old.

Calling the RDX an SUV is rather a stretch. I would not have bought it if it was a classic body on frame SUV. In general, its towing capabilities, good handling and price: pick two.

HondaGuy347

Better to revive a relevant old thread than start a redundant new one.

Like I said, it will do just fine for most suburban homeowner-type duties, and that's all many of us want.

rskdsk

WOW you'all are wimps! I have towed 3500 thousands of miles with my RDX. I even used it to tow my 09 mimi cooper from TX to FL (two wheel dolly) without missing a beat. My car now has 40+k miles and never an issue.

shivaswrath

Have the tranny issues been sorted out? I'm thinking of moving, need a U-Haul trailer, wanted to see what my options were with my 2010 RDX. . .

also, did you guys have U-Haul install the trailer hitch, or have Acura do it? Costs?

beav626

Now what about a pair of those bad boys behind a RDX

BTW I have that Ski and LOVE it!

Mr Marco

Mr Marco

beav626

Screw A ZO6 thats a Wide Booty

Vividsi

I'm getting a picture here, RDX with the rotora big brake kit on all 4 corners towing a turbocharged Honda jetski.

Eugene Carroll

This is hilarious. This is the first thread that came up when I googled info on the "real" towing capacity of the RDX. We just picked up our new 2017 RDX yesterday and were stunned when we got home and it had a Class I hitch that would not fit our bike rack. We traded in a Honda Odyssey that had a Class III hitch on it.

1500 lbs is the same capacity as my 09 Pontiac Vibe (152 hp). We have a teardrop trailer that is just over 1500, and I'm assuming this can pull it, given the whopping 279 hp and 250 lbs of torque.

Eugene Carroll

I agree. The Mercedes GLA class is a compact SUV with a 2.0L turbo, much smaller than the RDX (practically a hatchback) and it's rated at ...NO JOKE...3,800 lbs.!

That said we're super happy with the new RDX, just glad we didn't have a bigger trailer, as we made a bad assumption based on the HP. Never assume, always look it up! Lesson learned.

Eugene Carroll

Thanks! This is what I wanted to know. Did you have to add any modifications such as an oil or tranny cooler? I'm going to be towing less than 2,000, which I'm sure this thing can handle, my only concern is cooling at this point.

TacoBello

Dude... you're talking to yourself This thread hasn't been bumped since 2013