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Towing Results - I wanted to share

4563 Views 6 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  HarveyW
2020 Passport Elite AWD

Yesterday, I towed my new Kubota BX23S home from Nashville to below Pittsburgh, about 9 hours through the Kentucky and West Virginia mountains. With Loader, Mower, Backhoe, and fluid filled tires, it was slightly under 3000 pounds of payload on a dual axle 18 foot trailer, trailer is slightly under 2000 pounds. Estimated trailer weight at 4500 pounds. Also 2 adults (not 150 pounds. lol) and maybe 100 in gear and accessories I purchased.

I installed the hitch, brake controller, and wiring myself, but let my local Honda dealer install the transmission cooler. I ran out of time to do it myself. Kudos to the Redarc Tow-Pro Elite brake controller... it did an amazing job. I also watched my transmission temp most of the ride with an ODBC bluetoothed to my phone on the Torque app. 185 nearly the whole ride, max was 188 on a few mountains. It was solid very little fluctuation. Outside temp was 60, so the cooler day surely helped a little.

I have a lot of towing experience. from long to short, heavy to light, local and cross country... but almost all with a full size diesel trucks... or my Tahoe.

With all that said... the Passport was flawless. You knew it was back there... definitely, but I had no issue topping any hill at 70, or more if I wanted to push it. I took it easy with always power to spare, no sway, minimal squat on the PP. I did position the tractor for a good tongue weight.

I pulled out nervous thinking I wish I had my Tahoe, but quickly realized I was good to go. It was definably not a full sized diesel truck, but properly equipped, I can honestly say from experience... This is a beast of a towing machine at near 5000 lbs.

Oh ya... 14 mpg. Truly an impressive gas mileage number. I had the weight, but not the wind resistance a camper wound have, so I think that was part of the reason.

I wanted to share for all of you who were considering towing with your PP. I was considering the 2022 Tundra, but now I will have to rethink that.

Dan

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Great info! On my torq app my trans temp runs 180's avg without cooler and with no towing. That Kubota is a fine piece of equipment!
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Damn that’s impressive!! Thanks for sharing...people will be pleasantly surprised to hear that
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2020 Passport Elite AWD

Yesterday, I towed my new Kubota BX23S home from Nashville to below Pittsburgh, about 9 hours through the Kentucky and West Virginia mountains. With Loader, Mower, Backhoe, and fluid filled tires, it was slightly under 3000 pounds of payload on a dual axle 18 foot trailer, trailer is slightly under 2000 pounds. Estimated trailer weight at 4500 pounds. Also 2 adults (not 150 pounds. lol) and maybe 100 in gear and accessories I purchased.

I installed the hitch, brake controller, and wiring myself, but let my local Honda dealer install the transmission cooler. I ran out of time to do it myself. Kudos to the Redarc Tow-Pro Elite brake controller... it did an amazing job. I also watched my transmission temp most of the ride with an ODBC bluetoothed to my phone on the Torque app. 185 nearly the whole ride, max was 188 on a few mountains. It was solid very little fluctuation. Outside temp was 60, so the cooler day surely helped a little.

I have a lot of towing experience. from long to short, heavy to light, local and cross country... but almost all with a full size diesel trucks... or my Tahoe.

With all that said... the Passport was flawless. You knew it was back there... definitely, but I had no issue topping any hill at 70, or more if I wanted to push it. I took it easy with always power to spare, no sway, minimal squat on the PP. I did position the tractor for a good tongue weight.

I pulled out nervous thinking I wish I had my Tahoe, but quickly realized I was good to go. It was definably not a full sized diesel truck, but properly equipped, I can honestly say from experience... This is a beast of a towing machine at near 5000 lbs.

Oh ya... 14 mpg. Truly an impressive gas mileage number. I had the weight, but not the wind resistance a camper wound have, so I think that was part of the reason.

I wanted to share for all of you who were considering towing with your PP. I was considering the 2022 Tundra, but now I will have to rethink that.

Dan
Thank you for the detailed report.
Btw..nice looking kubota. 😎

Very amazed by the fuel consumption. That 14mpg is truly one hell of record especially considering the mountainous region.

Are those the orginal stock rims and tires? On the PP.
Thank you for the detailed report.
Btw..nice looking kubota. 😎

Very amazed by the fuel consumption. That 14mpg is truly one hell of record especially considering the mountainous region.

Are those the orginal stock rims and tires? On the PP.
Yes. I am running the 20s. I car just hit 5000 miles.
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I read with interest.
Could this have been accomplished without a tranny cooler?
Per the OP the estimated loaded trailer weighed in at around 4500 pounds. Could you? Sure. Should you? Well Honda says no. They state the maximum towing load is 3500 pounds without a ATF cooler and 5000 pounds with the ATF cooler.
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