FIT Towing?

[JoeF]

Can the automatic fit with tranny cooler tow 2000 lbs or is that a pipe dream?

I am putting air shocks and a tow hitch on next week.

Joe

[sonicsc1]

wowwwwwwwww let me know i am very interested on how it works out for you good luck my friend.all i tell you i have a hitch but only use it for my biycle 3 bikes and full car i can feel her with that kind of load. 2000 lbs all i can say is breaks breaks breaks .

[binaryh4x]

How far are you going with this trailer? If you are towing frequently, I would look into the integra front brake upgrade.

[Uncle Gary]

According to the owner's manual, towing anything will void your warranty-at least here in the US.

[sevenaprils]

Originally Posted by binaryh4x

How far are you going with this trailer? If you are towing frequently, I would look into the integra front brake upgrade.

slightly off topic but looking at your avatar, whats your setup? I'm looking to take some occasional trips and want to take my bike (95 zx6r, approx 800lbs) with me trailer hitched to the fit...
So, any suspension mods, braking, etc.?

[JoeF]

I would like to get a light flat trailer for going to home depot and to tow a motorcycle occasionally. I am getting the airshocks so my car doesnt drag the ground every time I have 4-5 people in it and of course a nice reese hitch.

Joe

[FitStir]

As mentioned towing anything with the USDM GE8 will void your warranty according to the manual.

However

Originally Posted by FitStir

The specs sheet on the Australian Fit. Honda Jazz Specifications | 2009, 2008

Show the following #'s

Maximum towing capacity (kg) – trailer with brakes 1000 (man) and 800 (auto)
trailer without brakes 450 (man and auto)
downforce/tongue load 70


They also show a tow hitch ---> Honda Jazz Optional Extras & Body Kit | 2009, 2008

But I think it was discussed before that this wouldn't work with the USDM Fits. not 100% sure though.

Check these previous threads for more info, some people have already installed aftermarket hitches on the Fit. Hitch receiver at etrailer & Hitch receiver for 2009

From this thread ---> Towing with the FIT HELP

Originally Posted by dzager

I have a 2009 Fit Sport Manual - about 7000 miles on it now. I just got back from a trip to the Florida Keys - 1500 miles one way. I towed my trailer I built on a Harbor Freight kit. Here is some info for you:

1. My trailer. Harbor Fright 4x8. I built a box on it that was 4 by 9 feet and 42 inches high - so it is about 4 inches below the roof line of the Fit. It weighs (with my box) 515 pounds unloaded. Loaded trailer weight was 950 pounds - toungue weight 125 pounds.

2. My son and I were on the trip About 350 pounds of people, another 100 pounds clothing, sleeping bags, etc. in the car). We took out the bigger back seat - put a good sized cooler there. One of us could sleep in the back comfortably.

3. Air shocks were at 90 pounds on the way there, and I went with 60 pounds on the way back. 90 gave noticably better handling, but stiff ride (felt bumps) (big rigs passing us didn't rock the rig). 60 was a better ride - but I felt it when we were passed by big rigs (smoother ride) (not bad - but had to steer to compensate).

4. Some roads have poured cement perpendicular to direction of travel. Sometimes these "scallop" with use and weather. This set up a bouncing oscillation that was uncomfortable and made me worry about the hitch. This happened to a lesser degree when I towed with my Honda Odyssey - and I never noticed it when towing with my full size Chevy van. The shorter wheel base tow vehicle is impacted greater. Thank goodness these were few and far between.

5. Plenty of power to tow this weight. Braking was adequate - felt the same as when I towed my 2,000 pound boat with the Odyssey. Would prefer trailer brakes - but I never worried about it.

6. With manual tranny, I had to downshift to 4th only when going over the mountains right before Chatanooga. Left it in 5th all the time. Engine temps never varried (I have a Scan Guage). Now, with an auto tranny I could see there might be problems towing this weight - it would probably down shift a lot. I don't know that I would tow that much with an Auto Fit - for sure I would have a Tranny temp guage, tranny cooler, and really watch it.

7. Mileage really proportionate to speed. At 55 mph got 35 mpg, 65 mph got 30 mpg (no wind and flats), down to 25 mpg with lots of hills and 15+ headwind (at 65 mph). I never went over 65. All of the above with the cruise control. Better mileage if you take it off cruise and coast down hill, allow up to 10 mph speed drop up hill, etc.

8. Hitch mounts and everything look fine - no frame dents or any sign that the hitch shifted in its mounts, etc. Handled the toungue weight and the bouncing, etc. no sweat. No loss of air in the shocks at all. Considering the goofy bouncing in some roads, I was pleased.

Coming back to Illinois we hit heavy rain, 20 mph headwinds, sleet, heavy snow, slop. Went through it all fine.

I think 1,000 pounds is a definite limitation without trailer brakes. I wouldn't tow a trailer that extends above the roof line or outside the width of the car - not enough horse power to over come the wind resistance. If you do tow this high profile - I can't see going over 55 mph (maybe even less).

All in all, it did fine. I was as confident with the Fit towing this 900+ pound trailer as I was towing my 2,000 pound boat with the Odyssey. I tow this trailer regularly during the summer at a loaded weight of about 700 pounds.

Read that entire thread (and the others too), and do a search of dzager's posts he has plenty of info regarding towing with a 2009 GE8.


I still want to know if that Australian tow hitch will work on our USDM Fits...

[binaryh4x]

Originally Posted by sevenaprils

slightly off topic but looking at your avatar, whats your setup? I'm looking to take some occasional trips and want to take my bike (95 zx6r, approx 800lbs) with me trailer hitched to the fit...
So, any suspension mods, braking, etc.?

Last I towed a bike, the only suspension mod I had done was Skunk2 lowering springs. I have towed my XR650L, which is probably about 400lbs, a Vulcan, no idea it's weight, without problem.

OP, have you checked out etrailer.com? They have a hitch for your car with drawbar for $130 and free shipping. I have never towed on stock springs so I don't know how bad the sag is.

[Uncle Gary]

It's funny, but in other markets, Honda will allow the Fit to tow, but not in the U.S. I guess Honda trusts Australians and Europeans not to overdo things.

I'm in the same boat, so to speak, because I'd like to be able to trailer my Harley the 40 miles or so to a shop if it needs work I can't do myself. This might be only once every couple of years or so, but it would be nice to have the option. I estimate the total wight would be in the 850 pound range. That's why I'm interested in these threads.

[binaryh4x]

Yeah a bike will be no problem at all. Although, if its a Harley, it'll be more like once every couple of months.

[Uncle Gary]

I don't know about that, my '94 Softail has 151,000 miles on it, and generally only sees a shop for tire changes. All other maintenance, and most other repairs I do myself (I even laced my own wheels). The motor was rebuilt once at 90,000 as a consequence of a lifter failure.

It will someday need another drive belt change or new steering head bearings-normal wear stuff when you ride 10,000 miles/year.

My goal is to put 1/4 million miles on that bike. Then, I'll set a new goal.