2018 Honda Pilot towing capacity
Up to 5,000 lbs with a conventional ball hitch. That rating is for this configuration: LX AWD, V6, 3471 cc, AWD. The lowest-rated configuration in the same tables is 3,500 lbs, so the answer for your vehicle depends on how it is equipped.
The top figure belongs to one specific build. Find the row that matches your engine, cab, drive and axle, and check the label on your driver's door jamb. Passengers and cargo in the truck come off what you can tow.
2018 Honda Pilot towing capacity chart
All 9 configurations in the source, by hitch type, highest rating first. Each row links to the page it is printed on.
Conventional (ball hitch)
| Configuration | Drive | Axle | Max trailer | Needs | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LX AWD6-Speed Automatic Transmission (6AT)drive is printed as 'AWD' in the row label 'Towing Capacity (2WD/AWD)'; cell prints '3500 lbs / 5000lbs' for 2WD / AWD; hitch: footnote 3 on page 7 says towing requires a hitch ball, so the rating is for a conventional ball hitch | AWD | 5,000 lbs | Honda accessory towing kit; trailer harness; hitch ball | p. 2 | |
| EX AWD6-Speed Automatic Transmission (6AT)drive is printed as 'AWD' in the row label 'Towing Capacity (2WD/AWD)'; cell prints '3500 lbs / 5000lbs' for 2WD / AWD; hitch: footnote 3 on page 7 says towing requires a hitch ball, so the rating is for a conventional ball hitch | AWD | 5,000 lbs | Honda accessory towing kit; trailer harness; hitch ball | p. 2 | |
| EX-L AWD6-Speed Automatic Transmission (6AT)drive is printed as 'AWD' in the row label 'Towing Capacity (2WD/AWD)'; cell prints '3500 lbs / 5000lbs' for 2WD / AWD; hitch: footnote 3 on page 7 says towing requires a hitch ball, so the rating is for a conventional ball hitch | AWD | 5,000 lbs | Honda accessory towing kit; trailer harness; hitch ball | p. 2 | |
| Touring AWD9-Speed Automatic Transmission (9AT) with Shift-By-Wire (SBW)drive is printed as 'AWD' in the row label 'Towing Capacity (2WD/AWD)'; cell prints '3500 lbs / 5000lbs' for 2WD / AWD; hitch: footnote 3 on page 7 says towing requires a hitch ball, so the rating is for a conventional ball hitch | AWD | 5,000 lbs | Honda accessory towing kit; trailer harness; hitch ball | p. 2 | |
| Elite AWD9-Speed Automatic Transmission (9AT) with Shift-By-Wire (SBW)drive is printed as 'AWD' in the row label 'Towing Capacity (2WD/AWD)'; cell prints 'NA / 5000lbs' for 2WD / AWD; hitch: footnote 3 on page 7 says towing requires a hitch ball, so the rating is for a conventional ball hitch | AWD | 5,000 lbs | Honda accessory towing kit; trailer harness; hitch ball | p. 2 | |
| LX 2WD6-Speed Automatic Transmission (6AT)drive is printed as '2WD' in the row label 'Towing Capacity (2WD/AWD)'; cell prints '3500 lbs / 5000lbs' for 2WD / AWD; hitch: footnote 3 on page 7 says towing requires a hitch ball, so the rating is for a conventional ball hitch | 2WD | 3,500 lbs | Honda accessory towing kit; trailer harness; hitch ball | p. 2 | |
| EX 2WD6-Speed Automatic Transmission (6AT)drive is printed as '2WD' in the row label 'Towing Capacity (2WD/AWD)'; cell prints '3500 lbs / 5000lbs' for 2WD / AWD; hitch: footnote 3 on page 7 says towing requires a hitch ball, so the rating is for a conventional ball hitch | 2WD | 3,500 lbs | Honda accessory towing kit; trailer harness; hitch ball | p. 2 | |
| EX-L 2WD6-Speed Automatic Transmission (6AT)drive is printed as '2WD' in the row label 'Towing Capacity (2WD/AWD)'; cell prints '3500 lbs / 5000lbs' for 2WD / AWD; hitch: footnote 3 on page 7 says towing requires a hitch ball, so the rating is for a conventional ball hitch | 2WD | 3,500 lbs | Honda accessory towing kit; trailer harness; hitch ball | p. 2 | |
| Touring 2WD9-Speed Automatic Transmission (9AT) with Shift-By-Wire (SBW)drive is printed as '2WD' in the row label 'Towing Capacity (2WD/AWD)'; cell prints '3500 lbs / 5000lbs' for 2WD / AWD; hitch: footnote 3 on page 7 says towing requires a hitch ball, so the rating is for a conventional ball hitch | 2WD | 3,500 lbs | Honda accessory towing kit; trailer harness; hitch ball | p. 2 |
Common questions
What does a 2018 Honda Pilot need to tow 5,000 lbs?
The source lists this for the top-rated configuration: Honda accessory towing kit; trailer harness; hitch ball.
Where do these numbers come from?
From 2018 Honda Pilot Specifications & Features. Each row in the tables above links to the document and gives the page the figure is printed on.
Towing equipment for the 2018 Honda Pilot
The manufacturer's tables name this equipment for some 2018 Honda Pilot configurations. Equipment does not raise a rating. Check the Needs column for your own build before buying anything.
- Hitch ball, listed for 9 of 9 configurations. See on Amazon (paid link)
- Trailer wiring harness, listed for 9 of 9 configurations. See on Amazon (paid link)
- Trailer hitch receiver, listed for 9 of 9 configurations. See on Amazon (paid link)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. The ratings on this page come only from the documents cited.
Where these numbers come from
- 2018 Honda Pilot Specifications & Features, Honda. Manufacturer press specifications. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
Page numbers count pages in the linked file, which can differ from the number printed in the corner. Report a number that looks wrong.
Related ratings
- 2019 Honda Pilot towing capacity
- 2017 Honda Pilot towing capacity
- Every year of the Honda Pilot
- Other SUVs that can tow 5,000 lbs
- 2018 Honda Ridgeline, up to 5,000 lbs
- 2018 Honda Odyssey, up to 3,500 lbs
- 2018 Honda CR-V, up to 1,500 lbs