When it comes to picking out a vehicle to tow with, we often think of pickup trucks and SUVs. But, it isn’t impossible to tow with other vehicles, either, such as some crossovers, sedans, and even sports cars. What you might not have expected is that minivans can also offer a decent amount of towing capacity, only adding to the practicality of the vehicle. In fact, popular options like the 2021 Honda Odyssey have enough towing capacity to make it the ultimate summer road trip vehicle no matter what you’re towing along.

What is the towing capacity of the 2021 Honda Odyssey?

The 2021 Honda Odyssey has a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds no matter what trim level you choose, and that stands true for the 2020 model as well. According to Honda, they even offer a variety of equipment for towing in different ways designed for the Odyssey. This includes a hitch receiver, harness, locking pin, and hitch ball. While you can find most of these towing components without the Honda name at many auto parts stores, the important thing to keep in mind is to make sure the harness connector works, which for the 2021 Odyssey is a 7-pin round connector.

What can you tow with 3,500 pounds of towing capacity?

If towing isn’t a regular task for you, the towing capacity of 3,500 pounds might not give much of an explanation of what your 2021 Honda Odyssey can actually tow. With 3,500 pounds of towing capacity, you can bring along a smaller pop-up camper, jet skis, or even a small boat — but it’s always important to double-check the exact weight of what you are looking to tow because it can vary greatly with the additional weight of a trailer or additional cargo. The Odyssey offers just enough towing capacity to be a truly practical vehicle, but you should never exceed the rated towing capacity.

Getting the right towing equipment for a minivan

Unlike trucks and SUVs, however, most minivans sit lower to the ground. This is great when it comes to ease of access, but it also means that trailers with attachments that sit too high off of the ground won’t reach with a ball hitch. Getting a trailer that works well with your 2021 Honda Odyssey is just one step of the process, and even though the vans do have a standard towing capacity, they don’t necessarily come with all of the towing accessories that you may need. That means towing with your Odyssey might be a bit of an investment at the start to ensure you have all of the right towing equipment.

The towing capacity of the 2021 Honda Odyssey might come as a surprise to buyers, and even some owners, you might not have considered using their minivan as a towing vehicle, and while it won’t tow along big boats or fifth-wheel trailers, it’s more than enough for a fun summer adventure.