Has anyone tried towing with their Clarity?

Emgain, do you know why you chose that particular Curt model?

It appears the Curt 56187 is the same as the Torklift. At least looking at the photos they appear to be the same. The one you listed has more wiring included.

Here is a link to the Curt 56187: https://a.co/d/iLycAOD
Here is a link to the Torklift: https://torkliftcentral.com/multi-function-taillight-converter-wh63265

Looking at both they appear to be very similar. Maybe the extra parts in the 59236 are needed for the install?
 
I also used one of the Curt harnesses (see post #111) and located the trailer connector wire in the lower trunk storage compartment (instead of terminating it on a bracket near the hitch). It was fairly easy to install the wiring (following the guidance from Steven B's posts) and I've had no problems with it since installation.

I recently had to use our Clarity to tow our small 14' sailboat home when we had to quickly evacuate from our lakeside campsite due to the Park Fire. Our usual tow vehicle ('96 Suburban) was needed to pull our travel trailer home. Without the Clarity's towing capability, I would have had to leave the sailboat there and hope for the best.
 
NorCalPete said:
I also used one of the Curt harnesses (see post #111) and located the trailer connector wire in the lower trunk storage compartment (instead of terminating it on a bracket near the hitch). It was fairly easy to install the wiring (following the guidance from Steven B's posts) and I've had no problems with it since installation.

I recently had to use our Clarity to tow our small 14' sailboat home when we had to quickly evacuate from our lakeside campsite due to the Park Fire. Our usual tow vehicle ('96 Suburban) was needed to pull our travel trailer home. Without the Clarity's towing capability, I would have had to leave the sailboat there and hope for the best.
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I will be sure to read Steven B's post thoroughly. I must have missed the exact Curt kit he used when I read it quickly the first time.

I am glad you were able to save your sailboat with your Clarity. Be safe!
 
I wouldn't risk it. The clarity's drivetrain or axles seems to be pretty fragile, even if you baby it you may end up with annoying issues that are impossible to diagnose and not covered under warranty, adding more stress may make things worse.
 
TC1782 said:
I wouldn't risk it. The clarity's drivetrain or axles seems to be pretty fragile, even if you baby it you may end up with annoying issues that are impossible to diagnose and not covered under warranty, adding more stress may make things worse.
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Rather than for towing purposes, I installed a hitch on the Clarity to carry a bike rack or a hitch-hauler (for those rare times when four of us are traveling with luggage). I added trailer wiring to power tail lights that I planned to add to the hitch hauler, but never did because we rarely have used it on the Clarity. I have other vehicles for towing our travel trailer and boat, but didn't have access to both of them when we needed to evacuate unexpectedly. In that emergency, I was happy (and willing) to use the Clarity as a tow vehicle.
 
TC1782 said:
I wouldn't risk it. The clarity's drivetrain or axles seems to be pretty fragile, even if you baby it you may end up with annoying issues that are impossible to diagnose and not covered under warranty, adding more stress may make things worse.
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Honda must have a better explanation than that.
 
TC1782 said:
Honda corporate? Possibly. Not a dealership.
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You know, outside of the press kits at auto shows and the like. There has to be a detailed, technical article that explains all of the things that could go south, without the guess work that we read on owner forums.

If we had that, we wouldn’t have to blindly follow the guidance in the owners manual on towing with the Clarity.
 
Landshark said:
You know, outside of the press kits at auto shows and the like. There has to be a detailed, technical article that explains all of the things that could go south, without the guess work that we read on owner forums.

If we had that, we wouldn’t have to blindly follow the guidance in the owners manual on towing with the Clarity.
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Service manual would be that place, mostly. It covers most things that can go wrong.
 
Landshark said:
Service manual, huh? Interesting.
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Service manuals are no longer printed. One can get a monthly subscription to a service that gives one access to all these technical details.

I miss the days of purchasing a printed shop manual off of eBay. I had one for my Honda Civic Hybrid I bought for around $50. It was an original Honda shop manual that was used by dealerships. Man, that book came in handy so many times!
 
Heino said:
Service manuals are no longer printed. One can get a monthly subscription to a service that gives one access to all these technical details.
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Would the service manual provide technical details as to why Honda specifically advises against towing with the Clarity? Would it describe how or why certain components may fail under those conditions?
 
Landshark said:
Would the service manual provide technical details as to why Honda specifically advises against towing with the Clarity? Would it describe how or why certain components may fail under those conditions?
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No. That's not what the service manual is for. The service manual describes a few things:
1. Information and descriptions about the cars various systems
2. Diagnosis and troubleshooting guides
3. Instructions on how to repair, calibrate, inspect, and replace almost everything on the car
4. guidance about how not to kill yourself working on the car
If alot of people are damaging their car by towing things, a service builtin would be put out, and a sticker may be added to customers car. Otherwise, guidance about towing will only be found in owners manuals (there is also most likely guidance to the dealership to determine if damage caused by towing is covered under warranty, but that wouldn't be found in the service manual).
 
TC1782 said:
No. That's not what the service manual is for.
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That’s why I questioned your suggestion that the service manual might be a resource for providing such details.

Logical thought would conclude that damage caused by towing would not be covered under warranty on a vehicle where the manufacturer specifically states that the vehicle not be used for towing. No further guidance necessary.

Dealer: I notice that you have a hitch installed on your Clarity.
Owner: I only use it for a bike rack.
Dealer: I also noticed a wiring harness has been installed.
Owner: Duh, uh, ooh, er, ah…
Dealer: We’ve determined that you have violated the warranty agreement. The repair estimate is $5873.
 
Landshark said:
That’s why I questioned your suggestion that the service manual might be a resource for providing such details.

Logical thought would conclude that damage caused by towing would not be covered under warranty on a vehicle where the manufacturer specifically states that the vehicle not be used for towing. No further guidance necessary.

Dealer: I notice that you have a hitch installed on your Clarity.
Owner: I only use it for a bike rack.
Dealer: I also noticed a wiring harness has been installed.
Owner: Duh, uh, ooh, er, ah…
Dealer: We’ve determined that you have violated the warranty agreement. The repair estimate is $5873.
Click to expand...
I have made no such claim that a service manual would describe what causes a failure to occur, only that it describes the failures that can occur.
 
Here’s a review of the conversation.

TC1782 said:
I wouldn't risk it. The clarity's drivetrain or axles seems to be pretty fragile, even if you baby it you may end up with annoying issues that are impossible to diagnose and not covered under warranty, adding more stress may make things worse.
Click to expand...

Landshark said:
Honda must have a better explanation than that.
Click to expand...

TC1782 said:
Honda corporate? Possibly. Not a dealership.
Click to expand...

Landshark said:
You know, outside of the press kits at auto shows and the like. There has to be a detailed, technical article that explains all of the things that could go south, without the guess work that we read on owner forums.

If we had that, we wouldn’t have to blindly follow the guidance in the owners manual on towing with the Clarity.
Click to expand...

TC1782 said:
Service manual would be that place, mostly. It covers most things that can go wrong.
Click to expand...

Landshark said:
Service manual, huh? Interesting.
Click to expand...
 
NorCalPete said:
Rather than for towing purposes, I installed a hitch on the Clarity to carry a bike rack or a hitch-hauler (for those rare times when four of us are traveling with luggage). I added trailer wiring to power tail lights that I planned to add to the hitch hauler, but never did because we rarely have used it on the Clarity. I have other vehicles for towing our travel trailer and boat, but didn't have access to both of them when we needed to evacuate unexpectedly. In that emergency, I was happy (and willing) to use the Clarity as a tow vehicle.
Click to expand...
What wiring harness kit did you install? I ordered the Torklift EcoHitch today. I mainly want the hitch for a ski rack attachment but I will use it rarely for towing my jetski. Regardless of peoples opinions about not using the Clarity for towing I would like to know what wiring harness I should order for a four pin trailer.
 
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