Hey guys, I'm new to the forum and am currently considering buying a 96 rodeo/passport. I have found one of each in my area for the same price with about the same miles, the rodeo is an AT and the passport is 5-speed does either of these trannies have a better reputation? Is one vehicle better than the other?

My second question is does anyone use there Rodeo to tow things. I know they are rated for 4500lbs, but is that just with the automatic transmission? I'd love to hear some peoples expierences with towing with this vehicle. Thanks again.

i use my '99 to tow a 750-1,000lb trailer w/up to 3 240lb motocross bikes, tool box, cooler, folding chairs, ez-up, riding gear and stands. NO PROBLEM! I realize my loaded trailer is well below the rated weight, but my '99 auto handles it easily, like it wasn't even there.

does anyone know of a direct bolt up --of another tranny? like any gm ones out there?

the towing capabilites of these vehicles are great.

i have a friend who has a 4 cyl stick amigo (91-ish i believe) he tows his boat (16' with a 350 v8 engine) with no problems. he gets it up and down the water-way ramps with ease. he drives on the highway to get there.

I've owned 2 Rodeo's, both V6 automatics.

'91 & '97, towed a 4,000# boat with both trucks up and over the Continental Divide several times. Obviously the '97 3.2L engine makes it easier and much smoother to tow, it won't haul it fast, but it gets the job done.

On flat terrain, I can get up to 65mph without an issue, unless the wind's hitting straight on.

Best thing you can do, is make sure the auto tranny has a good history of frequent service with fresh fluid at least every 30-35k miles. If the owner has irregularly serviced it, i.e. has over 100k miles and has only done the fluid once, I'd be a bit leary, personally.

Depending on your tow load and driving terrain, the powermode and 2nd/3rd gears are your friend. I do NOT recommend towing a heavy load in Drive only, unless you're on a completely flat surface, even then, put it in Drive and push your powermode button - this keeps the RPM's higher at shift points. And the Powermode is kind of like shutting off the OD on other vehicles.

If you hit some pretty good inclines, you may find you have to shift down to 3rd, biggest thing to remember is to keep it from lugging and/or overworking the tranny.

Don't know anything about the 5-speeds on the Rodeo or Passport.

I've had excellent service out of both my auto tranny's, don't have the '91 Rodeo anymore, but the '97 has the original tranny and it gets serviced every 27-30k miles. Shifts flawlessly at 154k now.

I have heard other Rodeo owners with the auto, some have made it to over 200k and some have not; but seems to be that with a regular 30k mile service they live a good life. But these 4L30-E auto tranny's (made by GM) do not tolerate being low on fluid, or having dirty fluid.

Forgot to add, at this stage of it's life (low trade & resale value of a '96 vehicle) there is no difference between the Honda Passport and Isuzu Rodeo, they ARE in fact the same vehicle, and it's built by Isuzu.

Just make sure the Isuzu Rodeo has the 3.2L sohc V6, that same exact engine is in the Passport. Isuzu also offered the 2.2L 4-cylinder Rodeo's, whereas the Honda Passport didn't, so just make sure they're the same engine before you decide on one.

Honda, at the time, didn't have an SUV of their own, so they bought rights from Isuzu and rebadged them to be a Passport. The engine is 100% Isuzu, there are no Honda parts in it, and the auto tranny (in both the Rodeo/Passport) is a GM transmission.

The only difference at the time when it was new, would have been for resale value and length of warranty. Honda had the better resale value, whereas Isuzu had the longer bumper to bumper warranty.

I personally would take the 5 speed. Since there is no dipstick on the autos and have heard of too many failures with them for what ever reason. But then I have never liked auto trannies to begin with so I'm biased.

The auto would make it easier starting on a hill with a heavy trailer. Also clutch changes on rodeo/passport 5 speeds isnt cheap or easy from what I've read. So each has its drawbacks.

The vehicle I found that I am interested in is actually a 5-spd. However, I know on most trucks the tow rating of a manual is significantly less due to the clutch plates wearing out or not griping when starting from a dead stop. Just wondering if there was a lower tow rating for the 5-spd version of the truck. Thanks for your help guys.

Let me double check my owners manual later on the 5-speed versus auto.

How much weight are you trying to tow?

Let me double check my owners manual later on the 5-speed versus auto.

How much weight are you trying to tow?

Let me double check my owners manual later on the 5-speed versus auto.

How much weight are you trying to tow?

I think ramblin needs to spend less time here, he's developed a stutter

The manual for '99 rodeos dont make any distinction between auto or 5 speed for towing weight. Only for engines.


Engine........ GTrW ...........GCVW ...........TW
2.2L ...........2500 ............5950 .............250
3.2L ...........4500 ............8700 .............450

Specs are for 2wd (4wd GCVW is 8950)

GTrW = Gross Trailer Weight
GCVW = Gross Combined Vehicle Weight
TW = Tongue Weight

I used my '97 3.2L automatic to haul a double-axle flatbed heavy equipment trailer absolutely freighted with firewood. I was only going five miles, and was in no hurry. Put a 2 1/4" hitch ball on the receiver and took a chance. Total trailer weight was probably 8000 pounds. I know, I know don't try this at home but the wood was free for the taking and it's worth it's weight in gold. Forgive me.........what I want to say about that experience is that the Rodeo pulled that trailer from a standing stop up a muddy incline like it was nothing. Braking on the downhill was a different story, of course. After doing that I have a lot of respect for the power and shifting capability of this set-up.

I think ramblin needs to spend less time here, he's developed a stutter


:cwm27: :wink:

thanks for the help so far. Is the 99 model the same as a 96, or did they redesign it? The one I am looking at is a 96 passports with 4wd, a 5-speed, and the 3.2 L engine. The truck has 120k on it but looks like it is in good shape, they are asking $3500 for it, does that sound fair?

The 96 3.2L is the Sohc with 190hp; the '99 is the 3.2L Dohc with 205hp.

The '99 is qouted as having the same tow-capability, but might be a tad quicker in getting the load off the line.

The price qouted for the '96 you are looking at is right on the money, actually probably a bit in your favor.