Honda Ridgeline

According to 2015 sales figures posted elsewhere in this forum about a week ago, Honda sold 1 Ridgeline last year. One. I can't see any advantage the Ridgeline has over any other pickup truck. Except for maybe the built in beer cooler in the bed.

Apparently they have re-designed and are retooling for the 2017 Ridgeline. Curious about what improvements it will have. There is room for a bunch of them. Improvements, not Ridgelines.

2017 Ridgeline info

ERW1209 wrote:
We are heading into our 2nd summer without an RV. For sanity's sake we need to get back into camping. Our tow vehicle with be our number one car than my wife will be driving most of the time. She refuses to go to a half ton pickup but is warming up to the Honda Ridgeline. My question is "Does anyone pull a travel trailer with the Ridgeline and if so any comments good or bad." We anticipate around 21+ travel trailer not a pop-up. Greatly appreciate any feedback thank you.

Curious as to why not a 1/2 ton? Unless I missed it in this thread....

Yes they are great moving people, but if you stay within the truck limits they are capable.

With our Jayco hardside pop-up it got a bit over 13MPG

RinconVTR wrote:

jerem0621 wrote:

The Ridgeline is a great vehicle but it is not rated for weight distribution hitches which you will need.


Jeremiah

This is the misinformation I spoke of. This is 100% WRONG.


#1 - Honda NEVER said not to use WDH. They recommended not using one due to improper set up, could lead to issues.

OLD statement:


#2 - They have since changed their wording to better clarify the use of a WDH.

NEW Statement:

Thanks for the clarification...I guess the Ridgeline is a POS since my original statement is 100% wrong. Lol...

On edit...thanks for calling me out as giving mis information and the CONFIRMING what I said...

I read the first one in an owners manual and was not aware of a revision... Pretty sure not recommended means not recommended. Kind of like service intervals...they are recommended...

So I feel good about my "recommendations" based on what the old manuals say. I guess that the OP will need to follow the statements in their owners manual.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

tnrv'er wrote:
Wanted to add, the gas mileage towing that trailer is just under 12mpg. Not very impressive.

I'm surprised that little ol' V6 could do that WELL! Typically most of us would be happy to see 10 mpg towing any full height trailer ... in reality, when towing our 24' KZ Spree a few years ago with our 5.3L V8 Silverado and later with our current 5.3L V8 Avalanche I typically saw ~ 10.5 mpg ... these days when towing our current 19' Freedom Express that averages ~ 4500 lbs loaded and ready to camp I often see ~ 12 mpg, the reason being it's much more capable 5.3L V8 isn't stressed anywhere near as much as the Ridgeline's V6 would be. If you're honestly getting 12 mpg with your Ridgeline I wouldn't be complaining at all. ;)

We have a 2006 Ridgeline that tows a KZ 17RBS. Dry weight is 2500,i don't really know what it weighs loaded. We ordered it w/ the tow package and its rated to tow 5000LBS.

The truck pulls that camper w/ no problem. We travel up to the Smokies in TN. and its fine pulling in the mountians.

I guess if you stay under the max you should have no trouble.

If youre going to be the driver and youre over 6'tall be fore warned the leg room stinks!

Wanted to add, the gas mileage towing that trailer is just under 12mpg. Not very impressive.

Buy the Honda. They need to sell enough trucks to justify putting out another singing sheep commercial and to me, that is reason enough for you to buy the Honda. I loved that commercial.

If she likes the Ridge, show her this: Jeep Gladiator

IdaD wrote:


It's not a silly statement at all. If anything it's just another way of stating your analogy of matching the tool to the job. I was trying to convey to OP that he might have an inaccurate perception of half ton trucks - in truth they are as comfortable as a modern crossover vehicle these days but they can perform better as tow vehicles within their wheelhouse (that's the small to medium travel trailer part of my statement).

If that's the case I'm OK with that thought. Thank you for the clarification. Your comment came off as one of those "if it's not a 1 ton it shouldn't be towing anything other than a pop-up" statements. That's why said it was silly. Evidently that was not what you were saying.

SoundGuy wrote:

Yeah, I don't agree that it's a "silly statement" either

See above...

Yea, a 1/2 ton is/can be/often used as a people mover, but you just pointed out, and made my point, that they are so much more. Try hauling a yard of dirt in the back of a mini-van. Then again, I've seen that attempted too. Not a pretty sight...

My Sierra is my first PU. I've owned mostly Suburbans and large SUVs before, both full and midsized. Like you I never want to be without a full size PU now. Way too versatile and very nice to drive day to day.

IdaD wrote:
Which is why most half tons are good at towing light to medium size travel trailers but they struggle above that - they're primarily designed as people haulers.

Campfire Time wrote:
OK, that's just a silly statement. Whoever said that a 1/2 should tow more than what it's rated for? The weight limits don't make it a "people mover". Right tool for the right job.

IdaD wrote:
It's not a silly statement at all. If anything it's just another way of stating your analogy of matching the tool to the job. I was trying to convey to OP that he might have an inaccurate perception of half ton trucks - in truth they are as comfortable as a modern crossover vehicle these days but they can perform better as tow vehicles within their wheelhouse (that's the small to medium travel trailer part of my statement).

Yeah, I don't agree that it's a "silly statement" either ... truth is, the industry considers the 1/2 ton a "lightweight" truck. These days the vast majority of 1/2 ton trucks aren't purchased by tradesmen to haul around heavy loads but in fact spend most of their lives as family "people movers", with a ride that complements that task. The modern 1/2 ton is one of the best types of "family vehicles" one could have parked on their driveway, 'cause from hauling a mid size trailer to taking kids to hockey practice or getting groceries or for those never ending trips to Home Depot a good 1/2 ton just can't be beat ... and sales figures for the 1/2 ton prove it. My current Chevy Avalanche is now 11 yrs old, still runs great, but here in Ontario where salt is used liberally on the roads in winter the body is starting to go. :( However, unless someone is willing to buy me a new Silverado to replace it it'll be a cold day in H*** before I give up my Av as I otherwise just couldn't get along without a 1/2 ton as a family vehicle. :B