2 1/2" hitch drop with load

[esjay]

I hooked up my Casita trailer to my Honda Ridgeline for the first time yesterday. With me (150 pounds) standing on the bumper to simulate load carried in the truck, plus the approx. 400 pound tongue weight of the trailer, the hitch height dropped 2 1/2". It looked okay to me. My weight on the bumper may be a little extreme. Does this sound about right?

[Hannibal]

esjay wrote:
Well, I took it on a 500 mile trip towing the Casita. The hitch ball dropped about 1 3/4" when I hooked up, so not too bad. It actually resulted in the trailer traveling pretty much level. I didn't use a WDH or a swaybar and it towed great. 65 mph was around 2,500rpms. I got 13mpg, not great, but about what I expected. I could probably have avoided accelerating up some hills and gotten a little better mileage, but I am happy with the Ridgeline towing about 3,000 lbs.

Sounds like a fine setup. I'd follow Honda's recommendation and enjoy the ride. Nothing else needed.

[APT]

3000 pound boat = 250 pounds TW. 3000 pound TT means 400 pounds of TW. Far more weight on that rear axle/springs with an RV.

Separately, the aerodynamics of a boat vs. TT make the experience and fuel usage very different.

[RAS43]

ib516 wrote:
Make sure you rotate the tires on that Ridgeline when using it for towing. The rear wheels splay out with a load causing wear on the inside of the tires.

Where did that come from? I tow a 3000lb boat with my Ridgeline and the OE tires are still good and wearing fine at 42000+ miles. Just saying.
To the OP- looks like you are in good shape!

[esjay]

Well, I took it on a 500 mile trip towing the Casita. The hitch ball dropped about 1 3/4" when I hooked up, so not too bad. It actually resulted in the trailer traveling pretty much level. I didn't use a WDH or a swaybar and it towed great. 65 mph was around 2,500rpms. I got 13mpg, not great, but about what I expected. I could probably have avoided accelerating up some hills and gotten a little better mileage, but I am happy with the Ridgeline towing about 3,000 lbs.

[APT]

The reason provided is so poor. Should have left it at not recommended with no reason.

600 pounds of tongue WH on ball on a RL will be worse than the average WDH owner (and dealer) adjustment. That would be adding about 800 pounds to the rear axle and 200 pounds off front.

In my experience and observations of full sized half ton towing, WDH becomes helpful around 400 pounds of TW. I cannot see how the RL would be any different. In fact, maybe more so as +800 pounds on an independent axle really changes the camber/contact patch which also changes handling on top of the weight transfer off the front axle.

[eluwak]

esjay wrote:

camperpaul wrote:
Like has been already said, use a WD hitch.

Honda says not touse a WDH with the Ridgeline.
I have never measured it, but my current tow vehicle, a Toyota T100, sags at least as much as the Ridgeline, maybe more, with no real ill effects.

The folks used WDH towing their Hi-Lo all over the country. I don't think it's an issue really. If you're really against it though you can install some airbags to raise it up a bit if you like.

[ib516]

Make sure you rotate the tires on that Ridgeline when using it for towing. The rear wheels splay out with a load causing wear on the inside of the tires.

[Biker1mike]

I found that poor packing of equipment makes a HUGE difference with the Ridgeline. Once I moved the heavy stuff in front of the axle and put all the really light stuff in the under bed storage, my drop was almost gone. I went from a terrible tow to a great tow. Getting stuff into the back seat also helps.
Standing on the bumper gave you an unreal bias. Try standing in the front of the bed and see how the level is.

[p220sigman]

As was said, I would measure the rise in the front to get an idea of if the front is being significantly unloaded. When we towed with our van, it had a very soft rear suspension so we had a good bit of sag, but the had very little rise on the front end.

If you really want to know, go to a scale loaded like you will camp and get everything weighed both with the camper attached and solo. If you get the individual axle weights, it will tell you exactly what the effect of the camper is.

[esjay]

camperpaul wrote:
Like has been already said, use a WD hitch.

Honda says not touse a WDH with the Ridgeline.
I have never measured it, but my current tow vehicle, a Toyota T100, sags at least as much as the Ridgeline, maybe more, with no real ill effects.

[camperpaul]

Like has been already said, use a WD hitch.

[esjay]

The Ridgeline has a regular Class IV receiver and is rated for 600 lb. tongue weight. I'm just guessing at the 400 lb. trailer tongue wt. Most Casita owners say it is less than that.

[skipnchar]

IF you''re loosing front axle loading the handling will be horrible. INstall a WD hitch designed for very small trailers and get the truck back to it's unhitched stance.

[BigBaron]

Bumper hitch? I thinks you need a class IV frame-mounted hitch.