Honda Ridgeline hauling a Forrest River 201 BHXL

[Americamper]

Is it possible to haul a Forrest River 201 BHXL with a Ridgeline? I think the camper is around 5000#.

[klutchdust]

The tow rating is the highest possible weight that the pickup can tow. It may seem like a simple number, but there are many factors that contribute to determining how much trailer your truck can safely tow. It’s also important to understand that the truck’s tow rating assumes the truck has all mandatory towing options to reach that number, and doesn’t have any cargo in the bed of the truck.

And, yes, there’s some math involved to make sure your pickup truck isn’t over its gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) and that the truck and loaded trailer don’t exceed the gross combined weight rating (GCWR)—see below for definitions.

Here’s an example from Chevrolet that shows the math:

Trailer weight: 10,000 pounds

Pickup truck GVWR: 7,000 pounds

Pickup truck weight before added payload: 5,500 pounds

Payload added to pickup:

Two occupants: 300 pounds
Extra cargo: 100 pounds
Trailer hitch equipment: 75 pounds
Trailer tongue weight: 1,000 pounds (10 percent of trailer weight)
Total payload: 1,475 pounds

Tow vehicle weight (5,500 pounds) + Payload (1,475 pounds) = 6,975 pounds, which is just shy of the truck’s 7,000-pound GVWR.

As this example shows, a pickup truck’s payload adds up quickly when towing, in large part because of the trailer’s tongue weight. This means that if you’re towing near your truck’s limits, you might have to leave some cargo or passengers at home to stay within its safe capacities.

[Lwiddis]

“Pulling” isn’t usually the issue. Can your tow vehicle handle the 600 to 700 pounds of tongue weight with the people and stuff in the tow vehicle. What is your maximum payload?

[Gdetrailer]

valhalla360 wrote:

Feel free to play semantics but it doesn't change the point....

1/2 ton trucks can range from 950 to 2500lb payload.

Our current 3/4 ton has 2700lb payload.

2500lb is pretty darn close to 2700lb and tow ratings of 10-11,000lb 1/2 tons aren't far from the 12,500lb tow rating on the 3/4 ton.

The key here is there are very few 1/2 tons that are configured and sold that have payloads above 2,000 lbs..

People see this..


Click For Full-Size Image.

But they MISS the little tiny fine print..

"1. Max towing of 14,000 lbs. available on SuperCab 8' box 4x2 and SuperCrew® 4x2 configurations with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine and
Max Trailer Tow Package (not shown). Max towing varies based on cargo, vehicle configuration, accessories and number of passengers.
Class is Full-Size Pickups under 8,500 lbs. GVWR. 2. Max payload of 3,325 lbs. on Regular Cab 8' box 4x2 with 5.0L gas engine and Max
Trailer Tow and Heavy-Duty Payload Packages (not shown). Max payload varies and is based on accessories and vehicle configuration.
Class is Full-Size Pickups under 8,500 lbs. GVWR."

Pay "darn good attention" to foot notes 1 and 2..

You will kindly notice that in order to get "darn near" "close" to 2K or more payload, you will have to buy a 4x2, you will have to buy the minimum cab size, you will have to buy minimum bed length. And while they do not directly and specifically state lowest trim level it is implied as the lowest trim level since they do state it "varies with accessories" and accessories are what your trim level is all about.

I count myself as the exception to most folks, I buy 4x2s, nearly everyone else buys 4x4s. I buy short bed XLTs, very few people do that. I order my trucks as minimal as possible for cost and cargo, very few people do that.

Buy off the dealer lot?

No way are you going to find a 1/2 ton with 2K lbs or higher cargo, most will be 1,200 or less..

There is no "magic" about it, the "class" a full sized 1/2 ton truck is limited to 8,500 lbs GVWR OR LESS.

Mid sized pickups are typically limited to 7,200-7,500 lbs GVWR.

To get a high cargo weight the curb weight of the vehicle must be the rock bottom possible which means the base vehicle with base features with no other options unless it is suspension upgrade or engine upgrade.

And for the record, I am not "playing with semantics", just reporting what the manufacturers state.

On edit, for clarity..

3/4 ton class is 10,000 lbs GVWR or less

unless they have changed the math recently, 10,000 lbs GVWR is 1,500 lbs more than 8,500 lbs GVWR..

1 ton class is 10,001 lbs up to 12,000 lbs.

[valhalla360]

Gdetrailer wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:

- 1/2 ton pickups come in a wide variety of payload/towing capabilities. The bottom of the barrel are not much better than a subcompact car. The top of the line are darn near 3/4 ton truck capable.

Nope, even the best "top of the line" well configured "half ton" doesn't come close to a 3/4 ton for available cargo..

Here is my yellow sticker for my 2020 F250 XLT Supercab shortbed 4x2 with 6.2 engine..



That is at least 1500 lbs more available cargo than say XL Reg cab shortbed F150 4x2 with Eco boost and max tow option..

One also must be careful when saying "top of the line" as that typically means all of the options, bells and whistles like crew cab long bed 4x4 with top level trim..

The words you are looking for is "correctly configured" you can get a higher payload than fully loaded "top of the line"..

A poorly configured 1/2 ton may end up with 1,200 lbs of payload..

Feel free to play semantics but it doesn't change the point....

1/2 ton trucks can range from 950 to 2500lb payload.

Our current 3/4 ton has 2700lb payload.

2500lb is pretty darn close to 2700lb and tow ratings of 10-11,000lb 1/2 tons aren't far from the 12,500lb tow rating on the 3/4 ton.

[Gdetrailer]

valhalla360 wrote:

- 1/2 ton pickups come in a wide variety of payload/towing capabilities. The bottom of the barrel are not much better than a subcompact car. The top of the line are darn near 3/4 ton truck capable.

Nope, even the best "top of the line" well configured "half ton" doesn't come close to a 3/4 ton for available cargo..

Here is my yellow sticker for my 2020 F250 XLT Supercab shortbed 4x2 with 6.2 engine..



That is at least 1500 lbs more available cargo than say XL Reg cab shortbed F150 4x2 with Eco boost and max tow option..

One also must be careful when saying "top of the line" as that typically means all of the options, bells and whistles like crew cab long bed 4x4 with top level trim..

The words you are looking for is "correctly configured" you can get a higher payload than fully loaded "top of the line"..

A poorly configured 1/2 ton may end up with 1,200 lbs of payload..

[valhalla360]

Skibane wrote:
According to a quick internet search, the advertised "dry" weight of the 201 BHXL is around 4200 pounds.

The advertised "dry" weight is almost always less than the actual "dry" weight.

By the time you add any optional equipment on your particular trailer, fill the propane and fresh water tanks, and then add the stuff you and your passengers will be bringing - You're probably going to be right at the 5000 lb. tow rating of your Ridgeline.

Not recommended.

If you are obsessive about weight, you might keep it at 5000lb. I'm betting 5500-6000lb with a 700-800lb hitch weight in real life.

A quick search online suggests the payload of the honda is around 1500lb (check the door jam for the sticker with the real number):
- Hitch weigh of say 800lb
- Family of 4 at say 500lb
- Hitch at say 100lb
- Any other bolt on stuff (running boards, racks, bed covers, etc...) that can easily be 200lb

That's 1600lb out of your 1500lb payload. You might be able to stay within the ratings but it's going to be a constant struggle.

For reference our current trailer Graywolf 22RR has similar dry weight and GVWR. Stopped by a CAT scale to check a couple weeks back and it's running a 6900lb actual weight with 900lb on the hitch. We are quite happy with our 3/4ton truck pulling it. I wouldn't object to dropping back to a "heavy 1/2 ton" but even the lighter duty 1/2 ton trucks would be marginal.
- 1/2 ton pickups come in a wide variety of payload/towing capabilities. The bottom of the barrel are not much better than a subcompact car. The top of the line are darn near 3/4 ton truck capable.

[Skibane]

According to a quick internet search, the advertised "dry" weight of the 201 BHXL is around 4200 pounds.

The advertised "dry" weight is almost always less than the actual "dry" weight.

By the time you add any optional equipment on your particular trailer, fill the propane and fresh water tanks, and then add the stuff you and your passengers will be bringing - You're probably going to be right at the 5000 lb. tow rating of your Ridgeline.

Not recommended.

[Reisender]

Weigh the trailer fully loaded first. And the hitch weight. Then see what you are dealing with.

[Desert_Captain]

Tyler0215 wrote:
You THINK the trailer weighs #5000? Thats the empty weight. No propane, no batteries, no gear.
Thats the tow capacity of the Ridgeline.
You will be overloaded leaving the lot.
Can you do it? Sure. Should you do it? Since you asked, I think not.

I would have to agree. Assuming the OP has a second generation Ridgeline {2017 or newer} the max tow rating is as noted, 5,000#. That does not mean it can tow a travel trailer at 5,000# TT, it just means that it can handle the weight but probably not the windage.

I love my 2019 Ridgeline, IMHO: the finest midsize truck out there and I tow often, typically my 6 X 10' {8' tall - lots of windage} cargo trailer that we weighs in between 2,200 and 2,600#:



I have no issues towing this combo and get decent mileage {12 - 16+ mpg} but pulling a TT at or over 3,000# is asking a lot of these fine trucks.

:C

[Tyler0215]

You THINK the trailer weighs #5000? Thats the empty weight. No propane, no batteries, no gear.
Thats the tow capacity of the Ridgeline.
You will be overloaded leaving the lot.
Can you do it? Sure. Should you do it? Since you asked, I think not.

[MitchF150]

Sure, it's possible... 😉

If it's the one with a #7400 GVWR, then I guess you won't want to load much stuff in it?

Not much fun 'camping' with no stuff, so just to compare, My TT has a GVWR of #7000 and it's loaded up pretty good and I tow it with a truck that says it can tow over #11,000... ha, ha... I'm at the most I want to tow with my setup, but I am able to take all the stuff I want, so I'm happy.. 🙂

Good luck! Mitch