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Old 03-31-2018, 10:43 AM   #1
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Honda Ridgeline

I wonder if anyone here has experience towing a 21' Escape with a Honda Ridgeline. The specs from Honda indicate the hitch weight max is 600# and and the tow capacity is 5000#. My sense is that I would get close to the max towing weight once I'm fully packed up. If I towed a 21', would I seriously shorten the life of my truck? Appreciate your thoughts.

Ken
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Old 03-31-2018, 11:16 AM   #2
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Ken, the max total weight rating of a 21' itself is 5000#, so you can't safely load the trailer any heavier than the Ridgeline's max tow capacity. The numbers you may want to look closely at are the cargo capacity and the GCWR of the Ridgeline.

I don't know if Honda yet adheres to the SAE J2807 tow ratings that require manufacturers to test at full load ratings. That would be another good piece of info to know, in my opinion.
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Old 03-31-2018, 11:43 AM   #3
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I looked closely at the Honda for my 19' but without the integral brake controller as well as a "towing package" with auxiliary cooling as well as full sized spare, I decided to keep my Ram. Point been there're more items to think about other than capacity.
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Old 03-31-2018, 12:30 PM   #4
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Although technically a pickup, I think the latest version of the Ridgeline is front wheel drive biased. Basically an open-bed Pilot.
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Old 03-31-2018, 01:05 PM   #5
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Diesel Santa Fe

We had a XL and towed the Casita 17 easily. Lots of deluxe features in 2015.
This new little diesel looks like a great match for a 19' but not sure about hitch weight of the 21' .
https://jalopnik.com/the-2019-hyunda...hau-1823223649
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Old 03-31-2018, 05:29 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Anachr0n View Post
Although technically a pickup, I think the latest version of the Ridgeline is front wheel drive biased. Basically an open-bed Pilot.
Both generations of the Ridgeline are the same fundamental design:
  • a variant of the Pilot, with an open cargo bed
  • unibody construction
  • transverse front engine
  • AWD or (in rare cases) front-wheel-drive
  • AWD drives the front wheels all of the time, and the rear wheels to a variable extent.
Since the rated towing capacity of the Ridgeline is 5,000 pounds with AWD and only 3,500 pounds with front wheel drive, it is unlikely that anyone would choose a Ridgeline for towing a travel trailer and not get AWD.

Since a pickup truck is just a light vehicle with an open cargo box in back, these are certainly pickup trucks. In other parts of the world, they might be called "utes" (for utility vehicles), and because they share a platform with a passenger car or multi-purpose vehicle they might more specifically be called a "coupé utility" (like the old Ford Ranchero, Chevrolet El Camino / GMC Diablo, and many others worldwide).
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Old 03-31-2018, 05:53 PM   #7
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The Ridgelines I've seen on the road have all had bed covers; basically an SUV with reduced cargo area. And, don't you have to remove the cargo to get at the hidden compartment in the bottom?
I'd just get a Pilot, unless I intended to haul a lot of composted steer manure.
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Old 03-31-2018, 06:12 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo View Post
The Ridgelines I've seen on the road have all had bed covers; basically an SUV with reduced cargo area.
Yes, just like all pickups. Many Escape Forum members use covers on their more conventional pickups.

One of the first Ridgelines I saw (back in 2006) has a cap on the back. My first reaction was "look, it has turned into the minivan that it is supposed to be".

Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo View Post
And, don't you have to remove the cargo to get at the hidden compartment in the bottom?
Yes, at least the cargo in the back half of the box. This is certainly an inconvenience, but I think most people would use that compartment for emergency supplies (booster cables, pull straps, etc) or when loading up a large amount of stuff which all gets unloaded at the destination anyway.

In normal use, most pickup boxes are empty. The enclosed compartment provides a clean, dry, and secured place for stuff which would otherwise go in the open bed. It's not ideal, but it has utility.

Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo View Post
I'd just get a Pilot, unless I intended to haul a lot of composted steer manure.
Ewww... that's what utility trailers are for. I think the idea is to have an open bed for bikes, power equipment, tools, and whatever else you don't want in your SUV/van/wagon interior. And yes, a Pilot makes more sense for most people, just as many people are better off with an Expedition than an F-150, or a Tahoe/Yukon rather than a Silverado/Sierra, or a Sequoia instead of a Tundra; on the other hand, it's good to have a choice.
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Old 03-31-2018, 09:46 PM   #9
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I think you are going to be pulling too close to your towing capacity. Mountain passes or passing situations may be a challenge. Maybe I am too conservative but I would want a minimum of 7000 pounds of towing capacity.
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