Honda Ridgeline - Where's my first gear? - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Escape Tech > Towing and Hitching
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 09-30-2016, 05:58 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
skiman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Jeromesville, Ohio
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21' pulled with 2014 Silverado Crewcab
Posts: 853
Honda Ridgeline - Where's my first gear?

Interesting article about Ridgeline transmission setup. It could make some mountain descents a little hairy when towing.

Forbes Welcome

__________________
Carl,

"Isn't it amazing how much stuff we get done the day before vacation?"
Zig Ziglar
skiman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-30-2016, 08:49 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Vermilye's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oswego, New York
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21C, 2018 Ford F150
Posts: 5,363
While there are many things I like about the new Ridgeline, those that tow & depend on 1st gear for descents might take a look at this article: Forbes article in the Ridgeline.
__________________
Jon Vermilye My Travel Blog
Travel and Photo Web Page ... My Collection of RV Blogs 2018 F150 3.5EB, 2017 21
Vermilye is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-30-2016, 02:29 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Carlsbad, California, California
Trailer: 2003 Scamp 16' SOLD , 2008 Airstream 19'
Posts: 107
I test drove one of the older Ridgelines and didn't notice that there was no compression braking in first gear. It is always reassuring to have compression to take the load off of the brakes. In most cases second gear would be adequate, but when you need it first gear could make the difference! Our Jeep Wrangler spoils us, with a 4:1 transfer case and 4.56:1 gears and manual 5 speed transmission. 45 degree descent dirt road with Scamp on back, 2MPH no problem!
The Ridgeline is such a nice truck as a total package that it shouldn't be a deal breaker for towing. You would just have to access certain risky routes and decide if you wanted to test your brakes and at what cost.
Russ
ruscal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-30-2016, 02:39 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
skiman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Jeromesville, Ohio
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21' pulled with 2014 Silverado Crewcab
Posts: 853
I think that being aware of the situation would allow towing just fine. Pull offs for cool down on a really long downhills could do the trick.

Myself, the Silverado decent control is amazing when in tow mode. it makes long downhills so easy. No manual downshifting, like cruise in reverse.
__________________
Carl,

"Isn't it amazing how much stuff we get done the day before vacation?"
Zig Ziglar
skiman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-30-2016, 03:33 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Dave Walter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 2013 19' & 2013 15B
Posts: 2,634
Owning a Ridgeline with no compression braking in 1st gear would also be a great reason to make sure you have working brakes on your trailer.
__________________
2013 19' \ 2013 15B, 2020 Toyota 4Runner TRD Offroad

"It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt of it." - 1907, Maurice Switzer
Dave Walter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-30-2016, 05:47 PM   #6
Site Team
 
rbryan4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
Quote:
Originally Posted by ice-breaker View Post
Owning a Ridgeline with no compression braking in 1st gear would also be a great reason to make sure you have working brakes on your trailer.
Or, buy a real truck like a Ford or a Chevy with tow/haul mode. [emoji23]

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
rbryan4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-30-2016, 06:05 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
Recent Ridgeline TV ads suggest that they are selling a smartphone - "Most intelligent yet". Nothing in the ads about being a truck.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2016, 01:12 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Carlsbad, California, California
Trailer: 2003 Scamp 16' SOLD , 2008 Airstream 19'
Posts: 107
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo View Post
Recent Ridgeline TV ads suggest that they are selling a smartphone - "Most intelligent yet". Nothing in the ads about being a truck.
I knew they would come up with a FGRV towing smart phone. You can even make a marginally successful phone call with one.
Russ
ruscal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2016, 09:18 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
Vermilye's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oswego, New York
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21C, 2018 Ford F150
Posts: 5,363
Sorry for duplicating the original post. I was posting to one of the threads at the Casita Forum, and somehow it ended up here.

As to no first gear compression braking, at least one owner at the Casita Forum states it's not true. If it is, I wouldn't want to tow in hills. I've used 1st in both my RAV4 & the Tacoma going down steep grades, primarily to save overheating brakes on both the tow & trailer.
__________________
Jon Vermilye My Travel Blog
Travel and Photo Web Page ... My Collection of RV Blogs 2018 F150 3.5EB, 2017 21
Vermilye is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2016, 09:59 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
MyronL's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ..., New Mexico
Trailer: 2013 Esc19/'14 Silvrado
Posts: 4,193
Ditto Carl's assessment of the Silverado's towing mode for steep downhill grades. Right on. You can even switch the tranny to from automatic to manual 1st gear mode if you had to. Never have.
__________________
Myron
"A billion here, a billion there...add it all up and before you know it you're talking real money." Everett Dirkson
MyronL is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2016, 12:06 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2015 Escape 17A
Posts: 2,344
Our 2011 Pilot has 1st gear selection. We used it once with the Escape on a steep path out of the Sierras; works as expected.
dfandrews is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:18 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.