Honda Ridgeline Towing

[SunshineLaketime]

Hello! I'm new to the forum so please forgive if my question has already been asked/discussed.

Just seeking info, advice, etc., from any Ridgeline owners that successfully & comfortably tow RV w/Ridgeline.

I'll be an RV beginner & would appreciate advice from experienced pros.

Thanks!

[bikendan]

The most important thing to look at, for any smaller tow vehicle, is the truck's payload capacity and the trailer's loaded tongue weight.
Too many newbies only focus on the towing capacities. Most tow vehicles run out of payload capacity way before getting close to max towing capacity.
Second, many newbies, with less capable tow vehicles, are attracted to the new larger single axle trailers. These trailers have deceptively higher loaded tongue weights that exceed the tow vehicle's max hitch weight or put them over the tow vehicle's payload capacity.

[mikeyk101]

Taking a quick look at specs and it shows a maximum of 5000lbs but you don't want to get anywhere close to that as it will really be straining to do that. It looks like payload is at 1583lbs which actually doesn't seem too bad for a vehicle like this but you want to stay below that. That will include your weight, weight if passengers, cargo in vehicle, fuel, and of course tongue weight. Tongue weight to be effective needs to be 13-15% of your total trailer/camper weight. Payload weights add up really quick so something you want to be aware of.

[bikendan]

Payload Capacity is specific to each vehicle, depending on how it's spec'd. NEVER believe website payload capacity numbers.
Go by the driver's door sticker payload capacity number.

[BehindBars]

Originally Posted by SunshineLaketime

Hello! I'm new to the forum so please forgive if my question has already been asked/discussed.

Just seeking info, advice, etc., from any Ridgeline owners that successfully & comfortably tow RV w/Ridgeline.

I'll be an RV beginner & would appreciate advice from experienced pros.

Thanks!

You should specify your year, and AWD vs FWD of Ridgeline. For example, a 2017 FWD is rated to tow 3500 pounds while the AWD is rated for 5000. Also, what sort of RV are you expecting to tow?

I very often towed a 3000 pound toy hauler RV trailer with my 2017 Ridgeline RTS AWD with no problems, however I hated the way the 6 speed transmission worked while towing, and the truck’s small gas tank meant the range was short. If you have a 2020+ Ridgeline you’ll have a different transmission. I’ve since sold the truck.

In the towable RV world, the number one sales game is to try to sell you something larger than you can safely tow. The trailer weight specs are often misleading. You find once you equip and load the RV for use, the tongue and overall weight can be higher than expected.

[markcee]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Payload Capacity is specific to each vehicle, depending on how it's spec'd. NEVER believe website payload capacity numbers.
Go by the driver's door sticker payload capacity number.

Exactly this.

Looking at a website or brochure published payload capacities often causes this confusion....and as seen on many posts, on many forums, leads to overloaded tow vehicles.

Payload capacity is simply a vehicle's established GVWR minus what it weighs.

• A brand new F150, stripped down XL truck has a GVWR of 7000 lbs and weighs in at 5100 lbs. Payload cap = 1900
  
• A brand new F150, fully loaded King Ranch has a GVWR of 7000 lbs and weighs in at 5800 lbs. Payload cap = 1200

Cargo carrying (payload) capacity is vehicle specific and can be found on the black/yellow Tire & Loading Information sticker affixed to the driver's side door pillar. This sticker is a 'snapshot in time'. It is what the vehicle weighed when it left the factory (accounting for a full tank of fuel), subtracted from its GVWR (also found on the door pillar). Obviously, anything added to the vehicle after this 'snapshot' alters available capacity. For example, adding a toolbox and running boards after purchase lowers the cap by the weight of those options.

[kipkohl]

I would also check the Ridgeline's spec concerning the use of a weight distributing hitch(WDH). The Ridgeline is unibody construction as opposed to body on frame, which may preclude the use of a WDH, or so I've read.

[acadianbob]

Another thing to consider is the tire wear associated with an independent rear suspension. I've seen Ridgelines with a load on them and they look like this from the rear.

/-------\

You're probably OK for short hauls.

[roadster]

I suggest you join a ridgeline forum. Here is an example.

https://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/.../#post-2898817

[BehindBars]

Originally Posted by acadianbob

Another thing to consider is the tire wear associated with an independent rear suspension. I've seen Ridgelines with a load on them and they look like this from the rear.

/-------\

You're probably OK for short hauls.

That’s an interesting observation, and worth noting. I read the Ridgeline Owner’s Club forum for over 6 years, and I never once saw the concern or evidence of uneven rear tire wear mentioned, even by those that tow travel trailers.