Brand new Roo 233S

[Will Pease]

Hello everyone. I'm new to this forum and am happy to announce that I've just purchased my first Rockwood, today. My family and I shall be exploring the region in a Roo 233S, just as long as I don't kill my Honda Ridgeline due to being close to the maximum tow rating.
I'm also happy to say this is my second Rockwood I've had the pleasure of camping in. Growing up my parents owned a 1989 Rockwood Popup. It lasted up until last summer in the New England weather.
Needless to say I have an undying loyalty to Rockwood after a life span of a tent trailer of that long.

All that being said, does anyone have any opinion on the truck I'm using? Am I going to kill my 2008 Honda Ridgeline? I know I'm close to my tow rating and I believe I'm over my tongue weight rating. I've got a Uhaul tow hitch installed with a 750 Lb Tongue rating but I don't think that would cover it all.

Thoughts?

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Will Pease

All that being said, does anyone have any opinion on the truck I'm using? Am I going to kill my 2008 Honda Ridgeline? I know I'm close to my tow rating and I believe I'm over my tongue weight rating. I've got a Uhaul tow hitch installed with a 750 Lb Tongue rating but I don't think that would cover it all.

Thoughts?

First, you apparently don't havethe factory tow package since you had a Uhaul hitch receiver installed.
Which means that you can't tow the normal 5000lbs max amount.

Second, the 233S will exceed the 5000lbs max, just sitting on the dealer's lot, before you even add any cargo, water or battery.

Third, the tongue weight will also exceed the Ridgeline hitch max.

Seriously you need to get a different tow vehicle.

[jking46]

Not knocking your truck...it's great for its intended purpose...but it will be out of its league trying to tow a 233s. I pull a 23ikss with a Ram 1500 hemi and I would recommend it wholeheartedly. But if you prefer another brand, no problem. Any properly optioned half ton will be fine. Just check the specs before you sign on the dotted line. Be safe.

[Mr Havercamp]

Originally Posted by jking46

Not knocking your truck...it's great for its intended purpose...but it will be out of its league trying to tow a 233s. I pull a 23ikss with a Ram 1500 hemi and I would recommend it wholeheartedly. But if you prefer another brand, no problem. Any properly optioned half ton will be fine. Just check the specs before you sign on the dotted line. Be safe.

In real numbers after loading the 233S will have a higher hitch weight than the IKSS. It has a lot to do with the balance, location of storage which most is forward of axles, and the dinette slide position on the 233S. A friends 233S approaches 900lbs hitch weight.

[SeaDog]

Welcome to the forum. As for trucks I like the F350 with 6.0 diesel I know that may be overkill, but I tow more then the TT. I would go with something 3/4 ton or bigger no need to buy new there are allot of them available on the used market. Added plus as you move to bigger rigs you don't have to change trucks. No science JMHO

[Hemlock04]

I have to agree. I own a 2012 pilot and it is rated close to the ridgeline and my highwall pop up (3200lbs dry) would have the pilot wheezing on hills. I have a Tundra now and I don't even know the pop up is back there and I assume it will be just fine for the IKSS I am waiting for right now.

[crash3]

I hate to say it, but your truck just isn't up to task for the 233s. I'm sure you'll be fine on a couple of short trips but you'll definitely be over cap. I have a 2014 233s and I have a tongue weight of 750lbs. All you need is a 150/1500. As long as you don't plan on loading up the truck with to much gear or people. You didn't mention if you have a WDH. If you are going to tow with the ridgeline. You'll have to make sure you have a WDH and a brake controller. The 233s is a lot of trailer. Not to discourage you. Another idea is to rent a 150/1500 for you're trips. Until you can get your own truck.
Stay safe.


2012 Dodge Ram 1500 crew cab 4x4 5.7L
2014 Rockwood Roo 233s
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[itat]

I have to agree with the other posters.

When I first bought our previous Roo 23SS I tried towing it with my Toyota Tacoma Double Cab TRD. It had a tow rating of 6500# and a hitch rated to carry 650#. The 23SS weighed over 5200# with a hitch weight a little over 600# when loaded and ready to go camping. The Tacoma was barely adequate for the task on flat stretches but seriously lacked power going uphill. When I took it to the CAT scales I discovered that I was over the GVWR with just myself and one of my sons and I have a family of five. So I had to upgrade to the F-150 I have now.

Your Ridgeline will have less capability than the Tacoma so I think you'll find it will not be a capable tow vehicle for the 233S.

[Will Pease]

Fair enough. All great Intel!!! I'm stuck with the truck for now, but I will be looking into the weight distribution hitch. That sounds like a reasonable item until I can replace the Honda.
The good news... I'm not intending on driving very far with the camper this summer & we'll have the car with us for people & whatever else.

[itat]

Good choice. I'm certain you'll find a 1/2 ton pickup or 1/2 ton based vehicle to be a big improvement. For the WDH I recommend a 10K Equal-i-zer brand (the 4 point version, not the E2). Just keep in mind that the hitch alone will add about 75# to the back end of your Ridgeline.

Welcome to the forum by the way. We hit you with a lot of critical feedback that you may not have wanted to hear but many of us have been there before and we want you and those sharing the road with you to be safe.

Enjoy your new Roo!

[deartruc]

I can't recommend your tow vehicle but a couple years ago a htt camped next to us. We had a 2010 sob 217rkss and they had 2005, being towed by a 2004 Hyundai Sante Fe. She said it wasn't the fastest thing on the highway but they tow all over New England and PA all summer long.

I have a Curt 1k/10k wd if you're in Southern New England.

[ablindmule]

Congratulations on the new 23 foot Roo, I'm jealous!
I had the same issue last year when I wanted to purchase the 23 foot Roo, but my dealer wouldn't let me based on the tow vehicle I had at the time, an older Jeep grand Cherokee that was set up for towing but was still rated at 5000 pounds. I had to settle for the 19 foot along with a really good weight distribution hitch , and I was just barely ok with the old tow vehicle. I was definitely pushing the limit and after a late fall drive into the mountains I had decided that was my last trip with the old tow vehicle.
Be aware that you should have been advised of all of this by your dealer, and I'm surprised that they let you leave without a good weight distribution hitch. For them, they lost another opportunity to sell, and didn't do a good of advising or consulting you regarding your tow vehicle and it's limitations.
I predict a new tow vehicle is in your very near future.
Welcome, and best of luck!

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by ablindmule

Congratulations on the new 23 foot Roo, I'm jealous!
I had the same issue last year when I wanted to purchase the 23 foot Roo, but my dealer wouldn't let me based on the tow vehicle I had at the time, an older Jeep grand Cherokee that was set up for towing but was still rated at 5000 pounds. I had to settle for the 19 foot along with a really good weight distribution hitch , and I was just barely ok with the old tow vehicle. I was definitely pushing the limit and after a late fall drive into the mountains I had decided that was my last trip with the old tow vehicle.
Be aware that you should have been advised of all of this by your dealer, and I'm surprised that they let you leave without a good weight distribution hitch. For them, they lost another opportunity to sell, and didn't do a good of advising or consulting you regarding your tow vehicle and it's limitations.
I predict a new tow vehicle is in your very near future.
Welcome, and best of luck!

Hey, I'm impressed! This is the first post I can recall reading where someone said their dealer actually told them their tow vehicle would be inadequate for what they wanted to buy.

[rootree]

I also just purchased a 2016 233S. We just completed our shakedown cruise and I managed to stop by a CAT scale.

I have a 2013 F150 Super Crew (3.5 EcoBoost) and the CAT scale came in at 12,000 pounds loaded with gear, family, and dogs.

Funny enough, I just sold my 2007 Honda Ridgeline RTX 3 weeks ago and purchased the F150.

The F150 is about 1000 pounds heavier than the Ridge so you would likely end up weighing around 11,000 pounds in total. This is about 1,000 pounds over the Ridge's max weight limit of 10,055.

I struggled, as I really enjoyed the Ridgeline but felt the right and safer long term decision was upgrade to a tow vehicle with more capacity and not be over the limit.

I don't recommend towing the 233S with the Ridge. If you really are going to tow with the Ridge, you need to do alot of research about towing limits, Equalizer Weight Distribution Hitches, brake controllers, transmission coolers, and get to scale to make sure your weights on each of the axles, etc.

Good luck.

[Will Pease]

UPDATE:

Since our last chat that following has been completed to the ridgeline:

A weight distribution hitch is being installed tomorrow.
A heavy duty transmission coller was installed.
A heavy duty Power steering cooler was installed.
The rear end was pulled apart and
re-oiled.
The transmission fluid was changed.
I found out the truck was originally built with Honda's Tow package installed, so all the OEM parts were removed and upgraded, including hoses and connections.

Keep in mind, the Ridgeline will see the Roo only a few times and they will all be local trips. I don't intend to do any cross country trips, or cross Region for that matter so all is well.

While I'm on the subject of conversations, I'd like to address something about this web site that I think needs to be said for everyone to read.
Many other forums that I've been on have been populated with people with good information, but with mouths just itching to spout off. People hear I'm intending to tow with a Ridgeline and they loose their minds. I've been told to be a man and get rid of that "Girly Truck" and get something real because it doesn't have eight luggs per tire. Oh yes, that's a quote.
This forum on the other hand, even when presented with constructive criticism (which has been VASTLY helpful) it was done with a quality flair and mutual respect.
Do I resent the criticism? Absolutly not! EVERYTHING I've been told has been quality intel and put to good use.
I thank you for the warm welcome, and I thank you for the civil atmosphere.
A tribute to the Forrest River community!

[Hemlock04]

I have to second that. I am upgrading from a pop up and there are some real self righteous folks on those forums. Very respectful here!

[RooVader]

That was an awesome comment Will. I think a lot of us are very active in this community for the exact reasons you so perfectly outlined. Keep us updated on how it all works out.

[karrun]

Don't forget the e-brake controller if you don't already have one!

[urocav2001]

I believe I read somewhere that you cannot use weight distribution on a ridge line due to its frame design. I was going to buy a ridge line till I noticed this and the towing capacity is quite low. There is not much wiggle room to transfer the tongue weight to the front axle as little weight transfer would bring the front GVW over it capability. If it works out just be safe, I tried towing my 233s with a 05 trailblazer with a tow capacity of 5800, spent a bunch of money on tranny coolers and new u joints all fluid changes just to find out the truck was not up to the challenge, the 233s is extremely tongue heavy even with weight distribution it would push the truck where ever it wanted to. Keep us informed and congrats on the new trailer!!


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[flymhi]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on the new TT!