New member from Central Maryland

[aray]

Hello. My wife and I are planning to buy our first RV, a travel trailer. The model we want is not in stock so we'll have to make a special order from the dealer. I'm looking forward to learning from all of you here with more experience; I'm not afraid to say that I have a lot to learn!

Ray

[Flybob]

Welcome to the forum. A great place to learn.

Do some additional research before you order the TT. Based on your current tow vehicle you are likely to have issues towing that trailer with your current vehicle.

[geeman53]

Welcome from SW Ohio .

[CurtPutnam]

Welcome from SoCal! Ridgelines are strong but not big enough to handle lengthy or weighty trailers

[aray]

Thanks for the welcomes.

And yeah, I've thought a LOT about the Ridgeline limitations but I think I'm OK.

For years I've towed a big pontoon boat with my V-6 AWD Ridgeline and it has performed like a dream. The pontoon boat and trailer are almost exactly the same length as my planned RV, and the boat sits monstrously high on the trailer, with big & wide flat walls on all four sides, so the cross-sectional wind loading will be somewhat similar. It's also top heavy compared to the RV.

The big difference is in the weight. The pontoon boat & trailer consume 60% of my truck's towing capacity. The FE 192RBS comes in at 85% - more than I would like but still within margins. The tongue weight is at 90%, before any weight distribution hitch (which I will use, to drop me a bit off of that).

To further mitigate the issue I'm adding a WDH with sway control, and a progressive brake controller with manual override, should a sway start up. (FYI my pontoon boat has only surge brakes.)

I fully realize that I'm much closer to the capacity limits than I would like, but I'm still under in all dimensions. Clearly I'll have to be much more careful than when towing the pontoon boat, but I'm prepared to do that.

Ray

[GalsofEscape]

welcome from Baltimore!! hope you love your camper once you get it.

[DaGrinch]

Welcome from Western Maryland! The saner side of the state!
You have a couple great dealers to choose from if you are in "Central" MD... not sure where that would be. Eastern Shore (everything across the Bay), Southern (Calvert, Charles, St Mary's), Western (Howard County west).... so, you must be in the Balt/DC metro area. [emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji1787] At least, that's the way most of us look at it out my way. [emoji482]

[aceinspp]

Welcome to the forum. You will find the camper tows completely different that a boat trailer where the weight is pretty well attributed compared to a tt. Later RJD

[Chris Pastuzyn]

Congratulations and Welcome to the forum from New Jersey

[aray]

Originally Posted by DaGrinch

Welcome from Western Maryland! The saner side of the state!
You have a couple great dealers to choose from if you are in "Central" MD... not sure where that would be. Eastern Shore (everything across the Bay), Southern (Calvert, Charles, St Mary's), Western (Howard County west).... so, you must be in the Balt/DC metro area. [emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji1787] At least, that's the way most of us look at it out my way. [emoji482]

We live just outside of Annapolis. And yes I agree, Western Maryland IS the saner side of the state!

[Reverse_snowbird]

Welcome from Texas! That's a nice size trailer to start rving in.

[camper70]

Hi! Welcome to the forum from another Western Marylander. I don't mean to pile on but all those percentages you are talking about will probably not be accurate once you load up the trailer and truck. Are you going to stay close to home? You may be alright in that case. I would not try to bring that set up out to Mountain Maryland. I'm speaking from experience because I over estimated the capabilities with my first tow vehicle. I hope it works out for you. Be safe out there.

[aray]

Yes I have thought about that issue, and regardless I welcome everyone’s opinions! I know I have a lot to learn.

Until we retire I plan to keep our RV only along the Atlanta Seaboard and away from the mountains. We travel light, and what few things we will be carrying with us will be in the crew cabin, second row, in front of the truck’s rear axle. It goes without saying that I’ll tow with our RV tanks dry. All of this to keep strictly within 85% of the rated tow capacity for the Ridgeline for two people.

One time, when we retire in about two years and move to Northern Kentucky, I’ll pull it across the mountains to its new home. On that trip I’ll lighten the load even further by having what little luggage we do carry with us stowed in our second vehicle (a CRV) driven by my wife, who will follow me on that trip. In addition to all of what I’ve just said, I’m also already thinking about the best route across the mountains from the Annapolis area to Northern Kentucky. (If you have any suggestions on the easiest routes I’d love to hear them.)

In retirement we may well get a beefier truck, but until then we’ll keep the RV between the Appalachians and the Rockies.

Ray

[Tapex]

Welcome from Central NC

[camper70]

OK! Ray have fun with the new rig and be careful.

[DaGrinch]

Originally Posted by aray

Hello. My wife and I are planning to buy our first RV, a travel trailer. The model we want is not in stock so we'll have to make a special order from the dealer. I'm looking forward to learning from all of you here with more experience; I'm not afraid to say that I have a lot to learn!

Ray

May I inquire as to what model you are interested in? Also, which dealer(s)?
[emoji848]

[spicercars]

Welcome from northern MN.