Ridgeline

[Ruskin]

Anyone have experience with Honda Ridgeline.

I have a Ford Eddie Bauer, and I am thinking about letting it go.  However, it has a truck frame, and I hate to let that go.  I am not a high mileage driver.

[Buckskins & Black Powder]

ridgeline is low profile to the ground so dont think about doing any real 4wd'ing in it. Thats whats bad about new trucks these days. They trade off ground clearance so they can put these cute fender flares and running boards on it to attract the yuppie soccer mom. Look at how they ruined the H1!

[30-30man]

I have never taken the Honda Ridgeline seriously, it looks like a copycat light-duty version of the Chevy Avalanche.  I wonder how much longer Honda will still make them as I think interest in them has been a little lacking.  This is because of the no v-8 and the awd offered to try to satisfy people who want a truck.   If they are built like their cars....Hondas will last a long time but heavy duty they ain't. My wife tried to get me to buy one but I didn't like the AWD.  I wanted a transfer case and the option of 2H and 4Low.  They say they will tow but I have never seen anyone using them as a tow vehicle. I think it was designed for soccer moms and the grocery store with an occasional trip to the Home Depot.   If heavy duty is what you want with the SUV feel/small size, I'd look at the Ford Sport Trac.  It is a much more proven vehicle and I think the 4.6 v8 is available. It will tow up to like 5000lbs I think. The Honda has no V-8 even offered.  I bet they last about the same too.  I know a couple of people who have over 200,000 miles on their 4.6l in a couple of f150s.  my .002

[hrminer92]

I don't like how the tub is a part of the vehicle or see how anyone could put a topper on it.  The storage bins beneath the tub floor would probably end up getting full of crap if you do any real work with it (not that is what the target market segment would do with it). 

[Buckskins & Black Powder]

very true. it has to have atleast 4low. i use that in my isuzu all the time when 4wheel driving in the mountains. less strain on the motor and tranny when u can drop it into 4low and let it creep.

[Ahab]

I've had one for two years now and 38,000 miles. I regularly tow a pop-up and occasionally a horse trailer into remote areas doing volunteer work. Have had no problems going where I need to go wheter sand or snow. Above 9000' in elevation I'm usually passing those V8's. As an economical mid size truck it can't be beat. Check out  RidgelineOwnersclub.com

[Sourdough]

I know several people that have them, they are real populer here in the interior of Alaska.  Especially with women due to their smooth ride.  I've seen them towing big 4-place snow machine trailers, with no problem.  I've seen one on a very nasty trail towing a river boat.  This trail is so rough I usually run it in low range and second gear with my F-150 V-8.  He got there, dropped the boat, then pulled the trailer back out.  What most people like is not having to shift a transfer case, just step on the gas.  Everyone I know with Ridgelines are repeat customers, people that have owned Hondas before, and like them.  In fact my wife was going to buy one, till the kid and I talked her out of it in lue of a Mazda RX-8. She bought the Mazda last week.  As for a topper, yes there is one.  Built along the lines of the ones built for the Chevy El Cameno, Ford Ranchero, and Subaru Brat.  I've driven and rode in them quite a bit,(two buddies have them, not their wives) and they do ride good.  Ride is like a car, and on our rough highways it sure is nice.  Following one down the highway at 70MPH on the way to Anchorage last spring, saw her hit a frost heave and go airborne.  Bounced once then proceeded on down the highway.  When we stopped for lunch I asked about the airobatics, her husband said she was trying to kill him by slamming him into the ceiling.  No damage to the vehicle, just as I expected.  Honda makes one long lasting vehicle, and their engines are top notch.  My 1981 Civic had 130,000 miles on it when it was totaled.  Engine was pulled apart, and we found it was still within specs and nothing needed to be replaced.  But since it was going into an airplane the owner wanted to replace everything anyway.  That engine was then put into the airplane and has been pulling that airplane around now for 16 years.

[ronbow]

Honda ? Ridgeline ? I thought this was a truck forum !!

[str8shooter48]

Honda ? Ridgeline ? I thought this was a truck forum !!

 

[missouri dave]

While I can't speak to the ridgeline directly as I don't own one I can address hondas in general. I own a 97 honda civic. It's got 175,000 miles on it and runs like the day it came off the assembly line and still gets 32 miles to the gallon. I have every expectation that it is good for another 100k or so. Back in the spring I took it to wally world to get some top soil and manure for my garden in the sacks they selll. I loaded her up and when I got home and counted them out I was one bag short of 1000 pounds. I'm sure the civic was never designed for this kind of payload. They do make one darn tough, reliable vehicle.

[greenjeans]

I've had one for almost 1 - 1/2  years now and it is the best of both worlds. It is not a heavy duty construction truck and wasn't meant to be, but there are a lot of advantages. More cab room than anything you can find, rides great, and the trunk under the bed is almost worth the price by itself. My hunting gear goes in it on opening day and comes out at close of season. Looks take some getting used to, but you get over that quickly. Even though it is AWD, it has a locking rear differential if you really need it. Mine regularly goes to the woods during hunting season and gets anywhere my bud's 4wd does. The bed is larger than the Sport Trac and is flat, no wheel wells. so stuff lies flat. If you want a commercial vehicle, don't look at it, but hauling an ATV and hunting gear plus being comfortable inside, it's great. I never considered them until I went and actually drove one. Changed my mind quickly.

[300winman]

The Ridgeline is a mini van w/ a small tuck bed.  You can take a mini van off road, but thats not what it is designed for.  Its driveline and suspension are built for a car(reason for low tow rating).  As it gets heavy use the mx bills will start stacking up.  The same reason alot of automakers are dropping their minivan lines in favor of the crossover SUVs.  Drivetrain and suspensions designed for a car are not designed for the loads of a truck. Plain and simple, it is was built and marketed to make city folk feel like they have a truck.  Don't get me wrong, Honda makes great cars, just not a good truck.

[Ahab]

The Ridgeline is a mini van w/ a small tuck bed.  You can take a mini van off road, but thats not what it is designed for.  Its driveline and suspension are built for a car(reason for low tow rating).  As it gets heavy use the mx bills will start stacking up.  The same reason alot of automakers are dropping their minivan lines in favor of the crossover SUVs.  Drivetrain and suspensions designed for a car are not designed for the loads of a truck. Plain and simple, it is was built and marketed to make city folk feel like they have a truck.  Don't get me wrong, Honda makes great cars, just not a good truck.

Yah,sure. Got over 46K now and tow a 22' Airstream. No bills yet. Been on the Devils Highway in the Cabeza Prieta in
southern Arizona. I don't think you know what your talking about.

[The Gamemaster]

One day while getting my sisters Honda repaired at the dealer so I took a new Honda Ridgeline for a ride that day.

It was hunting season and  I took my shotgun with me.

The dealer did everything except bend over backwards to sell it to me.

I drive a Avalanche - so comparing the two is pretty easy for me.

The Avalanche is hard on gas and I am always repairing something.

The Honda is a very well made vehicle and if you were just going to use it for you and a buddy or two to go hunting - and not 4 wheeling - then it would be the best choice in my opinion.

The 4 wheel drive worked flawlessly and the fit and finish is very good.

A teacher that I had in school 25 years ago,  that is now retired, hunts every day of the season with his.  He told me that his Ridgeline has never gotten stuck on any of the main trails and has never been in for any repair in 40,000 miles.

He said that he loved his Ridgeline and the only thing he would replace it with would be another Honda Ridgeline.

The price of the Ridgeline is right in line with the Chevy, but the power and performance is not.

There is less cab room and less bed space in the Ridgeline than the Chevy, but it probably retains it's resale value better then the Avalanche.

If it was just me and the dog or me and my brother, then the Honda would be a good choice.

But since I haul a 7,000 lbs trailer behind mine and use it for construction - building houses, it does what I expect it to do.

Truthfully, the 1/2 ton / Z 71 Silverado that I had before it was twice the vehicle that the Avalanche is and had almost as much leg room in the rear as the Avalanche does.  It only ever gave me grief one time and even then it was more my fault that it's own.

I will never again buy another Avalanche and I will replace the Avalanche with a Silverado as soon as my house is done!

[30-30man]

The rinky dink rear end in the Honda was enough to convince me that there were better tow vehicles out there. I've had very good luck with Dodges.    My Dodge was bought used with 20k and now it just turned 55k.  It has never been in the shop for anything but fluid changes. My Dodge Hemi 4wd gets 16+ mpg unloaded average and sometimes I've seen 20 on the highway.  It does not have the mds either.  It can tow a 27ft w/slide camper up I-40 through some very steep grades without straining and maintaining any speed I want.  If you pull a camper over 20ft with a Ridgeline, I'd like to see what it does on a grade. I just didn't think it would pull the weight and still don't. The v-6 just doesn't have the torque of a v-8 no matter what technology they use. Any truck will pull heavy weights on flat land.  I once pulled a trailer loaded with a Ford 9n using a 79 Chevette with a hitch. It struggled and I guessed the weight had to be almost 6,000 lbs.  It was the only vehicle I had at the time and the distance was only about 10 miles. 

If gas keeps rising, then we'll all call a bike with a basket a truck.

[Ahab]

The rinky dink rear end in the Honda was enough to convince me that there were better tow vehicles out there. I've had very good luck with Dodges.    My Dodge was bought used with 20k and now it just turned 55k.  It has never been in the shop for anything but fluid changes. My Dodge Hemi 4wd gets 16+ mpg unloaded average and sometimes I've seen 20 on the highway.  It does not have the mds either.  It can tow a 27ft w/slide camper up I-40 through some very steep grades without straining and maintaining any speed I want.  If you pull a camper over 20ft with a Ridgeline, I'd like to see what it does on a grade. I just didn't think it would pull the weight and still don't. The v-6 just doesn't have the torque of a v-8 no matter what technology they use. Any truck will pull heavy weights on flat land.  I once pulled a trailer loaded with a Ford 9n using a 79 Chevette with a hitch. It struggled and I guessed the weight had to be almost 6,000 lbs.  It was the only vehicle I had at the time and the distance was only about 10 miles. 

Good for you, but your not talking about equivalent vehicles, I don't need a Hemi. My Ridge does just fine on grades pulling our 22' Airstream. If I ever need a bigger truck I'll go Chevy. ;

[300winman]

Ahab, 13 years of mechanical experience and a degree in aeronautical science against you here.  I believe no bull.  I have test driven a ridgeline, and upon futher inspection, believe it to be not much more than a Honda Pilot w/ a truck bed.  You can say it smells, tastes, looks like a peach, but a lemon is a lemon.  And anyone who exceeds the limits of his vehicle is either BSing, or not very bright.

[Ahab]

Ahab, 13 years of mechanical experience and a degree in aeronautical science against you here.  I believe no bull.  I have test driven a ridgeline, and upon futher inspection, believe it to be not much more than a Honda Pilot w/ a truck bed.  You can say it smells, tastes, looks like a peach, but a lemon is a lemon.  And anyone who exceeds the limits of his vehicle is either BSing, or not very bright.

I don't think so. You're going to have to work a bit more to beat my 37 years in Mechanical Engineering.   And, I'm sure not exceeding any vehicle limits.

[R.W.Dale]

Ahab, 13 years of mechanical experience and a degree in aeronautical science against you here.  I believe no bull.  I have test driven a ridgeline, and upon futher inspection, believe it to be not much more than a Honda Pilot w/ a truck bed.  You can say it smells, tastes, looks like a peach, but a lemon is a lemon.  And anyone who exceeds the limits of his vehicle is either BSing, or not very bright.

I don't think so. You're going to have to work a bit more to beat my 37 years in Mechanical Engineering.   And, I'm sure not exceeding any vehicle limits.

This is Classic




 What I find Ironic is the Honda is more capable than any domestic 1/2 ton truck from 15 years ago, vehicles that were more than up to the task of most sportsmen at the time. What happened in those 15 years where nowdays your truck now has to be able to tow 11,000LBS and get 14mpg in order to be considered "manly".

 Put a 4000lb trailer behind a 94 chev, ford, dodge and one behind a Ridgeline and the Honda will pull,handle and stop circles around the big three.

 New 1/2 ton trucks now days are stupidly OVER capable at the expense of price, fuel economy. A 220hp truck that would get 22mpg and tow 5000lbs is going to be much more useful to me than a 320hp truck that will tow 10k lbs and get 17mpg

[300winman]

If your being so practical, why not buy a Tacoma?  Same HP and more torque(w/v6)  and a 21-23000 price tag.  A Ridgeline cost as much as a 1/2 ton @ over 30000.  As an example of my point: My coworker tried the same arguement when he bought his Toyota Tacoma that has a supposed 6500 lbs tow rating.  He has an 18' speed boat he tows w/ the Tacoma.  He pulled it once through the Cascades to get to eastern Oregon from here in Portland.  He came in after his vacation and told me he would never do it again.   He said the truck just barely had enough to get thru the pass, and handling thru the curves was horrible.  Now he just uses the Tacoma local and uses his father-in-law's Dodge 1500 to go to eastern Oregon.  After he pays it down some, he is looking for a 1/2 ton.  Now I know it isn't a Ridgeline,  but the Tacoma has a higher torque and tow rating.  But then again this is Oregon, not southern AZ.

Ahab, 37 years exp in mechanical engineering??  Hmm...Please let me know for what company, I'm interested in what company would hire someone w/ your expertise.

[30-30man]

I use to think my wife's oldsmobile was the best thing since sliced bread when I was making payments on it.  The truth is, it was the biggest pile of crap I ever bought.  There were many cars out there that were better deals and would do the job better.  The same can be said for the Honda.  It might not be the same pile of crap the oldsmobile was, but there are many 1/2 tons that are more capable for the same price.  I'd be willing to bet my farm that the Honda will not tow what any 1/2 ton-v-8 will with the same performance.  It just ain't in the cards.  A v-6 will never have the torque or power of a v-8.  You can not measure by horsepower.  Horsepower is nothing more than torque at high rpms.  Torque is the force that gets weight moving..It is a better measure of an engine's ability.

About the old 1/2 tons, they published ratings with all the smog junk on them.  These contraptions often robbed and taxed these motors to the point of a moped.  All you had to do was remove the cat, smog pump, and run duels. Most people did in my area until PCMs began to made smarter.   The Dodge 360 only had about 160 horses but had 310lbs of torque.  This is partially due to the cam they came with(low rev/big torque) and the smog junk they were required to tack on.  I have a stock 79 Powerwagon that I'd put up against any Honda in a pulling contest.  With 4low, I'd drag the frame off anything Honda has right now.

[R.W.Dale]

All you had to do was remove the cat, smog pump, and run duels.

 All that's going to achieve is making the engine louder if not making the truck slower due to the loss of exhaust backpressure. Most hicks have no understanding whatsoever as to what those early emissions controls actually DID.

 The the smog pump for example. Your average NASCAR fan thinks it's a horsepower sucking apparatus that converts at least 100 HP into clean emissions by through the applied principals of  MAGIC! 

 All a smog pump does is it puts some fresh oxygen into the exhaust stream allowing the unburnt fuel to combust fully on it's trip out the tail pipe.  HOW in the world would this effect performance? It only takes like 1/3 of a HP to turn the pump.

These guys would pop the hood see the smog pump and recoil in horror, it was new and they didn't understand it therefore it scared them!

What is this thing bolted to my engine? the man #1 replied

 That's one of them thar smaug pumps. retorts his companion

 What's it do?  asks man#1

 They're there to slow our trucks down so we can't outrun the communist alien spaceships when they come for our women. explains his companion

 ^$@!) that! where's my hacksaw and Michelob. Shouts man #1

[30-30man]

The truck was a slug when I bought it.  With the mods I stated, the truck went from about 10mpg to almost 14.  It would not get out of it's own way, now it will lay rubber.  My help has tried to blow the thing up for years. We use it to haul the grain trailers to the cracking shed.  Some of these trailers can weigh over 9,000lbs when fully loaded.  It pulls them with ease through some of the nastiest places on my farm. It just keeps on tickin...I ride in it while chewing my tobacco, throwing beer cans at stop signs, listening to NASCAR, and shooting from the windows. It wouldn't be the same in a Honda.....  If you've ever eaten sliced turkey breast, Butterball, or turkey bacon from anywhere in the Southeast,  be very careful......You are more likely eating the product of the biggest hick in SC and it is contagious. You'll swear that Honda is a car and laugh at the people who just threw their money away.

[300winman]

My problem with the Ridgeline is it is compared with the 1/2 tons.  The Colorado and Tacoma have comparable horsepower, and the Frontier and v8 Dakota exceed the horsepower, torque, and tow rating of the Ridgeline at a lower price.  The only thing the Ridgelline has in common with a 1/2 ton, is the price tag. 

[Ahab]

Ahab, 37 years exp in mechanical engineering??  Hmm...Please let me know for what company, I'm interested in what company would hire someone w/ your expertise.

Boeing, Pratt&Whitney, and Raytheon Missile Systems to name a few.

You dance well on the stage of ignorance.

[Dand]

I just put 1200 mi on my new Ridgeline.  I bought it in Fairbanks, drove it to Homer Ak, back to Anchorage and Palmer. Averaged about 17 mpg with one run of 22 mpg from Cantwell to Talkeetna (basically all downhill). I'm fairly pleased with it so far but only gave it one challenge.  We took it down onto the Whiskey Gulch clam beach one day.  The road is dirt and pretty steep though some guys navigate it with huge motor homes.  I had to cross a big gravel windrow - no problem down hill and ok on the beach itself though I was careful to keep up my speed in the loose sand. The AWD seemed to do its job. On the way off the beach I almost bogged down climbing the loose gravel windrow.  I scooped a big load of gravel with the frame, nearly stopped then the traction system seemed to kick in and I just powered out of it with no spinning tires.  But I won't rush to do that again - the clearance is pretty low on it. We climbed up the steepest part of the access road with no slipping or trouble at all, even with a pretty big washboard that has been created. Once I get it out here to Dillingham Ak, we'll see how it tows and launches my 4,500 lb+ boat.  Overall for my uses I think it will be nice for most of what I do and I can haul the whole family to the lake with the boat.  It doesn't have the visibility of my old Ford or the big bed for firewood but that's ok.  I am concerned that the Honda bed doesn't seem real tough. A few times a year I fill and haul 2-3 55 gal drums of gas. IN the Ford I tip them over to roll out - just slam them around on the plastic bed liner - never a problem.  My dealer suggested I put down  heavy plywood before I do that in the Honda - seems like good advice.  I hope the Honda is better on gas than the Ford ( 1986 IL 4.9L 6). And I wish there were some modest priced seat covers for the Honda - the kids have already stained the seats a little while we were on the highway system. Spare rims are hard to find and expensive -  6Robblees found me some used alloys for my winter tires but it took a while and they weren't cheap - now I have to find some studded tires to fit.  And I hope this thing isn't too high tech for our remote area. Didn't expect to pay $200 + for 2 spare keys that have to be programmed and specially cut! But there are 5-6 of the Ridgelines here in our town so they seem to be catching on and doing the job. I might post later when the barge brings it home and I can give it a work out.

I can say that I'd have ground clearance concerns if I did a lot of 2 track driving like we did in Montana this spring. My buddy's Tundra crawled over some pretty steep and deep ruts that required really good clearance, and we still scraped now and then. Doubt the Honda is built for much of that.

[30-30man]

If you haul 2-3 55 gallon drums in your Honda, you need an armed escort not a Honda. $$$$$$$$$$$

[Dand]

30-30 - your are all too correct on that.  Here in bush Alaska we're paying $5.96 at the pump right now.  I haven't checked the rack price but it is usually about $.40 less per gallon.  And we are much better off (price-wise) than many more remote communities.  Rumors are for $8 to over $10 per gallon by fall. I think my friend's kid is ahead of us all now with his 7 dog team. 

[weasel]

Wish I could figger this quote thing out:

"I ride in it while chewing my tobacco, throwing beer cans at stop signs, listening to NASCAR and shooting out the windows"

LMAO!!! What are the odds? Meeting my evil twin Billy Bob online!

[Ruskin]

I finally settled on a vehicle.  Found an 05 Dodge Durango AWD with the Hemi engine.  12500.00 with 56K miles.

It has leather, third seat and enough goodies without making it a lot of work to figure out what I have.

It rides like a Cadillac, plenty of room.  I find I need to use the cruise because I can hit 80 w/o feeling like I'm doing it.

I am pleased with it.