2017 Honda Ridgeline RTL-T towing 5k pound 21' travel trailer 750m Review

After making 3 fantastic trips over the middle summer we have accumulated about 750 towing miles with the Honda and our much smaller travel trailer. Could not be more pleased with the performance of this little trucklet. I don't condone towing over any weight ratings so do as I say and not as I do. Tow at your own risk. If you have any questions on our setup please comment below.

[@noahgrady3628]

My man clearly is not afraid to drive…road warrior. And the video is excellent! Really good job. Thank you so much for showing what this little truck will do.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Now that is awesome!

[@rgreen5358]

Proof the Ridgeline functions exceptionally well as a mid-size truck. I utilize my ridgeline as both a farm truck (haul hay, and tractor in trailer) and passenger transport. Tacoma may be better climbing rocks- but I don't climb rocks.

[@red606]

Do you think it could pull a 5x8 trailer full of green Douglas fir?

[@INFINITY-vb5ik]

Your video has really helped so many of us Ridgeline owners while investing our hard earned money. Everything you described, from lifts, tires, hitches, brake p3, trailers etc have been a tremendous service to all of us. Thank you for making time to share your towing experiences....every blessing to you.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Thank you for the kind works Mark!

[@SJCDAVE]

I own a 2007 Ridgeline. In 2016 i towed a similar 5,000 pound travel trailer from Orange County, CA to Yellowstone and back. We put 5,000 miles on the trick on that trip. The ridgeline was purchased with the factory tow package, which is excellent. I added a brake controller to the truck for that trip. It towed perfectly. Climbing up out of Salt Lake City the truck shifted down to 2nd and we barely kept speed over 40 mph, so we were definitely at max load. I think we got 6 mpg on that tank of gas! We pushed the truck hard and it never missed a beat. It was a perfect trip in middle of summer. Currently I have 271,000 miles on the truck. Besides regular maintenance I have had to replace the alternator, the AC compressor, one of the radiator fans, and a power steering hose.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Great story and thanks for sharing! 271k miles is pretty incredible with no transmission work!

[@cypresslounge]

This is really helpful. You have the set up that I’m saving up for. People keep telling me that I will need a bigger truck, but now I’m realizing that it’s just that I’m in Texas, so no matter how big the truck, they say you need a bigger truck! Anyway, this shows that the Ridgeline can pull the trailer that I want, which is slightly lighter than yours.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Glad it was helpful! They are definitely more capable than people give them credit for.

[@theholt2ic219]

@@PNW_Car_Mods People only say such because its a Honda. That is literally the only reason. There is no other reason they diss it other than that. If it had the Chevy, or Ford badge doubt anyone would say anything other than be proud of it. It sucks Honda did not try and make their brand more well known with pickup trucks back in the 90s like Toyota did.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

@@theholt2ic219 It's funny you mention this. I find it just nuts how well many have embraced the Ford Maverick (shameful they reused that name) and yet the Ridgeline continues to get crapped on.

[@JackofAllTrades1]

I thought this video looked familiar, I’m also a member of the ROC... have been for about 6 years now. It’s incredible that your Ridgeline was able to do this... and easily.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Yeah, I don't post there as much as I used to. I don't agree with a lot of the mindset there. I had people there telling me I was going to kill people just because I had aftermarket wheels installed.

[@JackofAllTrades1]

MRBLACK947 common sense goes a long way for safety.... seems more and more folks are willing to blindly quote something they read somewhere than just rely on what they know and what makes sense.

[@IamGroot786]

Exactly what you should do, tow in D4 on a Ridgeline. It reduces gear hunting and thus heat on the transmission.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Definitely.

[@MightySchmoePong]

Nice job. I have a 2017 Ridgeline. I used to tow a boat with it, about 5000 lbs on the trailer, with no mods. Towed it just fine, no complaints, and did just fine on the boat ramp too.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Great to hear. Boat ramps are some of my most favorite forms of entertainment lol.

[@cheftomsd]

Exactly my experience. Had a heavy half ton F150 and swapped out the P rated tires for some good truck tires. I carried an 8' cabover camper and the tires made a big difference. The sidewalls are stiffer.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Yup, all about sacrificing great ride quality, noise and comfort over stable handling and rougher ride.

[@edwardarsiaga3569]

I'm going to test drive a 2014 ridgeline tomorrow its max towing is 5000. I hope I'm making a good choice. Don't do alot of towing but nice to know I can if I need to.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

It will definitely do it. I certainly wouldn't tow it at max everyday. But I would like to think that is common sense. We were fine with 3 or 4 trips a year.

[@Davegvg3576]

Its good, Im impressed with mine. Ive towed a 5K boat all over the high desert which kills HP - and its absolutely a great tower. It almost feels under rated.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

I totally agree. Thanks Dave.

[@jeffho1727]

@@PNW_Car_Mods What year is your Ridgeline? Mines a 2009 with the 4 speed and its not liking 100kph (60MPH) as it keeps dropping down from Overdrive. Wondering if the new(er) 2019 and 2020 with the new transmissions tow better??

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

@@jeffho1727 ours was a 2017 gen 2 with a 6 speed auto. In the gen 2 per the manual put the trans in D and lock out the highest gear to keep it from hunting . I don't know if that is an option for the gen 1.

[@jeffho1727]

@@PNW_Car_Mods I can lock out the OD on the shifter and run about 4k rpm at 100kph which is around max torque. My truck is around 12 years old but only 160k kms so I'm undecided if the extra tranny gears and 30hp of the 2020 is worth it or will even make that much of a difference?? Saw yours at about 4k rpm as well in the video so not a lot of difference it seems when towing.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

@@jeffho1727 I think there is a big difference in the trans and engine. It definitely didn't cruise down the highway at 4k. Flat ish ground 63mph with little or no wind it would pull in 6th. Slight incline or headwind would pull in 5th 3500 or so. Get into the passes and it would be 4th 4 to 5k. Coming from the diesel world it is a little bit tedious but its just doing what its supposed to do.

[@Jonb01z28]

From everything I have seen, read and know from owning one Honda has underrated the towing capacity of the Ridgeline unlike the rest of the big truck makers that overrate their towing capacity. Honda does not care to compete with the rest of the midsize market in that aspect because they have built a truck that will do what 95% of truck buyers need it to do, they don't care about bragging rights and *ick swinging contest. No way I would every consider towing 6500-7000lbs with any of the midsize trucks especially in a hilly area.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

I think this is a pretty fair assessment .

[@GetOutBeHappy]

Really impressed with how fast you gut up to speed agter taking care of your coffee.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

There really is no shortage of horsepower in the Ridgeline!

[@jwrtiger]

I plan on getting a 2020 RTL-E as soon as it is available, been waiting months. I like the camera view during the last portion of your video... nice perspective you normal don't see. Thanks for the video.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

We would like to get another Honda when our business lease runs out on this one next year, but since it doesn't look like Honda is ever going to increase it's tow ratings we may be forced to look elsewhere. Neither of us want another full size truck, at least not anytime soon. So that narrows the market considerably. That does not tarnish my awesome daily impressions of the Honda AT ALL though. :)

[@bingham7957]

@@PNW_Car_Mods Just watched your video for the 1st time, and it answered a lot of questions for me. Thanks for making and posting it. I'm curious though after this video why you want a higher tow rating? Are you upgrading to a larger camper? FYI - I have a 2018 RTL-E.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

@@bingham7957 Hey Ralph thanks for watching. Same camper which we like and will probably keep for a good 5 years. Honestly we are as I clearly stated in the video to the masses over gross combined by 5-800 pounds depending on load. I am not worried about safety or killing people contrary to what the weight police want to pound in to people heads. What I am worried about is the ultimate long term reliability of the Hondas front drive based drivetrain and automatic transmission which as of now continues to perform flawlessly. Also this Honda is on a lease for our small business and that lease will be coming up soon so I can't see the logic in keeping it or buying another Honda if Honda is never going to make one with a higher tow rating. As of now for replacements that are not full size the Ranger is at the top of our list.

[@tomcogar851]

Looks like your haul’n ass towards the end of the video. Love the Ridgeline truck. It does everything you should do with it so well. I don’t know who wants to climb rocks with a brand new truck but God bless them they probably should get a jeep.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Thank you Tom. It really is the perfect daily vehicle and homeowner vehicle.

[@willhooke]

How much worse are the LT (hard rated) tyres for day to day vs the P rated (stock level) tyres? In terms of: 1 noise 2 vibration 3 comfort 4 handling 5 braking Thank you for your time

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

That is a great question. I can't say there were any glaring driveability changes with the LT tires. The Ridgeline drives and rides so well to begin with it really covers up any changes the LT tires might show on another vehicle. I would say there were no real performance degradation changes other than we lost probably close to 1 mpg with the heavier tire and wheel package plus they are a little over an inch taller. It was worth it though for us to get rid of the car like appearance. If we ever bought another one of these I would make all the similar modifications all over again. No regrets.

[@willhooke]

@@PNW_Car_Mods that is good to know 👍🏻 We don't get the Honda Ridgeline in Australia, so it's nice to see how they're going in the USA - with comprehensive videos such as yours Happy New Year and God bless you 🙏🏻

[@dctemper]

Thanks for making this. Just getting a Ridgeline and looking at trailers around 3800lbs dry.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

I think that's an ideal size for the ridgeline. Good luck your quest.

[@tutttutt9558]

I’ve been looking at a travel trailer weighing 3,400 lbs dry, and I was worried it would be too heavy for my ridgeline.

[@watchmanonthewall14]

@@tutttutt9558 My TT is 3,200 lb dry, and I'd have no problem towing it with a Ridgeline, but not everywhere. I would not tow it up and down the Rocky Mountains, for example. And I'd limit each tow day to a max of about 300 miles. Good luck in your adventures.

[@kstan1257]

​@watchmanonthewall14 this guy just proved that you can type more that 3000 over mountains with no issues... his camper I can guarantee you is at least 4000 lbs dry.

[@watchmanonthewall14]

@@kstan1257 His mountains is not the Rocky Mountains. Snoqualmie Pass is acceptable.

[@idkwhtimduin]

Will be using my 2019 pilot exl awd 6 speed to tow a similar trailer. Will be adding the tranmission cooler too. Hopefully it works out

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Like I have told a few others, if you are only doing it on a casual basis you should be fine. If you were gonna try and tow 4 or 5k pounds often like weekly or maybe even monthly especially with a lot of mountain passes like we have here it's probably going to eventually eat the transmission.

[@robboyd8228]

The payload 1580 + the towing weight 5000 = 6580 gross weight. He said he was coming in at 10,000 gross best guess. When it comes to trucks and trailers (and other things) all of us gentlemen stretch the truth. He was probably a touch over on the 10,000 adding in the burgers, fries, and beer. It is safe to say the Ridgeline did it’s name proud. I wouldn’t push it that hard but from both of you guys perspectives it was a hell of a test of boundaries. I’m impressed.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

I'd say your numbers and guestimations are spot on Rob! Thanks for checking it out.

[@leemcclinton1016]

@@PNW_Car_Mods I actually weighed my enroute to the campground. I was fully loaded with all I camp with. She came in a 9,480 lbs. I pull a 14 Flagstaff Shamrock gvw 3800 lbs. I was told the Ridgelines combined gvw is 10,085 lbs.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

@@leemcclinton1016 That is correct. At least for 2017. Could not tell you if it's changed current day.

[@mocheeks709]

I had a 2006 Ridgeline I used to tow my travel trailer which was almost as big as yours all over the country no problems

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Thanks for the comment Mark. If I had a dollar for everytime someone chimed in with a positive previous experience such as yours I'd have a few dollars for sure.

[@ShawnPatterson402]

that is a very nice combo that you have there. Folks don't give the Honda Ridgeline near enough credit as a very capable tow vehicle. Good tires and a properly set up weight distribution hitch are both very key elements however, but with that you should be great to go. Safe travels....

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Thank you and I totally agree!

[@knolysjohnson7244]

Sickest Ridgeline Setup yet!

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Thank you Knoyls

[@tanveergani7659]

Thanks for the video. I'm a W Washington resident myself and was wondering how our Pilot (Touring model, 5000 lb towing capacity with factory cooler) would do over the passes when towing a 4000 GVWR trailer. Your video gives me confidence that it should be ok since the Pilot and Ridgeline are practically identical vehicles except for that the Ridgeline has 10" longer wheelbase. Were you using a weight distribution hitch?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Yes on the weight distribution hitch. I would think with a quality hitch at 4k pounds even with the shorter wheelbase it should tow very well.

[@eddiepeele9810]

@@PNW_Car_Mods Looking at a 6x12 enclosed cargo trailer. You think I would be ok without a weight distribution hitch?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

@@eddiepeele9810 As long as it's loaded correctly it should be just fine.

[@eddiepeele9810]

@@PNW_Car_Mods I'm having a 6x12 enclosed cargo trailer made into a conversion. Estimated tongue weight around 450...

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

@@eddiepeele9810 Yeah that shouldn't be too bad at all.

[@MrTemplarViking]

Thanks for the review, looking at a ridgeline for my next vehicle, and was curious how it does with travel trailers. mine is 19ft Rockwood GeoPro 19FBS. only 3700# with my stuff.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

That's a perfect size for the Ridgeline. Should give you no problems at all!

[@calebthorne429]

How did this handle, after? Looking at doing the same with a Pilot.

[@watchmanonthewall14]

I would not tow that TT up and down the Rocky Mountains with a Ridgeline, but in most other scenarios, you should be fine.

[@freshsaltyfries5078]

Do you think the ridge line would tow Boston whaler 190 boat? Love your set up great review

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

I think so. What is the weight and does the trailer have surge brakes?

[@freshsaltyfries5078]

Yes surge breaks and weighs 3900lbs

[@greateralexander]

Kill a Bus full of nuns analogy had me. Dry humor at its best.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

That will always be my style. I like sarcasm and cynical.

[@neilholland2916]

According to Honda the Ridgeline's towing capacity is 3500 pds in 2WD and 5000 pds in 4WD. How are you putting your RL into full time AWD? As far as I can tell the vehicle decides when it wants to go into AWD based on the drive mode selected and the road conditions. So does it realize when it's pulling more that 3500 pds and put itself into AWD automatically? Good video, thanks for posting it.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Neil as far as I know the rear axle is always in play from 30% power delivered to rear all the way up to 70% From there 100% of that power can be split to both rear wheels or if the computer sees fit it can send all of it to one side or the other. Modern AWD systems are pretty incredible.

[@neilholland2916]

@@PNW_Car_Mods That makes sense. Thanks!

[@mocheeks709]

You've got that wrong 3500 pound towing capacity is for 2 wheel drive Honda Ridgeline 5000 lb towing capacity is for all wheel drive Honda Ridgeline two different vehicles

[@chickenhawk926]

Great video, Thanks! I noticed when you hit your right turn signal, a camera showed up on your screen. Is that stock or did you add additional cameras to your RL? I have a 21 and it doesn't have that feature.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

I can't speak on the brand new Ridgelines of today but in 2017 that camera was literally only available on the RTL-T trim level. Even the E and Black Edition did NOT come with that camera. That camera worked very well especially since the T trim level did not have blind spot monitoring.

[@chickenhawk926]

@@PNW_Car_Mods ahh okay. Yeah I have the RTL-E. Oh well to bad Honda didn't keep that as an option.

[@madrizz01]

I would love to know what the exact model of this trailer is. We have a 2022 Honda Ridgeline Black Edition and have been searching for a travel trailer for the past few months and all the dealers are telling us not to exceed the 5000lbs towing capacity. It really limits our choice of trailers. This Fun Finder seems heavy and pretty big. Thanks for sharing this video.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

It's a 21RB. There are several variants of it over the last 3 years. The weights vary quite a bit as well. I think with all our crap in the trailer and Ridgeline we were in the 5500lb range loaded. Ultimately when the lease ran out on the Ridgeline the wife always gets something different. So now we have a Max Tow Gladiator. It doesn't drive as nice as the Ridgeline did but it does have a lot more towing capacity which let us put a lot more of our crap back in the trailer.

[@nickjunes]

Judging by the engine size and payload capacity my theory is has always been that the Ridgeline towing capacity is extremely conservative. I wouldn't consistently pull 6000 lbs, but this would be one case where I would feel comfortable pulling the max tow rating full time.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Very well said. I agree. I don't know about in 2024 but back when I made this the transmission and torque converter were always the weakest link. The engine and axles if you will were never a problem. Brakes were awesome!

[@johnreed6630]

This is an absolutely amazing video!! I just want to say thank you for putting this out there. I'm currently thinking on trading my class C RV in on a 21' or 24' toy hauler. This would fit my needs much better as I have a Motorcycle I love to take along. However, my biggest concern was whether or not my 2020 AWD Honda Ridgeline would tow it safely or not. Also, would it have enough power going over hills and Mountain passes. Your Video answered so many of my questions and then some. I cannot thank you enough for putting this video out I found it to be incredibly helpful. You now have a like as well as a new subscriber to your channel. I do have one question for you in regard to the EZ Lift system you purchased from Amazon. Does that help alleviate or reduce the Tongue weight in any way or is it stickily for stability purposes?? Thanks again!

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Glad you found this helpful John. Just make sure you are aware of all your weight and have yourself properly loaded. I'm not a big toy hauler guy so I don't really know their average weights well. I would try to stick to something in the 4k lb empty range and then decide how much weight you are going to add as cargo. A weight distribution hitch when set up properly makes the trailer frame even with the truck chassis drawing a straight line from the front bumper of the tow vehicle to the rear bumper of the trailer if that makes sense. You are not getting rid of tongue weight, you are spreading it out. Also if you can afford it I strongly recommend the 4 way equalizer hitch. It is far superior to the EZ. There are a lot of people that buy into hondas claims you shouldn't run a weight distribution hitch on a Ridgeline but that is simply not true. It just needs to be set up properly so that you are not overloading the front axle or picking the rear axle up off the ground. If you have anymore questions, by all means fire away.

[@patricklondon6006]

I noticed you weren't using any mirror extensions. Can you see around the trailer?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

That is a very good question and I am surprised it hasn't been asked already. It's not perfect but since we have an RTL-T we have the camera built into the passenger mirror which has quite a view down the right side of the trailer. Looking out the drivers side is not too bad either. Keep in mind this is a pretty short trailer really. If we were going to keep this combo long term I would invest in the camera system that is prewired into the new trailer before messing with the mirrors on the Honda. I have not seen a nice fitting aftermarket towing mirror to fit the gen 2 Ridgeline as of yet which seems kind of silly as they've been out for nearly 3 years now.

[@jeffho1727]

I got two of these for my 2009. www.amazon.ca/s?k=CIPA+11950+Universal+Clip-On+Towing+Mirror&ref=nb_sb_noss

[@georgeniles9712]

...if you can do it, I can do it! I just upgraded from a 2021 Jayco Jayfeather X19H (dry weight 3204 lbs) to an 1100 lbs heavier 2022 Keystone Hideout 20RDWE (dry weight 4324 lbs), pulling it with a 2020 Honda Ridgelines RTL-E AWD (max towing 5000 lbs). I can feel with pull with the Jayco and was concerned about the additional 1100 lbs. Based on your vid and feedback, I feel much better about the new camper. Looks to be totally doable. Yay. My maiden voyage will be next week. If I don't forget, I will leave you my assessment upon my return. Great vid! Thanks!!

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

That's lighter than ours by almost 700lbs. I think you will be totally fine. Please report back on how it drives with the newer transmission. All those extra gears and I bet it tows even better! Depending on how you load the trailer and how much stuff you put in the ridgeline you will be right around max gross which contrary to some is not the end of the world.

[@hondapro87]

George Nile’s how did your ridgeline do on the tow? I’m buying a 2022 Coleman rubicon 1805bh which is 3,855 pounds dry and I’m getting a little antsy thinking about the finale weight once we load it up with all of our stuff and the extra hoses, extension cords and what not

[@georgeniles9712]

…it was better than expected but definitely, I can feel the extra weight when going uphill. Other than that, the Ridgeline was awesome, performed flawlessly, and the MPG was practically no different than towing my Jayco. I don’t think I would want to go any heavier than what I have with the Hideout. I know it would tow heavier but it will become a struggle. You should have no problems with your Coleman. It's 400 lbs lighter than my Hideout.

[@georgeniles9712]

...see my feedback below to Garrett.

[@hondapro87]

George I appreciate the feed back. How much gear do you think you had and how much do you think you were I’ve the 5k? I know I’m gonna be over I just don’t know how much. In the video he says he’s at 10,750 total which puts him about 6,250 total on the towing weight

[@Gabriellariz]

Impressive, I’m from California but have relatives in Washington state. They’ve taken us to the falls and the nearby outlets, that’s an pretty steep hill and your rig sure looks impressive. Perhaps you can do a follow up video, thank you for the video.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Thank you Gabriel. Unfortunately no follow up videos. The ole Honda hit the end of it's lease and we decided not to keep it for a multitude of reasons. It is a fantastic machine though. In our top 3 of the 30 some cars we've owned in the last 25 years.

[@Tooradj]

@@PNW_Car_Mods the other two?

[@gibco25-offical56]

We have a new Honda passport with the 5k tow package and we tow a ibex 23BHEO and it’s a workhorse towing that big of a trailer.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

I'm assuming you have the newer 8 or 10spd transmission (not sure what they are using now)? Hopefully they're holding up better than 6spds are. They have had a lot of failures even without towing. Looked up that trailer. Nice looking unit. Couple hundred pounds or so lighter than ours.

[@gibco25-offical56]

@@PNW_Car_Modsit’s a 2023 Honda. The tranny is much better then the older ones.

[@cartersmith9433]

Towed 5000 pound with my 95 c1500 a couple of times and this does pretty good

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

IIRC those trucks didn't have a very high tow rating either?

[@danielgoen9452]

I'm looking at getting a 2021 Ridgeline Sport because my back is fubar'd. Looking for a smooth ride. I tow a 10' trailer, and a polaris Ranger . Any negatives with the Ridgeline? Really sweet Travel Trailer!!! .

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

I have ankylosing spondylitis and was in a pretty decent flair up when we shot this video heading off on vacation. After this trip I ended up out of work for almost 5 weeks. Not related to sitting in the Ridgeline. That being said the lease ran out on our Ridgeline and we no longer have it. I miss it a lot for daily driving. It's such a well rounded vehicle and the ride and seats fit me very well. My wife goes through a lot of cars lol, but I wouldn't rule out another one in the future. I think it would suit your purposes very well.

[@danielgoen9452]

@@PNW_Car_Mods Thank you so much!! I have Spondlolithesis of the L5 with 4 bulged discs. Fighting with Workers comp right now. Im afraid my 2020 Ram1500 will be too hard to get in and out of, plus while its good for a truck, it's not super smooth. Hope your back lets you live a fairly normal life!

[@michaelalexander3828]

The CGWR (per Honda) for the 2017 Honda Ridgeline is 9,986 lbs. If your scale weight is 10,750 lbs., you are over the CGWR by 764 lbs.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

I explained all that as clear as I could and you are correct. I also stated how I was no where near being over weight on any axle weight and I was fine with that. Everyone should do exactly what makes them comfortable and no more.

[@66racer]

Well this was good information. I tow a 2000lb Nobo 10.6 trailer looking to upgrade and was concern how 3500-3800lbs might feel. Seeing your video gives me peace of mind with upgrading.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

That would be a great combination 66racer!

[@prof.crastinator]

A 3500 lb (loaded) trailer is probably the max you should tow with ridgeline, pilot, passport awd.

[@66racer]

@@prof.crastinator yeah, would totally agree. We towed a little bit with a '16 Pilot awd and a Geo Pro 19BH but in the western states, we decided to get a Ford Ranger and that thing tows the same trailer so much easier.

[@mudstone6497]

Hi, our 2018 pulled a tent trailer and the truck didn’t even know it was there. Then upgraded to a hybrid, approx 3200 lbs with gear, say 4000. I can stay at 3500 rpms, without to many hills. From what I’ve heard, this engine has no trouble with the higher revs. Should I get a transmission monitor to check the temp? Can I tow this for 10 straight hours (with a few stops) without harming the truck? Any comments are appreciated and valued, thanks!

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

You should be able to tow that weight nearly indefinitely. Running a trans temp gauge is always a good idea. I did not run a gauge, nor did we ever get a trans hot warning which some people have gotten driving around unloaded.

[@captseamus]

More gauges are always the way to go. Tranny cooler, remote temperature gauge on the tranfer case and rear axles are a plus too. Tires pressure & temperature remote monitors are a great plus. TOW IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT!... REST STOPS means physically putting your hands on trailer wheel hubs! Club the tires..

[@mudstone6497]

@@captseamus bought a RAM 1500 instead!

[@codeman99-dev]

@@mudstone6497 I'm sorry for your loss.

[@jasonunderwood9240]

I didn’t think you could use a weight distribution hitch with a Honda ? Tell me your thoughts .

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

I have heard this before and have seen it bantered about on the Ridgeline forums both for it and why to be against it. Me personally, I think it defies all logic of proper towing to not run it on a larger trailer. I think in hondas eyes it's a liability thing. Because if you set the hitch up incorrectly it can cause ill handling and possible a sway crash. But if you don't run one you could wind up in a sway crash possibly maybe. I drove this trailer around town testing both with and without the WD hitch and honestly this trailer pulled exceptionally well without the WD hitch. In the back of my mind though I like the idea of running with the WD hitch better. As long as you set it up correctly it IMO is always going to be better than not running it. You just have to make sure it is set up correctly and doesn't have too much hitch tension which will pick the back wheels up on the tow vehicle. This goes for any WD hitch on any tow vehicle. You may know a lot of this already so I don't want this to come off as preachy.

[@jasonunderwood9240]

@@PNW_Car_Mods no I didn’t know about all this ? I would like to know more about it. And what is the right way .

[@jasonunderwood9240]

Which WD hitch is this I wanna make sure I get the right one

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

@@jasonunderwood9240 In this video I was using a very inexpensive EAZ LIFT 800lb hitch. I have since made the switch to a Equalizer 4 way hitch. I strongly recommend getting one of the newer style hitches that don't use tension chains and do have built in sway control. Definitely do lots of homework. It will pay off in the end. There are some fantastic videos on youtube dedicated to WD Hitches.

[@shawnxhu]

Amazing! Honda makes some amazing engines. We hauled 9440 lbs across country in our 2014 3.5L v6.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Thank you Shawn. The 2014s seem to be the most desirable 1st gens.

[@shawnxhu]

I did it with an Odyssey. That’s how impressive these cars are.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

@@shawnxhu While I know they're the same chassis I can honestly say I've never seen an Odyssey pulling a trailer before. Pretty cool!

[@slowspecv69]

I call bullshit on this one bud lol

[@ericksanchez7787]

What type of cargo you hauled?

[@neilcarter77]

I wonder if the awd has something to do with it? I’ve never towed anything with my pilot but I always feel like the vehicle is very stable and controlled with the awd.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

That could be part of it for sure. IIRC the front driver Ridgelines only have a 3500 tow capacity.

[@vasiliytereshchenko1994]

Great video sir I’m thinking about towing with my 2017 Acura MDX, it has the same power as you, I’m thinking about towing a 3,200pound trailer 21 foot Wildwood FSX Northwest 179DBK, do you think that should be a problem or not for my Acura? Thanks

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

You are going to be right there at max towing capacity (3500lbs) with a trailer that big and you would have to be very careful with your trailer loading. The other big unknown is the reliability of that transmission. Might want to do your homework to make sure nobody has been burning those newer transmissions up.

[@vasiliytereshchenko1994]

@@PNW_Car_Mods thanks

[@vasiliytereshchenko1994]

@@PNW_Car_Mods so my car is the all-wheel-drive it says the tow capacity is 5000 pounds when you installed transmission cooler, do you think that would work for my car size with a 5000 tow capacity?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

@@vasiliytereshchenko1994 good catch on the AWD version being higher. I should have caught that. It may already have the trans cooler from the factory if it is 5k tow capacity. Our Ridgeline did.

[@vasiliytereshchenko1994]

@@PNW_Car_Mods oh OK I’ll check it out do you think it will pull it 3200 to 4,000 fully loaded trailer fine?

[@bassangler4856]

How is the Ridgeline holding up, any issues or problems. How many miles now. Thinking of buying a 2017 RTL-E with 72K miles to pull my 3000# bass boat,

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Bass we no longer have the Ridgeline as the lease was getting ready to expire. We usually have one lease vehicle as a vehicle expense for our small business. We put 34k miles on it all of which were trouble free. It has zero return trips to the dealership for any problems. Overall I would say that out of the almost 30 cars and trucks we've had in the last 30 years this Ridgeline is in the top 3 of overall great experiences. I could see buying or leasing another some day.

[@zzzonezz]

Will a Ridgeline tow 5000-6000lbs daily? Short distances, as a work truck. Under 100 miles per day. Thanks.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

I'm fairly certain the transmission would not tolerate that. The engine, axles, and brakes would likely be fine for a long time. Would be neat to see someone truly torture test one of these things. I will say that in all of the comments this thread has gathered in the last 4 years I'm surprised that no one has come in and said I was towing xxx and fried my transmission.

[@zzzonezz]

@MRBLACK947 Awesome, thank you for the reply. I am thinking tundra for now but we already have an mdx and after another 6 months or maybe a year I'm gonna see how it does with the trailer. Kind of like a back up work vehicle and an experiment at the same time. I have a sneaking suspicion that will take the abuse. We will see.... :-)

[@SlightlyDirtbag]

So I have a 2021. I was planning on traveling in an RV for a year with myself and my dog. The plan is to bounce around campsites at which I would spend roughly a month at. However I might just boondock where I find a spot. Do you think the ridgeline would be up for it since its so much traveling or should I invest in a bigger truck?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

I don't know if I would be comfortable towing at max gross weight for a year with the Honda. That being said I haven't kept tabs on how the newer transmissions are doing for durability. If you had a trailer that was around 3500lbs or less loaded I think you should be able to do that for a year and not hurt it. The good thing is you are still under warranty if you decide to try it.

[@SlightlyDirtbag]

@@PNW_Car_Mods my goal is for an RV that's around 4k loaded. However with these current gas prices I could get a pretty penny for the ridgeline and save on a 2500 of some sorts. Then I could go bigger RV too. Thanks for the info!

[@artgopfert1124]

Who provided you the lift kit (name of LK) and installed and who or what dealer in the Seattle area installed the lift kit. As I live nearby I would like to know who is a competent, as as lot of horror stories abound of folks who messed up the lift of many a 2nd gen Ridgeline

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Hi Art. Check out this video I did this summer. Explains it all. kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3TQm5ewaa2hfZI Long story short, it's all self installed. Front is Truxx 1.5 and rear is .5" Traxada.

[@artgopfert1124]

Thank you for that reply. One more question. Do you think that tire wheel combination would have worked and not rubbed if you did not lift the truck? Where I go each weekend, North Cascades DNR land there has always been a good chance I am going to bash something even though I have been pretty careful not to get in over my head, but with a tire wheel combo and adding maybe an inch to the trucks height with "no" lift kit may give me a slight advantage. Question, do you think I may run into tire rub issues without the lift?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

@@artgopfert1124 IIRC the 265 sized tires actually fit better without the lift than with the lift. The shape of the wheel well almost has an over arch design. Its hard to describe. But yes there are a lot of people running 265s on stock suspension. I like the lift both for the looks and extra ground clearance in the snow. The tire rub we have on ours with our combo is inconsequential.

[@randallsguaranteedsold6361]

Excellent review, thank you for posting! Question: what slope gradient % are those detailed hills? Thx again

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

I believe Blewett Pass is like 7%. Snoqualmie Pass is 5%.

[@pmoa]

Thanks for the video. I plan on towing a 4200 pound trailer and boat with my 2nd gen. What are your thoughts on keeping everything stock?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Should be good to go in stock trim. Make sure your tires are up to the task. May want to add some air to the rears when towing. Do you know what the tongue weight is on it?

[@pmoa]

@@PNW_Car_Mods at the moment I do not. I believe some different tires may be in order as it only has the stock firestones

[@TaylorMcDonaldMusic]

Thanks for the video! Do you have some chrome molding on the bottom of the doors? It looks great!

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Hey Taylor everything is stock as delivered except for the lift and tires/wheels.

[@ChristiannTyler]

Awesome video.. awesome trailer! I was about to get a Tacoma then I rented the ridgeline.. I’m very impressed might buy one but have been wanting to get a trailer figured I’d be very limited with this truck finding something to sleep 4 but looks like it might be possible! I’ll be looking for some fun finders! What year is yours?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Trailer is s 2020 21RB. There are a million different copies of this floorplan out there these days some of which are substantially lighter too.

[@ChristiannTyler]

@@PNW_Car_Mods thanks! do you know of any by chance? Trying to comb through the massive amount of trailers and variations is painful..

[@jaimejimenez754]

A bit higher weight than I would tow, but Ridgeline seems to be handling like a champ!

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Thank you Jaime. I have a lot of towing experience so that factors in what I am willing to do and do it safely. I have been in towing loads that were sketchy as all get out that were legal by definition.

[@RohanSanjith]

How was the braking performance with the trailer?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Phenomenal IMO. It would have no problems stopping this trailer in the event of total loss of trailer brakes. Even in a mountain pass full 100% confidence. I actually did test this theory in another video driving around in a safe area with no trailer brakes on a 5k plus pound dumb bed utility trailer.

[@muddog2159]

Do you think that it’s necessary to install a transmission cooling system and engine oil cooling system also for towing and off-roading

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

If you have and RT-L T or above I would say no. Just leave it factory it already has the coolers it needs.

[@jrahme]

Do you watch your transmission temp ? If yes how high does it go ? Ever got transmission overheated light ? Thanks

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Joseph we never had any tranny temp warnings on ours. I never monitored it either. It really pays to drive in a manner that keeps the transmission in a zone where it's not working the converter too hard. Constant slipping of the converter is bad news on these.

[@harryhagelund7674]

I too have a 2017 Ridgeline and am searching for a camper now. I notice you have transmission in “D4”, is this where you keep the transmission while towing? Thanks for the time you took making the video!!

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Only ran d4 climbing or headwinds. Around here it was in D4 90% of the time. Thanks for stopping by.

[@harryhagelund7674]

Thanks for the reply! I’m in Mississippi so it may not be an issue😎

[@roberto3007]

I ain’t going to lie in the video u looked a little nervous 😬 while driving. I got the 2017 BE and went threw Sonora pass in California with mine and it was a little sketchy with all the camping gear and no trailer 😆

[@leemcclinton1016]

are you in the west? I worry about the tranny in my 17 with the hills in the East. I would like to go with a larger trailer but have concerns.

[@leemcclinton1016]

you answered my question

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Worrying about the transmission is a valid concern especially if now out of warranty. I think if you only do this a few times a year and change your transmission fluid once a year or so the transmission should stay healthy.

[@leemcclinton1016]

@@PNW_Car_Mods It overheated on me one time this season during the leveling process. It was after the water tank was full. The site was awful. I think this winter I am going to replace the trans cooler with a larger one that has a fan on it.

[@momchilbalashev5461]

I just Purchased new 22" 16BHS Wolfpup (by Forest River) and towed it with my 2019 Honda Ridgeline RTL-E. The trailer is 3300 Lbr and I towed it for about 200 miles. It was an nice towing experience HOWEVER: I had my Scan gauge II showing the transmission fluid temp. About the middle of the road the temp went up above 200 F and the max it went up to was 237F. I was driving 55 MPH and the weather was about 70F. So I wonder if this is normal as I was anticipating the transmission fluid temp to not go over 200F. I wonder is it is worth installing an additional radiator to keep it cool. Any ideas?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

That does not sound right to me. Your RTLE should have a factory trans cooler. I also think you may have a different transmission than the 2017 had but I'm not positive on that. I never hooked a scanner up to this Honda because so many people had already been towing with the Gen 2s I just wasn't worried about it.

[@73737boeing]

Cargo capacity of truck and GVWR of trailer? Not dry weight

[@leadnsteel1428]

I love the Ridgeline but I have a Chevorlet Colorado with a 2.8 Duramax diesel engine. The diesel is a workhorse it tows great and gets amazing mpgs. I also have a tuner on it too so it gives it bit more hp

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

I've owned three diesels in my life over the last 20 years and as cool as they can be I think I'm just about done with them for personal ownership. When I first got into them the price of fuel was about half of what gasoline is and after the nonsense of the mid to late 2000s it's never been the same since. As of today Diesel is almost a dollar more per gallon than gasoline. That being said I'm not knocking your truck or engine choice. That is a very cool little engine fore sure.

[@leadnsteel1428]

I'm in Canada up here diesel is about 25c more per liter (our prices are in litres) but yes I know in the states the price can be quite different. I'll keep an eye on the prices. I don't know why it's more expensive nobody hardly uses diesel now

[@bassaddict_85]

Are you still using this as your tow vehicle?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Unforutnately no. This was a lease vehicle for my wifes business. She rarely ever get's the same make model back to back. We both agree though that stigma aside that Ridgelines have this is one of the best vehicles we have ever had. We have a Jeep Gladiator now in it's place.

[@DinakarJayarajan]

Planning to get a 2020 Ridgeline to tow a 4500lbs camper. Two years later, what is your opinion on the Ridgeline as a TV?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Dinakar, we only did one season with the Ridgeline and then the lease was running out. We ended up switching to a Gladiator because my wife rarely ever gets two of the same vehicles back to back. Anyways this is a good comparison. While the Gladiator is a fantastic towing machine within its own limits the Honda actually towed even better and was an even better overall towing experience. 4500 lbs should be just fine. Make sure you are loaded properly and get a good hitch. I would really like to tow our trailer with a 2020 Honda some and see if the newer transmission is even better.

[@jakes5530]

Sooo a ridgeline should be able to handle a 3300 lb boat/trailer combo on flat ground very easily then? Think I would need a WDH and sway control with that load?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Absolutely. No WDH. What kind of trailer brakes? Surge I am assuming? Just make sure your trailer brakes are in good working order.

[@jakes5530]

MRBLACK947 yep would be surge. Have you experienced better than 10 mpg on flat ground/not a mile above sea level? I know your load is heavier than mine, but Ive heard 12-13mpg from durango/grand cherokee v6 owners towing about 5k - (two other vehicles I am considering for the job). Would be nice to have the truck bed though for when occasionally needed.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

@@jakes5530 I think 12-13mpg should be pretty easy with your weight and conditions.

[@jakes5530]

MRBLACK947 sounds good, thanks for the reply

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

@@jakes5530 You are very welcome.

[@TheBeardedGrump]

I have a 2011 rts 4wd I'm looking at getting a 17ft camper that weighs approx 3600 lbs with a tongue weight of 433 lbs. Would I be safe to tow it? It has a factory tow package.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

I think you would be fine with that. Say with gear your are 4500 and tongue weight of 500ish you would still be well within the numbers IMO. When in doubt scale your truck and trailer to know exactly what you got. :)

[@TheBeardedGrump]

@@PNW_Car_Mods would the rear end of the truck sag with that much tongue weight? I tow a pop up now just looking to get a travel trailer

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

@@TheBeardedGrump It may a little bit. Don't be scared to try a light duty weight distribution hitch. It will make a world of difference.

[@lucascooley912]

I am new to towing and will be looking at trucks and campers in the future. I noticed that going uphill you cruise along at ~5k RPMs. I live in flat plains, so I'm not used to my vehicle sitting in higher revs. You seem very satisfied with it revving, so it makes me think my concern is a little out of place. Do trucks like an F150 have different gearing/torque that make it so that it isn't sitting so high in the revs? Thanks for the video!

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

This is just my opinion Lucas but almost any gas powered engine even V8s are going to rev a lot in the hills to get into it's powerband. If you want big power and lower revs you have to shift to Diesel. Now if you have an ecoboost F150 and tow a light trailer like sub 4k pounds it may not rev as much if the turbos are in their wheelhouse. There are a lot of variables to this. Revving an engine is not bad. The engineers tune these engine and transmission combinations to try and stay at peak efficiency and power. Also I wouldn't say I'm satisfied lol I actually find it obnoxious. Especially coming from the Diesel world.

[@lucascooley912]

@@PNW_Car_Mods Thanks for the honest feedback! We'll likely be hauling a pop-up or lightweight hard side, so I doubt we'll have much trouble. We like to keep our vehicles for a long time, so being able to have a vehicle that can tow and do so reliably is a big priority. The Ridgeline seems like a great fit for us, but we'll see where we're at when we get to that point. Thanks!

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

@@lucascooley912 You are welcome Lucas. From what you describe I think this could be a great choice for you.

[@Josh-kp8si]

@@PNW_Car_Mods This is not true because engine RPM is directly related to speed and gear. The reason you run 5k rpm on the highway is because you are using a lower (or numerically higher) overall gear ratio. ie. you are in 4th where as you would normally be in 6th. That engine is not very powerful and thus does not generate adequate torque to pull a higher gear.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

@@Josh-kp8si You just essentially said the same thing in different words.

[@04tsxpower]

Not to many engines you can hold those kinda of rpm continuously. H POWER!

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Never ever worried about this engine. Only the transmission. Which thankfully worked perfectly the whole time we had it.

[@04tsxpower]

@@PNW_Car_Mods all good

[@mikebowen96]

That Fun Finder seems like the 21RB model, yes? The dry weight is 4725lb. How are you not over weight when loaded, especially when taking into account the 1%-per-1000 feet altitude reduction in towing capacity?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

You didn't watch the video at all if you're asking that question. Sorry.

[@JJFB16]

Great Video! What was the axle weight of the trailer? Also, do you remember what was the weight of the front and rear axle of truck? Was 500 lbs front or rear axle? Considering 500 pounds less than rear axle limit mentioned on the video, seem like you were able to add ~800lbs on your rear axle using the WDH. Did you by any chance weight the truck axles without the WDH?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Thanks Juan. Any and all weights from that combo are now out of my head so you will have to rely on what ever I said in the video. Never have tried weighing a trailer truck combo using a weight distribution hitch without any preload on the bars. Would be interesting to see what it does to the front and rear axle on the tow vehicle.

[@mocheeks709]

@@PNW_Car_Mods Honda recommends not using a weight distribution hitch because it overloads the front axle I towed my trailer without a weight distribution hitch, did not have sway bar. And you really shouldn't put a leveling kit on any truck if you want to use it for Towing,

[@jameslizardo]

Quick question?! You ever tow it up a 6% grade? Im curious cause I go camping with my 07 and the new trucks are similar.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Man I am not sure on Grade percentage. We had it over Blewett pass in Washington which is pretty gnarly. Been over White pass, Snoqualmie pass and Tiger mountain as well. The Cascades are pretty hilly mountian passes but nothing probably like the Rockies or the continental divide.

[@richie4ohio]

Great video. I have a Honda Ridgeline 2010, and I love it. Question, when I tow my camper I haven't yet put it in D4. Is that how you always tow it when you are in a highway that is very hilly? I am curious because my truck never speeds up going up hill, and I have wondered if I kept it in D4 if that would help a lot?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Definitely want it in D4 for the conditions you describe IMO. Think of it like a poor mans tow haul button you would find in older pickups. It basically locks the transmission out of the highest overdrive.

[@richie4ohio]

@@PNW_Car_Mods ok thanks for the tip(s). I should take it out of 4 though I assume when I get nice flat ground. I will be trying this out next weekend! Our camper is around 4,500 pounds, when loaded.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

@@richie4ohio Yup that is exactly what we did. I think you are going to be pleasantly surprised at how well it does. What hitch are you using?

[@richie4ohio]

@@PNW_Car_Mods I can't remember the name of it. It has sway bars on each side and it was the biggest hitch I could use for our trailer, which is 29' long.

[@richie4ohio]

@@PNW_Car_Mods One last question, do you use regular 87 octane gas, or the 93 octane? I have heard it doesn't make much difference.

[@AlexKazakovaxkazakov]

I have a Honda passport which is built in the same base as the Ridgeline and Pilot. I don’t have any tow/haul setting available. Do you tow the trailer in the regular Drive mode, or do you set it to “sport” to allow the engine to rev higher?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Alex we had the 6 speed auto and I don't recall their being a sport mode. Definitely no tow haul. If we were in the hills I would keep the overdrive locked out with the button on the shifter. I'm speaking off of memory as we don't have the ridgeline anymore.

[@gibco25-offical56]

Leave it at normal.

[@aliceinchainz3003]

i love love this set up old post we know but id rather just get a 2005 class A and be done with it just to much could go wrong and not enuff room 4 a back up plan so u godda get it right the first time.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

We thought about doing the motorhome thing for a while but just couldn't justify the cost for our uses and also didn't want the engine/drivetrain sitting for long periods of time.

[@brettbrock4626]

I love my ridgeline pulls my 4600 lb boat like it aint nothing 😊

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Nice! what year do you have Brett?

[@yongguangqiu9635]

i am looking for ridgeline to tow a wet weight 4500 pounds trailer, can it handle it? It's rated for towing 5k pounds. I want to hear your experience.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Absolutely. There is a couple on Ridgeline owners club that tow a trailer that size cross country and through the Rockies with a Gen 2 Ridgeline and have had no problems with it. I think 4500 pounds is an ideal weight. We were above that at the time and it handled it but I wouldn't do more than a few trips a year at 5k pounds. I would worry about the long term reliability of the transmission. That being said it could be worry for nothing. I will say that if you have a well balanced trailer and a proper weight distribution hitch it is an amazing towing experience and I've towed a lot trailers in my time. Some over twice as big as this one.

[@yongguangqiu9635]

MRBLACK947 thank you for your reply. And a question for trailer, you said this trailer is your second one, how long was your last trailer last, and how long would you expect this new trailer last?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

@@yongguangqiu9635 Our last trailer was a 2012 model. It was a 37 foot long Fifth Wheel. It was only used about 25 nights per year in 7 years and held up great. Most modern RVs should give at least 10 solid years of reliable performance if taken care of. Once they get to 10 years and older while they still may be fine their resale value will nose dive. This is our forth RV trailer of some sort in the last 15 years and also the smallest. We've really downsized.

[@neil3147]

I thought the max towing capacity for the ridgeline was 5000lbs?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

It is unfortunately. Maybe someday Honda will stop being stubborn and give the people what they really want.

[@BengLang84]

Thanks for the video! I just have one question did you put a sway bar control in your set-up? If not, how did the ridgeline handle the camper without a swaybar control? Thanks! 😀

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Alvin we never did feel the need to run a sway device. This thing drove so well it was never a white knuckle driving experience. That being said it's not terribly windy around here. But say like passing a semi truck that was never an issue at all. That being said if I had it to do all over again I would run a better hitch with built in sway like the 4 way equalizer hitch.

[@BengLang84]

@@PNW_Car_Mods Does the built in sway with 4 way equalizer hitch same as the friction swaybar control in terms of how it supports the camper?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

@@BengLang84 It does both better if that make sense. and the 4 way doesn't have any complications with backing up like the side mounted friction deals can. I run the 4 way equalizer on our curren rig and I truly do believe it's the finest bumper pull hitch money can buy for weight distribution and built in sway.

[@BengLang84]

@@PNW_Car_Mods I see. So unlike the side bar mounted that you most likely always habe to take off everytime you have to do a sharp turn or backing up you don't have to do it with the 4 way equalizer? What brand do you recommend? Links would be much appreciated! 😀 Are you still puling your new camper with the Ridgeline?

[@luisberrios1067]

I was thinking of getting a honda pilot elite 2016 should i get ur honda instead

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

All depends on if you think you will use the truck bed portion or not. We do for all kinds of things especially since we sold our F350. Also I'm not certain the pilot elite has the same tow ratings so double check on that. I think some of the pilots were only 3500 pounds gross trailer weight.

[@tomm1677]

Thanks for the video, looking at a ridge line! And tips on the bike mount and mounting the tow bar… another video? ;)

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

You are welcome Tom. The bike rack we were using was literally a home made deal using a 4 foot long piece of 2x8 that utilizes the cheap fork axle skewer mounts bolted to it. It can be used on any truck bed floor. Unfortunately we currently don't have a Ridgeline anymore but have not ruled out buying another some day. It was a fantastic machine no matter what anybody says about them or how much teasing they get.

[@tomm1677]

Thanks for the tip on the rack, I’ve seen those before. Could not care less about the “real truck” noise, I could walk in and buy a brand new top-o-the line Super Duty F-5000 Dually with Turbo mud flaps cash and not blink but have no desire. If I may ask why did you get out of the Ridgeline?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

@@tomm1677 welcome sir. quite simply it was on a lease for a small business my wife and I have and the lease was running out. My wife changes out cars like she changes out shoes lol. I can think of one time in 30 years where she got a same model vehicle back to back. We have a Max Tow Jeep Gladiator now and it has less than a year left on the lease. Will be interesting to see what the future holds now lol. Especially with the whole automotive world being turned upside down the last year or two.

[@sanmanDC050]

Please tell me you had a break controller lol. I have a 21 RTLE. And I’m impressed. Great video. Talk about bravery lol 😂😉

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Nothing brave about it. This drove so well I would let my 90 year old grandmother tow this combination. Brake controller is a Prodigy P3. One of the best. The honda will easily stop that trailer in a mountain pass with a full trailer brake failure if the need were to arise. It may have been a smidge over max gross combined but the key thing is it was well under all the axles weights.

[@sanmanDC050]

I see. Thanks for your explanation and your time. Enjoyed the video.

[@MarkSchreierLongIslandRealtor]

@mrblack947. Do u have any issues with your Ridgeline unibody frame using a weight distribution hitch?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

No not at all. Set it up properly like any other vehicle on the road. Set up is key. I would not let a dealership set it up unless you know nothing about towing or are not mechanically inclined at all.

[@guermeisterdoodlebug7980]

I’ve owned nothing but Ridgelines since they arrived in spring 2005. Just moved from 2013 to 2021 RTL. My travel trailer (Riverside Retro 199) is similar size to yours. On the 2013, weight caused the rear to squat so badly I never tried to tow. I hope to learn from your video what adaptations might allow towing with my new Ridgeline RTL because I was contemplating replacing the trailer with smaller one.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

I'd be shocked if you can't make it work out. You must have quite a lot of tongue weight. This combination in this video would easily tow around without the weight bars hooked up. Rode and handled well and fairly level all things considered. I think our tongue weight was in the 600lb range. We are currently using a Jeep Gladiator and a 4 way Equalizer brand hitch. I can't speak highly enough on this hitch. If you can afford it. plus built in sway even though we never had a problem with sway even over the craziest elevated bridges or passing semi trucks.

[@momchilbalashev5461]

Why are you on D4? Couldn't you drive it OK on D?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Just depends on how flat your terrain is.

[@michaelmcdade4103]

Will this work with a stock 2019 Ridgeline?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

I don't see why not. If anything it may be even better if the 11 million speed transmission has been beefed up and the ratios should in theory help a lot.

[@amydiaz1862]

Was wondering the same, I have a 2019 sport, but is FWD- NOT AWD.. so interested in a lil camper, but don't want to push it, as I would be doing long hauls & not just a few days outta the week.

[@jimmyjohn9546]

I'm thinking about a Ridgeline to tow a 22ft pontoon boat. I have a diesel that pulls our 5th wheel be nice have a second tow vehicle but an everyday driver as well.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

There was a guy on Ridgeline Owners Club Forum that did exactly that. His pontoon boat may have even been a 24 foot. Said it towed great.

[@dennibears]

HI. On you trek's, what kind of mileage would you say you where getting? I have a 2016 pilot and looking at options for towing. Thanks.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Hi Dennis. Like I said in the video and as you may already know it's very hilly around here. We averaged exactly 10 miles to the gallon. For the weight and wind resistance we had I think that was great. The range kinda sucks though. You are basically fuel stopping about every 150 miles. I previous combo was F350 powerstroke and a 37 foot Fifth wheel and we could easily go twice that far with over double the weight lol. I think if you are towing in the 3-4k pound range it could be up around 12mpg. Just a guess though.

[@erichampton4546]

I tow a 4K dry camper with my 2016 pilot all the time. Pretty hilly and get around 10 mpg. We have a stabilizer hitch which helps but no swaying or bouncing. No trailer brakes either but never ever felt like I couldn’t stop.

[@ashimanaturalremedies7284]

@@erichampton4546 how much net weight you can pull with your pilot ? We have a 2017 pilot and planning on buying under 3k lbs dry weight travel trailer but that would be small for a family of 4. Any tips and suggestions? We are kinda capping ourselves at max 4000 lbs. Your thoughts?

[@erichampton4546]

@@ashimanaturalremedies7284 I like to keep our camper as light as possible. Which is around 4K. Just a few things inside and not full water tanks. I would highly suggest a sway bar. Also we have a hybrid camper. We are a family of 4, with a new puppy and it maximizes the room and use ability. We love it.

[@tag_76]

Great video. Just curious though, what's your MPG when towing that kind of weight?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

M T it would average right at 10mpg. Might do better in flat lands but it's quite hilly around here.

[@sanmanDC050]

10pm good is damn good for that setup. Usually it’s single digits. Great video.

[@FYMFLBISS1]

Can i get your wheel and tire set up that you are using? Did you lift it?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

1.5 inches in the front. 0.5 inch in the rear. 18x8 XD wheels. 265 tires which added about an inch of height as well.

[@MiCoopRS]

That trailer........ it looks so so BIG.... I needed to start with that, and the combo, what total length of both plus hitch... 18.5 plus 21... 40 feet. I am contemplating the Black Edition RL from a smaller SUV/Hot Hatch, why? because so many looks by the Police...thinking I have got to be a Drug dealer... SO, I just am in awe of the Ridgeline ever since I said, MAYBE A TRUCK... I have never not called the RL a car... imma gonna continue with your video, I'm at 4:56 but WOW you got some nice toys hidden in the garage....and love that you don't so far SAY SUBSCRIBE in the first 10 seconds... some NEED to wait till the end... "if you like this" so far yours has captivated me.... LOVE the TIRES, the RUBBER... I'll keep the 18 inch rims unless I can go 1 up to 19 and keep the 18 rims for SNOW tires... or with that Rubber these might be OK in THE SNOW in Canada..... ?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Yeah lol, I've never asked anybody to subscribe to my channel. I will never make money off of it. The Ridgeline has been a fantastic truck for us and it performs almost boring in the snow. If you drive in the snow a lot it will easily rival Subarus in the snow and would be unstoppable with snow tires on it. If you want to see what we used to tow check out my other Ridgeline video about towing. Since making this video we did sell our Beloved F350 because it just spent so much time sitting which is not good for it. I don't miss our 12k pound trailer either. This new small combo is so much more comfortable to tow. Thanks for the comment!

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

You're quite welcome.

[@maobfh]

I bought a 06 Ridgeline and it’s a champ! I come from the mountains of Colorado and husband comes from North Central West Virginia and we are used to cold and snow. We currently live in the Smoky Mountains and still see snow but rarely more than 14 inches. We have taken the Ridgeline out in early mornings on ice that started to melt then froze over with new powder on top with no problem. We take it out when the roads are at their worst to try to lose traction and we can’t make it happen. And we really want to see how it handles when it loses traction on slick roads. We have taken it back to Colorado, New Mexico, West Virginia and over many mountain passes and it handles just fine. Nothing has changed after all these years. It’s definitely worth considering.

[@MiCoopRS]

@@PNW_Car_Mods Hello again,,. I DID purchase the RL BE Edition up here and over to the WEST, a place called Alberta, we've already had 2 or 3 QUICK blasts of WINTER and SNOW, so have also Swapped out the Goodyear/Firestone for a more SNOW MONSTER, Nokian WGR4 255 /55 R18 V RATED, NOT that I'll be speeding around...that FUN stopped when trading in for this Johnny Cash, Truck in Black...I had a 2017 Mercedes AMG GLA45....too many stares at from the LAW... that's not FUN anymore! so, maybe besides being all black will not stick out? The RIDE is quite comfortable, you know where you're at, confident and SAFE....and I have a truck for the stuff do on weekends now...throw in some dirt and 2x4's....and the cooler, turn the tunes on in the Bed and we're the STAR at the TAILGATE Party..... TAKE CARE....my friend!

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

@@MiCoopRS That is awesome Steve. Hope you enjoy it long term. Never been to Alberta. Only the BCs Maybe someday though.

[@jasoncanas8783]

you look good with those wheels. what tire size do you have?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Thank you. They were 265 60 18s with a 1.5" lift in the front and half inch lift in the back. Got a lot of compliments on the stance being less car like lol.

[@jasoncanas8783]

I thought you had 20 inches wheels. it looks great. I have a 2021 with 22x10.5 inch wheels. it looks good but bounces a lot on the very thin tire

[@jasoncanas8783]

265 40 22 tires

[@jasoncanas8783]

it does not fit bigger because it fits. it has to be 30 inches in diameter the maximum that remains without affecting when it turns

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

@@jasoncanas8783 yup this is true and many will argue that the lifts can actually make the turning worse not better due to the shape of the wheel well liner.

[@titleistdl1878]

What brand and model is your trailer?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

2020 Cruiser RV Fun Finder 21RB. Still have it and it's holding up well.

[@nicolasbeauregard3584]

did you put spacer or anything? no rubs with the 265 tires?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

No spacers. Spacers would actually make it worse. There is ever so slight rubbing on the inner plastic fender liner where your feet would be at full lock when backing. This is actually made slightly worse by having the 1.5 inch leveling kit on the front. In three years it's caused no problems.

[@nicolasbeauregard3584]

@@PNW_Car_Mods alright amazing. thank you!

[@My_Fishingjournal]

I have a 2017 touring awd pilot and I know some Ridgeline/ pilots can only tow up to 3k because there is no ATF cooler. My question is, with my 9 speed transmission do I still need the atf cooler or am I safe to tow 5k?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Smokn that is tough for me to answer. I know someone will know out there. I don't have any first hand experience with the 9spd. Ours was a 6pd and had the cooler from the factory. A quick google search says that the 2017 pilot is similar to the RIdgeline in that the tow capacity is split by either being AWD or not. If you have an AWD you are automatically granted the 5k tow capacity with the Pilot as well. Hope this helps.

[@captseamus]

Always add a transmission cooler!

[@mocheeks709]

The ridgelines come with a tow package that includes a trans cooler standard equipment

[@bebe0928]

Great video, love the drive on I-90.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Thank you Yak!

[@churchillcoins8519]

Thank you for the video. So the Ridgline can tow 10,000 lbs towing and payload?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

10k pounds combined which is ridgeline plus trailer. we are a little bit over that.

[@churchillcoins8519]

MRBLACK947 thank you. Great. What kind of gas mileage were you getting? I just purchased a Ridgeline and I’m trying to figure out the towing capacities.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

@@churchillcoins8519 We were getting right at 10mpg at our weight. It is very hilly around here with lots of mountain passes. Get yourself a good brake controller. Check out my Prodigy P3 install video.

[@churchillcoins8519]

MRBLACK947 I will do. Thank you.

[@PinstripeJim]

cool video. I have a 2018 but haven't pulled anything. Made a PVC Bike rack for 4 bikes in the bed. Works great

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

4 bikes would be quite a fit in a Honda bed. Is it made to take the front wheels off? or do you fit them all whole?

[@PinstripeJim]

@@PNW_Car_Mods If you open the tailgate, you don't have to take off the wheels. I didn't glue the two main pcs together so it can be taken apart. Works great. 1 cargo strap and a bungy securing the wheels forward in the holes I drilled in the PVC This is the template I used. Just adjust for tire width. www.utahmountainbiking.com/goodies/TruckbedBikeRack.htm

[@jessepoorman2621]

Can it tow that up mountain roads?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Well it went up and over two of the biggest passes in Washington coming and going and didn't blow up in this very video so I'd say yes.

[@GoddessRx]

Why not put bikes on front of the vehicle ?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Not sure how I worded it in the video as this was a while ago but the in the bed thing was somewhat temporary. Have since gone back to a receiver on the back of the trailer and using our good Saris bike rack. Secure and out of the way.

[@luvslogistics1725]

That’s maxing it out. Wonder if it puts added stress over the miles on the axle, brakes…

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Both axles were scaled and a good bit under the door sticker axle weight ratings. Most people don't know that the brakes are specced to the axle weight rating plus a safety margin. The brakes would easily very easily stop this trailer even with a brake controller or trailer brake failure. The only weak link to this combo will ultimately be the front driver based automatic transmission.