rlaifatt

Any experience or thoughts on the Ridgeline as a tow vehicle for an S2000 on a trailer? Seems like a great dual-purpose vehicle that's not a boring SUV, but some concern about the 5000 lb towing capacity. I'd appreciate any advice from those with towing knowledge and experience (not that I will necessarily follow it ).

twohoos

try Erik's other board: http://www.ridgeliner.com

One of the car mags said they towed 5000 lbs with it with no problem.

bridow

it'll tow an open trailer for sure. the RS*R drift car is towed by a murano...the honda truck has to be better than that

the only thing to me is price...the R is the same price as a titan...

drewchie

This is from Honda's website:

[I]STANDARD TOWING FEATURES:

rlaifatt

I just read on another board that the owner's manual says maximum towing is:
5000 w/2 passengers
3500 w/3 passengers
3000 w/4 passengers
2000 w/5 passengers
assuming some gear also. So borderline if my kids come along. (though that'll be the day)

I also read:
"...it all depends on how much weight you'll be putting in the Ridgeline.
Since the GCWR is 10085 and the truck weighs probably somewhere around 4650 with a full tank. Deducting 4650 from 10085 gives you 5435lbs. From that, subtract the weight of your boat, 4000lbs. So you have 1435lbs left for people and gear. Now that is what the truck is rated for. If your not towing far or only on occasion have extra people then you'll probably be OK. If you'll be towing where it's hilly I wouldn't recommend being near or over the GCWR."

So it's close, esp. with driving through the grapevine.

But my kids love it and want one! (and they hate Expeditions)

Nobody

I suppose that if your 3rd passenger weighs 1500 lbs, the fourth 500 lbs and the fifth 1000 lbs, then the above weights would make sense.

mikegarrison

I suppose the difference has to do with tongue weight vs. loaded weight on the tow vehicle? I don't know, those numbers don't make a lot of sense.

Anyway, most people routinely exceed the specified capacities of their tow rigs with no problems. Ridgeline probably wouldn't be as good a tow rig as a diesel F250 or something in that class, but it would probably be fine for an S2000 on an open trailer.

thekidinthehat

Will it tow an S2k on an open trailer? Yes
Will you feel safe and be happy with the towing performance of the "truck"? Nope. It has a small V6 with not enough power and the torque peak is 2500-3500 RPM too high.

With towing as the main purpose of the purchase of the vehicle pass on the Ridgeline. A Nissan Titan would be the best if you have to have a truck with an overseas name on it. A Toyota Tundra Double Cab would be second. The Toyota is the nicer fit/finish/quality of workmanship of the two but the Nissan is the one that you would want to have for towing.

depletedUfoot

I tow an open trailer with an '01 Pathfinder. I've been quite happy with its performance. It's rated for 6,000; the car and trailer together probably weigh about 4,200. I did need to add a weight distribution hitch, however, to keep the headlights down on the road. Bottom line, you don't have to have a full-size truck to pull a car trailer.

rlaifatt

Think I'm going to get it since the first purpose is as a family hauler and the kids just love it (and I do too). Anyone wants to buy a 2002 Buick Rendezvous with only 28K?