I'd like a truck. I like Hondas. I have never heard anything good or bad about Ridgelines - anyone have any advice/input?

 

The RL is the best jack of all trades truck out there for a typical homeowner. That being said, it is not a rock crawler, nor will it tow a tank. It is a medium duty AWD truck with a comfy ride that can accommodate 4x8 plywood/drywall flat in the bed and tow an honest 5000 lbs.

Like any vehicle, it has a few weak points, but overall, it's a champ. The in-bed trunk is extremely useful as is the storage in the truck. The rear seats fold up providing a large storage area behind the front seats. The tailgate swings either sideways for easy access to the trunk or conventionally down for access to the bed.

If you want to research it, go to Honda Ridgeline Owners Club Forums and browse around.

What is your anticipated usage?

Good luck.

 

Those are great things to know - exactly the sort of info I was looking for. What about motor longevity - is it the same as the other Honda motors?

Medium duty is just what I'm looking for. The odd household chore, possibly towing a small fishing boat or utility trailer, some place to put a harvested deer.

 

Typical J35 motor. No guts until you get the rpms up. That's what chaffs most who like to tow. So the tranny shifts a lot. Just stick it in D and tow/go. D3 is NOT for towing.

The RL sounds like the perfect vehicle for your intended usage.

I assume you're looking at a used RL... unless you found a dealer with a left over new 2014. The Gen 2 is looming, but no info yet.. just lots of speculation.

2006-2008: only the RTX came fully equipped to tow (hitch and the full harness)
2009- RTS/RTL/SE come fully equipped to tow. RT and Sport come with a factory installed hitch, but still need the wiring harness to complete the tow package.

The hitch/harness were/are dealer installed options.

2009- have a slightly different engine and tranny ratios, so that may be preferred for towing. 2009 is also when Honda went from the MAP to the MAF sensor. Actually, Honda simply added the MAF to the mix and the RL has both sensors going forward from 2009. Not sure why Honda did that.

Your best bet is to head over to the ROC and do your research there. You'll find lots of knowledgeable owners and tons of info.

 

...sounds like I have a new target in my crosshairs...

unfortunately, a used one is all I can afford at the time.