2017 Honda Ridgeline

[hikenbike]

It's still superior if you're talking about off-road (which is really where BoF shines and why most everyone on this forum owns a 4Runner), it handles flex and torsion far better than a unibody does. The only unibodies you see off-road that don't need to be welded back up after a couple of uses are dedicated tube frames if you consider that a unibody.

The whole "Unit-Frame" excuse where they throw a rail under the body to "strengthen" it was and is done by Jeep and every non-Wrangler Jeep owner I know that bothers to off-road has either reinforced the hell out of their unibody with an exo/endo cage, frame brackets, ect. or are re-welding their unibodies regularly; or just outright getting new unibodies and transfering everything over to them once they crack up.

But again, I started my original response with "besides off-road" and in my other posts I mentioned specific uses where it doesn't stack up against a BoF Truck/SUV (Rural uses where off-roading becomes a necessity/common occurrence vs. Family or Commercial Use and thus a BoF Truck/SUV would be a better choice; a niche area by the way) I separated the three areas where to me the Ridgeline didn't really stand out or feel like it was better than alternative (3 areas that are typically thrown at me as where it shines.) It's unibody construction is not something that appeals to me nor that makes me think it's a worthwhile vehicle for specific uses, but as a family/commercial vehicle that can be overlooked as a BoF vehicle isn't really needed in those situations either.

BWorks, I'm sorry, but you can stop now. If Thai says you're flawed then you're flawed. That's it!

Thai knows all. Case closed.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

BWorks, I'm sorry, but you can stop now. If Thai says you're flawed then you're flawed. That's it!

Thai knows all. Case closed.

I don't even know what I am discussing anymore... I lost track after I pointed out I don't like the way it looks and that many of it's functions are better done by other vehicles... This is what happens when you have no life and way too much time on your hands, you get sucked into this stuff. lol

 

[hikenbike]

I don't even know what I am discussing anymore... I lost track after I pointed out I don't like the way it looks and that many of it's functions are better done by other vehicles... This is what happens when you have no life and way too much time on your hands, you get sucked into this stuff. lol

You will learn. I did. I'm flawed too. We should start a Thai recovery group...and meet on Wednesday nights to discuss our feelings and how we became so flawed.....I'll send the invite.

 

[vjack]

AWD is a little unusual in a pickup truck, right?

 

[Knight-Errant]

I like it (not the looks, but the overall "concept"). I agree the front end could have been a little "tougher" looking (I wish it wasn't a Pilot clone) but I've had good experiences with hondas, and they tend to have thoughtful little touches. I think this will be a great, pratical, daily driver, that is rugged enough for dirt roads on the way to the trail head (at least the dirt roads I'm normally on).

Since I'm not looking to sell the 4runner anytime soon, I'd go with a Honda Africa Twin instead :biggrin2: (Seriously considering one of these).

 

[Knight-Errant]

The small amount of "aggressiveness" in the face baja truck, was completely filtered out in the production model...which is a shame.

It would have been nice if it was practical and a tiny bit edgy.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

The small amount of "aggressiveness" in the face baja truck, was completely filtered out in the production model...which is a shame.

It would have been nice if it was practical and a tiny bit edgy.

Now that's an interesting toy...

Also those adventure bikes are cool. Honda has always made good bikes from what I remember.

 

[Knight-Errant]

Now that's an interesting toy...

Also those adventure bikes are cool. Honda has always made good bikes from what I remember.

Honda has a pretty solid line of "adventure bikes" right now (I think). Even the CB500x is really sweet little bike.

The Honda Ridgeline is all new you say! Egad! Now, this post is still relevant to the thread )

 

[Thai]

I'm saying the Ridgeline will never have lockers and the ability to add larger tires. That's a negative thing when comparing their "truck" aspects.

Have you seen its roof rack; how do you tie something to that? IMO it looks more form over function.

Payload wise, 2016 Taco's is actually 1505 lbs. The Taco/Canyon/Colorado will be more suited for this role. Payload rating of the Ridgeline is equivalent to the Taco's at least, though I'm sure given the option the Taco's or diesel Canyon's a wiser choice too. I just don't have much faith in the Ridgeline's independent rear suspension.

The improved handling, braking, roomier interior and more flexible cargo capacity are due to it being "the least truck-like truck" on the market. I wasn't arguing that.

I only sound deadened my 4R because I wanted to thoroughly clean it anyway and for the larger mud terrains I'm planning for. Honestly though, I could care less if its loud or not.

I'm not trying to argue with you, we're actually mostly agreeing, I'm just trying to say, like BlackWorksInc, that the Ridgeline isn't the master of everything. It fills a small crack most people would overlook. If its niche role interests you, then it sounds like you have your mind made up.



While we are on the subject, how many unibody's do you see offroad?

You miss my point. When did i say that the Ridgeline was an off-road monster? When did i say that it can tow? When did i say that i can do what Tacoma can do?

Tacoma payload rating is off Toyota.com website.

What i am saying is that the Ridgeline appeals to some people because it offers something that other trucks lack...such as roomy interior, safety, quiet, good MPGs, a bed to carry dirty stuff...and a half decent payload.

That's all folks! How you guys ASS-U-ME that i am saying Ridgeline as a off-road monster is beyond me!

As for unibody vs. BoF off-road, trust me, i know a little about off-roading too...and we agree on that! I am a big fan of BoF...where it is needed. Have argued your same argument many times over the 13 yrs that i have been on this forum.

 

[Thai]

It's still superior if you're talking about off-road (which is really where BoF shines and why most everyone on this forum owns a 4Runner), it handles flex and torsion far better than a unibody does. The only unibodies you see off-road that don't need to be welded back up after a couple of uses are dedicated tube frames if you consider that a unibody.

The whole "Unit-Frame" excuse where they throw a rail under the body to "strengthen" it was and is done by Jeep and every non-Wrangler Jeep owner I know that bothers to off-road has either reinforced the hell out of their unibody with an exo/endo cage, frame brackets, ect. or are re-welding their unibodies regularly; or just outright getting new unibodies and transfering everything over to them once they crack up.

But again, I started my original response with "besides off-road" and in my other posts I mentioned specific uses where it doesn't stack up against a BoF Truck/SUV (Rural uses where off-roading becomes a necessity/common occurrence vs. Family or Commercial Use and thus a BoF Truck/SUV would be a better choice; a niche area by the way) I separated the three areas where to me the Ridgeline didn't really stand out or feel like it was better than alternative (3 areas that are typically thrown at me as where it shines.) It's unibody construction is not something that appeals to me nor that makes me think it's a worthwhile vehicle for specific uses, but as a family/commercial vehicle that can be overlooked as a BoF vehicle isn't really needed in those situations either.

Like above, when did this conversation go into off-roading???? I am lost.

You're telling me about how great BoF is...and i am telling you that this is not always the case. A poor BoF design can have issues.

BoF is great off-road. True. No argument.

But ON-ROAD, a unibody is better because:
1. It is usually lighter.
2. It is stronger as a whole unit and thus can manage crash energy better (aka better crash test results).
3. Allows for roomier interior.

Does it mean that unibodies are better at towing? No. Is it better at off-roading? No.

But for most folks (including me) who no longer off-road due to family and job, the Ridgeline represent something useful.

Your argument all along is to buy a MINIVAN. Just a reminder here...I HAVE ONE. This is NOT replacing it.

And i can tell you as someone who OWNS a MINIVAN and have family, YOUR description into the many uses of a minivan + having a family is a pipe dream! I experience it everyday!

 

[Thai]

BWorks, I'm sorry, but you can stop now. If Thai says you're flawed then you're flawed. That's it!

Thai knows all. Case closed.

You know what is more coward than anything...going behind a conversation to throw in cheap insults.

Lets see...you look down on folks with lesser "manly" cars than you. You buy things because it makes you look manly...see Watch thread where you made repeated comments about a watch having to be manly before you will buy it. And now here, you mention the same thing. Are you covering up for something?

And when i ask you point blank about it, you bow out of the conversation...until now to take a cheap shot.

Nice dude.

I don't even know what I am discussing anymore... I lost track after I pointed out I don't like the way it looks and that many of it's functions are better done by other vehicles... This is what happens when you have no life and way too much time on your hands, you get sucked into this stuff. lol

I lost track too.

 

[Thai]

AWD is a little unusual in a pickup truck, right?

Not really anymore...i think that the GMC 1500 truck is AWD??

But, a FWD-based AWD in a truck IS unusual. This is because the Ridgeline is based on the Pilot/MDX platform.

 

[spencenasty]

That thing is hideous.

 

[pauldavis]

It looks really practice and the styling is really boring. I did just finish driving a van for 7 years so I what it is to drive a boring styled vehicle. It's boring... My 4runner is not as practice for everyday use but I get excited everyone I get to drive it. I don't care if others think it's cool or not. I am not ashamed to say I like stuff that has both form and function. This Honda's form is about a boring as it gets. But that's nothing new. Nothing wrong with making a great car and making it look a Looker.

 

[Thai]

It looks really practice and the styling is really boring. I did just finish driving a van for 7 years so I what it is to drive a boring styled vehicle. It's boring... My 4runner is not as practice for everyday use but I get excited everyone I get to drive it. I don't care if others think it's cool or not. I am not ashamed to say I like stuff that has both form and function. This Honda's form is about a boring as it gets. But that's nothing new. Nothing wrong with making a great car and making it look a Looker.

I think that Honda took a lot of criticism for the 1st gen Ridgeline...almost Aztec-like criticism. I think that they went the other way to avoid being negatively cast just by styling! With the 1st gen, the styling alone caused many people to not even bother visiting the dealership to check it out.

 

[KidVermicious]

but its FWD with the option of AWD.... I mean, whats up with that

It did take a class victory at Baja.

I have to laugh at some of you guys. The Honda Ridgeline is one of the best engineered vehicles out there. It is simply clever with more than enough capability for 99.9% of people if they were honest with themselves and that's where Honda dropped the ball. They don't realize the insecurity that is inbred into typical truck buyers. A manly, masculine look is more important to most of them than actual performance. They should have built the exact same truck with lots of manly bits designed into it. Do any of you doubt that a unibody can't be designed to outperform a twin rail frame? Really? Don't buy into the hype. The Ridgeline is an amazing vehicle and if I didn't need covered storage and a bit more offroad capability for work I would own one.

Low range. A low range transfer case would put the Ridgeline on my list, bland styling be damned. I love the tailgate and trunk storage, I think they're right on time and more truck makers need to be doing that. I don't mind the unitbody or fully independent suspension at all, those are fine for a soft-roader, but I can't live without a low range.

 

[Thai]

Link: New Honda Ridgeline Has More Bed Than A Comparable Tacoma, Frontier Or Colorado

Note: there are many configurations with the other trucks; below numbers are solely Ridgeline vs. 4-door/short bed

Note 2: numbers below do not account for wheel wells; probably Ridgeline has advantage here due to very unintrusive wheel wells.

Note 3: numbers below does not include the hidden "trunk" of the Ridgeline.


Bed Size Of Truck (Inches): Width and Length

Honda Ridgeline == 60.0 64.0
Nissan Frontier Ext == 61.4 73.3
Nissan Frontier 4 Door == 61.4 59.5
Toyota Tacoma Ext == 56.7 73.7
Toyota Tacoma 4 Door == 56.7 60.5
Chevy Colorado Ext == 57.8 74.0
Chevy Colorado 4 Door == 57.8 61.7

Bed Size Of Truck (Inches): Approximate Area

Honda Ridgeline 3840.00
Nissan Frontier 3653.30
Toyota Tacoma 3430.35
Chevy Colorado 3566.26

Honda stated that payload is near 1600 lbs. Tow rating is unknown, but prior gen could tow 5000 lbs. Honda Pilot can tow 5000 lbs. My 100% uneducated GUESS is that it will be able to tow 6500 lbs given how hard Honda has done to make this truckish. Now, whether one SHOULD tow 6500 lbs is another question given Honda's history of transmission and torque converter issues.

 

[mike831]

I still can't get over Honda's new winged face grill. Looks horrible. I'd take a new Tacoma over this new RL...

 

[michaelj]

My dad has a 2012 Ridgeline. While I don't particularly care for the styling, I do like its function. It isn't an offroad machine. But it is a pretty functional truck. I've always like Hondas, although I agree with most here that I haven't cared for their direction as of late. I also own a 2005 Element (which my daughter drives.) It's really a pretty great vehicle. I like the AWD for her for rain (and the rare occasion we get a little snow.) Plenty of cargo space.

 

[Thai]

My dad has a 2012 Ridgeline. While I don't particularly care for the styling, I do like its function. It isn't an offroad machine. But it is a pretty functional truck. I've always like Hondas, although I agree with most here that I haven't cared for their direction as of late. I also own a 2005 Element (which my daughter drives.) It's really a pretty great vehicle. I like the AWD for her for rain (and the rare occasion we get a little snow.) Plenty of cargo space.

Did your Dad have any issue with transmission?