Talk me out of a Honda Ridgeline

Standard Towing Capacity> Tundra 8,800 lbs, Ridgeline> 5,000 lbs

 

Put 1000lb of bricks in both then tell me the ridgeline capacity number matters as it’s struggling to accelerate

 

a 2020 Ford ranger Lariat, 2020 Tacoma, 2020 Jeep Gladiator, 2021 Honda Ridgeline, and a 2019 Tundra (loaner left over at a dealership).

 

Damn dude sorry to hear that, glad you are ok though!

 

diesel Colorado

 

Seems like a popular opinion, I will go check one out later this weekend

 

What was your favorite of the bunch?

 

Honda makes the best engines in the world and you will have the ridgeline for the next 20 years, probably hastle free.....maybe you'll get bored with it ???

 

If that was even remotely true you would think Honda would be the #1 car manufacturer on the planet..........

 

Definitely not the gladiator, looks good but drove like shiet.

So far the 2019 Tundra has my vote and the tacoma. Thanks to this group, I am starting to develop a bad taste for the ridgeline hahah

 

Additional side note, I would like to thank everyone for their posts. I never expected this amount of feed back. I truly appreciate it.

 

Sales have nothing to do with it--ford f150 is the best selling pickup in the world. Does that mean they are the most reliable ? No. Honda engines are repeatedly ranked the most reliable in the world, by far.

 

That's not quite the whole story and not effectively true. The Ridgeline, even the 1500# payload model, is limited to 1000lbs max on the bed.

My Crewmax is rated for 1300lbs, which is nothing to brag about. BUT, because that rating accounts for me in the driver's seat and fuel in the tank, I can put it all in the bed.

We all know the Tundra is rated conservatively, and that the main limiting factor is the weak stock leafs. My GVWR is 7200lbs, but my GAWR is 4000lbs/4150lbs--almost 1000lbs higher than payload! I'm confident that my Tundra can handle a lot more than the payload number on the door jamb with stronger leafs.

 

Too bad the transmissions many of them are mated to are not.

 

All of the posts?.... No need to thank us, that's what this forum is exactly made for, and you handled some rather nasty comments like a champ. Best of luck to you on whatever you decide to buy.

 

Yep, #1 sucks.

 

Bottom line, get what you want

 

Yes all of them , trust me I used to manage small portfolios for new investors. I have gotten my ass chewed out by 60+ year olds who are wanting to retire so they started investing in their late 50's and they get furious when the market dips and blame it on me lol.

 

Definitely understood the 1 number isn't the whole story, but I am still surprised that the minivan based platform is even in the same ballpark as the full sized Tundra.. Now obviously I'm smart enough to realize at the end of the day the Tundra at any given weight will be far superior all around vs the Ridgeline...

 

I was a long time RL owner. No need to repeat the pros and cons at this point A decent forum is:

www.ridgelineownersclub.com

 

My first impression when I looked at a Ridgeline at an auto show was this is not a truck. Comparing a frame on truck to a Ridgeline is crazy. It is a different question if you need a truck or not.

 

If you buy a Ridgeline you LOSE YOUR MAN CARD. Those things are turds on wheels. You are better off just buying an SUV or a Tacoma or a 4 runner. Don't cut your balls off. Maybe you get this 4 wheel drive mini van from Toyota and Lift it. It says "I'm a responsible numbers guy. But sometime I just need to smash shit."

 

Those new HPD Ridgelines look pretty good. If I was in the mid size market, I’d definitely take a look at one. More comfort and better fuel economy, and if you don’t off road then it makes a lot of sense.

If you are looking to have this vehicle to support your part time handyman side business, I would 100% be looking at the new PowerBoost F-150.

Can run corded power tools with your truck, larger bed / payload / towing, and get 24’ish mpg. Along with having a very comfortable and upgraded interior, and great ride.

 

I'd much prefer to buy any other truck and a Generac 5500/6500 generator for $1k. That way you get a semi portable unit that can go anywhere, puts out similar power. The teeny tiny boost in MPG is not going to save all that extra money you spend on it, and my experience with Ford electronics says to stay as far away from them as possible.

 

One word. Backseat.

 

You "younger men" will one day get older and tired(er) like some of us and appreciate that kind of dedication to her man.
All jokes aside some of us cannot hop on up in the bed, reach far enough over the side to manipulate cargo, due to physical impairments (or age). I am also one of those guys that is cross shopping the Tundra and Ridgeline due to my station in life. I enjoy reading the posts in this forum more than any other. OP, good luck with whatever you choose and know that some of us will be happy for you no matter which way you go.

 

So have you decided?

No matter what you buy, there is a compromise. Just depends on what you are willing to compromise on.

For me, I did not need a truck. Heck a RAV4 would have served my needs just fine. But a Tundra...oh yeah. And given I drive about 10,000 miles per year, going from a 17 MPG vehicle (what I average with my Tundra) to a vehicle that gets say 25 MPG (Ridgeline?) would save me a whopping 188 gallons of gas a year. Not spare change, but nothing to get too excited about even at $5 per gallon.

Also if you have not bought, check with your insurance company. My 2021 Tundra is $20 a month ($240 per year) cheaper to insure than the 2017 Accord Sport I traded in...exact same coverage. I have to image given the "energy absorbing design" of most Honda's it would be a bit more to insure as well. Brings the cost pendulum back a bit.

 

I think it depends on if you plan on towing a trailer. Honda ridgline has won lots of awards and is possibly the most dependable “truck” out there but it’s a truck on an suv frame so not sure you can call it a truck more like a Honda El Camino.

 

I don’t know if it was this thread, but I have been seeing A TON of ridgelines driving around in the past few weeks. Their looks have grown on me. Hopefully the current 9 speed trans makes it more drivable than the 2012 version my wife has, which has a horrific drivetrain