It seems that the campers that fit Tacomas and Colorados and such should now also fit the Ridgeline. One of the things people do to improve stability though is to attach the camper to the frame not the body. That isn't happening on the ridgeline.
Anyone have thoughts on how the new ridgeline would handle a camper vs its mid-sized brethren?
By "weight is not low in the bed" you mean because the bed it higher in the Ridgeline? That is a good point. A camper riding higher would raise the center of gravity of the camper/truck vehicle. That wouldn't be good.
I don't understand the comment about riding on plastic.
A trailer wouldn't work for my needs. I may consider a Colorado instead, but it would seem odd to move to a truck with an even lower payload capacity, but I know people are using campers on them.
By "weight is not low in the bed" you mean because the bed it higher in the Ridgeline? That is a good point. A camper riding higher would raise the center of gravity of the camper/truck vehicle. That wouldn't be good.
I don't understand the comment about riding on plastic.
A trailer wouldn't work for my needs. I may consider a Colorado instead, but it would seem odd to move to a truck with an even lower payload capacity, but I know people are using campers on them.
I should have said sitting on plastic. The bed is all plastic and if the camper is not formed to the dimensions and contours of the bed, it will cause premature wear and even possible cracking. The only way would be if the camper was just a solid shell offering shelter and you made due without all the typical camper stuff, like a sink and stove. It would be much lighter.
Why would a camper work for you? Storage? I know that problem well...
Oh this is interesting. So when Honda says that the payload is almost 1600 pounds, 1585 or whatever, they don't mean the bed. The bed can only hold some small portion of that? I couldn't go to Home Depot and pick up 1,000 pounds of bricks without damaging the plastic bed (I didn't know it was plastic by the way). Or, that Honda's video of a loader dumping river rocks into the bed is misleading, that the bed is actually being damaged. Or, are you saying that it can hold the weight, but only for a limited time, that the clock starts ticking when you put it in there and if you don't unload it soon the bed starts distorting and cracking?
Either way that is important information to know before choosing a truck, even if I don't end up doing a camper.
The issue with a trailer is two fold. One towing in snow is problematic and the other is that where I will be taking it I can only park one vehicle not two.
I dont think the composite bed would be an issue. I think you will have to wait untill someone manufactures one specifically for the Ridgelines. Mostly because the bed width and height are different from other trucks. Trying to make one fit from tundra or tacoma wouldn't work because the height from bed to cab would be different leaving to much of a gap between camper and top of the cab and also not wide enough to fit snug . You would probably also be limited to a pop up type camper because of weight. Someone once tried to make them for G1, I dont think they made many of them. check out pic.
If we are lucky someone will try to manufacture one specifically for Ridgeline since the bed is now more conventional no weird angles to work with now.
I see you are in Denver...I've had a lot of trucks in my young 48 years. And I've eyed the Outfitter's and Hallmarks for years, but never have purchased. A simple lil' camper would be cool!
No sarcasm intended. I have paper knowledge of this truck, no practical knowledge. I read that it has a payload of 1500+ pounds so am assuming that it can handle a camper that Tacomas and Colorados are handling. If someone with practical knowledge comes along and says that the bed can't really handle that, I am going to take that seriously.
Campers aren't special made for individual trucks. If the bed is bigger I don't see that as an issue, in fact some people take the camper intended for the Tacoma/Colorado and put it in larger trucks like the Tundra (I am assuming when you mentioned the Tundra above your meant the Tacoma). I don't see an issue with the cabover being a little high over the roof. It isn't the most aesthetic but I don't care about that. The only issue would be if it causes a problem with the center of gravity, which it very well could.
The popup campers aren't quite as convenient, but if they are a better solution than yes, that might be the way to go, they aren't as warm either and I'll be using it in the snow. Also, I've been doing a lot of research and they really aren't much lighter. In fact, some are much heavier. The lightest I have found is 200 pounds lighter than a full camper. That 200 pounds could make a difference. The bigger difference might be that the popups have lower centers of gravity.
ok then look atthe very first moment of the video. Look how the camper is rocking around the bed of the truck. Those are different stresses than a pile of rocks, due to the shape of the camper and the height. You are also clamping it down which is increasing the effective weight on the bed. there might be 500lbs of force needed to secure the camper to the truck. Most likely more if t he camper is 1000lbs, it takes more to secure that amount of weight.
When it rocks side to side, most of the weight is transferred to one side of the bed, which is plastic. This is just my observations on the question you asked so take it for what it is.
But isn't the bed on the new Taco also composite? Looking at the naked RL with bed removed in another thread, I would think that what matters most is how that composite bed is supported by the underlying unitized platform. This seems like a question that Honda could best answer. Regarding the high center of gravity created by adding a camper to the RL, that could definitely be a stability issue IMO. If I were considering a camper for the RL, I would want to know exactly what it weighed and then try to simulate that weight in the bed with a loaded pallet or something else of known weight so that I could see how much the suspension compressed. With most BOF trucks, I think you would have more options to beef up the suspension to better handle the camper weight than you would with an RL.
I don't own a Ridgeline so I can't test weight in it. I am trying to decide what to buy. My priorities are:
* Everyday driver so car like comfort and ride
* Good MPG
* Seating for 5
* Weekend project hauling
* Ability to pull my trailer ~2500 pounds so not that much
* Ability to secure storage (locking cover and tailgate)
* AWD or 4WD for driving in snow
* Mobile crash pad for skiing weekends (hence the camper)
In all measures but two the Ridgeline is the clear winner. With aftermarket locks the secure storage part is taken care of too so it is head and shoulders above the competition in all respects except the camper. I am just trying to figure out if the camper part is an issue or not. At least right now the second place finisher in all the categories would be the Chevy Colorado. It can handle the camper so do I compromise and go with second in all the other areas to be able to do the camper? But, I'm still not clear the Ridgeline can't do the camper.
I am not sure if the camper in the video is the one for a five foot bed or the one for a six foot bed. The weights are 845 for the six foot bed and 795 for the five foot bed. The camper I really like weights 1285, but my second favorite is 1095, which is weird because it is larger. Well longer but narrower.
That is a great list BolivarS...new campers that I've never seen, but it has been awhile since I last looked (back when we had the 2011 Tundra Crew Max).
I used to look at the Outfitter RV Manufacturing but OutFitter's are NOT CHEAP...and hard to find used, too.
I do feel like the RL is the best truck we've ever had ('94 Suburban, not a truck, but 454 and 9.4MPG everywhere it went; '92 Ford F150 was great till it was costing $1000 a month in repairs; '97 Cummins felt so cheap to operate when Diesel was less than gas and 21 MPG back when Diesels actually got good MPGs...then the transmission went out at 34K Miles; 2000 Tundra good but no back seat; 2005 Tundra Double Cab 4 inches wider than previous Tundra's; 2011 Tundra CrewMax sold it to buy the '13 Tacoma thinking that the CrewMax was just too big and not easy to get things into (like how the Ford Super Duties are too big to load anything too) and improve MPGs (the MPGs was WRONG, as the Taco was not that much different).
Anyway, if a person got a canopy...that would eventually "lock" the bed. But for myself after having had so many rigs...I loved the www.SofTopper.com that we had on the Taco...most useful "canopy or tonneau cover) we've ever had. ;-) BUT it does NOT LOCK.
Another crazy thing...if I'm remembering correctly...is that I'm pretty sure the RL has a better payload than the 2011 Tundra CrewMax had. My friend at church, who was the Cummins & Viper Mechanic at Dodge always said that they underrate trucks mostly because of the Passenger Tires that they put on trucks now days...that and Lawyer Butt Coverage. ;-) So I used to put E Load Rated Michelin's on my trucks...but not this RL...guess I'd have to check what our new Michelin Defender LTX M/S if their load rating is any better than the "stock" Firestone's that come on the RL.
I decided the ask the people who would know, the camper manufacturers. I used their contact links to ask if they have examined the new ridgeline and if their camper will work with it. My guess is that it is too new and they haven't tried it yet, but I'll see what they tell me.
Yea I would agree...probably too new and so few to even get their hands on a RL. Plus, I'm just not sure how they would tie them down...like the Torklift frame mount spring loaded tiedowns are the best and the fastest (but don't know where those would attache on a RL)?
Bob Ward at OutFitters and Matt Ward of Hallmark (yes they are related) both were great to talk, too.
I think it will continue to be instant pop up Coleman Tent for us...at least for a while. ;-)
The four wheel campers attach inside the bed. They put eyebolts in your bed and the camper has access doors on the inside. You put the camper on the bed, then reach through the access door to attach the camper to the eyebolt. It would be great if that would work with the existing Ridgeline tiedowns, though that might be wishful thinking.
I heard back from one manufacturer and they said, "we currently have no campers that fit the Ridgeline." I sent back an email saying that I just wanted to be clear that I meant the new Ridgeline that just came out and is different from the previous ones. He responded with a vague statement that makes me think that he didn't know there was a new one and that he didn't want to admit that. He said something about calling the dealer to get measurements and that it won't fit but that if I had more information I could give it to him. I responded saying that I wouldn't have more than the dealer and asking which measurement or measurements specifically made it not fit. I made it clear that I wasn't trying to convince him that it would fit, he would know far better than me, but that I was just curious. I got no reply. The other manufacturer hasn't responded.
I continue to learn about campers and hope that I can make it work with the Ridgeline because that is my first choice of truck, but I learned something that could be an issue. What I have learned about is the importance of the center of gravity, not vertically but about keeping the camper's for and aft center of gravity on or in front of the axle, not behind it. The camper I really like and thought might work with the Ridgeline has a center of gravity that is 33 inches from the front of the truck box. I don't have a Ridgeline to measure, but with the bed being 64 inches if the axle was in the center of the bed that would be 32 inches and I think it forward of the center so it is even less than that.
I did find one with the COG at 21 inches. It is a popup which I am less interested in, but it does make the vertical COG lower.
The research I have been doing is showing that popup vs. hard side doesn't make a difference in weight but the popup has a lower COG so rides better and has less wind resistance and the hard sides have more cabinets and storage and are a bit more convenient in that you don't have to pop them up.
I have personally never hauled a camper on my old RL truck, nor have no intensions on my new one either. They do sway a lot so a truck with good suspension is vital for safety. In a traditional truck by term they work well because the weight back there is a good thing when off-road such as a uneven dirt trail. For instance the design of a rear wheel drive truck tends to swing the rear of a truck without load. Totally different deal then the RL's. However they will sag even some full size depending on your suspension.
Many guys use air bags to compensate the load. Not sure if the Ridge has a kit available or not. I would be looking at one regardless when towing that kind of item/weight. Also I have a friend who has a Ram 2500 Cummins turbo. He equipped his bed with a metal accessory edge so that it can handle campers and additional tie down options. Probably the best way to handle the direct load on the bed. Again I have no idea if the RL has an accessory or not. Most aftermarket companies sell these for the big 3 trucks. Straight out the factory their bed edges are hard composite plastic as well but they are wider and I'm assuming are more durable for their intentions of work related such as construction.
Those aren't actually very light. They are just shells with nothing in them and their smaller one is 500 pounds. I have found fully outfitted campers (bed, stove, refrigerator, furnace, cabinets...) that weight in at 800 pounds. If you start adding those things to this one, it will come in well over that.
I have also found empty shells made of fiberglass the weight far less. I think the selling feature of this one is the low cost.
Yes, agree that those looked funny. I didn't see the previous post by martyn1075 which must have slipped in while I was typing mine. In the research I have been doing I am finding that a lot of people put in air bags and several experts whose articles I have read pretty much say that they are useless. They recommend beefing up the springs. I know nothing about it so that could be wrong, but I tended to trust those articles. Of course all this airbags and adding springs was to traditional trucks.
As I have said before, my priorities are in this order:
1) An everyday driving car, so comfortable with good mileage
2) Must seat five comfortably
3) AWD for snow
4) Truck bed for light weekend work
5) Being able to haul a small camper for just me with minimal gear for about 7 weekends a year
The Ridgeline meets 1 - 4 better than anything else. I would really like to get 5, but that may not happen.
Yes, agree that those looked funny. I didn't see the previous post by martyn1075 which must have slipped in while I was typing mine. In the research I have been doing I am finding that a lot of people put in air bags and several experts whose articles I have read pretty much say that they are useless. They recommend beefing up the springs. I know nothing about it so that could be wrong, but I tended to trust those articles. Of course all this airbags and adding springs was to traditional trucks.
air bags n a leaf spring truck is the best way to go. You need a leveler and air tank with a compressor but it cannot be beat. You need very little pressure when empty so they bags are being used and when you add weight, they just fill up more. The system was developed from big trucks and almost every truck on the road is air bag.
ABSOLUTELY AGREE on 1-4 especially after owning 6 other trucks in the past.
On the Air Bags...I've had both AirLift Company and the Firestone Ride-Rite's...both types, for me, made a HUGE difference when loaded with very heavy loads (but I don't see either for any RL Gen 1 or Gen 2). So far, I've only had 810 lbs. in the back of the RL and it was amazing level. I was so surprised compared to our past trucks that really squatted a lot I thought). But I would "think" that the RL would need something with heavier loads (but again I am guessing).
Now that we no longer have a Malibu Ski Boat...I think we are tending towards like a Livin' Lite Trailer or something (but even that will still be a ways off for us).
As expensive as Campers have become...I'd almost look at used RV at an auction or something...just crazy what stuff costs.
The campers I have been looking at would be about 1100 to 1400 pounds fully loaded with gear, propane water, my weight... So quite a bit more than 800 pounds, but under the stated payload capacity of the truck. But especially if it wasn't a popup, it would be top heavy.
The other nice thing about bags are they aren't that expensive for what they do. Maybe $350.00 to start. A company like air lift is practically life time warranty. Apparently they are very good with great service. I will put one on my truck when the time comes but then again I don't really need it as the rake is heavy and designed that way for towing.
However if anyone here likes to level out a truck its pretty much a great idea and no brainer. A leveled truck looks great without gear in it but as soon ad you put something in the bed or tow you pretty much have a truck pointing to the sky even full size trucks.
One camper that I really liked is the Four Wheel camper. This was one of the few companies to actually answer my question as to if it would fit. They said no, but when I checked back with them making sure they were answering about the new 2017 and not the first generation Ridgeline their answer made me think that they were talking about the old one, but I wasn't sure. They asked me for measurements and they never answered when I asked what measurements they wanted.
Anyway I finally figured out why it won't fit. I kept wondering why it wouldn't since it fits the Tacoma, Colorado, Frontier... The Ridgeline carries just as much weight as those (the camper is 795 pounds) and the bed it wider between the wheel wells. The problem is the tailgate. The ridgeline tailgate isn't wide enough. Above and behind the wheel wells it is 51 1/2 inches wide.
I emailed another manufacturer yesterday and today they replied that they just finished installing one on a ridgeline. These guys are on the pricey end. Here are the photos they sent me: