Bed Extender Questions

Hello All!

Just traded in my F150 on a white 07 RTL last Tues. I'm busy researching and brainstorming over the various available accessories I may want to add.

I'm interested in the Honda Bed Extender but have a couple questions. I've done a search but didn't find specific answers to these.

With the extender installed, do you lose any of the tie down cleats?

Can the bed extender be easily removed completely from the truck if needed?

I've gone through the install instructions online but can't really answer these questions from them.

Thanks in Advance for any feedback!

With the extender installed, do you lose any of the tie down cleats? NO

Can the bed extender be easily removed completely from the truck if needed? YES

I have the oem tonneau cover and the murdock bedmat. Still enough room to "shove" the bed extender under the forward section of the tonneau cover if I need to use the rear portion of the bed w/o the extender.

I can also flip the tonneau cover open and rotate the bed extender 180 degrees so it resides inside the bed with the tonneau cover closed for privacy. Makes for a great storage area that limits how far your cargo would slide.

Just know that you cannot lock the bed extender unless you get a chain (i.e. bike lock). Otherwise, it may be removed just as easily while you run into Home Depot!;)

Thanks guys for your quick responses!

Exactly the info I needed. I'll go ahead and order one and lock it down with a kryptonite or chain lock.

Still researching bed/tonneau covers. Options seem to be pretty slim for the Ridgeline. I'll take my time on this one.

Erik

Have been very happy with the bed extender and as stated before you do not lose the use of bed cleats and the extender can be removed completely. I use a combination cable lock which does not offer complete protection from theft but is a good deterrent. It was also a very easy install.

No problem White!

Welcome to the ROC. There are lots of us here in AZ. We have meets periodically so be sure to check out the meets thread as well. We will be holding the third annual Sedona meet in late April. Last year we had 2 from CA, 1 from NV and 1 from UT, as well as several Arizonans. I'm up near Sedona.

Where did u buy from?

Thanks for the welcome. I'll definitely check out the meet thread. I don't see too many Ridgelines around and I'd love to check some out and see what others have done with theirs.

I did most of my truck hunting online. I received three e-mail quotes from local dealers and they were all very close to each other. I ended up buying from Tempe Honda: they're the closest to me and if I ever have any warranty issues, I'd like to a preferred customer. I'll post details in the price/dealer threads.

Tempe Honda was great to deal with. And to think I came very close to buying an '06 Tundra 4X4 ltd. the night before! Well, thats another long story.

Erik

The bed extender is the first accessory I bought for my Ridgeline. It is a very handy thing to have and I've been very happy with it. There have been a few times I've wished I'd left it at home because I ended up tying it to the top of my load. If what you're hauling is going to be too long for the bed extender you may end up in the same situation. Its no big deal really, you just have to have an extra strap to tie it down with.

I've never locked my bed extender down. I suppose I'm taking a risk, but I've never felt that it was going to walk away. Especially in its normal stowed position at the front of the bed.

I have an Access Cover tonneau from AgriCover. Its a soft roll-up type cover. The bed extender fits under it just fine, only you can't flip it from the tailgate into the bed and close the tailgate as I could before I installed the tonneau. I have to remove the bed extender, turn it around, then slide it in under the tonneau's rails and clip it back on. Because of this I usually just end up putting it at the front of the bed, which is where I like to keep it anyway because otherwise its in the way of the trunk lid.

As I am on my second RL I had the bed extender installed on both trucks as it fits and does everything that I thought it would. IMHO the function of fitting both in the front and the rear of the bed is unique to most trucks in my experience. You can't go wrong with this option considering everything that you can do with it.

Welcome to the ROC and good luck.

About the ONLY thing I'd add regarding the bed extender is be VERY careful as you intall it. That dang coating on the bed is not as tough as the sales people claim it to be. I put my first scratch on the bed while installing the extender ... now I know better.

As for the extender itself ... seems like the others have pretty much covered it all. I'd add that I also LOVE that little extender, especially with my hard OEM tonneau cover. I can put it inside and I don't worry about stuff rolling around to the front, etc. It's perfect for hauling groceries, etc.

My wife loves the Ridgeline with the tonneau and bed extender. The lockable tonneau means we can go shopping and she's got plenty of room for the crap she buys. Between the in-bed trunk, the bed extender and the locking tonneau this is a GREAT truck!

About the ONLY thing I'd add regarding the bed extender is be VERY careful as you intall it. That dang coating on the bed is not as tough as the sales people claim it to be. I put my first scratch on the bed while installing the extender ... now I know better.

As for the extender itself ... seems like the others have pretty much covered it all. I'd add that I also LOVE that little extender, especially with my hard OEM tonneau cover. I can put it inside and I don't worry about stuff rolling around to the front, etc. It's perfect for hauling groceries, etc.

My wife loves the Ridgeline with the tonneau and bed extender. The lockable tonneau means we can go shopping and she's got plenty of room for the crap she buys. Between the in-bed trunk, the bed extender and the locking tonneau this is a GREAT truck!

While I certainly preach taking care in what you do and pride in your workmanship I'd like to counter what doc_cj said about the bed. It is VERY tough. Sure, when its new it'll pick up some scratches, but so would the freshly painted bed of an F-150, a Ram or a Silverado. My dad had a composite bed Silverado, it scratched up just the same. The Ridgeline's bed is TOUGH. I've had mine for nearly two years now and it has taken everything I've thrown at it without complaint. Sure, its got some scratches, some nicks, and even a few gouges. Its a truck bed! With the tonneau cover all the workhorse wear is covered up and its black-tie beautiful all the time.

Thanks to all for the reviews and tips!

I've ordered a new bed extender off of EBAY for $198.82 shipped. Just waiting for it to arrive along with BLADE polished sidesteps w/rubber inserts and Murdock bedliner/trunk liner kit.

Already have the Honda bug shield. I'll probably be shopping for a wood dash kit soon as there just seems to be so much plain real estate on the dash.

Enjoy,
Erik

I am having a problem getting the brackets with the three holes mounted. I knocked the plastic out from the holes, even got a file and made it nice and smooth. One the right side I have 2 of the three allen screws in. The third one will go half way in then stop, like it is stripped. Same on the other side, only 1 of three in. One will go half way and the other I can't even get to line up and start. I got the OEM from H&A. Did anyone else have this problem while starting these screws? Thanx

I am having a problem getting the brackets with the three holes mounted. I knocked the plastic out from the holes, even got a file and made it nice and smooth. One the right side I have 2 of the three allen screws in. The third one will go half way in then stop, like it is stripped. Same on the other side, only 1 of three in. One will go half way and the other I can't even get to line up and start. I got the OEM from H&A. Did anyone else have this problem while starting these screws? Thanx

I had a little bit of trouble getting my screws in. The problem that I had was that the threads were slightly out of alignment with the holes in the composite. I had to make a couple of the holes slightly oblong for the screws to be able to go in straight.

I hope this helps!

I too had a little bit of trouble with the screws on the passenger side at the end of the bed. I just took my time and slowly tightened and then loosened and repeated this for about 10-15 minutes until I was able to get the screw all the way in. Basically I rethreaded the hole but took my time as to not strip it out. All in all, a very easy installation.

Good Luck!

..... Did anyone else have this problem while starting these screws? Thanx

I had a similar problem, with one of the screws on the right side. In my over-eagerness to get it installed, I stripped the hex head of the screw, and had to run to my local hardware store for a new screw (they didn't have a hex head, only a phillips head). The new screw was tight, but went in fine.

Thanx for the advice. Will have to try to work them in slowly tonight when I get home from work. I hope my nerf bars are waiting for me when I get home too.