Hi Folks. I'm not yet a Ridgeline owner, but am giving this truck serious consideration. I am very intrigued by the in-bed trunk. However, I live in South Florida where we experience torrential downpours and am concerned about just how "water resistant" the trunk really is. I would love to hear about the experience of current owners that live in wet climates concerning any water leakage into the trunk.

TIA

Craig.

very dry... lots of rain in SE texas the last month or so... no problems yet.

Hi Craig,

Welcome. :)

The inbed trunk is dry as a bone on my vehicle. I put my softball bag and a cooler in there.

I also tried washing the vehicle and sprayed water all in the bed, no leaks.

Also no other problems other than a scratched windshield and adjustment needed to the hood on delivery.

Going back to the dealer for these minor things and its first oil change a 1500 miles, in about 3 or 4 weeks.

Love this vehicle. Much better than my Tacoma and I liked that.

Joe

I have had my truck since early march, so I have had a couple feet of wet snow melt in the bed as well as very wet spring rains (Thankfully) In all this I have had a dry trunk :) The only wet that gets in there is like any other trunk when you open the lid and a few drops go in. Also I have to travel a VERY dusty road and its suprising how little gets in. The trunk is my families favorite feature :D

Always dry here (even after yesterday's monsoon rains....) :D

It is as dry as the trunk in any sedan. If you open the trunk and look at the way that it is built it will look a lot like the trunk on any car. I do not see how any water could get in. I have never had any water in mine. I do have the Retrax bed cover and it is water resistant but I do not consider it to be water tight. When I wash the truck and rinse with a lot of water and more pressure than rain would produce I get a total of about a tablespoon of water dripping from places where I probably do not have the seals adjusted quite right yet.

Welcome aboard Celler! What color will your Ridgeline be? (Just so that it is not silver! Just kidding, there is a little side bet going on the most popular color. Black isn't winning, YET, but we could use all the help that we can get.) The Ridgeline is the most exciting and fun vehicle that I have ever owned, possibly other than my Harley. It was flawlwss upon delivery two months ago and has continued to be so. The excitement and fun also continues in no small part due to this Ridgeline Owners Club site and it's many fine members. I think that the site has recently reached critical mass and membership is really starting to grow very rapidly now.

Once again, welcome aboard!

Been reading this forum religiously. No sign of wetness in the trunk, other than almost wetting myself in my excitement during delivery of my Ridgeline....still am. ;) ;) :D :rolleyes:

Dry as a bone. My Ridgline has been through some torrential down pours and numerous touchless car washes. I have also sprayed it out myself a few times. Don't worry, be dry. :rolleyes:

My trunk has been dry as a bone. No leakage and I take it through a high pressure car wash every couple of weeks. IT's awesome!

My truck filled with water. I created a hot tub for midgets, and when they quit using it we fill it with ice and party all night long. Thinking about adding gold fish someday. The drain plug is excellent to drain it between fillings. (sometime clogs with beer cans):D

Well it can be used that way, if desired, but it is also drier than a bone if you perfer to be a "normal" Owner . :rolleyes:

What they said!! :D

Joe
__________________
Joe Rebot
Lakeside, CT

Current Vehicles:

-2006 Honda Rigeline Amazon Green / Olive RTL with moonroof, leather, NAV, backup camera, running boards, mud flaps, loaded!

Joe,

Not to hijack my own thread, but I would love to hear about your backup camera. Can you actually judge distances with it? Does it detract from the beautiful lines on the tailgate? Pictures would be great.

THANKS TO EVERYONE who took the time to reply to my original post. It seems that Honda engineers have done their normal excellent job in designing the in-bed truck. What a great feature. Any bets on how quickly the other manufacturers copy this :) ?

Thanks again.

Craig.

Joe,

Not to hijack my own thread, but I would love to hear about your backup camera. Can you actually judge distances with it? Does it detract from the beautiful lines on the tailgate? Pictures would be great.

THANKS TO EVERYONE who took the time to reply to my original post. It seems that Honda engineers have done their normal excellent job in designing the in-bed truck. What a great feature. Any bets on how quickly the other manufacturers copy this :) ?

Thanks again.

Craig.

I'll bet its already on the table at FORD!! :D

Just had a torrential downpour yesterday. My yard had pooling 6" deep. This morning I looked in the trunk, dry.

I doubt the trunk is on the table at Ford, because to make one as large as the one in our truck, Ford would have to completely redesign the rear suspension. It's the strut suspension that makes the trunk work.

Now the swing-open tailgate, that's a no-brainer, and I'd bet cash that it shows up in somebody's 2007 model.

Oh yeah, my trunk is always bone dry unless I put something wet in there.

The trunk is water resistant. It's the passenger compartment you have to worry about.... :D

The trunk is water resistant. It's the passenger compartment you have to worry about.... :D

I assume the smiley icon indicates that you are just kidding. Have you experienced leaks in the passenger compartment??

Craig.

I assume the smiley icon indicates that you are just kidding. Have you experienced leaks in the passenger compartment??

Craig.

Check out.."Trouble in paradise" thread. Read ALL about it Craig.
http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?p=19625&highlight=trouble#post19625

Check out.."Trouble in paradise" thread. Read ALL about it Craig.
http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?p=19625&highlight=trouble#post19625

Wow! That thread is 18 pages long. Would you mind cutting the newbie some slack and tell me the resolution?

Thanks.

Craig.

some people have had issues with water leaking into the cabin, but the mass majority of us do not.

My trunk and cabin are both dry after rain or a power wash.

Tiger

16,300 miles and the trunk and passenger compartment as dry as the day I bought it. Actually, no problems but one. The sensor gauge indicator on the drivers side door keeps being pushed down. Finally, notified dealer and parts are in and will get fixed next Friday. Absolutely, nothing else. Just a happy owner. :)

Not to hijack my own thread, but I would love to hear about your backup camera. Can you actually judge distances with it? Does it detract from the beautiful lines on the tailgate? Pictures would be great.Craig.

Craig, let's not hijack this thread. Go to:

http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=563&page=3&highlight=backup+camera

for some good information and pics of what the back up camera can do. Yes, you can learn to judge distance with it but things are MUCH closer than they appear.

Your interest and enthusasm is apparent and I hope you get a Ridge soon. You will find it and this forum a delightful addition to your life.

Our trunk has never been wet. The gutter around the trunk does a great job at channeling water away from it. However, if you ever choose to put ice or some liquid into it, there is a drain plug in the bottom. Our Retrax tonneau cover is nearly water tight. Mere drops get in, so the trunk is not exposed to the elements anymore.

I'll never know how dry my trunk will keep. If there is a remote chance of rain my Ridgeline stays in the garage. In Texas, I get little rain. When I wash the Ridge, I do not wash the bed part by hose, rather, I do it by hand with a mister and rag and then coat it with armorall. The few times I've needed to put anything in the bed I simply threw an old comforter back there so I don't have a mess with scratches.

The only thing my trunk has ever been used for is to hold three cases of beer and eight bags of ice and is the greates tailgate party contraption known to man. Beer and ice - I can think of no other reason to have it.

The only thing my trunk has ever been used for is to hold three cases of beer and eight bags of ice and is the greates tailgate party contraption known to man. Beer and ice - I can think of no other reason to have it.

Hoo Hah shortspark!!! Hoo hah!!!

Celler, in the last ten days it has rained on my truck six days out of ten. Not just a sprinkle either. I drove from Dallas to New Orleans and was in the rain for five hours. I felt like I was an 18 wheeler. I could still see for miles, well maybe just 50 yards but much better than any thing else I have ever driven. I have the Honda accessory hard top installed on my bed. Maybe two or three drops during all that rain. My experience tells me the trunk is water proof and the bed is water resistant. Oh, the same reults on my way back to Dallas, another four hours in a heavy south Texas downpour.

I hope that helps. I don't think you can go wrong with this truck. I just put 1500 miles on mine and most of the time I thought it was a car I was driving.

Good luck.

Going back to the dealer for these minor things and its first oil change a 1500 miles, in about 3 or 4 weeks.

Joe

Joe, is this saying that you're getting your oil changed at 1500 miles? If so, why?

Thanks again to everyone for all the thoughtful replies. Dealer is bringing a RTL by my house tonight to see if it will fit in the garage. Beginning to like this truck so much that I may just take a sledge to the wall if she doesn't fit :D .

Best wishes.

Craig.

The truck is slightly longer than a Dodge Grand Caravan, and about the same height as the minivan. Big difference here is, you don't care what you back into with the minivan, and you will with the Ridgeline. Seeing I haven't installed my backup camera yet, a 4x4 block of the garage floor does a great job of stopping me from backing into the garage too far. :D

The truck is slightly longer than a Dodge Grand Caravan, and about the same height as the minivan. Big difference here is, you don't care what you back into with the minivan, and you will with the Ridgeline. Seeing I haven't installed my backup camera yet, a 4x4 block of the garage floor does a great job of stopping me from backing into the garage too far. :D

Thanks. Its also longer than our 2002 Odyssey which currently occupies the "long" bay in our garage. I constructed a "cheat stick" for my wife years ago when we owned a Yukon (different house). It consists of a hook screwed into the ceiling attached to a length of extremely light chain with a plastic cone at the other end that strikes the windshield when you have pulled in far enough. I know this little setup has saved me hundreds of dollars. Its a little better than the wood block as it does not present a tripping hazard when the vehicle is not in the bay and cannot be accidently moved which could result in disasterous circumstances. Also easier to clean the garage with a clear floor.

Thanks again.

Craig.

Thanks. Its also longer than our 2002 Odyssey which currently occupies the "long" bay in our garage. I constructed a "cheat stick" for my wife years ago when we owned a Yukon (different house). It consists of a hook screwed into the ceiling attached to a length of extremely light chain with a plastic cone at the other end that strikes the windshield when you have pulled in far enough. I know this little setup has saved me hundreds of dollars. Its a little better than the wood block as it does not present a tripping hazard when the vehicle is not in the bay and cannot be accidently moved which could result in disasterous circumstances. Also easier to clean the garage with a clear floor.

Thanks again.

Craig.
Sounds to me like you are well on your way to becoming a happy, well prepared Ridgeline owner. You won't be sorry. WE promise!!

I have had my R/L for 2 weeks now,washed it twice including the bed.we had some good rains too.not a drop of water in the trunk.very dry and dust free too.

Hi Folks. I'm not yet a Ridgeline owner, but am giving this truck serious consideration. I am very intrigued by the in-bed trunk. However, I live in South Florida where we experience torrential downpours and am concerned about just how "water resistant" the trunk really is. I would love to hear about the experience of current owners that live in wet climates concerning any water leakage into the trunk.

TIA

Craig.


Hey there.. My mom lives in Jupiter, I'm actually a bit further south, (west palm area) My bed hasn't had a drop of water in it yet. Hope this helps your decision to buy the greatest automobile I've ever driven..

My bed hasn't had a drop of water in it yet.
:eek: You live in Florida and your BED hasn't had a drop of water in it. Ladies and Gents we have found our water tight tonneau. :D


My trunk only gets water in it when....
A) Monsoon season and rain is coming in side-ways as I try to load a full cart from Costco in the trunk.

B) Its full of the frozen version of water with beverages stuffed down there. (love the drain plug)

Ironically I did mean trunk, however, my bed hasn't either. ;) Thanks Retrax!!!

Not even a direct hit from a power washer can penetrate this trunk!

NO leaks at ALL!

I agree, it is the most impressive feature of this truck other than the GREAT ride!!

TL

No problem what so ever. dry as a preverbial bone...

Alberta had one of the wettest Springs on record last year and the only safe dry place for the kids wet muddy soccer gear was in the dry Ridge trunk.

Between, the rain and snow and even a couple of washes, the trunk is bone dry. My daughter wishes the trunk of her Neon was as dry.

I might have a problem?:eek: I opened mine last night to show it off and it has a few poodles of water in it. It has been raining here off and on, plus it's been parked backed in the driveway.:( I'll put it on the list of things to look at when I take it in for service in a few weeks. :)

I opened mine last night to show it off and it has a few poodles of water in it.
Did the poodles jump out when you opened the lid?

Did the poodles jump out when you opened the lid?
Funny it didn't rain cats & dogs.:D Wonder how he got in there? The trunk is too deep for him to get out so I had to wipe it out.;)

Would "Dry as a popcorn fart" sum it up?:D