I want to Tow a Ridgeline behind a motorhome!

[WillyBoard]

I checked all through these pages, and lots are talking about using their truck to tow with, but I couldn't find any information on towing the Ridgeline itself.

What modification are required? I don't have access to the manual, so it might be in there, but if someone has experiance already on how it tows. Are there provisions made for lighting through the stock wire harness while being towed?

I know Honda took the towing seriously by including an electric brake controller into their design, how about the other way, when you are towing it?

What have you learn good and bad about towing on of these trucks. Thanks

[qlake]

First of all, Honda says you can not tow it, even though you could the old Pilot. Second problem is no one makes a adaptor plate for the RL. The brake controller is used only for pulling a trailer with the truck. You will need a trailer to take the RL with you. I have a 2000 Grand Cherokee that we keep for a toad.

[xridgelinex]

It’s a no go unless you put it on a full car trailer....

[Fastpitch]

I am under the impression after reading the manual you would be unable to tow a RL without some modifcations of some type since the owners manual states that if your RL needs to be towed to request a flatbed

[MikeT]

I checked all through these pages, and lots are talking about using their truck to tow with, but I couldn't find any information on towing the Ridgeline itself.

What modification are required? I don't have access to the manual, so it might be in there, but if someone has experiance already on how it tows. Are there provisions made for lighting through the stock wire harness while being towed?

I know Honda took the towing seriously by including an electric brake controller into their design, how about the other way, when you are towing it?

What have you learn good and bad about towing on of these trucks. Thanks

Check this thread out:

http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16947&highlight=Ridgeline+tow

Read post# 6.

[htaddict]

Seams pretty clear from the manual that towing as a toad is out of the question.

From page 296 of your owner's manual:

Emergency Towing

If your vehicle needs to be towed, call a professional towing service or organization. Never tow your vehicle with just a rope or chain. It is very dangerous.

The only way you can safely tow your vehicle is with flat-bed equipment.

The operator will load your vehicle on the back of a truck. Any other method of towing will damage the drive system. When you contact the towing agency, inform them a flat-bed is required.

Towing your vehicle with two tires on the ground will damage parts of the 4WD system. It should be transported on a flat-bed truck or trailer.

If, due to damage, your vehicle must be towed with all four wheels on the ground, do the following:
• Release the parking brake.
• Start the engine.
• Shift to D for several seconds, then to N.
• Turn off the engine.

Improper towing preparation will damage the transmission. Follow the above procedure exactly. If you cannot shift the transmission or start the engine, your vehicle must be transported with the all four wheels off the ground.

With all four wheels on the ground, it is best to tow the vehicle no farther than 50 miles (80 km), and keep the speed below 35 mph (55 km/h).

The steering system can be damaged if the steering wheel is locked. Leave the ignition switch in the ACCESSORY (I) position, and make sure the steering wheel turns freely before you begin towing.

Trying to lift or tow your vehicle by the bumpers will cause serious damage. The bumpers are not designed to support the vehicle’s weight.

[guss]

This I did not know and only now know because I was bored enough to open and read...glad I did.

Be nice if some of our more savvy posters pulled a bunch of these ridgeline nuances together and developed a Ridgeline Quiz to test our knowledge and make us all more educated.

[ChrisM]

This I did not know and only now know because I was bored enough to open and read...glad I did.

Be nice if some of our more savvy posters pulled a bunch of these ridgeline nuances together and developed a Ridgeline Quiz to test our knowledge and make us all more educated.

I did this little thread back in March of 07'. Please be mindful of the date of the thread because some of the answers are affected by it such as most popular color but for the most part, it is accurate.

http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13429&highlight=test+ridgeline+knowledge

[Mtnman]

Honda does not provide a brake controller with the RL. They provide the wiring to hook-up your provided brake controller when the factory harness is installed.

[WillyBoard]

Honda does not provide a brake controller with the RL. They provide the wiring to hook-up your provided brake controller when the factory harness is installed.

You guys are kill'n me... I didn't want to pull a trailer, and this issue with the brake controller needs defined to my dealer, he is the one that said they came with one... Sorry for the mis communication.

Thanks to everyone for your comments. I must admit, I never heard of a towed vehicle being considered a toad... Where did that name come from? Thanks again.

[Webwader]

I must admit, I never heard of a towed vehicle being considered a toad... Where did that name come from?
It's just part of the RV lingo. "Toad" and "towed" are homophones so the name just morphed from towed vehicle to toad. Some RVers also call them dinghies. I guess if the boat you are driving is big enough, you need to tow a dinghy.

[qlake]

Thanks to everyone for your comments. I must admit, I never heard of a towed vehicle being considered a toad... Where did that name come from? Thanks again.

Are you sure you have a motorhome....that is a common term used in every magazine and catalog for RVs.

[C DAVID HUDSON]

Have you looked into using a tow dolly? If so what did you find out?

[tapd]

I've checked and have found nothing that might help us pull our RL behind our motorhome (see picture to the left...this is a motorhome....an RV can be a MH, 5th wheel, trailer, or slide in) without trailering it. We really wish we could figure out a way, the PT has no ground clearance for the logging roads in the Sierras.

A tow dolly might work if one could find a driveshaft disconnect, or climb under and R&R it everytime. I'd have to crawl under and see what it would take and make sure nothing important would still be turning.

[ChrisM]

I've checked and have found nothing that might help us pull our RL behind our motorhome (see picture to the left...this is a motorhome....an RV can be a MH, 5th wheel, trailer, or slide in) without trailering it. We really wish we could figure out a way, the PT has no ground clearance for the logging roads in the Sierras.

A tow dolly might work if one could find a driveshaft disconnect, or climb under and R&R it every time. I'd have to crawl under and see what it would take and make sure nothing important would still be turning.

There is a thread on this forum that may be helpful to you in regards to flat towing the RL behind a motor home.

Pulling the driveshafts on the RL (all 4 of them) is totally out of the question in any circumstance unless you have 4 hours to pull it apart and another 4 hours to put it back together and a good jack and air tools at your disposal.

The drive shafts as defined by Honda are what most people call U joints. These drive shafts run from the wheels straight into the VTM unit in the back which is a sort of locking rear transmission unit and the front U joints run directly into the main front transmission. Disconnecting he drive shaft which Honda calls the propeller shaft will have no effect on causing the transmissions not to rotate.

Have people flat towed the RL with all 4 drive shafts in place? The answer somewhere contained in this forum is YES. Does Honda recommend it? No. You are basically limited to towing at speeds no greater than 35 mph and distances less than 50 miles which in your scenario is pretty much useless.

Can you use a tow dolly to pull your Ridgeline? Absolutely NOT. You will have fried the transmission before you get out of town or after 3 miles on the freeway. You cannot have rotation from the rear wheels and not rotate the front wheels. Removing the propeller shaft in this circumstance may help you but pulling the propeller shaft is an hour job. I wouldn't suggest driving without it in place either. Gears and seals have a funny way of getting contaminated when you pull a vehicle without the propeller shaft ends in place. You would have to find a way to reseal the transmissions without having the shaft in place. Pulling it is a PITA anyway.

My suggestion? Get a full blown tandem axle trailer for your truck if you wish to tow it. Honda suggests that the only way to pull a broken down Ridgeline is will a roll back tow truck. Front sling tow trucks WILL damage the transmission.

[2dedge]

You could use a tow dolly if you had a driveshaft disconnect installed.

Similar to what is pictured and explained on this site http://drivetrain.com/remco.html they do not list the ridgeline but and good driveshaft shop can cut and splice the rear shaft. Then you load it on the dolly/disconnect the rear and on your way you go.

[jpepper]

It is obvious from your post that you need some help. I own an RV park and get to listen to a lot of stories about toad vehicles. Believe me ignorance is not bliss. It is disapointing to many of the RV'ers that Honda has limited the number of towable vehicles in their group. Their most popular used to be the
Civic but now towing is not recommended. The advice to get all 4 wheels up on a trailer is accurate and the only viable remedy for convenience. The real attraction to RV'ing is convenience or possibly laziness. I get to see a lot of rigs in the million plus variety and the owners are so lazy they even have the RV dealer get them a tow vehicle. Don't believe the hype that gas/diesel prices have slowed down travel as Yellowstone and Grand Teton Park were up this year. Guess that is why I was able to get my favorite vehicle of all time a Ridge.:)

[Webwader]

I must admit, I never heard of a towed vehicle being considered a toad... Where did that name come from? Thanks again.
Toad = towed. It's RV slang.