I just had to drive through a huge mud puddle on Saturday. Well actually I had to have Todd do the dirty work. :D
We weren't going fast. We went in, went down and came up and heard an awful noise. We both got out and ran to the back of the truck and the Ridgeline plug in the hitch hole was gone and the plug box for the trailer lights was cracked. Oh geez..... did I ever get the eyebrow. :rolleyes:

Yeesh. Hope it can be fixed (the trailer plug)

Glad Ridgeina is ok otherwise :)

Sorry about that. The plug can be replaced, right? What about the cracked box? :(

Can you show a photo of the rear- tow hitch and plugs?
other than your hitch cover is everything else ok?

the mud on the tires looks fun!
Thanks

Can you show a photo of the rear- tow hitch and plugs?
other than your hitch cover is everything else ok?

the mud on the tires looks fun!
Thanks
Sure ..BRB :D

Ok..here it is..not a pretty sight.

Think you were told the Honda Ridgeline wasn't built for off-road four wheeling...if not, now you know!!! Just had to get my "digs" in before you are actually able to hit me.;)

Think you were told the Honda Ridgeline wasn't built for off-road four wheeling...if not, now you know!!! Just had to get my "digs" in before you are actually able to hit me.;)
Oh..and you think I'm going to forget these digs between now and 11/05 do you??
Not on your life buddy. :D
And besides, if I grow up and start listening to what I'm told, I'll get old. :)

Murphy"s Law >>>> ITs deeper than it looks.

Murphy"s Law >>>> ITs deeper than it looks.
Ya know..that must a man thing not a murphy's law thing cuz that's EXACTLY what Todd said to me before I said to him, "what's the matter, afraid of a little mud?" :rolleyes:

Uh, maybe you should listen to Todd more often? You don't have to do what he says, just restate it like it was your idea in the first place. :D

Uh, maybe you should listen to Todd more often? You don't have to do what he says, just restate it like it was your idea in the first place. :D
Hey..great idea Tom..thanks my friend. I'll try that on him. ;)

If you got stuck, who would have to get out to push?

Todd would get the nod.;)

Rats! I think that if JC was pissed enough she would get out and push - but that would be a picture worth framing! ;)

I'm sure whoever pushed would have to ride the rest of the way back in the bed to keep from getting mud all over the interior. :eek:

If you got stuck, who would have to get out to push?

Wait! I thought you could'nt get stuck with a Ridgeline?:D

One of the big drawbacks with the Ridgeline's off road capability, in my opinion, is the really poor angles of arrival and departure, especially the latter. Adding the tow package only exaggerates the problem. I wouldn't be surprised to see some modified bumpers appearing on the market at some point, especially for the front where winch kits may be a desirable addition. That said, the lack of low range may deter any serious modifications by off-road enthusiasts.

Wait! I thought you could'nt get stuck with a Ridgeline?:D
Oh..She didn't get stuck...came through nice and clean without hesitation..just messed up her belly a bit on the way through...:rolleyes:

Oh..She didn't get stuck...came through nice and clean without hesitation..just messed up her belly a bit on the way through...:rolleyes:
I think you missed the posts leading up to that comment, concerning who would have to push if you had gotten stuck (which you didn't).

I think you missed the posts leading up to that comment, concerning who would have to push if you had gotten stuck (which you didn't).
Oh..thanks swampi...I guess I did miss something in there. :rolleyes:

Oh man, every time I see one of these broken Ridgeline parts or broken Ridgelines I just want to go out and hug my truck. I wonder if you can get a replacement cover to that plug.

Oh man, every time I see one of these broken Ridgeline parts or broken Ridgelines I just want to go out and hug my truck. I wonder if you can get a replacement cover to that plug.
Sure hope so. I am concerned about it's integrity now.

Sure hope so. I am concerned about it's integrity now.
Maybe you should have bought a Hidden Hitch. ;) :eek:

Maybe you should have bought a Hidden Hitch. ;) :eek:
If I hadn't had the one on there when I bought it I would have. I'll know better next time. :(

The 7 pin connector is standard. You can get one at a NAPA store. Match up the mounting holes before you buy it. Drew could have that thing fixed so fast - and he'd laugh at you for making such a big deal out of it. :)

Any update on your hitch JC? Going to have it fixed in time for Cleveland?

Any update on your hitch JC? Going to have it fixed in time for Cleveland?
I'll fix it if you're coming!! :D

I'll fix it if you're coming!! :D
Can't believe you'd drive around in a broken truck. ;) I mean the lack of paint is bad enough, but broken... :eek:

Can't believe you'd drive around in a broken truck. ;) I mean the lack of paint is bad enough, but broken... :eek:
I think you and your wife should come to Cleveland and help me!! :D

I know it a little late, but, as I was not a member of this forum at the time, and I just noticed the thread, I'll respond now. Just to set the record straight...as I was driving Ridgena...at first I was simply going to drive around the puddle. Since the water was muddy, I couldn't see the bottom to tell how deep it was. I could tell by the edge drop-off that it was probably 6 to 12 inches deep, but there were other tire tracks in the mud running through it, so I figured getting through wasn't going to be a problem. As we approached, it was my intention to only take one side through the puddle but my beloved Ladyridge said something to the effect of doing it half way. So she convinced me to take it head on. I was a bit apprehensive since, a few years earlier, I got an explorer hung on high-center driving down a power line cut. That's another story, but suffice as to say, it cost me $250 to get it moved just enough for the tires to dig in.:mad: Guess I the memory was still with me. I wasn't worried about getting stuck, just didn't want to cause any damage.:o

As you know, the Ridgeline cover for the hitch receiver was sheared off. A Hidden Hitch would not have made any difference. Ridgena drug her tail pretty good. Besides, I got a look at a Hidden Hitch at the ROC @ the Rock meet, and there really isn't much difference in the amount of the hitch that shows. The receiver has to still be accessed.:rolleyes:

As far as the electrical towing plug goes, I don't think the plug itself was damaged. The cover was broken as Lady's pic indicated, but I think the primary problem is the metal braket that supports the plug was bent from the impact, and now the 7-pin connector doesn't line up with the hole in the face bracket. As soon as I get the chance, I'm going to crawl under and see if I can remove it and straighten it. I don't expect a problem. I just hate having to spend time doing something that could have been avoided in the first place. But we did learn something.

TT

A Hidden Hitch would not have made any difference.
I wasn't serious about the Hidden Hitch. I was poking fun at another thread where someone was telling how any hitch other than Honda was potentially junk and anyone who used another one was taking a huge risk. No offense to that person, but it was pretty ridiculous, IMO. :rolleyes:

We took a side road in the mountains that had a deep cut where the two roads met. There was a terrible dragging sound. Lucky for us the only thing that was damaged was the rattle reduction knob on the bottom of our tubular hitch step. The knob was trashed.

Besides, I got a look at a Hidden Hitch at the ROC @ the Rock meet, and there really isn't much difference in the amount of the hitch that shows.
Could that have been mine by any chance? I'd have to disagree a little. I was comparing my Hidden Hitch with the oem while at the ROC too, mainly because I hadn't installed the harness yet and wanted to get some ideas. While the receiver height is the same, with the Honda hitch the receiver is welded to the underside of the crossbar, whereas the Hidden Hitch receiver is welded through the cross bar. This difference means that the oem cross bar is at least 3 inches higher than the other. It's nearly obscured by the bumper while Hiddens is completely visible and not "hidden" at all. I ended up mounting my oem harness to the Hidden Hitch with a couple of 2" u-bolts but am not really happy as it's very low and exposed.

http://www.handa-accessories.com/ridgeline/hitch.jpg