OEM Honda Hitch and Harness

Just finished installing the Honda hitch and harness. It wasn't as hard as I thought it might be. It took me two hours. The dealer wanted $200 for labor, so I decided to do it myself. I didn't have to take the under dash panel off. I had plenty of room, although it was tight. I'm glad I went with the Honda hitch and harness. It has the protection plate for the connectors, and the harness is pretty slick how everything just plugs in and gives you separate circuit for the trailer. I don't have a brake controller yet, but plan on installing that soon.;)

Nice report. I'm glad it went smoothly for you. There's an added element of pride an ownership for things we can install ourselves.

I found this hitch on e-bay for my other ride two years ago - '02 Acura MDX. Installation was a snap - a few bolts - no drilling. I thought the price was very fair. Will definitely purchase this one for my Ridgeline:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Trailer-Hitch-Honda-Ridgeline-W-Free-Drawbar_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33653QQitemZ798 7996273QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

Though, this one looks good too...and cheaper....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-CLASS-III-RECEIVER-HITCH-HONDA-RIDGELINE-2005-2006_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33653QQitemZ801804 3597QQrdZ1

I found the Hidden Hitch for the Ridgeline for $119.73 plus $19.xx shipping at On the Ball Truck and Trailor Accessories (http://search.cartserver.com/search/search.cgi?cartid=s-4935&bool=AND&category=c34_t_1_y&maxhits=1&keywords=hh1326&GO=GO%21). They're in Georgia, so it will be quick delivery for those of us in the eastern half of the US.

Snowridge,

Thanks for posting some words of encouragement. I hope to try this myself very soon. :)

I just bought a OEM Honda hitch and harness from http://www.1sthondaparts.com/ for $441.47 shipped to my door. Not to bad . I was checking Ebay and other web sites. Not even close.

$436 at Ownerlink w/free shipping thru Dec.

Honda Hitch and Harness
$361 at http://www.cheaphondaparts.com
It was roughly $30 to ship.

$331 + shipping sounds very good. But I bought the hitch, harness, drawbar, locking pin, and a 2" ball. I didn't need nothing but the hitch and harness, but compared to everwhere else on the world-wide-web, not to bad. Willy212

Put the hitch and harness on Sunday about 3 hrs the worst part was getting the rear pigtail out of the frame. Thought I'd never get the tape cut and the pig tail out and almost got my hand stuck up in the frame opening. Had to go up in there with a razor blade to cut the tape. Under the dash the directions showed 2 relays but my harness came with three so I put all three in everything works so I guess it's O.k.

Honda Hitch and Harness
$361 at http://www.cheaphondaparts.com
It was roughly $30 to ship.
Add hitchpin and ball (both necessities) plus shipping totals "roughly" $430.;)

Add hitchpin and ball (both necessities) plus shipping totals "roughly" $430.;)
Unless you already have them from a previous vehicle. :D

I installed the OEM hitch and wiring harness today. The install took about 2hrs from start to finish, no problems. The dealership wanted $130.00 to install the hitch and harness. On a scale of 1-10, I would say this install is a 5 in difficulty. My wife held one side of the hitch up while placing the bolts in the frame, approx. 10 min. of her time.

I installed the OEM hitch and wiring harness today. The install took about 2hrs from start to finish, no problems. The dealership wanted $130.00 to install the hitch and harness. On a scale of 1-10, I would say this install is a 5 in difficulty. My wife held one side of the hitch up while placing the bolts in the frame, approx. 10 min. of her time.

Do you have a post 8/24 build date - ie do you have the extra 4-pin connector under the dash and therefore your backup light connector works?

Do you have a post 8/24 build date - ie do you have the extra 4-pin connector under the dash and therefore your backup light connector works?
Yes I do have the 4 pin connector. Build date 11/05.

Yes I do have the 4 pin connector. Build date 11/05.

Now I'm curious what your shift indicator lights look like with the key turned to position I (accessory):
Is Park red and all the rest white OR
Is Park red, Reverse green, and all the rest white.

The dealer failed to connect my 4-pin but I tracked it down and connected it myself and subsequently noticed that my Park is red and my Reverse is green at the same time in position I. If I disconnect the 4-pin connector under the dash then Park is red and all the rest including reverse are white in position I.

If others are doing it then I'll write it off as a side-effect, otherwise I may need to have the dealer check it out.

Thanks

Now I'm curious what your shift indicator lights look like with the key turned to position I (accessory):
Is Park red and all the rest white OR
Is Park red, Reverse green, and all the rest white.

The dealer failed to connect my 4-pin but I tracked it down and connected it myself and subsequently noticed that my Park is red and my Reverse is green at the same time in position I. If I disconnect the 4-pin connector under the dash then Park is red and all the rest including reverse are white in position I.

If others are doing it then I'll write it off as a side-effect, otherwise I may need to have the dealer check it out.

Thanks
With the key in the acc. pos. park is red, reverse green, and all the rest are white. One thing I have noticed since installing the hitch/wiring harness is that there is alot of clicking in the dash that I never noticed before installing the hitch. What I mean by clicking is it sounds like relays or switches moving. Anyone else notice this after installing the OEM hitch/ wiring harness?

Thanks for checking the gear indicator lights - appreciate that info.
Concerning the extra clicking, mine was dealer installed before I took delivery so I've never known the difference but I believe you have 3 more relays (all under the dash) as part of the harness so it wouldn't surprise me.

I just saw the craziest thing on ebay. An used OEM hitch sold for $260 plus $40 shipping. Cheap Honda Parts sells for $230 plus $40 shipping brand new.

I bid $120 because I can just pick up the hitch for $230 in SF. Hopefully, the person who bid on this hitch is not a member of ROC.

Just read the thread, and I have a question....Does the color of the indicators as you stated differ if you do not have the hitch/harness installed? My indicators are Park=RED, and the rest=Green.


With the key in the acc. pos. park is red, reverse green, and all the rest are white. One thing I have noticed since installing the hitch/wiring harness is that there is alot of clicking in the dash that I never noticed before installing the hitch. What I mean by clicking is it sounds like relays or switches moving. Anyone else notice this after installing the OEM hitch/ wiring harness?

Just read the thread, and I have a question....Does the color of the indicators as you stated differ if you do not have the hitch/harness installed? My indicators are Park=RED, and the rest=Green.
The best I can tell/ascertain is there's a difference when you have a post 8/24/05 built truck with the Honda OEM trailer wiring harness with the additional 4-pin connector for the reverse light (for surge brake lockout) functionality. The difference also only appears to come into play with the key in position I (accessory). Also we're referring to the color of the indicators with the transmission in park - not the color of the indicators as you move thru the gears.

W/O post 8/24/05 wiring harness:
'P'ark is red
All the rest are white

With post 8/24/05 wiring harness:
'P'ark is red
'R'everse is green
All the rest are white

Thanx for the clarification.......

Now I have to go "see" what my indicators really are :D

Not quite sure what you guys are talking about with these different color lights. Please explain

Thanks

New guy here
Just got my RTL last Friday.
built date 6/05.
So if I don't have the infamous "4 pin" connector is there a good way to get the backup lights working on my 7- wire hookup.
I did it before on my 03 Pilot, but always open to a better way.
Thanks

I installed my hitch and harness two days ago. I got it done in about two hours. I had to be a bit of a contortionist to put the rack in by myself but I was alble to do it by using both hands, both feet, and my body. I'm sure my neighbors must have thought I looked like a clown! :p

The only hiccup I had was when I dropped the relay that goes into the harness above the emergency brake. I dropped it and the car ate it. I couldn't find it again to save my life. Ordered another one for $5 and snapped it in yesterday afternoon.

Now, about all of this discussion regarding the 4 pin connector. Isn't that for the extra pigtail you get to hook up the wiring for a trailer with electric brakes? I have the 4 pin connector and I have the extra wires but I didn't bother to install them. Is this what you are all talking about plugging into the 4 pin connector?