Off-road performance

I'm posting this for people considering buying the Honda Ridgeline, who might want to have fun off-roading it, or need a pick-up truck that is real-world off-road capable (e.g. professional use - emergency services etc.).

I took notice of this new truck because it was a Honda, and frankly it looked pretty cool. It has that Tonka Toy look that is appealing and I was taken (technically) by it's use of modern automotive suspension design. From a brief look at the tech, I was in admiration of Honda's attempt at making a truck that handles. This is pretty forward thinking, and I was intrigued.

My real interest was to see how this fantastic (but possibly inappropriate) design would fair in real-word off-road conditions. I won't bore you with the test tale, but I would like to point out some of my findings.

Ground clearance. Frankly you can ignore the factory figures as they simply don't translate to real-world. I found the Ridgeline hit everything in sight. The underbelly protection is inadequate (but looks good on paper). This should be OK if your careful, and have someone spot for you if your near rocks etc, but watch out for that oil pan and remove those damn running boards if your likely to off-road at all, the out-riggers just bend, and then bend some more. What this boils down to is the reality that this vehicle has a long (122") wheelbase, which is totally counterproductive if anything even resembling a rock-garden is in sight. Thats a difficult one to get around when you absolutely need a good break-over angle.

Axle articulation. Presumably an issue with the wishbone fully independent design, but the Ridgeline is rather poor in this department. I don't have the RTI (Ramp Travel Index) figures, but I'm now not expecting them to be anything good. It lifts a wheel at the drop of a hat. Now this could be helped out considerably with a quality permanent four-wheel drive transmission design, which, the Ridgeline does not have. On test, and someone might want to comment on this, I found that the transmission waits for the front wheels to lose traction before engaging the rears, by which time the vehicle has lost sufficient momentum that the front then spin - and so-on. So much so that the Ridgeline, without grace, actually goes backwards under power on moderate (dry) inclines if one of the wheels has cause to drop a little (un-weight).

My recommendations are that this fascinating new truck be used on-road only. It's off-road abilities would be best left to clear dirt tracks. Upon which you might find that it is faster and more comfortable than much of it's competition. If you have to use it off-road - 1, fit aggressive A/T or M/T tires of at least the stock height. 2, Some form of lift kit or adjustment (sorry, I didn't get time to research it).

All told. Well, this is 2006, not 1976. There are many things that impressed me, the sweet Honda engine, the very intelligent load bay design, the contemporary visual design (although the small glass area bugs me, thats just me). I'm sick of seeing American and Japanese designs where they just fall back to cheap and cheerful leaf-sprung rear ends, like it's still 1956. I feel that Honda have hit the spot with the simple fact that this vehicle rides and handles like most trucks only dream about. It's a statistics thing, most people use pick-up trucks on-road. So why the hell not design one for that? Full marks to Honda. So why do I give it a D? Because it could have been so much more. It could have been competent off-road too, couldn't it? Food for thought - think Land Rover LR3 (LWB) pick-up. Now your talking 2006.

Welcome to the forums ITY. Glad to have ya... Interesting review. Any pictures of your Ridgeline going through some of these tests? Would love to see it. Sounds like a very thorough run of tests. Interested in knowing if your Ridgeline experienced any body wrinkles from some of the terrain encountered?

As far as the Land Rover LR3, JD Powers only gave that $45,000 vehicle 2 out of 5 stars in Mechanical quality, Body and Interior quality, Overall quality. It did receive 3 stars in Features and Accessory quality. BUt wait, isn't Ford making the Rovers these days? I guess my point being is, if your looking for the complete truck, it may not exist. All things need trade offs so if I can't climb a rock garden in my Ridgeline, so be it. But in exchange, I don't need to live at the auto shop getting it fixed all the time and yes, I do get a fantastic ride... I would probably get a jeep and mod it up for this kind of off roading but then again, the ride would most likely give me hemmoroids... Thanks for the review and welcome to the ROC !! :D

Having had "rock crawlers" for more than 30 years, I have a pretty good idea what vehicle is needed. I bought the Ridge to fulfill a different need and it does the job admirably. I volunteer with the Desert Bighorn Sheep Society. All of our projects involve camping two or three days at a time in remote areas. Often the trail is a sand wash or fire road. During a summer monsoon you can encounter muddy conditions and in the winter, snow in the higher elevations. This is not rock crawling but I have had to pull out several 2WD's in the past year.:p

I've got to agree with the running board quote in the original post. See Running Board/Height loss (http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7701)

Thank you for your take on the Ridge ITY. Good info for people looking for a serious off road vehicle.

If I was going to do a lot of offroading I would buy a Range Rover Defender. I think Honda kept in mind the fact that the vast majority of people would do any serious off roading with the vehicle, thereby keeping the price down and the gas mileage better. Yes, it would be nice to have that "extra" feature, but since I moved back East I don't have much call for off-roading.

For my needs I give it an "A".

I researched an did my homework before buying the Ridgeline. I knew this vehicle was not an "heavy" off-road vehicle. Even Honda states that. They indicate that it can use it for "medium duty off-road" .
Next time, do your homework before putting down the money. That way you will not be dissapointed!
;)

My RL does everything I bought it for. I am sure I could drive to the Racetrack in DV and not blow my struts. I can get down to the fishing hole and not bottom out on the rocks. I can shoot off the hood in and hit prairie dogs at 300 yards. I am happy:D

We're off the pavement on a regular basis in the months we can get into the mountains. Just as we did when we had our Trooper, I look at road ratings and conditions before we head out, or we go into known territories with an eye out for changes such as wash outs.

We know the Ridge won't be going some of the places the Trooper took us. That's just fine. There are still thousands of miles of dirt roads for us to explore. We are not into beating up our vehicles or going out just to see what they can do. It's an expensive investment that we want to be driving for many years to come.

If we ever get the hankering to do more extreme back road exploration, we will rent an appropriate vehicle.