[birchman17]

My guess is the only thing truxxx will be able to do is lift the front by 1"

Do you have any idea if they will be able to raise the rear an inch also?

 

[martyn1075]

Ok, so Honda lowered the front for style? possibly to MPG?

Because if there is no downside, I can't see why you wouldn't level it (unless you didnt' want the extra added expense)

it is higher in the back to handle the weight in the bed or tongue load from a trailer. It is not a sports car, I don't see why anyone would level it. Get a corvette.

Yes the g2 rear has a fairly strong rake that has been engineered to handle the squat process. With max tounge weight it still should be level with the front so it's not nose lifting as much.

Gen 1 was more level to begin with and did squat a fair amount unless your trialer was ultra well balanced. Mind you I had a levelled gen 1 and towed it's max plus some weight with a 21 foot boat it pushed the rear down 1.5 inches only. It was noticeable but not bad considering the level kit installed.

 

[S.T.U.V]

It's hard to get 2x4's in a vette. :wink:

But seriously, that was what I was asking, because it doesn't seem like most trucks have that rake, or maybe I haven't noticed enough.

So there is a real reason, not just someone's idea of styling. Which makes sense why you wouldn't do it, or more to the point why Honda did it to begin with.

I'm guessing it all comes down to what your intended purpose for the truck is, seems like I'll leave it raked.

Still waiting on the cover though....
and waiting.

Exactly!

A longer spring will be able to handle a heavier load while keeping a smooth ride. Thats why other trucks with very little to no rake are rough ride compared to the ridge.Therefore the truck sits a little raked.

 

[DriveAllNight]

Thanks for all the input guys, I appreciate it.

 

[DogOnBoard]

To my eye, the Jsport Chase still has a slight rake to it, which is fine with me. I don't tow much at all, nor would I hardly ever be maxing out the payload, so "load squatting" would be of little concern. What most appeals to me about the Jsport trucks is the 1.5" front lift which gives the RL significantly more ground clearance where it most needs it. The rear diff already has over 9" of ground clearance unladen, but the front cross-bracing under the engine squeeks by with just 7.9" of GC. OTOH, the rear wheel control arms are quite low at about 7.25" of GC near the wheels, but mounting 1" taller tires (e.g., the Jsport package) would add a half-inch of clearance to those nick points. But dealers appear positioned to seriously gouge the buyer for a Jsport-ed truck, so I would be in favor of having the leveling kit only installed, then upsizing the tires when replacing the factory Firestones.

I agree that the reason for the low front end on the RL (and Pilot) is aerodynamics and fuel efficiency, and the rake is to lessen the squatting under load. Kinda funny how more than one Honda spokesperson mentioned that Honda raked the RL because their focus groups commented that higher rear ends gave the appearance that a truck could handle bigger loads! BTW, the Tacoma TRD Off-Road edition omits the front air dam to improve the angle of approach by a few degrees. AFAIK, the EPA mileage ratings are unchanged from other V6 4X4 AT versions of the Taco.

 

[CJMDWYER]

Ok, more info. I spoke with Robyn at Truxxx and she said it looks like anything over 1 3/4 inch in the front will require further mods than just spacers and sway bar link extensions. I am sending her a few measurements to see how much of a lift it will take to remove most of the rake. She said the 1 3/4 leveling kit should be ready in a few days but a larger "lift" would take a few more weeks. She wanted me to ask what people are looking for, to make the rake less pronounced or to lift the entire vehicle a couple inches. Thank you for any input and I will pass it along! :smile:

 

[.:Reflex]

Ok, more info. I spoke with Robyn at Truxxx and she said it looks like anything over 1 3/4 inch in the front will require further mods than just spacers and sway bar link extensions. I am sending her a few measurements to see how much of a lift it will take to remove most of the rake. She said the 1 3/4 leveling kit should be ready in a few days but a larger "lift" would take a few more weeks. She wanted me to ask what people are looking for, to make the rake less pronounced or to lift the entire vehicle a couple inches. Thank you for any input and I will pass it along! :smile:

They should offer both options. There is probably a 50/50 split between people who would want to level the truck versus lift it. Hopefully the leveling kit comes in at a more reasonable price than the JSport Kit.

 

[phineas]

It's hard to get 2x4's in a vette. :wink:

But seriously, that was what I was asking, because it doesn't seem like most trucks have that rake, or maybe I haven't noticed enough.

So there is a real reason, not just someone's idea of styling. Which makes sense why you wouldn't do it, or more to the point why Honda did it to begin with.

I'm guessing it all comes down to what your intended purpose for the truck is, seems like I'll leave it raked.

Still waiting on the cover though....
and waiting.

It's got the Pilot's front end, and that wasn't designed to be jacked up. And it's the MPG. There's a reason that there's a front skirt on the RL that's the closest part of the body to the ground. I agree that just leveling the Ridgeline never mind jacking it up, makes it look a lot better. Someone said it looked like it was squatting. To me it looks like it's hunched over like a squirrel. Everything goes downhill toward the front. I don't like the look. I think that body on frame purists are very turned off by that slant, perhaps without realizing it. Get a little air under the front and it starts to look more like a truck.

I'm not really interested in raising the truck. But I might be interested in leveling it. Anyway I used the contact form to reach out to Truxxx as the OP asked. They responded positively, said they'd be in touch and confirmed that I would get a discount.

 

[Jigaloo]

The rear of my Ridgeline is just about 2 inches taller than the front. I'd be happy with a 1 3/4 inch leveling kit. That's enough lift in the front so it will look even.

 

[Randucci]

Ok, more info. I spoke with Robyn at Truxxx and she said it looks like anything over 1 3/4 inch in the front will require further mods than just spacers and sway bar link extensions. I am sending her a few measurements to see how much of a lift it will take to remove most of the rake. She said the 1 3/4 leveling kit should be ready in a few days but a larger "lift" would take a few more weeks. She wanted me to ask what people are looking for, to make the rake less pronounced or to lift the entire vehicle a couple inches. Thank you for any input and I will pass it along! :smile:

.

I would be interested in a leveling kit only. I think that would be all that is needed to use the 265/60 -18 tires.

.

 

[gunnslinger]

Is Honda going to give you $$ credit or the four sets of tires and wheels (take offs) that you would have normally received when purchasing the Ridgeline? I doubt it, that is another chunk of money you will loose.

I would be curious to know if they have sold any of the packages yet.

.

If you bought the $2900 factory upgraded 20" Honda Pilot wheels from Honda they wouldn't "credit" you the price of the OE Pilot wheel at the time of purchase, unless you bought it after the purchase was made than you would be responsible for the cost difference. Same deal with a Jsport package.

FYI we are selling multiple Chase packages DAILY across the entire US. We haven't even "officially" launched the RL Chase package nationally and are selling to dealers in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Ohio, Costa Rica, and Canada just to name a few.

... Back to the topic ...

 

[S.T.U.V]

So this is purely up to the dealer...But the sales could "buy" the wheels and tires off the vehicle and then sell them to the parts department. If the parts department wants to buy them and deams them sellable. But it will not be any where near what you think they are worth. Most alloys from camrys, cars etc. We buy them for $400, mainly because they have no warranty and are final sale, pretty much most of the people who buy them from the parts are on a budget and need tires and then take the rims and resell them on craigslist for usually what they paid for the whole set. The trucks are a little more.

 

[Randucci]

.
I just find it confusing that Jsport will not sell the leveling kit separately, They have already spent the Design, R&D and tooling money, so they have an investment they need to recover. The other three items, tires, wheel and decals are all items that are purchased then resold twice (read: marked up twice), once to Honda, then again to the end customer. I don't see where getting Honda to install all of them is an advantage as far a getting a warranty, the tires will wear out (like any other), the wheels should not have any problems (the original MFG should warranty them) and if the decals fade, who is going to have them re-installed? That leaves the leveling kit, if it is properly engineered/designed/fabricated (which I'm sure it is), there isn't anything to wear out in spacers. Is Honda going to give you $$ credit or the four sets of tires and wheels (take offs) that you would have normally received when purchasing the Ridgeline? I doubt it, that is another chunk of money you will loose.
I would be curious to know if they have sold any of the packages yet.
.

If you bought the $2900 factory upgraded 20" Honda Pilot wheels from Honda they wouldn't "credit" you the price of the OE Pilot wheel at the time of purchase, unless you bought it after the purchase was made than you would be responsible for the cost difference. Same deal with a Jsport package.

FYI we are selling multiple Chase packages DAILY across the entire US. We haven't even "officially" launched the RL Chase package nationally and are selling to dealers in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Ohio, Costa Rica, and Canada just to name a few.

... Back to the topic ...

.
I like how you just pick and choose what you want to reply to on my post.
.

 

[Bockstar]

.

I like how you just pick and choose what you want to reply to on my post.

.

What would be the point of answering? They like their business model, you don't. Short of them changing it which they are not looking to do right now anything they say will just lead to more complaining.
At some point people will move on. Hopefully that time is soon.

 

[gunnslinger]

.

I like how you just pick and choose what you want to reply to on my post.

.

Wasn't an intentional thing, what would you like answered? I've been more than willing to answer anything that I possibly can. If it's been answered before I tend not to repeat myself (to cut down on time spent answering the same questions).

Additionally, I'm not sure where the constant negativity is coming from, but just like everyone else, I invite you to reach out to me personally if there is something I have done to offend you personally.

 

[DogOnBoard]

I get the point about custom factory wheels not being discounted by the value of the stock wheels. It's become standard to think of those as accessories rather than replacements. But if you buy an RL off the lot and want the dealer to swap out the stock wheels for custom Honda wheels, you would be a fool not to insist on keeping the stock wheels. Then you could resell them yourself or negotiate for a credit if the dealer is willing.

If I went to a dealer and found a Ridgeline Chase I liked on the showroom floor with $xxxx added to the sticker for the custom kit, I would be in full negotiation mode. You can bet I would ask what happened to the stock wheels and tires. OTOH, if I was shopping for a new RL and wanted a registered dealer to install the Jsport package on it, I would be expecting to keep the factory wheels and tires unless the dealer was willing to give me a reasonable credit for them. Obviously, my leverage in making a deal would depend on demand for the truck and what the dealer considers a reasonable profit. That's always going to be the case.

 

[DruDru]

[

FYI we are selling multiple Chase packages DAILY across the entire US. We haven't even "officially" launched the RL Chase package nationally and are selling to dealers in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Ohio, Costa Rica, and Canada just to name a few.

... Back to the topic ...

Gunnslinger,

Would you share which dealers across the nation that are selling Jsport units and parts? I dealer list? Per the other thread, you mentioned we could order through the parts counter. I tired contacting Metro Honda, but they said to order directly through jsportusa.com.

 

[plex]

I would be interested in the max lift i can get in the front and back with spacers alone.

If it turns out the only lift possible is 1.75" in the front, i will probably get a kit that can also raise the back because i still want a slight rake (an inch rake if possible) for towing and when i load up the bed i don't want to be tilted backward...

 

[S.T.U.V]

.
I like how you just pick and choose what you want to reply to on my post.
.

I hate to butt in but reading your post and your placement of your ?'s these are your questions.

and if the decals fade, who is going to have them re-installed?

That's a bit ridiculous cause vinyl decals take a long time to fade. So they would far surpass any warranty coverage, so you would be responsible for replacement anyways. So a body shop or wherever you see fit.

Is Honda going to give you $$ credit or the four sets of tires and wheels (take offs) that you would have normally received when purchasing the Ridgeline?

He answered that question in his reply... Technically those are yours. If you request them back then you will get them. If you dont request the stock ones back then snooze you loose. If they add in a credit for the stock wheels in the build sheet then there ya go.

 

[CJMDWYER]

I took some measurements from the ground to the top of the apex of the wheel wells and the rear is almost exactly 2 inches higher than the front. A 1.5 or 1.75 front lift would seem to be about perfect if you still want a small rake. It would also still make it not look too squatted down in the rear with a load in the bed, if looking cool on the way back from Depot with several hundred pounds of mulch or plywood or stepping stones or 60 watt light bulbs is a concern.......:grin: