Welcome to the club…!

The FWD versions’ tow limit is less than the AWD versions.

You said you have a 2022… So it’s AWD… So your tow limit is 5,000-pounds…

If you search through some of these threads, I think you’ll find the AWD versions of the truck have transmission coolers. You’ll also probably find where others have installed larger versions.

Again, welcome to the club!

 

What is it with salesmen these days. You can no longer get a 3k (FWD) limited ridgeline any more. All are 5k, have a tranny cooler and are are AWD. Fill your boots. Nice ride Btw.

 

What is it with salesmen these days. You can no longer get a 3k (FWD) limited ridgeline any more.

While walking around a car lot waiting to have the battery replaced under warranty in my 2010 Ridgeline, a salesman walked up to me and commented how clean my Ridgeline was and asked me if it I had the two wheel drive or four wheel drive model. (All 1G Ridgelines were AWD.) Before I had time to think before I spoke, I responded, "It sounds like you need to go back and re-watch your training videos" and walked away. That was very ugly of me. I should have smiled, thanked him, and used the opportunity to educate him about the Ridgeline instead.

 

I believe the online 2022 Ridgeline Owner's Manual explains towing capacities, towing speeds, etc., including what reduces the 5000 lb max tow number down to a lesser number. The tiny factory tranny cooler is located (can be seen) behind the lower front grill.

 

The salesman is an idiot trying to get you to spend money, that is unnecessary. Tell him to pound sand unless he's your brother...or maybe sister?

 

in that case double pound for being so dumb

 

Hey everyone,

I’m new to the group. I just bought a 2022 Honda Ridgeline RTL 2 weeks ago and very happy with the decision so far.

One thing I have been trying to verify is if I need a tranny cooler to achieve the 5k lb towing capacity.

The dealer told me the Ridgeline is only rated for towing 3k pounds and that I will need to get a tranny cooler if want to tow 5K pounds without significant risk to damaging the engine. Is this true? I skimmed the manual and saw that it was rated for towing 5K lbs…

Any thoughts from the group?

View attachment 418942
Thanks,
Bryan

Let me guess, he was also recommending that they do it there at the dealer.
Sure you could get a bigger after market one if you enjoy tinkering in the garage.
If you're really towing near the limit, one way to reduce heat on the trans is towing in D4 like the manual says and not D. This will reduce the gear hunting and thus heat.

 

He's got a '22, so he would need to tow in 5th, not 4th.

 

Getting out 22 Ridgeline next week specifically for towing our camper. Short answer, the dealer is either looking for $$$ or stupid or both. Older Ridgelines had AWD optional which reduced towing capacity (i think less because of the AWD and more because the transmission cooler was added)... Anyways the 21 and 22 ALL 100% have AWD and said transmission cooler.

My biggest concern in moving to the Ridgeline is the transmission; though it seems most of the issues are found with the 6 speed. There have been others discussing putting a bigger cooler on; however this can pose issue with a warranty claim.

To be fair; I do not think your dealer or Honda in general are clueless; more car salesman than not can barely identify the steering wheel. The first Honda dealer we stopped at had Pilots; and no Ridgelines; was saying that the two were the same if not for the truck bed (they are not). And that we could tow our 3000lb camper with an Oddyssey <Start Narrator Voice> This is a bad idea and god help him if her has procreated.

 

And that we could tow our 3000lb camper with an Oddyssey <Start Narrator Voice> This is a bad idea and god help him if her has procreated.

The Odyssey is rated to tow up to 3,500 lbs.

This guy successfully towed a triple-axle Airstream with his Odyssey for years!

 

 

Towed means across the yard....Not the country?

 

1 - With all the transmission issues for the Ridgeline; I cant see how this is a good idea.
2 -

So

Is the van squatting because of the tongue weight or because they keep an extra transmission or two in the back of the Oddysey?

There's more information in the owner's blog I linked to. He also mentioned on AirForums.com that he towed the Airstream with the Odyssey for three seasons during which time he never had any major trouble. He sold the Odyssey running just fine at 80,000 miles and bought a 2014 Durango in 2016.

 

As for retail car sales people, I’m not sure there are many people out there who know LESS about cars than them. Whether deceitful or not, you have to verify just about everything they tell you.

Regarding the long, long trailer…

I wouldn’t do it, but I don’t think towing that particular Airstream with that specific Odyssey is intrinsically unsafe. The owner logged a lot of miles under varying conditions and reports it was a well-matched combination.

I realize comparisons don’t prove a specific case, but the odyssey - compared to pickups from the time period that particular Airstream was built - matched many of them in payload and surpasses most (probably) of them in braking ability. Certainly, it is a more capable and more nimble handling machine than a pickup…and adding a trailer doesn’t make ANY vehicle handle better.

The hitch on the Ody was modified to be able to transfer more tongue load to the front axle. And triple axle airstreams like that specific one aren’t as heavy on the tongue as one might expect.

Again, it’s not a combination for me but it’s probably no less safe than any number of towing combinations out there that are squatting in the rear with headlamps pointed to the sky and are careening down the road at high speeds.

oh, to bring this back somewhat on point…I think I recall that Ody IS equipped with an extra trans cooler. 😎
Steve

 

As for retail car sales people, I’m not sure there are many people out there who know LESS about cars than them.………..

Hum…..just from reading posts in car forums, I’m thinking there are a large number of buyers that know only two things about their +/-$35K purchase…….where the fuel goes and their monthly payment amount.🤷‍♂️ The salesperson showed them the fuel fill and the finance mgr informed them of the monthly payment. Heck, there’s lots of peeps that don’t know how many months they have to pay. They’re peeps that don’t know they leased a vehicle vs purchased it.🤦‍♂️

They’re peeps out there that don’t even know what a “HEMI” is. LOL.

 

I’ve never owned a furd…..did the 1.6L have an available auto tranny?…..if so, did the auto tranny have a cooler?

 

Yes, and quite a novel one for the time as well! The 1981 Escort offered a "split-torque" 3-speed automatic that was able to transfer most of the power in 2nd and 3rd gears mechanically as opposed to hydraulically before torque converters with lockup clutches became common.

Lockup Torque Converters and Split Torque Automatics

Why automatic transmissions have lockup torque converters, what they do, and the many approaches automakers have taken to the problem of hydraulic slippage.

ateupwithmotor.com

I have no idea if a transmission cooler was used in this application.

 

If they don’t know what a hemi is, I wonder what those guys would imagine a wankel might be…

 

They only knew where the fuel fill and the monthly payment was. Combustion chambers and engine types got the “deer in headlights“ look.

 

Funny thing about the Dodge hemi, it doesn't have hemispherical combustion chambers, just marketing. That thing got a Hemi? No, not really. (motortrend.com)

 

Some would say the Honda tranny cooler is not a real cooler.

 

Everything I've read about the current Hemi is that it started design life as a Hemi design and then via testing and refining turned into the semi hemi it is now. Emissions did that to it. Underneath it's an original Hemi design.

 

I am simultaneously impressed and outraged. Making my living on the road I see this end in tragedy way too often but good on him if he figured out how to do it safely.

Exactly. That was my first reaction. Just because you can do something, it doesn't mean you should. Especially if it's something unsafe.

 

My point was……if a customer were to ask “what’s a HEMI?”, the sales person is not likely to start paraphrasing Motor Trend, but most likely to have a deer in the headlights “look”.😉

 

Hey everyone,

I’m new to the group. I just bought a 2022 Honda Ridgeline RTL 2 weeks ago and very happy with the decision so far.

One thing I have been trying to verify is if I need a tranny cooler to achieve the 5k lb towing capacity.

The dealer told me the Ridgeline is only rated for towing 3k pounds and that I will need to get a tranny cooler if want to tow 5K pounds without significant risk to damaging the engine. Is this true? I skimmed the manual and saw that it was rated for towing 5K lbs…

Any thoughts from the group?

View attachment 418942
Thanks,
Bryan

I know it says it has a 5k limit however I thinks that is a grossly optimistic. Be careful

 

The 2022 Ram Promaster has a similar powertrain to the Ridgeline (280 HP V6 with the ZF 9HP transmission) and is rated to tow up to 6,910 lbs.

The 2022 Pathfinder also uses the ZF 9HP transmission and is rated to tow up to 6,000 lbs.

Honda is typically conservative with their ratings and I'd imagine that includes the 5,000 lb. tow rating.

 

Ratings are always based on the braking system. Not on the actual capacity available from a design. The brakes is how they base their towing specs.

 

I thought Honda recommended trailer brakes when towing over 1K lbs.🤷‍♂️

 

I know your original post is a couple months old now but here’s my 2 cents as well.
there should be a label next to the trailer hitch receiver (assuming you have the OEM hitch) that will tell you what the towing capacity is.

We have a 2019 Passport (same 3.5 engine, same 9 speed AWD) which has a towing capacity of 3500lbs because we didn’t get the optional cooler (which would bring it up to 5000lbs).
When we ordered the 21RL, I asked for the cooler so I could get the extra tow capacity but the dealer couldn’t find the option. Turned out it just came standard.

 

I believe all '21-'22 Rigi's are AWD.....all G2 AWDs come with a very small factory installed tranny cooler. FWD G2s do not have a factory installed tranny cooler.

 

what about the 2019's AWD sports?

 

ALL AWD Ridglines have the air to oil transmission fluid cooler mounted in front of the radiator. ALL Ridgelines also have a oil (transmission fluid) to water (coolant) heat exchanger.

 

It is my understanding that Mr. Duess later traded his Odyssey for a Durango, but never had any issues with the Odyssey towing the 34' Airstream.

 

Yes that is correct he did go to a Durango after a few years but had zero issues with the van. The RV dealership owner stated to me they have set up well over 1000 minivans in the last 20 years and probably half were Honda vans as he likes their transmissions feels in general they are bulletproof with proper maintenance. He has set up a few Odysseys that have the 10 speed so fat and he told me its his favorite transmission from Honda so far.

A bit off topic again,
But if any one is interested in electric vehicles towing they have a Tesla currently in their fleet that they are using to tow RV trailers to test out it's capabilities. So far no issues with power or stability or reliability the only issue is the range and time it takes to charge.

Here is a link to a YouTube video of him towing a large Airstream with a Tesla

 

I have enough friends who are realtors and car salesmen to be very thankful that I'm an engineer.