Probably unnecessary. The Ridgeline automatically disconnects the four-wheel-drive system most of the time. Four-wheel-drive kicks in only when the computer decides that four-wheel-drive is necessary. Not only would you be wasting your money with a manual disconnect, you would be overriding one of the primary safety systems on the Ridgeline
Disconnect hubs
Has anyone or does anyone make 4wd disconnect hubs for the ridgeline?
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I was just hoping someone did so I could install to disconnect the rears for dolly towing behind our motorhome.Probably unnecessary. The Ridgeline automatically disconnects the four-wheel-drive system most of the time. Four-wheel-drive kicks in only when the computer decides that four-wheel-drive is necessary. Not only would you be wasting your money with a manual disconnect, you would be overriding one of the primary safety systems on the Ridgeline
Good thought but still probably not needed. With the RL shut off there will be no electrical power to the VTM-4 rear clutches and the real wheels will be freewheeling anyway.I was just hoping someone did so I could install to disconnect the rears for dolly towing behind our motorhome.
To fit is offline Report Post
One caveat though, there might still be danger of the clutches overheating from fluid friction.
I would investigate further before towing that way. Good luck.
I strongly suspect dolly towing would destroy your rear end very quickly - but check your owner's manual.
Flymo
Flymo
Yes, further evidence that dolly towing is not a good idea is that the Ridgeline should never be towed by a conventional tow truck. It needs to be flat bedded.
Does the Ridgeline allow towing 4-down behind a motorhome? That was one of the primary reasons my parents bought the 2005 Acura MDX that my family now owns: they were able to tow it 4-down behind their coach.
Given that the Ridgeline has basically the same powertrain as our MDX (5-speed auto with VTM-4 AWD), I'd be surprised if Honda doesn't allow towing 4-down.
(I don't yet own a Ridgeline, but am on here researching them--or I'd look at my owner's manual!)
Given that the Ridgeline has basically the same powertrain as our MDX (5-speed auto with VTM-4 AWD), I'd be surprised if Honda doesn't allow towing 4-down.
(I don't yet own a Ridgeline, but am on here researching them--or I'd look at my owner's manual!)
The Good-Sam/Motorhome magazine guide doesn't list it as a towable. In fact, with Honda going to CVTs, there aren't any 2015 Honda models listed.
http://webcontent.goodsam.com/motorhomemagazine.com/2015DinghyGuide.pdf
Normally, you'd disconnect the driveshaft and dolly-tow it (like you can with a Tacoma), but the rear differential on the Ridgeline is pretty complex and I wouldn't trust it to not overheat.
Chip H.
http://webcontent.goodsam.com/motorhomemagazine.com/2015DinghyGuide.pdf
Normally, you'd disconnect the driveshaft and dolly-tow it (like you can with a Tacoma), but the rear differential on the Ridgeline is pretty complex and I wouldn't trust it to not overheat.
Chip H.
I don't know how the 2005 MDX can do it. The RL is very restricted in this scenario.Does the Ridgeline allow towing 4-down behind a motorhome? That was one of the primary reasons my parents bought the 2005 Acura MDX that my family now owns: they were able to tow it 4-down behind their coach.
Given that the Ridgeline has basically the same powertrain as our MDX (5-speed auto with VTM-4 AWD), I'd be surprised if Honda doesn't allow towing 4-down.
(I don't yet own a Ridgeline, but am on here researching them--or I'd look at my owner's manual!)
In doing some more research on it yesterday, it seems that the Ridgeline never received the go-ahead from Honda on dinghy towing that the Pilot and MDX (and others, like CR-V) did. I don't know why the distinction.
Hondas used to be very popular with full-time RVers because you could dinghy tow many of them.
From page 222 of our MDX's owner's manual:
Maybe Honda became overly cautious due to the failure rate of some of their V-6 transmissions at the time. As an aside, they began using the stouter 4-shaft transmission in the very late 2004 MDX, and by 2006, all Pilots/MDXes/then-new-Ridgelines were using this more durable transmission.
Hondas used to be very popular with full-time RVers because you could dinghy tow many of them.
From page 222 of our MDX's owner's manual:
More: it looks like the change happened at 2006. Speedlever, I looked up the 2006 Pilot owner's manual, and it doesn't have a section about towing behind a motorhome. But the 2005 Pilot owner's manual does have it (page 182), and it reads identical to what's in our MDX's manual.Your MDX can be towed behind a
motorhome at legal highway speeds
up to 65 mph (100 km/h). Do not
exceed 65 mph (100 km/h) or severe
transmission damage will occur. To
avoid damage to the 4WD system, it
must be towed with all four wheels
on the ground (flat towing).
When purchasing a tow bar, make
sure you select a reputable
manufacturer. Follow the
manufacturer’s attachment
instructions carefully.
Perform this procedure every day
immediately before you begin towing.
Otherwise, severe automatic
transmission damage will occur.
Start the engine.
Check the transmission fluid level
(see page ).
Press on the brake pedal. Shift the
lever through all the positions (P,
R, N, D , D , D , 2, 1).
Shift to D , then to N. Let the
engine run for three minutes, then
turn it off.
Release the parking brake.
Leave the ignition switch in the
ACCESSORY (I) position so the
steering wheel does not lock.
Make sure the radio and any items
plugged into the accessory power
sockets are turned off so you do
not run down the battery.
If you tow more than 8 hours in one
day, you should repeat the above
procedure at least every 8 hours
(when you stop for fuel, etc.)
Maybe Honda became overly cautious due to the failure rate of some of their V-6 transmissions at the time. As an aside, they began using the stouter 4-shaft transmission in the very late 2004 MDX, and by 2006, all Pilots/MDXes/then-new-Ridgelines were using this more durable transmission.
Add'l information consolidated to previous post.
"More durable" than the previous, yes, but would not consider it particularly robust. They corrected the design issue with the earlier transmission which went through a mid-term mod of adding an external ATF line for additional cooling to prevent overheating of 2nd gear.
By today's standards, the existing transmission has been obsolete for a while (it is 9 years old) in terms of flexibility control and the number of gears available.
By today's standards, the existing transmission has been obsolete for a while (it is 9 years old) in terms of flexibility control and the number of gears available.
Out of curiosity, I checked the 2006 (4wd) Pilot's OM and found the identical text about emergency towing that my 2008 RL OM provided (posted upthread).
I don't know how the 2005 MDX is any different in that regard.
I don't know how the 2005 MDX is any different in that regard.
The previous transmission, the one with the oil jet modification was a 3-shaft transmission -- the one that debuted in the 2005 Acura RL and MDX, and then in the 2006 Honda Pilot and Ridgeline, has 4 shafts and is a much more durable transmission. Honda also put it in the Odyssey in the 2007-2008 timeframe. Everything I've read and seen indicates that this transmission is at least as reliable as the industry average (as good or as bad as that may be!).rollinhonda said:"More durable" than the previous, yes, but would not consider it particularly robust. They corrected the design issue with the earlier transmission which went through a mid-term mod of adding an external ATF line for additional cooling to prevent overheating of 2nd gear.
By today's standards, the existing transmission has been obsolete for a while (it is 9 years old) in terms of flexibility control and the number of gears available.
I prefer a transmission in the 5 or 6 speed range. I've owned newer vehicles with more speeds than 5, and I can tell you that good transmission programming is more valuable to me than more gears. I love how Honda programs a transmission.
Sorry if you missed my earlier edit (I appended it to my earlier post). The 2005 Pilot and MDX both allow towing behind a motorhome. The 2006 owner's manual for both Pilot/MDX removes that language. The distinction doesn't seem to be with Pilot or Ridgeline vs. MDX, it's the model year. I don't know what changed, if anything, between the two model years. It could be that Honda was simply being more conservative.speedlever said:I don't know how the 2005 MDX is any different in that regard.
The 2005 Towing Guide:
http://www.royrobinsonrv.com/images/pdf/Dinghy-Guide-2005.pdf
(Note 2005 Acura MDX and 2005 Honda Pilot are on there.)
The 2006 Towing Guide:
http://www.royrobinsonrv.com/images/pdf/Dinghy-Guide-2006.pdf
(Note 2006 Acura MDX and 2006 Honda Pilot are missing...and just the Honda CR-V remains.)
The Honda Fit was added as towable in the 2009 Guide and remained through 2013. The 2014 Guide shows only the CR-V. The 2015 Guide shows no Hondas at all.
http://www.royrobinsonrv.com/rv-towing-guide-washington
From the perspective of the Pilot, one of the model year changes going from 2005 to 2006 was the separation of the transfer assembly from the transmission. Prior to 2006, the TA was lubed via tranny fluid. From 2006 and up, the TA is lubed with hypoid gear oil.
Now what that has to do with 4 wheel down towing is beyond me.
Oh, and one other thing that comes to mind. The transmission ratios were tweaked in MY 2006, much like the RL tranny ratios were tweaked in MY 2009. But again, I have no idea how that relates to towing 4 wheels down.
Now what that has to do with 4 wheel down towing is beyond me.
Oh, and one other thing that comes to mind. The transmission ratios were tweaked in MY 2006, much like the RL tranny ratios were tweaked in MY 2009. But again, I have no idea how that relates to towing 4 wheels down.
I don't know either. The small ratio changes are almost like an engineer's opportunity to put something right that has been bugging him since 2006.From the perspective of the Pilot, one of the model year changes going from 2005 to 2006 was the separation of the transfer assembly from the transmission. Prior to 2006, the TA was lubed via tranny fluid. From 2006 and up, the TA is lubed with hypoid gear oil.
Now what that has to do with 4 wheel down towing is beyond me.
Oh, and one other thing that comes to mind. The transmission ratios were tweaked in MY 2006, much like the RL tranny ratios were tweaked in MY 2009. But again, I have no idea how that relates to towing 4 wheels down.
Maybe better drivability when towing at some intermediate speed range.
Maybe the hypoid lube for longer life under stress. (maybe they can bottle that for humans...)
hokiefyd: I agree, Honda does a great job making do with what they have to work with that but does not take away from the fact more gears does make sense, of course execution is everything.
Yes, the MDX with the same basic powertrain allowed it to be a toad up until the 2006 model year. For pre-2006 MDX models with VTM-4 here was the procedure.Does the Ridgeline allow towing 4-down behind a motorhome? That was one of the primary reasons my parents bought the 2005 Acura MDX that my family now owns: they were able to tow it 4-down behind their coach.
Given that the Ridgeline has basically the same powertrain as our MDX (5-speed auto with VTM-4 AWD), I'd be surprised if Honda doesn't allow towing 4-down.
(I don't yet own a Ridgeline, but am on here researching them--or I'd look at my owner's manual!)
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When did the MDX swap the SH-AWD system in place of the VTM-4 system? There's a wiki that says it came on the 2nd gen MDX beginning in MY 2007, but I don't know how trustworthy that info is.
It would seem the 2005 and older MDX models with the VTM-4 system are nearly the same as the Pilot and RL. Or was the older MDX like the 2005 and older Pilots with tranny fluid lubing the transfer assembly? Did the MDX change in MY 2006 to separate the TA from the transmission like the Pilot?
I don't see how the 2005 MDX with essentially (AFAIK) the same VTM-4 system allows 4-down towing and the Pilot and RL do not.
It would seem the 2005 and older MDX models with the VTM-4 system are nearly the same as the Pilot and RL. Or was the older MDX like the 2005 and older Pilots with tranny fluid lubing the transfer assembly? Did the MDX change in MY 2006 to separate the TA from the transmission like the Pilot?
I don't see how the 2005 MDX with essentially (AFAIK) the same VTM-4 system allows 4-down towing and the Pilot and RL do not.
I had a 2002 MDX and it seems the TA was an integrated part of the trans assembly and not as it is now. I would say it was similar to the early gen Pilot. Joe would have a finer tune than me on the subject.
side note:I just remembered the resident parts guy on our forum putting a bottle of Z1 and conventional ATF on his back porch overnight in the dead of winter. Next morning the Z1 poured out like 20 weight oil and the ATF like 50 weight.
side note:I just remembered the resident parts guy on our forum putting a bottle of Z1 and conventional ATF on his back porch overnight in the dead of winter. Next morning the Z1 poured out like 20 weight oil and the ATF like 50 weight.
There's a thread somewhere here on ROC where I asked one of the powertrain engineers about this issue. There was a slight change in the VTM-4 system for 2006 but if I remember properly he said it wouldn't really matter and "off the record" the Ridgeline could use the same method as the 2005 MDX. If I remember correctly it was more of a legal issue than anything else. I'm just going by distant memory... someone may be able to find that old thread. I remember the engineer I talked to about it, but haven't talked to him in a couple of years at least.
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