[WhiteRL]

I'm at a point where I need a Hitch. I am undecided as the whether to get a hidden hitch or a Honda hitch. Honda hitch is the safe bet since the hitch was built for the Truck. But it is 3 times as expensive as the Hidden hitch. But I'm unsure whether I should trust the Hidden hitch. Not sure of how it will look, and if the wiring will be satisfactory. The wiring for the Hidden Hitch is a big unknown since this will be the first RL that the truck accessory store has done. Also is the Honda wiring Harness worth the money? I need quickly so the combination of the Hidden hitch and Honda wiring harness is not an option.

Costs for Hitch and wiring:
Honda hitch 750
Hidden Hitch 250

Any advice here would be much appreciated.

 

[DoctorJ]

I don't understand how you come to $750 for the honda hitch. Its $250.80 on H and A + the harness. Around $390?

 

[WhiteRL]

330 for Hitch
175 for Wiring harnness
245 for installation

I may get 75-80 dollars knocked off by working through my salesman.

If I order through H&A the cost of materials comes oout the same if you add the 102 delivery fee.

 

[jays0n]

The honda hitch is more expensive but not $700, it's only $388 at handa

I've been told that the stock harnass is set up so that the power for the trailer comes from it's own source and is not just tapped off the tail lights, so if the hidden hitch harnass doesn't do that I would pass on it.

 

[DoctorJ]

330 for Hitch
175 for Wiring harnness
245 for installation

I may get 75-80 dollars knocked off by working through my salesman.

If I order through H&A the cost of materials comes oout the same if you add the 102 delivery fee.

I understand. However I would not have the installation fee so its $491 shipped to me. I agree with jay, I would use the honda harness.

 

[WhiteRL]

Handa

388.80 for Hitch and Harness
102.79 for shipping
491.59 Total


Dealer
330 hitch
175 Harness
505 total for equipment
245 Installation
750 Total - minus 75

675

Am I being charged to much for installation?

 

[DoctorJ]

FYI
http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2811

 

[WhiteRL]

FYI
http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2811

Is this the right Thread? This one does not tell me much.

 

[DoctorJ]

Is this the right Thread? This one does not tell me much.

Someone has a hitch for sale. Send them a message and ask them how much.

 

[WhiteRL]

The honda hitch is more expensive but not $700, it's only $388 at handa

I've been told that the stock harnass is set up so that the power for the trailer comes from it's own source and is not just tapped off the tail lights, so if the hidden hitch harnass doesn't do that I would pass on it.

What else does the harness give you over the wiring of a Hidden Hitch?

I was looking at the Instructions for installing the wiring harness. It includes a control box and fuses. This vehicle is supossed to be towing ready. Does not seem that way when you have to pay out the nose to get a towing package.

 

[arteegee]

My dealer has it for about $425 with free shipping. Sent a pm to the guy who had one on here and he never answered. He also seemed to think $795. You seem sold so go aftermarket. Good luck. The Honda harness gives you the benefit of not voiding the warranty on the wiring and lights for what it is worth.

 

[Webwader]

Either the dealer is making one hecka of markup or my dealer lost money on the deal, but when I had the Honda hitch package installed as part of the sale, it cost me $453 installed including installing my Prodigy controller.

 

[BamaRidge]

I'm at a point where I need a Hitch. I am undecided as the whether to get a hidden hitch or a Honda hitch. Honda hitch is the safe bet since the hitch was built for the Truck. But it is 3 times as expensive as the Hidden hitch. But I'm unsure whether I should trust the Hidden hitch. Not sure of how it will look, and if the wiring will be satisfactory. The wiring for the Hidden Hitch is a big unknown since this will be the first RL that the truck accessory store has done. Also is the Honda wiring Harness worth the money? I need quickly so the combination of the Hidden hitch and Honda wiring harness is not an option.

Costs for Hitch and wiring:
Honda hitch 750
Hidden Hitch 250

Any advice here would be much appreciated.

Well, I went with a Draw-Tite hitch installed by a local truck accessories store. $205 w/tax installed. I'm buying a Honda factory harness from Honda Parts Deals.com and installing it myself. $150.71 shipped. A hitch is a hitch, Any well known company (Reese,Draw-Tite, Hidden Hitch, Curt) will do just fine despite any "six sigma" concerns . These hitches have been installed on millions of vehicles and we have yet to hear of any National Towing Crisis due to hitch failures.

On the other hand, I went with the factory wiring for the reasons stated by others. Bright lights, the ability to charge, and trailer brakes. However, if your plans are just to tow a boat to the lake once in a while or something similar, then the Hidden Hitch wiring connection would be be fine. Undoubtedly, there will be aftermarkets control modules in the near future which will duplicate Honda's wiring functionality at a cheaper price. Hope this helps, Bama

 

[rtboy1961]

I got a hidden hitch from hitches .com for $175.00 includes shipping. It looks great and was easy to install.It took me 45 minutes by myself. I got a prodigy elec brake off the internett for $79.00 and wired it all in myself. Bamm I can pull a horse trailer safely.

 

[Hotbox]

WhiteRL,
I ordered the factory wiring kit online and installed it in under 30 minutes. It really was that easy and fast. The good thing about the factory wiring kit it that it completely isolates your RLs electrical from that of the trailer. Seperate fuses, relays, etc.). Honda put a lot of thought into that package, and it shows. Now, the hitch itself was a different story. Like you, I was wanting to save some money, but was at a loss as to whether the Honda hitch was worth it. In the end, I ordered the Hidden Hitch. The only difference I saw between the Hidden Hitch and the Honda hitch is that the Honda had a small metal tab that the plate that holds the factory electrical connections bolted on to. I had a friend tack a plate onto my tube and I can't tell the difference between the Honda hitch and the Hidden Hitch. They look exactly the same to me. I wouldn't be suprised if Honda uses them as their suppliers (slightly tweaked with the tab).

I didn't understand your statement about your needing it quickly, and thus the factory harness and Hidden Hitch combination wouldn't work. Each was less than a week shipped. Can you clarify?

As for the RL being "Towing Ready", they are refering to the wiring that runs from the cab to the bumper. I agree that this might be a bit of a stretch to call it Towing Ready, but it sure beats running the wiring yourself from the cab to the back bumper. That would add hours to the project.

 

[swampler]

As for the RL being "Towing Ready", they are refering to the wiring that runs from the cab to the bumper. I agree that this might be a bit of a stretch to call it Towing Ready, but it sure beats running the wiring yourself from the cab to the back bumper. That would add hours to the project.

They are also referring to the transmission cooling which is already on the RL.

 

[WhiteRL]

WhiteRL,
I ordered the factory wiring kit online and installed it in under 30 minutes. It really was that easy and fast. The good thing about the factory wiring kit it that it completely isolates your RLs electrical from that of the trailer. Seperate fuses, relays, etc.). Honda put a lot of thought into that package, and it shows.
.

Ok I looked at the installation instuctions for the harness. It looks like there is a lot of wiring and the installation of a controller and some fuses. Looks pretty complicated.

 

[shingles]

They are also referring to the transmission cooling which is already on the RL.

Also the heavy duty cooling fans.

 

[shingles]

Ok I looked at the installation instuctions for the harness. It looks like there is a lot of wiring and the installation of a controller and some fuses. Looks pretty complicated.

If you are referring to the factory harness:
It took longer to find the plug under the dash than to actually install everything. It's really not that big of a deal once you get u nder the truck.

 

[swampler]

Also the heavy duty cooling fans.

I knew there was something else, just couldn't think of it...Thanks!