[danimal]

Hey guys,

I don't know much about offroading, so I was wondering what the pros/cons are to the various rear diffs, and transfer cases offered in this segment. I'm getting my info off of Car and Driver's website when they did a small pickup comparo
http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=15&article_id=9470&page_number=8

Anyways, the article states that the Ridgeline has a "full time with automatic rear-axle engagement" transfer case while the competition all have "part-time 2-speed" transfer cases.

Also, the Ridgeline has "open with manual lock" rear diff while the others have various different types including "open," "limited slip," and "open with automatic lock."

What the pros/cons to these different types? When people say that the Ridgeline is not a "real" truck, I know it has to do with the independent rear suspension, but is it also disadvantaged when it comes to the transfer case and rear diff?

Thanks!

~Dan

 

[ridgepol]

If this is an independent rear suspension, which defines the truck, than original Hummer is not. Sort of, like I heard an opinion voiced by one of the Avalanche's aficionados, that Ridgeline is nothing more than a van, when one could make a point that Avalanche is a Suburban with cut out piece of the roof. Don't worry, just enjoy, you have very good truck

 

[shingles]

I started to type a bunch of stuff up, then realized that this will be a better article than what Ic an type up.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/differential.htm

 

[Ruffles]

I think a lot of people's big complaint about the Ridgeline is the lack of a 2 speed transfer case. Most "true" 4x4's have a 4hi setting like the Ridgeline for snow, rain, dirt trails & fire roads etc. Then they have a 4Lo setting that gears way down for crawling over difficult terrain. This is what the Ridgeline lacks that bothers a lot of people. I too wish it had 4Lo because it's better to have and not need than to need and not have. I bought the Ridgeline anyways because if I'm honest with myself, even though I want the ability to go hard core off-road, I know I'll never do it. I'll use an ATV for that. The Ridgeline excells at what I do 99% of the time.

 

[Tux]

You know what, don't worry about it. I'd guess that over 95% of the people who own 4x4s with hi/lo gearing never use it and if they do, it's less then 1% of the total ownership time of the vehicle. That's not to say that people don't use 4x4s it just that your typical soccer mom driving her surburban or home depot dad driving his avalanche just don't have the time nor the desire to take their investment out on adventure. Me, I'm in that boat, majority of my 4x4 traction needs come when I head to tahoe to hit the snow. From what I've seen on this list the RL will do just fine in Snow, Sand and anywhere I may need traction. I have no plans to go rock crawling nor do I believe I'll miss 4Lo.

 

[Jaiieq]

With the VTM engaged, wouldn't that be considered a 4Lo?

 

[Ruffles]

Unfortunatly not. With the VTM4-lock on, you just lock the diff, not lower the gear ratio.

 

[shingles]

Truthfully, the low gear is the least of our problems if we wanted to go hardcore off roading.

 

[danimal]

Don't worry, just enjoy, you have very good truck

Yea...actually I don't have a Ridgeline yet. The answers to these questions aren't going to sway me either way, as I am planning on getting one eventually. Perhaps a 2nd or 3rd year one. (hopefully they'll have the black or white on grey by then) I just wanted to know exactly how these components differed so that I'd have some ammo against Ridgeline haters. =)

 

[methodtim]

Yea...actually I don't have a Ridgeline yet. The answers to these questions aren't going to sway me either way, as I am planning on getting one eventually. Perhaps a 2nd or 3rd year one. (hopefully they'll have the black or white on grey by then) I just wanted to know exactly how these components differed so that I'd have some ammo against Ridgeline haters. =)

Your best ammo is opening the trunk, grabbing a cold beer from it, and sipping... slowly.

 

[oldguy]

I LOVE THE COLD BEER IDEA , The wife thinks its a TRUCK, Honda says its
a SUT. I say that my RTL is a highly flexible utility vehicle. To be honest, its
a utility vehicle. HAY, I had a 2005 Toyota 4 Runner, couldn't wait for the Ridgeline, and needed to find something that would tow a RV with a Potty. Low and behold, we go an A-liner, NO potty and only 1200 lbs; therefore, bit the bullect and lost $8k, but I have a Ridgeline!!! Wife agrees, the ride is better than a 2005 4 runner, and it corners soo much better, expecially on these mountain roads, AND, OBVIOUSLY, ITS A GREAT LOOKING UTILITY VEHICLE!!!

 

[FL_Ridge]

I think this post perfectly drives the point home that the Ridgeline is an everyman's truck. It does everything adequately, some things excetionally well and other things it just wasn't meant to do. Honda engineers looked at how a truck is used and didn't include things that are rarely used just because they had a machismo factor.

The Ridgeline does 99% of what a truck should do IMHO.

 

[djeaux]

I LOVE THE COLD BEER IDEA, The wife thinks its a TRUCK, Honda says its a SUT. I say that my RTL is a highly flexible utility vehicle.

Maybe we need to adopt Aussie slang & call the Ridge a "ute."

I call mine a Sport Light Utility Truck