[tetsuo1000]

I am working on a Slide-in camper project. Despite the fact that it is mentioned in the Owner's Manual (page 535 model year 2022) "Your vehicle should not be used to carry a slide-in camper. If you install a truck cap, be sure its properly installed and does not exceed your vehicles load limits."
Most of the camper shells proposed on the market are close to the load limit without considering passenger an all the things you carry with you on adventure tour (water, food, personal gear etc...)
It weights between 300-500 kg (660-1100 lbs). The 1100 lbs is with the solar panels, inverter, awnings, refrigerator etc...
If you only ad a refrigerator, a heater and a portative toilet, you keep the dry weight under 350kg (775 lbs). Which gives room for belongings, food and water.
If you have a light shell well balance, means a low gravity center and aft of the rear axis, why not ? Should not doesn't mean you can't.
There was a similar one by Earthcruiser (Oregon) called MOD 300 now replaced by EC but not much specs for now. This model was fabricated under Gazelle V1 (France).
To follow...
Luc
Montreal

Just do this:

 

[bluegrass]

Just do this:

What benefits do you derive from tethering the tent to the back of the truck?
Are you sleeping in the truck bed? If so, why?

 

[Luc]

It takes much more time to set up and I prefer something with solid wall except for the pop up portion.

 

[Frank Lockwood]

I do not have the exact answer for now.
The Ridgeline doesn't exist outside North America. The European manufacturer has to buy the Auto CAD from Honda to produce the images posted. We have a concern about the portion highlighted in red. Some modification to make it fits between the tail gate posts (slightly narrower than the competition mid-size pickup).
Unfortunately, there will be no way to access the trunk. I will have to figure spare tire carrier somewhere, somehow. As you can see, there is some issues to address.
It wise from you avoiding comment on "should-vs-can". This is lawyer's stuff...
Excuse my english, my tongue language is French.

This is our 2017 Ridgeline BE with a custom-made Phoenix Pop Up camper Out of Denver. They do beautiful work and great customer support. The Ridgeline has a payload capacity of 1580 lbs. The camper weighs about 950 lbs leaving us around 600 lbs of people, a dog food & water. It has a propane heater, fridge that makes ice, and two-burner stove top + sink. The sleep over cab is a queen size bed. We lifted the rear 1”, reinforced the springs with Sumo Super Springs, and replaced the stock Firestone tires with BFG LT 265/60/18 K02 ATs. We were getting 28 mpg on the highway (over the Rockies) but now get around 21-22 mpg. So far so good. Note the spare tire mounted on the rear of the camper.

 

[bluegrass]

This is our 2017 Ridgeline BE with a custom-made Phoenix Pop Up camper Out of Denver. The camper weighs about 950 lbs leaving us around 600 lbs of people, a dog food & water. It has a propane heater, fridge that makes ice, and two-burner stove top + sink. We lifted the rear 1”, reinforced the springs with Sumo Super Springs

Does the 950 lb camper weight include all of the options mentioned (propane heater, full propane tank, fridge, stove, sink, water, ect)?
How much sag are you getting when fully loaded?

Any interior pictures?
What was the approximate cost for this?

 

[Frank Lockwood]

Does the 950 lb camper weight include all of the options mentioned (propane heater, full propane tank, fridge, stove, sink, water, ect)?
yes, except water. Water tank is 20 gallons or 166 lbs when full.
How much sag are you getting when fully loaded?
5” before installing lift, Sumo super springs & LT tires.
2” after above installactions.
You're looking at base price of about $30,000 + extras.
See Custom Truck Campers built to fit your Vehicles Make & Model to price options, etc.
I’ll take some photos later & post.

 

[bluegrass]

5” before installing lift, Sumo super springs & LT tires.
2” after above installactions.

Thanks for the information.
I assume you remove the camper when not using it.
If so, how is ride quality when the truck bed is empty?

Given the cost of this slide-in unit, did you ever consider a small towable camper?
Something similar to this...Teardrop Campers & Truck Campers - TAG, TAB, Cirrus, Barefoot | nuCamp RV

 

[Frank Lockwood]

My wife & I wanted to avoid towing. And yes, we remove the camper in the winter (unless we plan to head South) & store it in our garage. We drove the Ridgeline (without the camper) about 800 miles recently and it handled surprisingly well.

 

[Luc]

Very nice ! I have seen it on Phoenix web site. I am please to hear that you are happy with it.

The Stork Camper (base model) is lighter than the Phoenix (depend also of the options selected), but if necessary I am looking to opt for air ride suspension that could be use to compensate for the load as well as lowered the ride as image shown in the link below.

FV Suspension Air Struts - 2016+ Honda Ridgeline YK2 - FVAIRSTRUTS282

FV Suspension Air Struts - 2016+ Honda Ridgeline YK2 - FVAIRSTRUTS282 Part Number: FVAIRSTRUTS282 Note: This is Air Struts only, You will Need Management to Control it, Check out our Full Kits here. Product image for illustration purposes only. Actual product may vary. Note: Affirm and Sezzle...

www.fvsuspension.com

or

FV Suspension Coilovers - 2016+ Honda Ridgeline YK2 - FV-Coil-01-623

FV Suspension Coilovers - 2016+ Honda Ridgeline YK2 - FV-Coil-01-623 Part Number: FV-Coil-01-623 Product image for illustration purposes only. Actual product may vary. Note: (Sezzle and Affirm please allow 2-3 days to process) FV Suspension Coilovers are perfect for street driving, and still...

www.fvsuspension.com

 

[Lebreton]

This is my setup. A Camplite 5.7. its only 940lbs. I love it.

 

[Luc]

View attachment 442535
This is my setup. A Camplite 5.7. its only 940lbs. I love it.

Nice rig !
How the pickup handle the load ? Is it the standard rear coil over at the rear end ? It seems to be level but the back legs are not retracted.

Here is mine, waiting after its shipment from Türkiye.

 

[Lebreton]

It handles it very well. It does squat when you lift the legs. I just received my Summo Springs and did not have the chance to try them out with the camper. They should help with the squat.

Nice rig !
How the pickup handle the load ? Is it the standard rear coil over at the rear end ? It seems to be level but the back legs are not retracted.

Here is mine, waiting after its shipment from Türkiye. View attachment 442538 View attachment 442539 View attachment 442540

nice rig but the website says its 52inch wide at the back and the Ridgeline is only 51inch. Did you do a special order?

 

[sneefy]

You're looking at base price of about $30,000 + extras.

I can't imagine spending 30k for custom camper for a niche vehicle. I hope it would fit other vehicles? Otherwise the resale market is incredibly small. I understand being averse to towing, but a trailer would be a much better choice financially. Priorities, I guess.

 

[Luc]

There will be a modification to the outer shell. Because the RL is narrower between the rear panel post. A pocket will be made without altering the inner shell. there is 25mm insulation. The camper shell is 1320 mm the distance between the posts is 1300 mm. The width then will be 1270 mm. It will be a drop-in instead of a slide-in.
I agree with frank, financially it is a bit crazy... "Follies are the only things we never regret" (Oscar Wilde). But I can understand someone else concern.

I will lift it with 4 linear actuators (30" stroke) attached to the leg at each corner. Already validated with the Stork Camper and my engineer in Montreal. Everything should be ready somewhere in November...

 

[gaozzz]

Does the 950 lb camper weight include all of the options mentioned (propane heater, full propane tank, fridge, stove, sink, water, ect)?
yes, except water. Water tank is 20 gallons or 166 lbs when full.
How much sag are you getting when fully loaded?
5” before installing lift, Sumo super springs & LT tires.
2” after above installactions.
You're looking at base price of about $30,000 + extras.
See Custom Truck Campers built to fit your Vehicles Make & Model to price options, etc.
I’ll take some photos later & post.

With the lift and sumo spring, do you have any negative camber on your back wheels?
Also are you talking about this springer helper or there is a custom made sumo spring you can option for RL: https://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Suspension/Honda/Ridgeline/SuperSprings-Intl/CSS-1168R.html

Thanks

 

[Lebreton]

With the lift and sumo spring, do you have any negative camber on your back wheels?
Also are you talking about this springer helper or there is a custom made sumo spring you can option for RL: https://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Suspension/Honda/Ridgeline/SuperSprings-Intl/CSS-1168R.html

Thanks

They are not listed but if you have a G2 RL you will need the 1145 sumo springs for the rear and 1125 if you want some for the front also. You will still have negative camber with the camper on but will be less. I drove about 4500kms this summer with the camper on the back and you can see a bit more wear on the rear tires then the front. I still have the factory Firestone tires on the RL and have 40000kms on truck now. I will need new tires for next summer and will get XL tires as they can carry weight better.

 

[Luc]

There is also two kits for (G2) by Flatout Suspension, Honda Ridgeline Lift Suspension [GR Plus]
The GR Plus at $ 2 485 USD or the GR Lite at $ 1 795 USD when budget is not much of a concern...

 

[gaozzz]

My local suspension shop advised me against going after market coil over. Just in case we get stranded somewhere and need parts.
So I installed the 3.5in Traxda lift with 1 extra in plate on the back + sumo spring + SPC adjustable ball joints. The chamber is finally corrected which was my main issue.

 

[DanR]

My local suspension shop advised me against going after market coil over. Just in case we get stranded somewhere and need parts.
So I installed the 3.5in Traxda lift with 1 extra in plate on the back + sumo spring + SPC adjustable ball joints. The chamber is finally corrected which was my main issue.

View attachment 445775

Hello, I am interested in your rig. Can you tell me more about it? I recently got a Ridgeline RT and have been looking for something just like this.
thank you, Dan

 

[Luc]

Hello, I am interested in your rig. Can you tell me more about it? I recently got a Ridgeline RT and have been looking for something just like this.
thank you, Dan

Hi Dan, I have imported the camper shell from Turkiye but I will have to modify it to fit between the post. I will meet next week with an engineer to confirm the mockup that will be made to attached the shell to the pickup bed using the existing tie-down anchors. I want the engineer stamp... for insurance, etc...I also give the order for rear air shocks. There is no listing for G2 but I was able to convince a manufacturer who already made a kit for G1. I am the guinea pig... for the G2. According to the mass center, I have loaded the bed with 1000 lbs of sand bags to see how it handle and how much compression on the rear springs, see the attached images, (loaded and unloaded). It's surprise me how the G2 can handle the load with the stock suspension. I just expect to be better with rear air suspension.
Best regards,
Luc