The Ridgeline's off road capability

40910 Views 13 Replies 12 Participants Last post by StayPuff, Nov 10, 2011

Ridge

Discussion Starter · Apr 9, 2005

Can't wait to try these 14 performance criteria out. From autoworld.com:

Honda engineers concluded that a robust medium-duty off-road capability was most consistent with the needs of the customer and the philosophy behind a next generation of truck that offers a smarter balance of capabilities with a higher level of comfort, convenience and real-world versatility. Medium-duty capability readily supports trips to remote trailheads for motorcycle, ATV and mountain bike riding, and camping, as well as excellent all-weather capabilities. Also, anybody who has ever driven down a "washboard" dirt road in a body-on-frame truck can appreciate the refinement afforded by the Ridgeline's unibody structure, which more effectively minimizes the severe vibrations that can occur. To define exactly what constitutes medium-duty off-road capability, the Ridgeline engineering team selected 14 key performance criteria based on observations of typical off-road adventurers. They then utilized special test courses at their R&D facilities in North America to assure that the Ridgeline delivers all the intended capabilities with impeccable reliability and durability along with real world verification.

The list of test courses includes:

28-degree dirt hill
Sand hill
Water pit
Rock roads
Embedded log course
Step-up, step-down
Sand drag strip
Gully course
Ground contact course
Washboard road
Frame twister
Power hop hill (23-degree slope with rippled surface)
Gravel road
Startable grade
The results speak for themselves - the Ridgeline has 8.2 inches of ground clearance, a 25-degree approach angle, a 22-degree departure angle, and a 21-degree breakover angle for negotiating rough terrain. It can claw up a 28-degree (53-percent) dirt slope from a dead stop. It can tow a 5,000-pound boat up the steepest of boat ramps.

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STEVE FROST

· #2 · Apr 15, 2005

I did not buy my Ridgeline to go rock crawling. There are many trucks better at that. The Toyota Tacoma was on my short list before I drove the Honda. I like the fact that on a stormy rainy day the Ridge is in four wheel mode already, a great safety feature, true off road four wheeler can not even engage four wheel drive on the pavement without trashing the drive train. I owned a Mistsubishi Montero for four years, it handled poorly, you could not use 4wheel drive on the pavement and the only time I used it was occasionaly in the snow or just to see how it did in the dirt (I had to go out of my way to find someplace to do that) Day in and day out the Ridgeline is a much more plesant and safer vehicle.
As one report stated about the Honda Pilot I am sure will be true of the Ridgeline "You will probably run out of courage before the car runs out of ability"

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gormleyflyer2002

· #3 · Apr 15, 2005

I have owned many Honda's vehicles over the years and to be honest was always amazed at how light duty most of the components are engineered when it came to drive train, steering and suspension. The unsprung weight always made the ride great but somehow was also very durable.

When I look under my RL and compare it to past Hondas I'm amazed at how heavy duty and robust everything is.......I really think this little truck will take a pretty good pounding, not Baja ready but I'm guessing more than you'll ever need using all season rubber.

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DConde

· #4 · Jun 16, 2011 (Edited)

How do you explain now a Ridgeline won the Baja 1000 (2010)? more than 14 hours before the closest competitor. hahahahaha
explain this... http://automobiles.honda.com/ridgeline/baja-racing.aspx
who was taking about poor off road capabilities??

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speedlever

· #5 · Jun 16, 2011

Something tells me that you are not likely to receive a response on a 6 year old post.

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Rickman

· #6 · Jun 16, 2011

^ You responded!!! ha-ha

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bikerbudmatt

· #7 · Jun 19, 2011

Welcome to the ROC, DConde!

One thing you might want to watch out for is the date on posts. As my friends Speedlever and Rickman lightheartedly point out, asking a question about something written six years ago presumes the original poster is still here…which may or may not be the case.

You may want to start a new thread about your own off-roading experiences!

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jonesbb630

· #8 · Jun 20, 2011

DConde said:
How do you explain now a Ridgeline won the Baja 1000 (2010)? more than 14 hours before the closest competitor. hahahahaha
explain this... http://automobiles.honda.com/ridgeline/baja-racing.aspx
who was taking about poor off road capabilities??

Although this is a 5-year old post, I am curious as to who came in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th etc... in the Baja? In other words, what other makes of truck did the RL beat?

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ridgerunning

· #9 · Jun 20, 2011 (Edited)

FJ cruiser and Ridgeline were exchanging 1st and 2nd when the FJ crushed their front end. Ridgeline gets horribly stuck in a sand bar, but got pulled out to still beat a Hummer H3.
here is a blog that has some info. BTW the Ridge was stuck for an hour and still beat the hummer to the finish line.

http://rodhallracingoffroad.blogspot.com/2008/11/rod-hall-wins-score-stock-mini-title.html

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lovelyfox83

· #10 · Oct 3, 2011

convenience and real-world versatility. Medium-duty capability readily supports trips to remote trailheads for motorcycle, ATV and mountain bike riding, and camping, as well as excellent all-weather capabilities. Also, anybody who has ever driven down a "washboard" dirt road in a body-on-frame truck can appreciate the refinement afforded by the Ridgeline's unibody structure, which more effectively minimizes the severe vibrations that can occur.

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DConde

· #11 · Nov 8, 2011

bikerbudmatt said:
Welcome to the ROC, DConde!

One thing you might want to watch out for is the date on posts. As my friends Speedlever and Rickman lightheartedly point out, asking a question about something written six years ago presumes the original poster is still here…which may or may not be the case.

You may want to start a new thread about your own off-roading experiences!

I didn't buy my truck for off-roading, sorry! I love my truck very much to do that. But people talk without a solid basement and say stupid things and that's is something that I don't like. Like some guy that I read that was saying ridgeline can't tow just because his milleage drop to 10 MPG, but still perform very well.:act060: no old post for me, this is a forum, not a chat.

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Rickman

· #12 · Nov 8, 2011

They forgot the most important test. The mother-in-law in the back seat test!!!! :act035:

Ridge said:
Can't wait to try these 14 performance criteria out. From autoworld.com:

The list of test courses includes:

28-degree dirt hill
Sand hill
Water pit
Rock roads
Embedded log course
Step-up, step-down
Sand drag strip
Gully course
Ground contact course
Washboard road
Frame twister
Power hop hill (23-degree slope with rippled surface)
Gravel road
Startable grade
The results speak for themselves - the Ridgeline has 8.2 inches of ground clearance, a 25-degree approach angle, a 22-degree departure angle, and a 21-degree breakover angle for negotiating rough terrain. It can claw up a 28-degree (53-percent) dirt slope from a dead stop. It can tow a 5,000-pound boat up the steepest of boat ramps.

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1154

· #13 · Nov 8, 2011

Rickman said:
They forgot the most important test. The mother-in-law in the back seat test!!!! :act035:

A Honda dealer advised me the trunk was for the mother-in-law.

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StayPuff

· #14 · Nov 10, 2011

jonesbb630 said:
Although this is a 5-year old post, I am curious as to who came in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th etc... in the Baja? In other words, what other makes of truck did the RL beat?

Google-ing 'Gavin Skilton' was always a bust for me... ahh abut 'gavin skilton 779' yields much better results.

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