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I'm kind of surprised Uhaul rented you anything useful with all their asinine restrictions. Not surprised at ALL that the Ridgeline performed excellently!

"While U-Haul recommends that you not exceed 55 mph, we can tell you that at times we were running nearer to (and even above) 80 mph with absolutely no drama."

I don't think this is precaution has anything to do with the tow vehicle, I think they are worried about the last yahoo that rented the trailer and loaded up a 10,000# truck and blew out the bearings and brakes.

pinchvalve wrote: "While U-Haul recommends that you not exceed 55 mph, we can tell you that at times we were running nearer to (and even above) 80 mph with absolutely no drama." I don't think this is precaution has anything to do with the tow vehicle, I think they are worried about the last yahoo that rented the trailer and loaded up a 10,000# truck and blew out the bearings and brakes.

Try renting a U hall trailer with an Explorer. It is the tow vehicle that they are looking at when renting.

13MPG towing? I would have expected a lot better with that light of a load. I get 14 with an old fashioned V8 and heavy steel and wood trailer.

Uhaul trailers are exceptionally heavy for their size. I'll agree that the towing MPG isn't stellar, but I also think there are basically no Ridgeline buyers who buy the Ridgeline primarily for towing. The empty mpg also probably whoops the ass all up and down of most trucks that might get slightly better towing mpg.

The empty trailer weighed 2200 pounds according to the sticker on the tongue, so I wouldn't call it light. I'd call it 100 pounds shy of the truck's maximum capacity.

In reply to Vigo:

Do we really want to go down that path again? There are plenty of light trucks that whoop the ridgeline in towing and empty mpg. We just finished 22mpg round trip with 4 days of small island driving last month in an 11-yo example with an archaic 4spd auto. If real gas still existed that would have been 24.

I was merely making hte point I expected it to do better than that. With direct injection, 154 gears (yes, I'm exaggerating for comedic effect) and modern trickery I thought it would be better. Then again, the new GM's/Fords/Dodges aren't either. MPG still doesn't seem to be the goal like it was at one point. Probably why we'll keep this one for many more years to come.

TOM: My trailer tips in at 1800 empty with no ramps (almost 100lbs for the pair, steel and 2x12's 8' long). Forte was 2800, plus a week's worth of tools, supplies and stuff. I imagine loaded weight would have been very similar. I am jealous of the 6spds though.

Darn it, guys ... you're continued showing of pics of the Ridgeline is making is REAL hard for me to continue resisting dumping the GTI and S10, and getting one of those as a two for one vehicle replacement! Keep up the good work, please ...

But, but,..... it isn't a real truck! (holds breath, stomps feet and dreams of rolling coal).

Note: this isn't aimed at any one person.

Do we really want to go down that path again? There are plenty of light trucks that whoop the ridgeline in towing and empty mpg. We just finished 22mpg round trip with 4 days of small island driving last month in an 11-yo example with an archaic 4spd auto. If real gas still existed that would have been 24.

Was I here for the last one? I don't remember there even being an argument considering that on Fuelly even filtering down to 4.8L only there's a 5-6mpg difference in the Ridgeline's favor in average reported MPG. I personally am sure that there are some people who get 22mpg average in a Sierra vs the more common 17. The thing is, those are the same people who would also be getting 27mpg avg in a Ridgeline instead of the more common 22. I don't indulge in apples to oranges comparisons where people say 'epa ratings for my vehicle are crap because i vastly exceed them but i'm going to compare my #s to other vehicles epa ratings anyway'. It's a non-starter. Add 2mpg to my stated Ridgeline numbers if we're talking 'real gas', btw.

But since we're on tangents that the Ridgeline owners in the thread give zero E36 M3s about, how about we compare the Ridgeline's mpg to whichever 11y/o GM pickup could also do 0-60 in 6.4 seconds? Were there any, besides the Silverado SS that the epa rated as THIRTEEN mpg average? I mean, add that Bobzilla factor and 'real gas' and we're up to like 18, but that's still a loss.

Bobzilla wrote: 13MPG towing? I would have expected a lot better with that light of a load. I get 14 with an old fashioned V8 and heavy steel and wood trailer.

at 80mph, towing a 2500 pound car plus a heavy uhaul trailer? I would say that is pretty damn good.

I can't effen believe that someone who is a regular on this board is using measurables as a basis for attacking the Ridgeline. If all we are is about statistics, Miatas suck and 600 HP musclecars rule.

It's a Honda, so by definition bobzilla is not a fan.

My first Honda was a 2011 Accord LX 5-speed sedan. Great car! Loved it! 152,000 miles of fun and crazy reliability.

I looked at the Ridgeline but the Chevrolet works better. If I didn't need a truck I would have a new 6-speed Accord Sport or maybe even a WRX. But those Hondas go forever and ever.

Kreb wrote: I can't effen believe that someone who is a regular on this board is using measurables as a basis for attacking the Ridgeline. If all we are is about statistics, Miatas suck and 600 HP musclecars rule.

Hey now, 600hp muscle cars do rule.

dean1484 wrote:

pinchvalve wrote: "While U-Haul recommends that you not exceed 55 mph, we can tell you that at times we were running nearer to (and even above) 80 mph with absolutely no drama." I don't think this is precaution has anything to do with the tow vehicle, I think they are worried about the last yahoo that rented the trailer and loaded up a 10,000# truck and blew out the bearings and brakes.

Try renting a U hall trailer with an Explorer. It is the tow vehicle that they are looking at when renting.

The new 2011-up Explorer is permitted to tow U-Hauls equipment. The 97-2010's remain on the banned list.

NGTD wrote:

dean1484 wrote:

pinchvalve wrote: "While U-Haul recommends that you not exceed 55 mph, we can tell you that at times we were running nearer to (and even above) 80 mph with absolutely no drama." I don't think this is precaution has anything to do with the tow vehicle, I think they are worried about the last yahoo that rented the trailer and loaded up a 10,000# truck and blew out the bearings and brakes.

Try renting a U hall trailer with an Explorer. It is the tow vehicle that they are looking at when renting.

The new 2011-up Explorer is permitted to tow U-Hauls equipment. The 97-2010's remain on the banned list.

Older ones they will not rent to to you. I think this all comes out of the Firestone tire issue.

500 mile roundtrip pulling close to it's max weight permitted - 15.3 mpg (coverted to USG). But I didn't drive 80 mph!!!

In reply to Robbie:

Incorrect. I really liked the Vigor and 2.5TL, the Legend coupe and early civics. The original NSX was great(in 1990), but like normal Honda they sat on it and did nothing while watching the sales numbers drop.

In reply to Vigo:

There's the difference between import trucks and domestic trucks that always annoyed me. Import trucks are usually one engine, one transmission and MAYBE 2 rear end ratios. Domestic trucks usually have 2 or 3 engine choices, 2 or 3 transmission choices, 8-10 different rear end ratios along with an absolute overload of cab and body options. That means you can build the truck that fits your needs to a "T" and not have stuff that doesn't help, or that you don't want.

That's what I'm trying to point out. The Ridgeline is a perfectly fine automobile that does most of what it's owners want it to do perfectly fine. It's the crescent wrench of the automotive world. Not necessarily the best tool in the box, but it gets the job done.

The point I was trying to make (before the 'you're just a hater' crap started), I was just surprised that with all the new technology these have in both engines and drivetrains, along with engine management etc that it wasn't better fuel economy. I get why the big 3 don't (they're massive, have tons of power and are shaped like a brick house), but thought Honda would have found more.

In reply to Bobzilla:

That certainly sounds reasonable to me. Asking why it only got 13mpg sure didn't sound hateful when I read it.

Yeah yeah yeah, truck pulls car, whatever. The real issue is whatchagonnado with the E30?

Bobzilla wrote: I was just surprised that with all the new technology these have in both engines and drivetrains, along with engine management etc that it wasn't better fuel economy. I get why the big 3 don't (they're massive, have tons of power and are shaped like a brick house), but thought Honda would have found more.

pulling that much weight, (car and trailer combined), "dirty" (an E30 is a brick aerodynamically and the trailer is just creating turbulence), with the trailer and car that far behind the truck, plus the truck not being a diesel, all add up to some pretty dismal empeegees. Add the leadfoot of the driver and I think they did pretty good.

An American full size truck would do better for a number of reasons, As you stated, you can tailor it to your needs with an almost stupid amount of features and options, and it punches a bigger hole in the air, lessoning the turbulence around the pulled car and trailer

Here is how I read that article......Blah blah blah. I stole a nice 318is shell for pennies......Blah Blah Blah

Bobzilla wrote: In reply to Vigo: There's the difference between import trucks and domestic trucks that always annoyed me. Import trucks are usually one engine, one transmission and MAYBE 2 rear end ratios. Domestic trucks usually have 2 or 3 engine choices, 2 or 3 transmission choices, 8-10 different rear end ratios along with an absolute overload of cab and body options. That means you can build the truck that fits your needs to a "T" and not have stuff that doesn't help, or that you don't want. That's what I'm trying to point out. The Ridgeline is a perfectly fine automobile that does most of what it's owners want it to do perfectly fine. It's the crescent wrench of the automotive world. Not necessarily the best tool in the box, but it gets the job done. The point I was trying to make (before the 'you're just a hater' crap started), I was just surprised that with all the new technology these have in both engines and drivetrains, along with engine management etc that it wasn't better fuel economy. I get why the big 3 don't (they're massive, have tons of power and are shaped like a brick house), but thought Honda would have found more.

Imported vehicles are expensive to bring in, so the options they may have domestically or in other, less expensive markets, are rarely brought here. Also to emissions certify each drivetrain permutation isn't financially viable, unless there is a market for it.

If you look at Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota and other Asian car and truck makers you'll see more or less similar options available as we have here in the states on the domestic trucks.

Euro "luxury" cars for example are often available in a greater range of options from bare bones to full luxury back home, but due to their expense to import, they wouldn't often only sell the upper tiers.

In reply to Stefan:

Problem with that theory is they are all made here in the US already. Toyota builds them in Indiana and Texas. Nissan builds them in Mississippi, Mitsu used Dodge Durangos. Honda's truck isn't built like a truck so it can't have the same options you would normally be able to build.

The other issue is they know that they'll never sell in the numbers that Ford/GM/Dodge do so to build that many options is silly. They'd never sell them all.

I like Ridgelines. They are on my short list. Hey Tim/Tom............what kind of real world mileage do you get just driving around with everyday stuff?

I was half expecting this to become one of the "Don't tow with anything less than an F350 (or, GM/Dodge equivalent)" arguments. Instead we got "Ridgelines are for girly-men".

"There's the difference between import trucks and domestic trucks that always annoyed me. " But the Ridgeline is built in Alabama. Which would make it a domestic truck...

In reply to noddaz:

And mine was made in Canuckistan which makes it imported. stop being pedantic.

In 20,000 miles I have been getting an average fuel mileage of just under 21 mpg. On highway only trips it has been 24-25 mpg. In those same 20,000 miles I have changed the oil twice and put wiper blades on it.

While I love rough riding, ill handling, difficult to get in and out of, hard to maneuver gas hogfull size trucks that I can't find parking spots for I am getting used to the new Ridgeline.

And yes, I freakin stole an E30--that several of our message board members said they had seen--for $450. It was sitting in plain sight in a towing lot and had been there for a couple of years.

The shark is always hunting, doesn't have to ask his wife if it is time to eat, has the $450 in his pocket when it is time to strike and is willing to f-up his travel plans (or in this case, his son's) to get another project car home so he can write about it for you.

Rough riding ill handling? Alright next time we are in Florida I'm stopping by the office to show y'all how nice it can be! Lol

Any full size truck owner that spends a week in a Ridgeline will not return to their full size truck, unless they need to tow 7000 plus pounds. Woohoo, I started an internet rant on my own forum!

In reply to Tim Suddard:

LOL! I actually wanted to stop by the offices last month but time was too tight to swing to the other side of the state. We left Sanibel friday morning and I had to be in Peru at 7am Saturday.

Tim I had the opportunity to talk with your staff reps at Road America last weekend and I wanted them to tell you that towing at 80 MPH is totally irresponsible! I used some more colorful language befitting my status as an "angry old white man". Remember the laws of Physics, your stopping distances, your use of scarce energy resources, and the safety of others on the road. Nothing like a big rig traveling down interstate OUT OF CONTROL. Slow down, enjoy the ride Kevin

I once towed a car from TX to FL behind a 3000lb Dodge Dynasty and raced a semi somewhere in Florida reaching speeds around 90mph. Honestly I would easily have won this race if i wasn't nursing a failing thermostat all the way across the country and just trying to keep temps out of the red because I didn't have time to give the 'tow vehicle' a real shakedown because it was a last minute decision to use it because my other tow vehicle was a minivan i just turbocharged and wouldn't run right because it was missing a tiny hole on a sensor trigger ring. So i didn't get to tow the E36 M3box racecar i just turbo'd with a E36 M3box van i just turbo'd but i did tow it with a E36 M3box and raced a semi in said overheating E36 M3box hitting ~90mph with tow dolley and racecar in tow. And i was driving this whole E36 M3ty rig to Tim's event.

I'm not actually against giving safety/towing advice but since i know GRM Forums so well i do kinda think that if you don't have thick skin in towing discussions here your head will EXPLODE, thus proving my internet posting to be more dangerous than my driving.

duke906 wrote: Tim I had the opportunity to talk with your staff reps at Road America last weekend and I wanted them to tell you that towing at 80 MPH is totally irresponsible! I used some more colorful language befitting my status as an "angry old white man". Remember the laws of Physics, your stopping distances, your use of scarce energy resources, and the safety of others on the road. Nothing like a big rig traveling down interstate OUT OF CONTROL. Slow down, enjoy the ride Kevin

80MPH with a properly loaded trailer, equipped with trailer brakes, attached to a properly sized tow vehicle, driven by an alert and and at least moderately competent driver, on an open highway is perfectly safe and in some parts of the country even legal.

In reply to APEowner:

AGREED..... but is a Uhaul behind a Ridgeline really that safeeven at 55mph? Just poking the bear, no ill intentions just being silly.

Speed limits around me are 75mph. I tow my E36 M3 on an aluminum open trailer behind my Cayenne Turbo S at 80mph all the time. Figure I'm at a little more than half of the Cayenne's 7700lb tow rating.

That's the low end of the speed of traffic around here, going 55mph would be irresponsible and get me run over.

duke906 wrote: Tim I had the opportunity to talk with your staff reps at Road America last weekend and I wanted them to tell you that towing at 80 MPH is totally irresponsible! I used some more colorful language befitting my status as an "angry old white man". Remember the laws of Physics, your stopping distances, your use of scarce energy resources, and the safety of others on the road. Nothing like a big rig traveling down interstate OUT OF CONTROL. Slow down, enjoy the ride Kevin

According to Joe (the person you unloaded on without, apparently, even bothering to learn his name), you did, indeed, maintain your status as angry old white man. So, uh, good on ya.

Margie

yea but... trailer tires

Is 80 mph really a good thing?

I'm just sayin' because thread.

The Ridgeline is so blasted ugly that the only way it's acceptable to me is blasting by on the interstate at 80+ towing a trailer with the brakes on fire heading towards the flashpoint of the beginning of the apocalypse.

In reply to Marjorie Suddard:

Here I thought that it was a joke post..... wow. Look, I'll make fun of y'all all day long, but in good humor. No way I'd literally be an ass over my opinion in person INTENTIONALLY. I'm sorry Joe had to deal with this assbag.

fasted58 wrote: yea but... trailer tires Is 80 mph really a good thing? I'm just sayin' because thread.

That is a good point. I should have added with appropriate tires into my list of qualifiers. Not all trailer tires are rated for that speed.

In reply to Bobzilla:

Eh, it's part of the job, and a very small part of it. Every time I'm in the booth, I get some (usually angry old white) guy in my face telling me I need to set "them" straight about something. They never do seem to be able to comprehend that I AM "them," or have any ability to switch from “telling” to a real dialog. Some people just feel the need to get out in public and get themselves all over everybody else.

And the guy's got a point, from a perfect-world POV.

Margie

Hey, if the universe didn't want me to tow at 86 mph in my E250, it wouldn't have installed that 86 mph speed limiter for the original fleet owner.

Kreb wrote: Miatas suck and 600 HP musclecars rule.

Agreed

In reply to Marjorie Suddard:

I get it. I've been dealing with customers and the public for 21years of my working career. Retail, parts stores, dealers, and now as an analyst. It's amazing to me just how rude, crass and downright mean people can be to another human so they can feel better about themselves.

In reply to Tom Suddard:

Our Sierra is limited to 96. I don't think I can tow that fast..... but I've never tried. I'll run 75 on open road with lots of visibility, but not much more. No need. I'll get there when I get there.

If you aren't towing at 80 on I95, you are getting run the hell over, or stuck behind the trucks in the right lane at a measly 65. I say let it eat.

I have towed a 35' camper at 80 before. It was behind a big old ugly "man's" truck though.

It knocked down 6.5 mpg at that speed.

In reply to Toyman01:

See, and I'd tuck behind those semis and get 20mpg. No lie, I was getting 14-15 towing out to Nats last year when I caught up with friends that were headed there as well. They were towing a 24' enclosed behind a Dodge Ram 1500 HEMI. They were getting 6-8mpg. Me tucked behind them? I got 17. It.Was.Awesome. It didn't help we hit 20mph headwinds on 80 somewhere around Des Moines for them. We were stopping for gas every 150 miles lol. My only problem was keeping up when we got slowed down. They could pull away and I'd struggle to recatch them.

When towing a 35' camper at 80 mph, while driving a 460 powered Ford F350, you really don't need to care about fuel economy. My only concern was what time I was going to get home. Speed may kill, but it also gets you home faster.

Then again, the same load at 55 on the back roads, only got 8.5 mpg. So maybe that should read, if you own a 460 powered Ford, you don't care about fuel economy, or the planet, or small birds, or children, or baby seals. You just care about quiet, smooth, awesome, torque.

As much as I loved that truck, I'm glad someone else is feeding it.

WITH A 4.8 and 3.23's you look for every advantage you can get. You won't beat many off the line thats for sure. but that longer time between fuel stops makes it nice.

In reply to Tim Suddard:

I believe our lesson here is, always carry at least $500 cash in your wallet for the surprise find - and go out with your truck/suv/etc when "trolling" or "hunting" or "fishing".

No harm, not much of a foul. He was an ok guy--- just wanted to bring up a point. You meet all kinds of folks when you work the booth, and nearly all of them are fun / cool people. It's one of the reasons I really enjoy working events, and meeting readers.

As long as they don't start talking politics, or start throwing racist jokes around.......I'm not there for that. I'd rather sell you a subscription and B.S. about your cars, or cars you'd like to have.....or that you had in the past. Save the political rantings to annoying your family and friends.

I've only ever gotten to hang out with JG and Dave for brief periods of time. I merely complained about the lack of food at the booth. JG told me Mr Wallens forgot the donuts and he was solely to blame.

Vigo wrote: I once towed a car from TX to FL behind a 3000lb Dodge Dynasty and raced a semi somewhere in Florida reaching speeds around 90mph. Honestly I would easily have won this race if i wasn't nursing a failing thermostat all the way across the country and just trying to keep temps out of the red because I didn't have time to give the 'tow vehicle' a real shakedown because it was a last minute decision to use it because my other tow vehicle was a minivan i just turbocharged and wouldn't run right because it was missing a tiny hole on a sensor trigger ring. So i didn't get to tow the E36 M3box racecar i just turbo'd with a E36 M3box van i just turbo'd but i did tow it with a E36 M3box and raced a semi in said overheating E36 M3box hitting ~90mph with tow dolley and racecar in tow. And i was driving this whole E36 M3ty rig to Tim's event. I'm not actually against giving safety/towing advice but since i know GRM Forums so well i do kinda think that if you don't have thick skin in towing discussions here your head will EXPLODE, thus proving my internet posting to be more dangerous than my driving.

WINNER!!!!!! Run on sentence o'da month.... See Margie for your prize. From a sometimes 'angry old white guy'

In reply to 759NRNG:

technically it has periods and stuff.... but yeah. reads like one run on sentence from hades.

Hi Marjorie

Just to set the record straight, I did learn Joe's name, we talked about tuning weber carbs, he suggested looking through the archives (I have over 20 years of magazines GRM) and suggested I e-mail him and he would direct me to the issue. He gave me his card also. OBVIOUSLY MY ATTEMPT HUMOR, AKA ANGRY OLD WHITE MAN, fell on deaf ears.

I just find the readers who think towing at higher speed is just fine have never seen the consequences of people driving beyond their capabilities, the capabilities of their rigs and the conditions, amazing. My Touraeg can tow the same 7700 lbs as Mr. Porsche, safety has to come first.
FYI, I am a nice guy, have been a subscriber since the beginning and have given magazine to many friends....keep up the great work, leave an hour early if you have to get home by a certain time. Kevin

I figured my story would be less funny if it was written properly!

I try to resist the urge to kill whatever comedic value my towing/driving-related posts have by throwing in that no matter how ridiculously I describe my actions or how many 'donts' i 'do', it is literally impossible to have a better safety record than I do. It'll be 19 years of driving this year. One wonders if I couldn't have afforded to trade some of my driving skills for language skills and still been above average in the safety department. Guess I'll never know!

Hey Tim, any updates on the Ridgeline?

In reply to PeterAK :

Holy crap zombie thread revival.. I was wondering how a post had gotten so many comments and then realized It's 2 years old... 

PeterAK said:

Hey Tim, any updates on the Ridgeline?

I rode in the backseat to go to lunch yesterday.