why did you do a towing test in econ mode? That is what the little green leaf on the dash indicates. the truck doesn’t like doing hills in econ mode even when not towing anything.
As a 2019 Honda Ridgeline owner I can tell you I tow a 4,000# trailer with a significant amount of gear in the bed .. but I do not try and tow at 70mph which I wouldn't no matter what engine / truck I owned. The other thing to remember is that Honda's HP and Torque numbers are based on 5,000RPM so is it surprising you're hitting high RPMs? no. Being transparent I don't tow monthly .. but I have towed our travel trailer across the country with zero issues. I do however recognize that I have to make some adjustments .. such as monitoring AT temp when pulling up hills and adjusting my speed. Every truck represents a compromise in some sort - with the Ridgeline there is zero compromise in ride quality, reliability, utility at the mid-size level - however, with towing and off-road you can do it, but you have to be realistic in what the vehicle can accomplish. I've been looking at a different vehicle for a few years now, because I want to upgrade to 10,000lbs of towing .. but COVID, pricing, reliability etc. with the big 3 as well as new tundra issues etc. have me enjoying my Ridgeline for a little longer.
Yup, the higher RPMs just caught me off guard and I didn't feel like I was towing that much weight or going that fast. BTW, how did you find the AT temp? I read through the owner's manual and played with the screens, but couldn't find it.
@@Pickuptrucktalk Had to purchase ODB2 scanner and I use Car Scanner app on my iPhone - Ridgeline forum has lots of details. Many owners buy the Scan Gauge 2 or 3 device (all in one) and mount on dash. One of the things Honda should address.
@@Pickuptrucktalk Correct - Honda doesn't make the AT temp available through their interface.. so I purchased an ODB2 bluetooth scanner and loaded the Car Scanner app on my iPhone. I know several Ridgeline owners purchase the Scan Gauge 2 or 3 and mount on dash. For those of us with the 6speed AT keeping an eye on the AT temp is crucial.
Looks like you have the truck set on ECO mode - the little Green Leaf is on. - you are supposed to tow with the ridgeline in the Sport Mode. Honda definitely needs to have more vehicle info like transmission temp and brake controller for heavier loads.
I never use D when towing. I always 'S' or 'sequential'. It starts in 1st gear instead of 2nd like D does. Will eliminate 95% of the downshifting. Owners manual says if downshifting a lot when towing to use 'S' mode. It holds like 7th gear, won't shift to 8th or 9th ever which is perfect for towing. The biggest thing is starting in 1st instead of 2nd, huge difference!
I had towed about 4500lbs (twin axle trailer + soil) at about 100 to 105 km/h (62 to 65mi/h) and had no issues with the engine reving. I could definitely tell that engine was under load so the transmission would downshift more often but as far as i am concerned, that's normal for a smaller engine. More recently, on friend's advise i started using he SPORT driving mode when towing (with any vehicle lacking TOW/HAUL mode) and found that it replaces the tow-specific driving mode. SPORT mode, especially after several miles of driving, holds gears longer and keeps the tranny from going into overdrive under trailer load. Finally, I avoid driving at 70mi/h when towing.
@@IamGroot786 I have the 6speed AT and wish we had a tow mode or sport mode... but, here is what I have found gives me the best results - I tow in Drive with econ mode on and use the cruise control. If I get into traffic where I can't use cruise - I take off OD, until I can resume. I tried towing in D4 all the time ... your wallet will not appreciate it.
Thank you for justifying the sport mode for towing. I am wanting a Ridgeline so bad and feel it would be perfect for what I need. Seeing I am driving a 2.3 5-speed ranger lol I asked the guy at Honda if to tow should it be in sport mode of course idk was the answer. All the v6s I've owned screamed pretty good towing on hills.
Some advice for all RU-vidrs who film reviews of vehicles. Do some research and know the vehicle before you film. If you're going to fumble through and learn about the vehicle as you film instead of before you film, then you've lost a subscriber.
You don't need to use the dash screen to reset the trip computer. There is no need to look at the manual either. All you have to do is to press the trianglular button with an exclamation sign on the steering wheel and toggle between which trip you want to reset. Trip A or B. Then, long press the same button and reset it. That's simple.
That Honda V6 will happily run at 5000rpm ALL DAY LONG! It is not your Daddy's V8. It makes power at high rpms and it loves high rpms. Honda knows this and programmed the transmission to run the engine at higher rpms under high loads. This is a good thing! You do not want to lug an engine, especially under load! It's way better for the engine to run at higher rpms in this situation. Engine power is not an issue here. Also, this is the same V6 used in Honda's larger outboard motors. Same engine, and they run for hours on end above 5000rpm.
Exactly! So the transmission down shifted a few times to maintain 70MPH on a natural aspirated engine that has no help from turbo chargers, big deal! Posting a "Tow fail" thumb nail is total click-bait.
@@andyd5492 You'll get crap mileage with any vehicle if you're doing 70MPH. It's physics, Einstein was right, the faster an object goes, the more energy it will need. Guess you forgot how Jill also got lousy mileage on that Tacoma the other day, with a 4 cylinder engine I might add. Because she was also doing 70MPH.
I tow a 4,000 lb trailer with my 22. S-mode is basically tow haul mode. 1500lb payload. The RL revs high but no more than my 2017 Tacoma did. When I arrived with my Tacoma after a 1,000 mile day I felt like a got the crap beaten out of me. The RL is much wider and way more comfortable than those 3rd gen Tacos. I’m 3000 miles into a trip right now with my RL towing my Lance 1475 and very grateful I got away from those toyota torturous seats.
Thank you! My 2005 Tacoma was the last one (of 4) that I owned and was also the most uncomfortable to drive. They say the 2024 is better but I will never go back.
I just towed my 17ft whaler with a 2024 Ridgeline to see how it does. I turned eco mode off or if I was in my father’s Highlander I put in power mode. I took a longer route home cause I wanted to clean the rust of the hydraulic brakes on the boat trailer! It towed pretty well!Having trailer brakes you really don’t need tow haul mode.
You should always know how to use your tools. I tow a small 2 horse straight load trailer (w/ 1 horse in it) and a 3,500lb boat/motor/trailer with my 2023 RL in S mode (and NOT in eco mode), and use the paddle shifters to hold gears. I pull the boat through the hills of the ozarks at 70-75mph in 5th and 6th gear without issue. Let the engine rev. It's a great little tow vehicle. BTW, with the paddle shifters you command any gear you want and even if you floor it, it'll stay in that gear.... I've never had another vehicle that would do that, and if you tow it is awesome.
Even on highway, no load, I get worse gas mileage in "ECO" than regular "D" (on my 2023 Ridgeline)...by alittle more than 1MPG. Alotta hills where I live. I've totally abandoned "ECON" mode & when towing or heavy payload I use "Sport" mode. 20-21MPG average (only alittle "City" driving). Ridgeline does much better than expected when I moved down to a "Midsize" TK & I'm happy.
That performance seemed perfectly fine to me. Not sure why there is the notion that "it didnt like that at all" just because it's RPM was 4900 or so. It maintained the speed on what you described as one of the steeper grades in your area, and it was only about 15 seconds or so before it shifted back down and during the whole time you were able to speak to the camera with a normal voice. To me indicators of an engine not "liking" it would be higher coolant, oil or transmission fluid temperatures etc.
You did that test in Eco mode. I have a 2020 and pull over 3000lbs. With it multiple times a year. No problems what so ever. Had a Silverado with the 5.3 and the Ridgeline tows just as well for what i’m towing. I never use cruise while towing either. I also get 26 mpg on road trips (not towing). Say what you want about. It buts it’s hard to beat for a daily driver.
@@pryme2013 Chevy was 2003 5.3L that made 285 hp. Ridgeline makes 280 hp. So yeah it does with 3000lbs. Not claiming it would tow as much weight as a 5.3 L. It was rated at 7500lbs. Chevy got too rusty to fix again or i would still have it.
@@markflaugh2293 No, sorry. It won’t. Never mind comparing a truck that is almost 20 yrs older but it weighs more, has basically the same hp but at a lower rpm and 325lbft vs 260lbft and it comes on at a lower rpm than the Honda. There is no chance the Honda tows better.
@@pryme2013 for what he's towing. I'm 58yrs old, live in "Mountain Valley" region of Central PA (Appalachia). I've owned large HP V8 full size 4wd's all my life & loved them. I was young, towed a larger family sized trailer, worked close to home mostly, did some landscaping work on the side & overloaded those American (and I owned all 3 names at one time or another) and LOVED those trucks. Now that I'm on the other side of 50, work 50 miles from home (100 miles round trip), don't enjoy being up & in & out of my truck bed AND lifting 100lb crap into & outta the bed (thus I try to avoid...or at least be smarter about it)...given up side landscaping, smaller trailer (for 2), ...and so on...I rarely have the need to haul over 5,000lb anymore & surely enjoy double the gas mileage of my old full sizes. As the years have progressed, I haul/tow big loads less & less. In 2023 I nervously went mid size truck for 1st time. I don't off-road (except to hunt/fish). I fully enjoy the Ridgeline gas mileage, ride/handling, lower ride height & YES it's capability (full size 4x8 sheet of plywood flat) and interior room. It's been a year now and I have come to realize that the Ridgeline does 90-95% of what my full sizes could do & did do. Not too darn bad I'd say! The reality is that the Majority of truck owners really have no need for a full size truck. Now, It's AMERICA & thankfully...thus far we are all free & have complete personal choice thus I still LOVE the look & HP & V8 roar of a full size (nothing against them). Happily married near 30yrs w/ 4 kids & grandkids...been "around the block" way too many times...I no longer need to show my D..k size, ...that's all for you young studs now...BUT...no need to poke the bear & make fun...lol. Ridgeline is plenty capable for what most folks need & possibly even more capable than majority of mid size tks! Peace!!!
@@Pickuptrucktalk I own the same vehicle it’s not automatic. It’s a big green push button on the left side. Someone pushed it in. The only way mine turns on is pushing that button. Stop making excuses.
Obviously, an RL isnt a big displacement engine or a turbo motor, but a quad and an expanded-metal gate catch a surprising amount of wind. 1300lbs of that, pulls at highway speed like a 3500lbs of firewood or brick. Low and behold, its either the most reliable or tied with most reliable (depending on the day) midsize truck available. More power is easy, plenty of trucks make more, and they're also less reliable.
This result was surprising. I have a 21 RL and have never towed with it. But it has a bit more power as well as more transmission gears than my 08 that I had for 13 years. More than once, I towed a 4500 lb, 26 ft camper trailer, sometimes over the steep hills in the Smoky Mountains area. It did crank some RPMs in the 4000 range, and got terrible gas mileage(but maybe no worse than a larger truck would) but it did not seem to any worse than yours did with 1/3 the weight and much smaller wind catching area. I was always able to hold the speed limit even on the steepest hills, but with high RPMs. But, RPMs were never near redline, always below 5000 max.
I would not recommend 5,000 lbs but I think it did fine with that weight. They ride really nice but I choose a full-size F150 for more room in the back.
Put it in S (sequential / sport) Mode for those Hills. I believe the manual recommends 100 Kilometers per hour or 63 MPH when towing. Also when changing the oil filter turn the driving wheel to the right and you can easily access the oil filter.
I don't agree with the idea that higher revs while towing is necessarily a bad thing. Smaller engines can make the power, they just need more RPM to do it, and there's nothing wrong with that. They're designed to do it, they're designed to endure it. If you tow very often, sure, a larger or turbocharged engine will be desirable for NVH and overhead reasons; but for casual towing, the engine spinning a bit faster is a non-issue, and midsize trucks these days CAN do an admirable job with a moderate load. That said, the Honda did struggle with that minimal weight more than I expected. I fairly regularly tow a 14' x 6' x 7' enclosed trailer with a Gladiator and it seems more relaxed than that, which is strange considering the extra weight, extra rolling resistance from offroad tires, and extra aerodynamic drag (and then the larger and heavier trailer). The Pentastar must have a better torque curve than the Honda. I think the only times I see 5k+ is passing on 2-lanes and towing up the steepest hills in my area (9% grade over ~2 miles is the toughest I've encountered). Otherwise it's generally content cruising between 2-3k, at which the engine still runs smoothly and quietly. Heck, my brother had a little Toyota econobox that would run almost 3k on the highway unloaded.. It's just how fast they need to spin to meet the power demand in the absense of extra cylinders/displacement. I wouldn't call it ideal, but it's certainly fine.
This is just not a channel that takes these topics seriously. This is indicated by the number of subscribers (very low) and the years Tim has been at this. This vid is the perfect example of how not to do a you tube review.
If you tow a lot, I'd recommend getting something else, even for light-tows; those Honda transmissions are not very good. Engine, fine. Transmission, awful. So, for this pickup, I think it's really important to increase the load on the engine to reduce the load on the transmission. The transmissions in these things overheat pretty easily. The Econ mode is a stupid feature and really should be removed. I think in the manual it says not to exceed 55 or 60 mph when towing. I had one of these Ridgelines... it's one of those things you always have to worry about breaking or tearing-up, unlike the Tundra I had. After the transmission failed at 48k, I traded it back in for another used Tundra. I think the 1st Gen RLs were actually better build quality; I remember when I'd drive my RL at around 65-70 mph in crosswinds, the engine-hood would flutter like it was about to come off... pretty silly.
Love your channel but would like to add a few comments. I’m only 51 years old but have done more then my fair share of pulling all types of trailers during my lifetime. I still have a small camper which I pull with my ZR2 Colorado. I don’t think the truck was screaming… that term is overused and inaccurate of what’s going on during the towing process. Most modern day engines including V8s find the HP and TQ higher in the rpm range. Running at a higher rpm then cruising is absolutely fine when towing… It’s not screaming……………it’s simply not lugging which is a good thing for the bearings on the bottom end. So I think I would edit that title some, just my take… Always enjoy your videos so this is not a jab at ya…
Had a 2021 Ridgeline. Liked it a lot, just wish it had a full size spare under the bed instead of in it. If you need the spare, you have to remove everything from the bed first to get to it. For my use, I really had no need for the in bed cooler/storage area. Would rather have the spare under the bed. Thanks for the video. Edit - And also, there are very few options for a cap.
Check out Truck Kings review of The Ridgeline destroying all the midsize trucks. It tests them all objectively with a 5k load. The Ridgeline demolishes the Ranger and Frontier with a 0 to 60. Ridgeline shits all over them by 2 seconds. Check out a real reviewer who is informed and not a flaming buffoon.
I like the ridgeline but a big but is if my main concern is towing then the RL is not for u it’s not intended to be a tower get a f150, Silverado , ram or if ur very adventurous get a tundra nothing against a rl if u need a everyday truck rl is it
First off, interesting video and thank you for the real life towing test. Other people here have mentioned sport mode for towing and not towing with the econ feature enabled so I won't repeat that. Ditto for reading the manual ahead of time.. My real comment is not tospeakasrapidlyaspossibleinamonotonesoallyourwordsruntogether. Pretty hard to know what you are saying sometimes.
he ran the test with econ mode on and then complains about the powertrain. econ mode makes it real lazy and shouldn’t be used when towing. seems like he wanted it to do bad in his review
You should show a split screen with the vehicle’s log data as you are towing like this. Would be cool to know when and at which point timing gets pulled or the fueling data.
Towing requires vehicle specific knowledge concerning operation and safety. If the reviewer had taken 5 minutes before filming to read the Ridgeline manual online (easily accessible) or a Ridgeline forum, he would have seen all recommendations by Honda. Enable Sport mode, disable Eco mode, use Premium fuel, keep speed below 65 mph. The lesson here, reviews in which the reviewer has not done his or her due diligence concerning operation and safety are in general misleading. Not at all impressed with this review.
Midsized pickup with a high-revving (V-TEC) NA engine making less than 300 in HP/TQ needed revs to tow a light load up a hill at 70MPH in the high plains of western Nebraska. What’s the shocker? Try it with a NA 2023 Durango V6, 2023 Tacoma V6, 2024 Palisade/Telluride V6 or 2024 4Runner V6.
@@Pickuptrucktalk It was mostly a joke but I like, value, and appreciate your content. I don't want to see anything bad happen to you (or the 5 Foot Wonder of The World).
Another great video Tim. Concerning the high reving that is standard practice for Honda engines. That is how VTEC works. Now, I know this newer 3.5L V6 does not have VTEC, but I would not be surprised it is designed to rev high to get the max power out of the engine just like the previous legendary Honda V6.
@@daverules Ah thank you for correcting me. Well, that perfectly explains the high revving because that is exactly what VTEC does. My wife drives a 2023 Acura MDX with the new 3.5L V6 so I just assumed everything with a V6 had the new engine. Thank you.
@@SuperSnakePlissken I think that Acura still uses the SOHC iVtec engine in the MDX. Only Pilot I think has the new DOHC version, but admittedly no reviews really mention any discernable performance difference between it and the SOHC model as it also has variable valve timing to go to and from an Atkinson cycle for emissions I believe.
That trip reset would annoy me. I reset one every tank of fuel and the other every oil change. Otherwise, I really like those Ridgelines. They are limited in what they can do, but I would have more use for it than the current midsize trucks.
This is an interesting point - The Ridgeline, Passport, and Pilot all have the same tow capacity (5,000lbs) and power train; however, they all have different wheelbase and curb weight. This is a big reason I chose the Ridgeline over the other 2 even though at the time (2019) the Pilot was cheaper at a higher trim level.
Dude figure this stuff out before the video! The Ridgeline is an amazing truck for what it is, 95% of people are getting all the truck they need with these. Painful to watch.
You're full of it. A Subaru with a cargo-trailer is more of a truck than this thing... which is something I'm seeing more and more, Subarus with trailers... especially out west. People are done with these overpriced, lame mid-size pickups.
Prob not the best vehicle for 4 - 250 lb butts loaded with 20 cases of coors in the bed ! I beat the hell out my 02 ZR2 5 speed manual for 10 hrs straight 80 -90 mph and stuck in indianapolis city traffic and off roaded 35 miles and still averaged 19-20 mpg !
You don't tow in econ mode, really. So put the trans in S or Sequential mode in order to see what gear you're in and don't use econ . I'm sure the towing speed limit for the road is more like 50 - 55 MPH.
I think it's fine for the intended use case and demographic, you just have to set your expectations accordingly. And like you mention, Tacoma and others were quite similar in terms of where they produce their max torque.
@@rustynail7866 they recognize people have a similar perception about RPM. Turbos have distinct performance advantages for sure, but there are always pros and cons. I suspect even though a turbocharged engine "feels" more effortless compared to a comparable NA mill, if you look at relevant temperatures you'll see that with the OEM cooling setups they also can run a good deal warmer under those more rigorous conditions.
@@ALMX5DP I traded my new 2016 Tacoma for a 2015 with the 4.0 and have been happy with it ever since. It will go up a hill without hunting gears and tow without getting out of breath.
Don’t use ECON mode ever. My 2008 Honda Accord V6 had VCM and it caused oil usage and oil fouled plugs on cylinders 2&3. I had to do and engine flush too. I fixed the oil usage by installing a VCM tuner so it ran on all six cylinders all the time. VCM is a terrible system.
Towing that small amount of weight and it was downshifting like crazy. Honda Ridgeline never gave me a good feeling that I wanted to own one. Was a failure for FTL . Just not competitive for the money Screen layout is awful. Resetting a trip meter should be able to be done without looking. This is a real failure Honda. And did he say 11 mpg with a tiny load behind it …… WTF
Quite foolish test here. This is a normally aspirated engine that has its VTEC activation at guess what - 5k rpm. Meaning, that's where the horsepower really starts to build up. You had a lot more to work with.
joke of a video. you have know clue how the vehicle works. who tows is econ mode?!?!? and right on your dashboard it tells you how to reset the trip monitor without having to go through your screen.
$46K for a Honda Ridgeline? I can get a very well specced Colorado Trail Boss for $43K with 2" lift, 33" All-Terrain tires, 360 cameras, skid plates, 310hp/430tq and is rated to tow 7,700ibs
@@pagodad8079 I have the same transmission in my 21' Canyon and no problems like most people and if you do have a problem just bring it to the dealer for a trans flush and if that doesn't fix it then torque convert change under warranty since its a known problem. But some may perfer the Ridgeline.
@@sparklanderwhich works out perfect for me because there is only groceries or luggage back there for me as a single guy, I rather other features/ratings.