Doesn't "look" bad to me, either...I see a whole lot more WITH WD/Sway riding lower in the rear than that Honda....and he isn't even in the ballpark of the worst cases I've seen. Like SoCal said---soft suspension does not necessarily equate to serious weight transfer....but I'm sure he appreciates all you guys staying away from him!
J
Garfie|d wrote: Well call me crazy, but it doesn't look all THAT bad to me compared to what I've seen on the highway.
Agree... It is not optimal but could be better. Lets get a perspective.
This "car" is the Ford Mondeo. In Europe is was 2008 Tow Car of the Year. It has a 5,000lb tow rating and in Europe they do not use a WDH, just a mickey mouse sway device that is basicly a clamp on the ball.
This vehicle towing at it's max was tested and was said to be very stable, even at over 70 MPH etc.
To me the posters 4x4 Excursion towing a 30'+ TT without a Hensley would be much more of a hazzard on the road compared to the Ridge in the photo!!!
To me the posters 4x4 Excursion towing a 30'+ TT without a Hensley would be much more of a hazzard on the road compared to the Ridge in the photo!!!
Wow... OK, if I see them again I'll send them your way. For you safety, I'll stay south of the boarder.
This is not the worse I've seen - I just happen to be able to snap a photo of this one. I've definitely seen way worse.
It just amazes me that people will buy something and load it down with no real knowledge of towing. Do they ever stand back, look and think 'Something doesn't look right with this.'
For those that think this is no problem... there are wrecks all the time do to trucks/cars overloaded. If this guy had to make an evasive move or if he it a rain storm or a good gust of wind... well, he'd be in trouble. Not saying he'd wreck immediately and sure, it is possible that he could drive for a million miles like this with out incident, but then again the same thing could be said about drunk drivers... that doesn't make it right.
Well I'm on the "doesn't look that bad to me..." side of things.
My own truck has long travel, soft springs in the rear which means it's not uncommon for my rear to drop 3 inches when towing a small trailer and one dirtbike in the bed. The trailer has brakes and the truck sags some in the rear...So what?
Why do people think if you put a load in the bed and the rear drops that there is something wrong?
BTW...Although I said doesn't look that bad, there isn't a TH at 22ft that a Ridgeline (not bagging on the Ridgeline, I think it's kind of a cool mid-sized truck)should be towing.
"I won't camp next to you, if you don't camp next to me!"
2004 Titan King Cab, 2wd, 5.6L V-8, 5 Speed Auto Trans, Tow Package.
2004 Jayco Qwest Baja P/U
Thanks for your concern for your fellow drivers out there and the
response show the cross section (aka....bell curve) of folks. Ranging
from nothing wrong with that, to you'll die.
What folks usually forget, if they ever knew, is that these things
are not for the good days out there when just about anything 'can'
tow it. Even a riding lawn mower.
These things are designed/engineered for the 'bad' day (or worst) out
there that most seem to think only happens to the 'other guy'.
When that day crosses someones path, they either have the right stuff
and setup correctly spot on, or not. No time to go back to the store
and get bigger/better or re-setup.
To me, any amount of rear squat with front lift is bad and an accident
just waiting to happen.
Lightened front end, means the front suspension/steering isn't in its
best condition. Less steering, less ability to control sway, etc, etc.
Their monocoque/ladder frame construction is interesting, but don't
know much about it other than the Honda claims that it is stiffer
and stronger than singularly ladder frame or monocoque. Makes sense,
but depends on how they did it. Then this 'can' have a WD setup on the
frame, not the monocoque sections.
I'm not saying *can't*, but that it is set up wrong. From over weight
or not adjusted correctly, or both.
-Ben Picture of my rig
1996 GMC SLT Suburban 3/4 ton K3500/7.4L/4:1/+150Kmiles orig owner...
1980 Chevy Silverado C10/long bed/"BUILT" 5.7L/3:73/1 ton helper springs/+329Kmiles, bought it from dad...
1998 Mazda B2500 (1/2 ton) pickup, 2nd owner...
Praise Dyno Brake equiped and all have "nose bleed" braking!
Previous trucks/offroaders: 40's Jeep restored in mid 60's / 69 DuneBuggy (approx +1K lb: VW pan/200hpCorvair: eng, cam, dual carb'w velocity stacks'n 18" runners, 4spd transaxle) made myself from ground up / 1970 Toyota FJ40 / 1973 K5 Blazer (2dr Tahoe, 1 ton axles front/rear, +255K miles when sold it)...
Sold the boat (looking for another): Trophy with twin 150's...
51 cylinders in household, what's yours?...
To me the posters 4x4 Excursion towing a 30'+ TT without a Hensley would be much more of a hazzard on the road compared to the Ridge in the photo!!!
Wow... OK, if I see them again I'll send them your way. For you safety, I'll stay south of the boarder.
This is not the worse I've seen - I just happen to be able to snap a photo of this one. I've definitely seen way worse.
It just amazes me that people will buy something and load it down with no real knowledge of towing. Do they ever stand back, look and think 'Something doesn't look right with this.'
For those that think this is no problem... there are wrecks all the time do to trucks/cars overloaded. If this guy had to make an evasive move or if he it a rain storm or a good gust of wind... well, he'd be in trouble. Not saying he'd wreck immediately and sure, it is possible that he could drive for a million miles like this with out incident, but then again the same thing could be said about drunk drivers... that doesn't make it right.
um a atv in the back of this vehicle would have dropped it way more, i guess you would consider that a death sentence too. If i put 2 full size adults in the back of my car, the rear end drops prolly close to 3 inches. i guess i should never leave the driveway either.
There is nothing wrong with the picture, a tad of weight in the rear end does not necessarily make a vehicle a death trap.
also i would stay out of pa all summer, my rig looks way worse then that when i have it fully loaded, actually i would stay out of pa, va , jersey and new york considering i tow through them all summer and winter
When I hook up my 5er to my truck it squats several inches (at least 4) and I suppose that I could be the subject of a photo posted here by the roving cameraman from the IOoDHW ("International Order of Dismayed Hand Wringers") yet a trip to the scales indicates I am 1,000 pounds shy of my GAWR(R) limits.
Squat happens.
Hans, KØHB & Colleen, KØCKB Master Chief Radioman, US Navy -
'04 Prairie Schooner 34FBR Platinum XL Camping Trailer
'08 3500HD Silverado Big Dooley LTZ Go-power by Max & Allie
um a atv in the back of this vehicle would have dropped it way more, i guess you would consider that a death sentence too. If i put 2 full size adults in the back of my car, the rear end drops prolly close to 3 inches. i guess i should never leave the driveway either.
There is nothing wrong with the picture, a tad of weight in the rear end does not necessarily make a vehicle a death trap.
also i would stay out of pa all summer, my rig looks way worse then that when i have it fully loaded, actually i would stay out of pa, va , jersey and new york considering i tow through them all summer and winter
There is no comparison to have an atv in the bed of the truck and towing an overweight trailer. You can control weight in the bed with squats some - but it does affect steering ability. The difference with a trailer hooked up is the hitch becomes a fulcrum and pushes the rear of the truck - with out adequate weight on the steering tires, the front tires looses traction and the ability to control the whole set up.
I've hauled 2 cu yard of mulch in my old 95 Ranger... tires would rub the wheel wells when I hit bump. Yep it was overloaded - way over loaded. The difference is that I wasn't going down the interstate in 5:00 traffic and my trip was short.
Let me express - I'm no way saying that this set up is an absolute death trap... but come'on people, it ain't safe (period).
Mark & Tammy
'01 Excursion Limited, 4x4, V10, RoadMaster Active Suspension
'01 Prowler 31G
Equal-i-zer Hitch - Prodigy Brake Controller
To me the posters 4x4 Excursion towing a 30'+ TT without a Hensley would be much more of a hazzard on the road compared to the Ridge in the photo!!!
I see Road Ruler posting but I hear that nut Andy Thompson typing those words...
A 30' TT behind an Ex with PROPER WD is more of a hazard than a mini-van or Intrepid towing a 27' TT...now that takes the cake...
To each his own I guess...I'll follow the OP with his 30' TT long before the Ridgeline or an Andy Thompson set up any day...call ME crazy...but I know the capabilities of the Excursion...
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