speed_Demo

Have you seen the Ridgeline before in person?

Yea, the design is different, but its not ugly...but more bulky like a tank.

I help purchased the 2006 Ridgeline for my brother, by researches and negotiate price. It has about 98k miles right now. For first year model, no real problem or any major recall, which is an amazing feat for first model.

We uses the Ridgeline for camping, snowboarding, motorcycles on the bed, and occasional midnight dump with bed light. Uni-body design is very strong, but heavy. Cargo space under bed is very attractive option. Interior fold up seat are nice. Great AWD, driven in heavy snow condition before, but no spin out because of safe speed. Power rear window and sun-roof. Some people just need to stop being so picky about the sunroof and rear window!!! Great touch while drive Navigation.


Negative things about the Ridgeline is gas mileage, V6 engine, too heavy for fast acceleration, kinda of low ground clearance compare to other truck. It might be Honda first & last SUT(Sport Utilities Truck)

Overall great truck, would purchase another one if gas mileage isn't the issue. But recommend for every day drive! :-D

MadMax96

Motorcycles? really? Are you talking about dirt bikes or street bikes? I'm not a truck/SUV person at all but I like the Ridgeline. If it actually would hold a streetbike there's a [small] side of me that would consider it.

caddyowner

I stopped at a Honda dealer today and checked how a Ridgeline would meet our needs. They only had new RTL units. It was pretty much as expected, with a few surprises:

- The RTL with 18" wheels was about the maximum seat height for transfers. An RTS is supposedly about an inch shorter. Both would require the use of a step. This was the only negative.

- The in-bed trunk was especially large. With a space-saver spare, there was likely enough room in there to store my wife's travel wheelchair.

- The bed was very accessible with the tailgate swung open and reaching in. The bed was also accessible when reaching over the sides - which weren't too high.

- There was plenty of dog room in the back seat with the seats folded up.

A used Ridgeline stays on the list of possibilities. I'll have to check out a Taco and Baja.

speed_Demo

Yes 2 1000cc (RC51 & Aprilia), and you know those are big. The bed has groves for motorcycle/ATV wheels, but its not long enough, so you have to let the tailgate down.


The in-bed trunk is not big enough for a wheel chair, I know cause I tried it for my dad wheel chair. Put it inside with the fold up seats, and put the dog in the back!


If vehicle height is a major factor, settle for the Baja for low ground clearance.


Prioritize: wife first, utilities, and lastly the dog.

caddyowner

I'm trying to avoid all vehicles, like crossovers, where the chair would ride in the passenger compartment. The chair and its leg rests are missles I don't need inside with us during a crash. The back seat is reserved for occasional trips with grandkids or the dog.

When my wife goes out, we take a lightweight transport chair with 8" wheels and folding handles. If folds up into a pretty small package: 20"x30"x8" with the folded handles making the width 24" at one end.

http://www.1800wheelchair.com/asp/vi...roduct_id=3237

The chair may fit in the trunk. I will also probably get a Truxedo roll-up tonneau, like I have had on all my other trucks, so the chair can always ride in the bed.

Since the LS430 is my wife's primary transport and we ususally reschedule travel or appointments in the winter when there is bad weather, she won't be riding in the truck much - but I need to be sure I can fairly easily get her in.

So, once I establish the she can get in the truck, the priorities are utility, my comfort, and space for the dog.

GS3Tek

iTrader: (8)

Just wanted to share my experience:

my cousin also transports her dad who is also in a wheel chair in the sienna.
Ground clearance is low, pleeeeenty of room when you remove the 2nd seat in the 2nd row.

He sits in the one of the 2nd row seat while the wheel chair can remain unfolded next to him.

3rd bench fits 3 people also, or leave it flat for your dog.
You can also get it in AWD

caddyowner

^^^^

Aaack! I swore to myself "No minivan" unless my wife (or I) get to the point that I can't help her transfer from her wheelchair to a car. If she has to ride while sitting in a wheelchair, then I'll get a minivan or Element conversion. These guys are about an hour away. http://www.fminow.com/

Janizary

I have tried just about everywhichway in adjusting the seat on our RTL and for anything over about 30-45 min it starts to get very, very uncomfortable (muscle fatigue/cramping in my back). The seats in our old '06 Pilot EX were WAY more comfortable. It may also be a combination of harder leather and lesser padding in the RTL. My wife drives it more than I do, but I use it for hiking trips, and hauling a bike or two out to the desert when I don't want to load up the trailer on the F350, so its generally fine.

Put the AWD to use in icy/snow/sluch conditions up in Flagstaff quite a bit and it has worked very well in its automatic torque vectoring. Its not an off-road snow plow like the F350 is, but it handles much better on icy roads than my F350 (4X4) does, hands down. Off road my old F350 eats the ridgeline for lunch (though to be fair, the F is lifted, with much more agressive off-road rubber)

caddyowner

^^
Thanks. I'm not worried about off-road handling, except for Michigan's tremendous number of unpaved roads.

GS3Tek

iTrader: (8)

Check this out. It's the sienna with the AAS (auto access seat) system. Pretty cool, but I know you said no minivans

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps-Cx...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq6_s...eature=related

caddyowner

Hmm, I knew that looked familiar. GM offered this product a number of years ago, called the Sit-N-Lift. As I remember, most pictures showed the seat tilted downward when outside the van - like it was dumping the passenger. I don't believe GM offers it any longer - nor do they offer any minivans.

http://www.shadetreemechanic.com/gm_...sabilities.htm