The Ridgeline was introduced into Honda’s lineup as their only pickup truck in 2006 and remains available today. Honda vehicles are known for their reliability and for having the features consumers expect from today’s vehicles, including towing. But what is the towing capacity of a Honda Ridgeline?
The Honda Ridgeline has a towing capacity of 3,000 to 5,000 pounds depending on the configuration, with most recent model years having a 5,000 lb max tow capacity.
There’s a bit more to know about Honda Ridgeline towing capabilities which we’ll cover in today’s guide.
Honda Ridgeline Towing Capacity By Year
As we covered earlier, the current Honda Ridgeline can tow a maximum of 5,000 lbs when properly equipped.
The Ridgeline has been in production from 2006 through the present, except for the 2016 and 2017 model years. We’ve listed out the maximum tow capacity by year below for reference.
Note that for each model year, there are many variables that affect the total towing capability of each vehicle year, so we recommend checking your specific Ridgeline model year below for an in-depth guide and to get the most accurate information.
Here’s the maximum Honda Ridgeline towing capacity by year:
2023 Honda Ridgeline Tow Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2022 Honda Ridgeline Tow Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2021 Honda Ridgeline Tow Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2020 Honda Ridgeline Tow Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2019 Honda Ridgeline Tow Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2018 Honda Ridgeline Tow Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2017 Honda Ridgeline Tow Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2014 Honda Ridgeline Tow Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2013 Honda Ridgeline Tow Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2012 Honda Ridgeline Tow Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2011 Honda Ridgeline Tow Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2010 Honda Ridgeline Tow Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2009 Honda Ridgeline Tow Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2008 Honda Ridgeline Tow Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2007 Honda Ridgeline Tow Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2006 Honda Ridgeline Tow Capacity: 5,000 pounds
You can also read our guide on what makes a vehicle towing capacity to learn all the aspects that go into it.
Here’s a video showing the Honda Ridgeline being put to a real-world off-road and towing test:
Honda Ridgeline Braked Vs. Unbraked Towing Capacity
All vehicles have different towing capacities based on whether or not you’re towing a trailer that has trailer brakes installed.
Trailer brakes allow the trailer to stop faster than if only the vehicle is using its brakes, allowing the vehicle to tow more weight, so braked towing capacity will always be higher than unbraked towing capacity.
Honda Ridgeline Braked Towing Capacity: 3,000 – 5,000 lbs.
Honda Ridgeline Unbraked Towing Capacity: 1,500 lbs.
Honda Ridgeline Towing Capacity Factors
There are a few factors that affect the Honda Ridgeline tow capacity.
2WD vs AWD
The drivetrain can affect how much weight a Honda Ridgeline can tow.
Typically, Honda Ridgeline AWD models can tow more than the 2WD versions.
Number of Passengers
A big factor in calculating your vehicle’s towing capacity is how many passengers you’re carrying, which directly calculates into the vehicle’s GCWR.
This is true of all vehicles, not just the Honda Ridgeline, so always take into consideration the total load of your passengers and gear in addition to what you’re towing.
Honda Ridgeline Engine Specs
The Ridgeline has a single engine option.
4.0 Liter V-6 Engine
All trim levels of the Ridgeline have a single engine option which is an SOHC 24-valve 3.5 Liter V-6 engine.
This engine has 280 hp and 262 lb.-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.
Honda Ridgeline Tow Packages
Does The Honda Ridgeline Have A Tow Package?
Honda offers a trailer hitch towing kit that is available on all trim levels of the Ridgeline.
The Honda Ridgeline towing package includes the following:
- Trailer Hitch Receiver with Hitch Locking Pin and Plug Cover
- 7-pin Round-Style Wiring Harness
- Ball Mount Receiver (Available in 1-⅞” or 2”)
Can You Install A Trailer Hitch On a Honda Ridgeline?
If you plan on towing anything with your Honda Ridgeline, you’ll need a tow hitch and wiring harness.
Depending on what you’re towing, you’re going to need a ball mount (aka a trailer ball hitch) so you can attach items for towing.
Make sure to get the right trailer ball size that matches your hitch and trailer.
Honda Ridgeline Tow Hitch
Trailer hitches come in different hitch classes, which are rated for different vehicle sizes and weight limits.
The Honda Ridgeline uses a Class 3 hitch.
Here’s a great option for a Honda Ridgeline trailer hitch:
- DEPENDABLE STRENGTH. This trailer hitch is rated for 5,000 lbs. gross trailer weight, 500 lbs. tongue weight, 6,000 lbs. weight distribution capacity and 600 lbs. weight distribution tongue weight (limited to lowest-rated towing component)
- VERSATILE DESIGN. This class 3 hitch equips your vehicle with a standard 2-inch x 2-inch hitch receiver, allowing for a wide variety of towing options. It can accept a ball mount, cargo carrier, bike rack, tow hook and much more
- FULLY TESTED. Every CURT class 3 trailer hitch design is tested in real-world, on-vehicle conditions at our Detroit engineering facility. Aftermarket hitches are tested according to SAE J684 standards for the utmost safety while hauling
- RUST, CHIP, UV-RESISTANT. This tow hitch is protected with a unique dual-coat finish of rust-resistant liquid A-coat and highly durable black powder coat. The two finishes are co-cured together for exceptional resistance to rust, chipping and UV rays
- EASY TO INSTALL. This hitch offers a custom, factory fit on select model years of the Honda Ridgeline
Here’s a great ball mount option so you can hook up different types of trailers for towing with your Ridgeline:
- DEPENDABLE STRENGTH. Rated to tow 3,500 pounds gross trailer weight and 350 pounds tongue weight, this ball hitch offers dependability for your towing setup (weight capacity may change if trailer ball is removed)
- VERSATILE USE. This trailer hitch ball mount comes with a 1-1/4-inch shank to fit virtually any industry-standard 1-1/4-inch receiver. The ball mount has a 3-1/4-inch drop, 2-inch diameter ball, 1/2-inch hitch pin hole and 7-1/4-inch overall length
- READY TO TOW. Hitching up your trailer is easy with this ready-to-use trailer hitch ball mount. It comes with a pre-attached tow ball for ready coupling and a trailer hitch pin to securely mount onto your hitch receiver
- CORROSION-RESISTANT. For long-lasting use, this ball hitch is protected with a durable black powder coat finish, and the trailer ball has a polished chrome plating. These finishes resist damage from rain, dirt, road salt and other corrosive threats
- EASY TO INSTALL. To install the trailer hitch ball mount on your vehicle, simply insert the shank into your vehicle's 1-1/4-inch hitch receiver. The rounded shank makes installation easy
Honda Ridgeline Tow Hitch Installation
If you’re considering having a tow hitch added to your Ridgeline, expect to pay between $100 and $200 to have a tow package professionally installed (excluding the cost of the tow hitch and wiring harness).
If you’re handy and looking to save money, you can install the trailer hitch and wiring harness yourself.
Always follow the manufacturer’s directions and use proper safety precautions.
Here’s a great video walkthrough on a Honda Ridgeline trailer hitch installation:
Hitch Receiver Vs Rear Step Bumper Towing
Some vehicles allow for bumper towing, which means you can mount a tow hitch ball directly on the bumper instead of installing a tow hitch to the vehicle’s frame.
Can I Bumper Tow With A Honda Ridgeline?
The Honda Ridgeline does not allow for bumper towing, so you’ll need to use a frame-mounted hitch.
How Do I Know If My Honda Ridgeline Has A Tow Package?
You can start by looking under the rear bumper of your Ridgeline to see if you notice a trailer hitch or trailer ball.
That will give you a good indication of if you have a tow hitch already installed on your Ridgeline.
Another way to research this is by checking the paperwork that came with your vehicle or taking it to a local dealer to see what’s installed.
Make sure to have your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) handy if you call the dealer so they can look up the exact specs and whether or not your vehicle has any towing packages or features installed on it.
Data Accuracy
We’ve gathered all data represented here from the official Honda Ridgeline Owner’s Manuals on Honda’s site and have checked all data thoroughly for accuracy.
Having said that, we still recommend you refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual yourself before towing with a 2023 Honda Ridgeline.
