When given the opportunity for adventure – the team at TFLtruck jumps at it! Andre Smirnov and Nathan Adlen set out in a 2017 Honda Ridgeline and Honda Pioneer side-by-side on a search for the ultimate vacation. At first, we posed a question regarding how much of a “real” truck the Honda Ridgeline is; when all was said and done, we ended up having a fantastic adventure in Moab, Utah.
There were several components we tested during our time with the Honda Ridgeline. We tested towing, ride comfort while towing, mpg and cargo capacity for camping gear. Along the way we played with the bed speakers, put tons of gear in the under-bed storage section and messed with every driving setting.
While we were in Moab, we went to Onion Creek ORV trail and campsite. It’s (usually) not that challenging, most Subarus can handle a majority of the obstacles, but it is a ton of fun. There are lots of low-water creek crossings, high speed dirt trails and, given the rain, patches of gooey red mud.
Nathan opted to spend the majority of his Moab trip inside the Ridgeline while Andre spent his time in the Honda Pioneer. Both vehicles were a hoot and, despite the mosquito larva turning into hungry flying mosquitos during the desert monsoons, only the driver of the Pioneer was exposed to possible malaria.
Rain, lightning/thunder, minor flooding, heavy fog, rock slides, mosquitos and love-seeking coyotes greeted us on the second (camping) night of our adventure. While the conditions were a tad harsh, the payoff was worth it. Yes, the Honda Ridgeline did everything we asked of it… everything a truck would do too – and it was fun while doing it.
By the end of the trip, we came to the conclusion that the Honda Ridgeline needs a few things to propel it to another level:
- More power
- Beefier off-road tires
- Under armor
- and… a VOLUME knob!
Our 2017 Honda ultimate vacation video will be airing shortly – stay tuned!
