My boat checks in at 2850 lbs plus another 1180 lbs for the trailer. The tank holds 35 gallons of gas which adds another 220 lbs as well. Anyhow it looks like I need to tow around 4300lbs total but the FEH only tows 1000 so it is out. I've driven the Nissan Fronter, and Jeep Liberty diesel and also took a quick look at the Honda Ridgeline. While I really like the diesel, my favorite so far is the Honda. Too bad you can't get a Ridgeline in a diesel. If I went with the Ridgeline I'd have a 2 Honda household. I like almost everything about the Ridgeline except is strange looks. I like the uni-body, the lighted bed, the in bed trunk, the independant rear suspension, the lack of wheel wells in the bed, and the composite bed.

Anybody got any better ideas? I'd like to stay around $20-25k. The Ridgeline is pushing the $25k limit pretty hard.

What about a Tacoma? You can get a 2WD 4-cyl Tacoma with the 4-door setup for a little over $20k or something. They list the "standard" towing at 3500 pounds and maximum towing (maybe requires an option package?) at 6500 pounds. The 4-cyl might be doing a lot of work when towing, but it's rated at 20/27mpg, which is better than you'll get with most any of the other options listed. The V6 model is rated 18/22 in 2WD which is still decent, but obviously you pay a price for the extra power and torque.

Oh yeah I did look at the Toyota as well. Thanks for reminding me. The Toyota is Ok but I liked the new design features of the Ridgline better. I didn't care for the bed in the Toyota (thin/cheap plastic covers on the in bed glove box).

BTW I need 4wd because of slick boat ramps and snow. It is hilly and snowy (in winter) where I live plus I'm 18 miles from work so a 4wd is required.

To be entirely honest, I wouldn't really trust Honda's automatic transmissions for towing. They just had way too many problems with the auto trannies in their other late model V6 vehicles for me to trust it. I checked autos.msn.com and the Tacoma V6 4WD "Access Cab" with automatic transmission and the Convenience Package and Towing Package rings in at $26,165 MSRP including destination charge.

Considering the Ridgeline starts over $28k including destination for the base model and no towing package and climbs into the mid 30's for the higher grade models, the Tacoma looks quite affordable in comparison. It looks like the Tacoma, even in 4WD, is rated slightly more fuel efficient than the Ridgeline.

Hi Lakedude:

___I have to agree with AZCivic. I have towed the loaded up landscape trailer with the MDX (the MDX and Ridgeline are of the same blood line) and I thought it towed for $@#(! My miniscule Ranger can tow that same weight better then that beast even though the MDX has boat loads more power, torque, size, and mass. The MDX just does not have as solid a feel in the ICE/Tranny/Suspension department when towing as the much smaller Ranger w/ a stick does. The X’s tranny is really setup for highway cruise, not towing imho. With the loss of a few mpg’s, I am sure Honda beefed up the Ridgeline’s towing capability over and above that of the Ody and MDX but an Independently suspended Crossover Car/Truck may not be the answer you may have hoped for when towing that large of a trailer/weight My suggestion is to purchase a solid axle tow truck if you really need to.

PS: I received an abysmal 12 mpg when towing that trailer for ~ 30 miles RT in the MDX and it was extremely painful to watch The Ranger is almost tripling that FE around the subdivision pulling the same as of late!

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net

Buy a cheapie tow vehicle for now, and hold out for a hybrid diesel!

<Best Tank Economy!><Best Tank Endurance!>

Ok you guys have convinced me to keep the 1998 ranger for a few more years.

When it comes to towing, I'm all american, all the way. The rice burners put up good numbers, but for pulling, look at the big 3. They know trucks.