Is the Honda Ridgeline built on a truck frame?
Yes, the Honda Ridgeline is built on a truck frame. The Ridgeline is a mid-size pickup truck that has been part of Honda's lineup since 2005. Unlike many other pickup trucks, the Ridgeline is not built on a traditional body-on-frame truck platform, but rather on a unibody chassis similar to that used in Honda's SUVs and minivans.
What is a Truck Frame?
A truck frame is the underlying structure that supports the body and components of a pickup truck. Traditionally, trucks have been built using a body-on-frame design, where the body is mounted on a separate, sturdy frame. This provides the strength and durability needed for hauling heavy loads and off-road use.
The Honda Ridgeline's Unibody Design
Unlike traditional body-on-frame trucks, the Honda Ridgeline uses a unibody construction, where the body and frame are integrated into a single unit. This provides several advantages:
- Improved Ride and Handling: The unibody design allows for a more car-like ride and better handling compared to body-on-frame trucks.
- Increased Rigidity: The integrated body and frame structure is more rigid, which can improve safety and reduce vibrations.
- Reduced Weight: Unibody construction is generally lighter than body-on-frame, which can improve fuel efficiency.
However, the unibody design also has some trade-offs, such as potentially lower towing and payload capacities compared to traditional truck frames.
Why Did Honda Choose a Unibody Design?
Honda's decision to use a unibody design for the Ridgeline was likely driven by the company's expertise in building unibody vehicles, such as its SUVs and minivans. This allowed Honda to leverage its existing engineering and manufacturing capabilities to create a more car-like pickup truck that would appeal to a broader range of customers, including those who may not need the full capabilities of a traditional body-on-frame truck.
What platform is the Honda Ridgeline on?
The Honda Ridgeline is a midsize pickup truck based on a unibody platform shared with some of Honda's excellent crossovers.
Is the Honda Pilot built on truck chassis?
The Pilot shares its platform with the Acura MDX, as well as the North American market Odyssey minivan. The Pilot's unibody construction and independent suspension are designed to provide handling similar to that of a car, and it has integrated perimeter frame rails to permit towing and light off-road use.
Is the 2024 Honda Ridgeline body-on-frame?
Honda doesn't sell traditional pickups and SUVs with body-on-frame construction. The midsize Ridgeline—Honda's sole pickup truck offering in the United States— utilizes unitized body construction and independent rear suspension similar to what the automaker uses in its passenger cars and crossover SUVs.
Is the Honda Ridgeline a real pickup truck?
The Honda Ridgeline is a mid-size pickup truck manufactured by Honda.
What are the negatives on a Honda Ridgeline?
Cons of the Honda Ridgeline:
Off-Road Capability: While the Ridgeline's all-wheel-drive system provides adequate traction in various driving conditions, it may not be as capable off-road as some traditional body-on-frame trucks with dedicated four-wheel-drive systems.
Are any cars still made with a body-on-frame?
While most cars, minivans, and SUVs are unibody construction, a lot of trucks and off-road-ready SUVs are constructed in a body on frame configuration (like the Orlando Toyota 4Runner).
Does Honda make a body-on-frame vehicle?
Rather than using separate body and frame components bolted together, every Honda features a single structure that can provide both greater rigidity and lighter weight.
Why is the Honda Ridgeline not selling?
Rather than a typical pickup truck. So the whole driving. Experience with the ridgel. Line is far more enjoyable compared to trucks like the Chevy Colorado. And Ford Ranger.
What platform is the Ridgeline built on?
unibody platform
Built on the unibody platform shared with the Pilot SUV and Odyssey minivan, the 2025 Ridgeline is available exclusively as a four-door crew cab with a five-foot bed.
Is the Honda Ridgeline on a truck frame?
Other trucks have a separate cab and bed set on a flexible ladder-type frame; the Ridgeline instead uses an advanced one-piece unit-body cab and bed, with an integrated frame.
