Project Ridgeline....the Shop Truck!
Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2020 4:29 pm
I have had the same tow and haul and daily sling wheels V8 Dakota truck for 12 years! The 08 Dakota has served us incredibly well to six figures of mileage without a single thing needed beyond the basics like fluids and brake pads. But Dakota is not currently in production, rumors are that it will be back soon as a Baby Ram, but it was time to get our next midsize truck that fits down my long narrow driveway (none of the full size trucks fit) ...and yet can tow aluminum open trailer with Miata to events.
Thought about the Ranger with gutsy 2.3 EcoBoot, but wanted something less truck-ish this time that can still do the job. Tim and Tom from Grassroots MotorSports have long preached their love for the Ridgeline, as have many Miata racing buddies. Don't have room down my driveway for a fullsize so that meant sticking to something no bigger than Ridgeline or Ranger. Love the stereo speakers in the bed and the trunk under the bed. Might do our own Wilwood caliper conversion for this platform, it's otherwise a great midsize that rides and handles much better than trucks in this size thanks to fully independent suspension.
The Ridgeline is sort of the 'miata of trucks', not big on power or towing numbers but far more nimble with fully independent suspension, it handles a lot better than body on frame traditional trucks. Power is rather like miata, peak numbers rather untruck-ish with peak Hp way up at 6000 rpms!
Thought about the Ranger with gutsy 2.3 EcoBoot, but wanted something less truck-ish this time that can still do the job. Tim and Tom from Grassroots MotorSports have long preached their love for the Ridgeline, as have many Miata racing buddies. Don't have room down my driveway for a fullsize so that meant sticking to something no bigger than Ridgeline or Ranger. Love the stereo speakers in the bed and the trunk under the bed. Might do our own Wilwood caliper conversion for this platform, it's otherwise a great midsize that rides and handles much better than trucks in this size thanks to fully independent suspension.
The Ridgeline is sort of the 'miata of trucks', not big on power or towing numbers but far more nimble with fully independent suspension, it handles a lot better than body on frame traditional trucks. Power is rather like miata, peak numbers rather untruck-ish with peak Hp way up at 6000 rpms!