When you picture an off-grid overland rig, you probably imagine a solid-axle 4x4 with a rooftop tent and a winch. The unibody 2022 Honda Ridgeline RTL-E rarely makes that daydream. Yet, for weekend campers who value highway comfort alongside dirt-road capability, this truck punches above its weight. It doesn't crawl over boulder fields, but it eats up forest service roads with surprising composure.
The Ridgeline RTL-E comes standard with i-VTM4 torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, 7.3 inches of ground clearance, and a 3.5-liter V6 engine making 280 horsepower. While the competitor article claims it has a "locking rear differential" and "low-range gearing," it actually relies on an electronic traction management system and torque vectoring rather than mechanical lockers or a transfer case. Let's look past the marketing gloss to see how this truck handles real-world backcountry trips, what upgrades it needs, and where it falls short.
Understanding the Ridgeline RTL-E Platform
The unibody construction gives the Ridgeline distinct road manners compared to body-on-frame competitors like the Toyota Tacoma or Ford Ranger. You won't feel the jittery rear end typical of leaf-spring trucks over washboard gravel. Instead, four-wheel independent suspension keeps the cabin planted.
Power comes from a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. The Honda setup puts out 262 lb-ft of torque. Off-grid travelers appreciate the lack of turbocharger lag at high altitudes, though fuel economy hovers around 18 mpg city and 24 mpg highway when stock. Add heavy all-terrain tires and a bed rack, and that number drops closer to 16 mpg combined. Analysts at Bloomberg have also weighed in on this situation.
Real-World Off-Grid Utility
Living out of your truck for a weekend requires practical storage. The Ridgeline solves this with two standout features that traditional midsize trucks lack:
- In-Bed Trunk: A lockable 7.3-cubic-foot trunk sits beneath the bed floor. It holds recovery gear, tools, or firewood, and includes a drain plug so you can pack it with ice for use as a cooler.
- Dual-Action Tailgate: You can swing it open like a door for easy access to items pushed forward in the bed, or drop it down normally.
Payload capacity maxes out at 1,583 pounds on the RTL-E trim, while towing caps out at 5,000 pounds. That's plenty for a small teardrop trailer or a pop-up camper, but you'll want to watch tongue weights closely when loading up water tanks and auxiliary batteries.
Limitations on Rough Trails
Honesty is required when evaluating this truck for backcountry travel. The Ridgeline RTL-E has real limitations:
- Ground Clearance: At 7.3 inches, it sits lower than traditional 4x4s. Deep ruts and large embedded rocks will scrape the underside.
- Lack of Low Range: Without mechanical low-range gearing, creeping slowly over technical obstacles relies entirely on torque converter slip and brake-based traction control.
- Approach and Departure Angles: The front bumper hangs lower than dedicated off-road trucks, making steep step-ups tricky without modifications.
Essential Upgrades for Backcountry Camping
If you plan to take your RTL-E off the beaten path, a few strategic modifications transform it into a reliable camp setup:
- All-Terrain Tires: Swap the factory street-biased tires for a set of light-truck all-terrains in a slightly taller profile (such as 245/60R18) to gain marginal ground clearance and puncture resistance.
- Skid Plates: Protect the vulnerable oil pan and transmission components with aftermarket aluminum plating.
- Bed Rack and Roof Top Tent: Mount a low-profile aluminum rack to the composite bed rails to support a lightweight roof tent or awning without overloading the payload limits.
- Portable Power Station: Utilize the truck's 115V/150W power outlet in the bed to trickle-charge a standalone LiFePO4 power station while driving between campsites.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Many first-time truck campers make critical errors when outfitting a unibody vehicle. Avoid these pitfalls:
- Overloading the Payload: It's easy to add heavy steel bumpers, slide-out drawers, water, and gear until you exceed the 1,583-pound limit. Weigh your rig loaded up at a local scale.
- Ignoring Tire Pressures: Airing down improves traction on sand and washboard roads, but dropping too low on factory sidewalls risks unseating a bead or damaging a rim.
- Treating It Like a Rock Crawler: Momentum and line choice matter more in an AWD crossover-based truck than in a locked-axle rig. Pick smooth lines rather than bashing through obstacles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Ridgeline RTL-E handle snow and mud?
Yes. The intelligent traction management system features dedicated modes for Snow, Mud, and Sand. The i-VTM4 system actively shifts torque between the left and right rear wheels to claw through slick surfaces, provided you have adequate tread depth.
Does the RTL-E have a true four-wheel-drive system?
No. It features an electronic all-wheel-drive system with torque vectoring. It lacks a traditional transfer case, mechanical low range, and manual differential locks.
How does the dual-action tailgate work with a camper shell?
It swings sideways when closed, but a traditional camper shell window or door can sometimes interfere with full swing-out access. Measure clearance carefully if you plan to install a canopy shell.
What is the maximum wading depth for water crossings?
Honda doesn't publish an official wading depth rating for the Ridgeline. Because the air intake sits relatively high inside the front fender well, it handles shallow puddles and streams, but deep water crossings should be avoided to protect electronics and differential vents.
