jimtoo
Moderator
Hi Zeman,
Wow... Welcome to the Family of Heartland Owners. I'm sure you will enjoy your new unit. Just do a really good PDI when you go to pick it up. Take notes or pictures, what ever so you can be sure of the operation of every thing.
If you have problems, we are here for you.
Enjoy the forum and your new toy.
Jim M
Wow... Welcome to the Family of Heartland Owners. I'm sure you will enjoy your new unit. Just do a really good PDI when you go to pick it up. Take notes or pictures, what ever so you can be sure of the operation of every thing.
If you have problems, we are here for you.
Enjoy the forum and your new toy.
Jim M
Ernie & Lettie
Well-known member
Welcome and congrats
Congratulations Zeman! I don't currently own an RV, but I've been reading about the Edge and wondering how it would tow behind my Honda Ridgeline. I'll be looking forward to hearing your updates. Again, congrats and have a wonderful time in your new Edge. Those two boys are gonna love it!
Thanks Jim. I've learned a lot from just reading the last couple of days. Great forum. Glad to see Heartland in the ultralite trailer business. Going to see an M21 and an M22 this weekend at my local dealer.
Zeman, have a great weekend with your new Edge! Wish we could see the look on the kid's faces. Should be fun for all.
We've had ours about three weeks...
...and are happy with it. Dealer did a good job on the PDI and we had only a very minor water problem which they fixed within a few hours when we took it in. Floor plan has worked well, and mechanical systems all seem very functional.
Our kid's are grown, so the bunks are storage units <smile>, but I have often thought it would be a good floor plan for small kids.
We have taken two weekend trips so far and enjoyed both. Headed out next weekend for a longer trip to the mountains (about 3-4 hrs) to see how she tows on more of a journey and to see how the hills go!
We're towing with a Tacoma Double Cab which is rated for 6500#, so we're well below that with the M22 (but I'm really conservative) - and based on my experience so far the rig tows fine, but I also don't feel like I have a ton of power to spare, so I'll be curious how your Ridgeline does since it is a little lighter vehicle (and I think has a lesser tow rating).
I went with an Equalizer hitch, and have been pleased with that decision, and would recommend it to you. I tried pulling with a standard ball hitch and found that the load was a lot less stable that way. I also installed a Prodigy P3 and it works great.
Coming form a lifetime of bigger rigs (motorhomes, pushers and 5th wheels) I have missed a few of the amenities and features I used to have, but overall feel like we got a very functional, fun RV relative to the price/weight.
We have made some minor changes and improvements already (mostly to add functionality that is not "standard" on this smaller trailer): An electric hitch jack, a extra house battery, addition of house battery cases, a disconnect switch for the house power, inverter, flat screen TV, and a few other odds and ends...
Hope you have as much fun as we are - I know that going RV'ing with my boys created the best memories we all have!
...and are happy with it. Dealer did a good job on the PDI and we had only a very minor water problem which they fixed within a few hours when we took it in. Floor plan has worked well, and mechanical systems all seem very functional.
Our kid's are grown, so the bunks are storage units <smile>, but I have often thought it would be a good floor plan for small kids.
We have taken two weekend trips so far and enjoyed both. Headed out next weekend for a longer trip to the mountains (about 3-4 hrs) to see how she tows on more of a journey and to see how the hills go!
We're towing with a Tacoma Double Cab which is rated for 6500#, so we're well below that with the M22 (but I'm really conservative) - and based on my experience so far the rig tows fine, but I also don't feel like I have a ton of power to spare, so I'll be curious how your Ridgeline does since it is a little lighter vehicle (and I think has a lesser tow rating).
I went with an Equalizer hitch, and have been pleased with that decision, and would recommend it to you. I tried pulling with a standard ball hitch and found that the load was a lot less stable that way. I also installed a Prodigy P3 and it works great.
Coming form a lifetime of bigger rigs (motorhomes, pushers and 5th wheels) I have missed a few of the amenities and features I used to have, but overall feel like we got a very functional, fun RV relative to the price/weight.
We have made some minor changes and improvements already (mostly to add functionality that is not "standard" on this smaller trailer): An electric hitch jack, a extra house battery, addition of house battery cases, a disconnect switch for the house power, inverter, flat screen TV, and a few other odds and ends...
Hope you have as much fun as we are - I know that going RV'ing with my boys created the best memories we all have!
About a 3 hr uneventful drive home with the M-22 in tow behind the Ridgeline. Sitting in the driveway dirty and cold. Cranked the heat up and everyone talked about our first trip this summer while listening to the radio inside. Spittin' snow and a low of 8* tonight. One day closer to spring!!
Congratulations Zeman! Did the whole family ride out there with you? Must've been fun. How did your Ridge do with it's new partner? Pickup, stability, ride? The folks in the Ridgeline Owners Club have posted all kinds of experiences, but none with the new Heartland Edge series. I know Honda doesn't recommend a WDH on the Ridge, but I've read some are using one with sway control with good results when they pull over 3k lbs just to keep from blinding oncoming traffic with headlights at night. Are you using one? I'm looking forward to hear what your first impressions were as my wife and I are very interested in the trailer.
Did the pickup alone. I'm curious about the 3219 LB. trailer weight, we'll see I have a stone/gravel quarry around the corner from me with truck scales.
Pickup--not gonna win any races but not bad considering that's quite a billboard behind you.
Stability & Ride--excellent as far as I am concerned. You have a Ridge so you know both are great for this type of vehicle.
I too follow/lurk on R.O.C. I did the same as you did probably---looked at all the towing posts. Did you see that 29 footer!!?? To me it was about 75% towed with nothing and 25% with some sort of WDH/Sway control. I hemmed and hawed about what to do and finally decided to pickup with just my newly installed Prodigy brake controller and no WDH/Sway. This is where the story gets interesting---I finalize the deal and set up the pickup date. Salesman asks me of my hitching and I tell him I have my Prodigy installed and no WDH. "Well, we can't allow you to leave the dealership without the proper hitching because of our insurance, blah, blah, blah......" says the salesman!! I say "Honda does not recommend using a WDH per the vehicle owners manual". Salesman repeats same and I repeat the same while adding I do not feel like being held hostage having to buy such. I tell him I'm having seconds thoughts about having the TT delivered with such demands. In other words if I HAVE TO have a WDH---no delivery to me. I tell him I'll call you back. I call Corporate Honda for a specific reason as the owners manual is a "Ride the Fence" statement when you read the complete statement. After two calls I receive a reasonable explaination--the Ridgeline is not a traditional truck (body on frame) but a unibody type vehicle. My interpretation is the "improperly" installed WDH could torque/twist/damage the unibody. I call back the salesman and his tune changes as he says that he just got off the phone with Honda after they faxed him the owners manual statement. He was sorry about his disbelief of my statement about the WDH. Everything is now AOK.
I borrowed a friends Class V ball mount with a 4" drop. I flipped the ball for a 4" rise. Trailer height @ bottom of coupler was 19" per dealer. Top of receiver on Ridge--17". My guesstimation is this combo will work out. Hook up at the dealer and the rear drops 2-3". Everyone @ the dealer including myself comment how little it squats. NO headlights to the sky issue. Sounds like some of those guys have too much tongue weight. Of course this is nothing in the trailer so I'm thinking 6" rise would be perfect. I'm going to try and get some more measurements in my driveway---try and post some pictures.
On the highway I did feel some crosswinds but nothing out of control. I'll probably take a couple of trips with the trailer loaded with gear and see how that goes. If I were to get a WDH , I would get an Equalizer 2.
If the temp. stays half way reasonable this weekend we may overnight it in the trailer.
Wow, fantastic information Zeman. Thanks for the detailed summary. That's invaluable. Amazing story about the WDH and the dealer. Both parties trying to do what's right it sounds like. The Ridgeline is a very unusual vehicle, but that's why my wife and I like it so much. Thanks again for the info. Looking forward to hearing (and seeing) more from you.
I'd like to see some pic's of your changes/improvements. House battery? Is this an extra battery for sites with no A/C pwr--extra D/C run time?
I know we're going to have lot's of fun!!
Freckles
Founding New York Chapter Leader-Retired
Congrats Zeman , Glad to here all's good and the new Edge is home !!! Now the long wait for winter to take it's course . To your earlier posts ! Yes we would love for you and the family to come to our Rally. Looking forward to see your new Edge !!
I had the same basic discussion with the dealer when I took delivery of my M 18. I tow with a 2006 Acura MDX. I showed them the auto users manual and there was discussion of me signing a release of liability for them. I honestly don't recall doing that although I might have. Acura has the same general wording about the WDH in the manual so I didn't get one. I have towed perhaps 200-300 miles thus far (No mountains) and all is well. I did put on a friction type anti sway bar, although it was OK without it around town at lower speeds. It might be alright without it but the anti sway bars are relatively cheap.
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