Photo: Honda Canada. A 2024 Ridgeline AWD RTL completed a 5,853-mile trip towing an Airstream Bambi.
Public-domain photo of an Airstream Bambi (CC0). The owner towed a 2004 Bambi 19' weighing roughly 4,500 pounds.
A longtime Airstream owner replaced a failed diesel Colorado with a 2024 Honda Ridgeline AWD RTL and pulled his 2004 Bambi 19' from Morro Bay, California, to Homer, Alaska. He reported 5,853 miles and roughly 14.5 to 15 mpg calculated from fuel stops. The dashboard averaged 15.4.
The trip began May 28, 2024, and ended June 28 in Homer. It included mountain grades, the Alaska Highway, and stretches of rough pavement that slowed him to 40 mph. Pre-trip 100-mile mountain tests returned 13 mpg. Individual legs ranged from 11.3 mpg on one rough northern stretch to 16.4 mpg on a better section. He carried extra fuel for remote stretches but said the stations made the reserve unnecessary at the observed mileage.
What it means: The Ridgeline’s 5,000-pound tow rating (under the conditions in the owner’s manual) is enough for many mid-size travel trailers. This owner’s roughly 4,500-pound Bambi, with solar, upgraded tires, and years of use, stayed within limits after he checked weights. The fuel economy drop from the unloaded EPA 21 combined into the mid-teens is typical for a gas V6 pickup pulling a tall, boxy trailer over varied terrain. At 15 mpg that’s about 15.7 L/100 km, useful context for Canadian buyers who think in litres.
The dashboard ran a little optimistic compared with the calculated fill-up math, which is common. The owner’s advice was practical: divide total miles by total gallons for the real number, check actual weights against the limits, and plan for lower-mpg days on rough or mountainous stretches.
My prediction: By January 12, 2027, more Canadian Ridgeline owners who tow will post calculated mid-teens mpg figures on longer trips. The pattern is already clear from U.S. owner reports, and Canadian highway speeds and terrain produce similar results.
If you’re considering a Ridgeline for towing: the real-world data shows it can handle a roughly 4,500-pound trailer over long distances and mountain grades without drama, at the fuel economy you’d expect from a gas V6 pickup. Next step: compare the current Ridgeline against the Tacoma and Ranger, or check today’s available units with me.
Quick answers
What MPG did the 2024 Ridgeline get towing the Airstream to Alaska?
The owner calculated roughly 14.5 to 15 mpg over 5,853 miles. The dashboard showed 15.4. Individual legs ranged from about 11.3 mpg on rough Alaska Highway stretches to 16.4 mpg on better sections. That works out to about 15.7 L/100 km at the 15 mpg average.
How heavy was the trailer?
The 2004 Airstream Bambi 19' was roughly 4,500 pounds. Honda rates the 2024 Ridgeline for up to 5,000 pounds under specific loading assumptions. The owner checked weights on a CAT scale and ran mountain test pulls beforehand.
Is 15 mpg good for a Ridgeline towing?
EPA rates the 2024 Ridgeline AWD at 21 mpg combined unloaded. Dropping into the mid-teens while pulling a roughly 4,500-pound travel trailer over mountain passes and rough pavement is in line with what owners report for similar loads. The calculated numbers were a bit below the dashboard.
Thinking about a Ridgeline for towing?
I can walk you through real-world capability, Canadian fuel numbers, and what’s actually on the lot right now.
Henry Chen · Sales Consultant at Maple Honda since 2022 · 647-523-6878 · henry@maplehonda.com · 89 Auto Vaughan Dr, Maple, ON L6A 4A1 · English and Mandarin.