I was chatting with a buddy of mine who is a mechanic about the Honda Ridgeline. Of course, you want to stay within the towing weight limits. However, sometimes the recommendations, such as a weight distributing hitch, are a "cover the butts" recommendations. A WDH will change the dynamics of the truck and trailer system and will affect the functions load levelling, brake proportioning valves, ABS, antisway, and others. If an owner were to adjust the WDH incorrectly, it would affect these systems in an adverse way and could cause an accident. Of course, Honda doesn't want anyone to try to sue them if, for instance, the ABS kicked in, reduced the stopping power and caused an accident, if the situation arose because the owner had too much tension on the WDH.
I cannot say for sure what Honda's technical reasoning is for this, and of course, I'm not trying to say whether you should or should not use a WDH. All I know is that people have towed Trailmanors with a Ridgeline, and used a WDH as well.
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