Truck fit guide / Midsize truck
Truck Bed Camper for Honda Ridgeline
The 2nd Gen Ridgeline (2017+) is the only unibody truck we currently fit — and it works with the Kimbo 6.
Recommended Kimbo
Kimbo 6
From $27,990
Compatible generations
2nd
2017+
Payload range
1,499–1,583 lb
Door-jamb sticker is the truth.
Tailgate rule
Bed 6 ft+ closes
Bed length determines tailgate behavior.
How it fits
Why some Honda Ridgelines fit and some don't.
The Ridgeline is the unusual case: a unibody truck (no separate frame) in a market dominated by body-on-frame designs. That construction has implications for camper installs that are different from every other truck on this list — the unibody platform means the bed is integrated into the structure, which changes how loads transfer and where tie-down points exist. The 2nd Gen Ridgeline (2017+) is the version we currently fit; the 1st Gen (2006–2014) is not compatible.
Why the 1st Gen doesn't work: shallower bed depth, dual-action tailgate (folds out as well as down) with hardware that interferes with camper mounting, and a bed-rail topology that doesn't accept our standard tie-down brackets cleanly. We've reviewed several 1st Gen owner requests over the years and the engineering doesn't pencil. The 2nd Gen redesign (2017) deepened the bed and changed the rail topology enough that a clean Kimbo 6 install became possible.
On a 2nd Gen Ridgeline, the install is straightforward but requires airbag retrofit because the unibody rear doesn't tolerate sustained load as well as a leaf-sprung rear. The Ridgeline's 5'4" bed means tailgate-down operation only — no closing the tailgate. Honda's payload rating (1,499–1,583 lb depending on trim) is sufficient for a base Kimbo 6 with comfortable margin. The Ridgeline is the truck we'd recommend to a buyer who specifically values daily-driver refinement and isn't shopping for a ladder-frame truck.
By generation
Year-by-year fit notes.
Truck-camper fit isn't one-size-fits-all across model years — frame, cab clearance, and suspension change between generations. Here's where each Honda Ridgeline sits.
2006–2014
Honda Ridgeline 1st Gen
Bed depth and dual-action tailgate geometry preclude a Kimbo install.
2017+
Honda Ridgeline 2nd Gen
Fits the Kimbo 6 with airbag retrofit; bed length supports tailgate-down only.
The math
Your payload margin, calculated.
Real numbers for a fully-provisioned Kimbo install on a Honda Ridgeline at the middle of its payload range. Substitute your own door-jamb sticker for a precise calculation.
- Honda Ridgeline payload (mid-range)+ 1,541 lb
- Kimbo 6 (base)− 830 lb
- Fresh water (4 gal)− 32 lb
- Propane (20 lb tank)− 30 lb
- Gear load− 100 lb
- 1 occupant in cab (200 lb)− 200 lb
Remaining margin
+349 lb
Calculated using the midpoint of the Honda Ridgeline's published payload range. Your specific truck's door-jamb sticker is what counts. Trim packages, options (sunroofs, larger wheels), and tow packages can swing this number by 200–500 lb in either direction.
The Kimbo team's pick
If we were buying a Honda Ridgeline…
If we were buying a Ridgeline for a Kimbo, we'd get a 2nd Gen RTL or RTL-E with the AWD package. Skip the Black Edition (luxury options eat payload). Add Air Lift airbags before the install — non-negotiable on a unibody. Stock 18" wheels with all-terrain tires; no lift.
Recommended platform
From $27,990
Kimbo 6
The nimble original. Built for midsize and half-ton trucks.
- — 830 lb dry
- — R5 insulation, four-season ready
- — Full-size memory foam bed
- — Hand-riveted aluminum monocoque shell
Honda Ridgeline questions
Honda Ridgeline-specific questions, answered.
Older generations
1st Gen Honda Ridgeline is not currently compatible with the Kimbo platform. Bed depth and dual-action tailgate geometry preclude a Kimbo install.
Talk through your Honda Ridgeline.
Door-jamb sticker, intended use, modifications you're considering — bring it all by. We'll tell you honestly whether the rig will work the way you want it to.