28 replies to this topic

[Readyletterman]

Switching from a Fleet on an little old Toyota to a Granby on a crew cab 1500 Silverado. Planning to install air bags or a progressive spring leaf. The Fleet was a lot for the Toyota, hoping the Granby although 8 foot will not be too much for the ‘14 Silverado with the 6.5 foot bed.

[Advmoto18]

One important aspect to consider when installing the Grandby on a 6.5' bed is the camper's CG relative to the truck's.  When you install the Grandby on the short bed the combined CG of the rig will shift markedly aft.  Airbags will help eliminate or reduce the squat, but, nothing will help move the CG forward.  Get the CG too far aft and handling will be compromised.  Plus the wear on suspension and rear axle bearings will be more pronounced.  Ideally, you want to keep your "weight and balance" within the truck manufacturer's design parameters.

Switching from a Fleet on an little old Toyota to a Granby on a crew cab 1500 Silverado. Planning to install air bags or a progressive spring leaf. The Fleet was a lot for the Toyota, hoping the Granby although 8 foot will not be too much for the ‘14 Silverado with the 6.5 foot bed.

 

As far as the OP's post...

 

Hawk or Grandby...

Do you need additional storage inside the camper or outside?

 

I like the idea of a Hawk flatbed on a 8' frame chassis cab.  Building a storage compartment between the camper and back of the cab.

 

Like this one built by the folks at Mule Expedition Outfitters...

 

The type of cab is irrelevant unless overall wheelbase length is a factor.  I personally prefer crew cabs, but going with the 8' flatbed makes for a very long wheel base with the above setup.  I'd probably opt for a super cab with the above setup.

 

If you have your sights on a flatbed, and installing it on a 3/4 or 1 ton ton NEW truck,  consider ordering or purchasing a chassis cab.  On Ford, the chassis cab frame is several inches lower than on a pickup with the bed factory installed.  Further, if you order a pickup with a bed and opt for the factory bed delete, it only saves you ~$400.  And the top of your flatbed and overall height of the camper will several inches higher than if installed on the chassis cab.  The ground clearance and departure angles are very similar.

 

We have 2 black labs and find the slide-in Hawk very, very small.  One lab sleep on the dinette seat turned into a twin bed and the other sleeps in her bed on the floor (kind of cramped for her).  I'm not sure if a slide-in Grandby would help since the floor design is basically the same as the Hawk.  The only difference is the dinette is a little larger on the Grandby. 

 

But, the floor plan of the flatbed Hawk or Grandby would really help reduce the close quarters when we're all forced inside the camper due to weather or simply time to sleep.

Edited by Advmoto18, 04 March 2020 - 01:37 PM.

[Adventurer]

Not that anyone asked, but I wouldn't put a Grandby on a 6.5 half-ton truck.  You could, but I think depending on how you use the truck you'd introduce some handling characteristics that you (I) wouldn't like.

[Readyletterman]

Thanks, good to consider before it’s too late.
I’ll try to acquire the CG location from FWC and use the calculation information from General Motors,
https://www.gmfleeto...ang=1&year=2018

[Ziggman]

Not that anyone asked, but I wouldn't put a Grandby on a 6.5 half-ton truck.  You could, but I think depending on how you use the truck you'd introduce some handling characteristics that you (I) wouldn't like.

I agree with this. We have a Grandby flatbed on a short bed 1 ton RAM. We are very happy with it, but would not want to be on a smaller truck. As we are close to GVW when we are fully loaded.

Cheers,

[Sleddog]

We have a double cab Tundra with 6.5 foot bed and a Fleet that is 7'7" or so long. 4 foot of length on the lower level is devoted to a bed that is always in place and we use the tiny cab over section like a table or dresser, just a place to put stuff. This leaves us a 3'7" length of usable floor space (quite a bit less than the usable space you would have with a hawk if you sleep in the cabover bed) and it is just enough room to allow us to stand up to get dressed, to comfortably cook, and to lounge around at meal times if the weather is crummy. We've done a couple of two month trips without feeling too cramped, but we are fairly small people, your size will be a factor to consider. We also travel with 2 dogs, a 100 lb Lab and a 40 lb Schnauzer and they are simply not allowed in the camper, even with another 18 inches it wouldnt be enough room, and with the way the lab sheds, forget it. The back seat area of the truck is their "kennel" and they are more than happy with it.

If it were me, no way I'm trying to drive and park in any big city with a supercab and 8 foot of bed and camper, it is difficult enough with my double cab Tundra and the 6.5 foot bed. I would choose the Hawk and utilize the extra cab space for additional storage and for the dogs. If you could hardly tell the difference after standing in both models, I doubt you will miss the space. I think the trick to not feeling cramped is to start with a shell and try not to "overbuild" the interior.

[BBZ]

We have a double cab Tundra with 6.5 foot bed and a Fleet that is 7'7" or so long. 4 foot of length on the lower level is devoted to a bed that is always in place and we use the tiny cab over section like a table or dresser, just a place to put stuff. This leaves us a 3'7" length of usable floor space (quite a bit less than the usable space you would have with a hawk if you sleep in the cabover bed) and it is just enough room to allow us to stand up to get dressed, to comfortably cook, and to lounge around at meal times if the weather is crummy. We've done a couple of two month trips without feeling too cramped, but we are fairly small people, your size will be a factor to consider. We also travel with 2 dogs, a 100 lb Lab and a 40 lb Schnauzer and they are simply not allowed in the camper, even with another 18 inches it wouldnt be enough room, and with the way the lab sheds, forget it. The back seat area of the truck is their "kennel" and they are more than happy with it.

If it were me, no way I'm trying to drive and park in any big city with a supercab and 8 foot of bed and camper, it is difficult enough with my double cab Tundra and the 6.5 foot bed. I would choose the Hawk and utilize the extra cab space for additional storage and for the dogs. If you could hardly tell the difference after standing in both models, I doubt you will miss the space. I think the trick to not feeling cramped is to start with a shell and try not to "overbuild" the interior.

good points.. however.. a supercab with an 8 foot bed is roughly the same length as a double cab 6.5 bed.. 

 

I totally agree about a shell and build out how you want to maximize space. We have an old Grandby build from the frame that we gutted and left as much of an open concept as your could get. (also a double cab 6.5 truck so tailgate on and down).. We chose to build our light (900 ish) and the extra length does not screw up the COG with airbags and upgraded shocks. We are 2 adults and 2 dogs (with a lower bed available as an insert if needed).. When traveling for longer periods, the extra space is nice. 

 

Came from a 7.5 Fleet, amazing what a difference the extra width adds to floor space, feels much larger even though I think it is only 9 inches wider.. 

[Sleddog]

good points.. however.. a supercab with an 8 foot bed is roughly the same length as a double cab 6.5 bed..

I totally agree about a shell and build out how you want to maximize space. We have an old Grandby build from the frame that we gutted and left as much of an open concept as your could get. (also a double cab 6.5 truck so tailgate on and down).. We chose to build our light (900 ish) and the extra length does not screw up the COG with airbags and upgraded shocks. We are 2 adults and 2 dogs (with a lower bed available as an insert if needed).. When traveling for longer periods, the extra space is nice.

Came from a 7.5 Fleet, amazing what a difference the extra width adds to floor space, feels much larger even though I think it is only 9 inches wider..

My double cab Tundra 6.5 foot bed is 21.8 inches shorter in length than an f150 supercab 8 foot bed (228.7" vs. 250.5") with a tighter turning radius, and I hate trying to park in city parking lots that were not made for trucks of any size. I'm sure the extra space of a larger camper is nice, but it's hard to miss what you've never had, and I would hate to make a regular commute into San Francisco in almost 21 feet of truck.

Edited by Sleddog, 09 March 2020 - 02:38 AM.

[BBZ]

My double cab Tundra 6.5 foot bed is 21.8 inches shorter in length than an f150 supercab 8 foot bed (228.7" vs. 250.5") with a tighter turning radius, and I hate trying to park in city parking lots that were not made for trucks of any size. I'm sure the extra space of a larger camper is nice, but it's hard to miss what you've never had, and I would hate to make a regular commute into San Francisco in almost 21 feet of truck.

I don't disagree with you.. I hate having to park in a city.. I bought a 2008 prius last year so i didn't have to drive my truck everywhere.. so nice..

 

anyhow.. difference is length of trucks varies obviously, my double cab 6.5 f150 is 243.7 (F150's have large cabs..)...