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Hawk + 1/2 Ton Truck Owners...


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#1 tstumpfig

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Posted 08 November 2020 - 10:37 PM

Seems the general rec here is to go with a 3/4 ton or bigger, but to those who stuck with 1/2 ton...

 

What has your experience been like? Do you feel like you have enough truck for the Hawk? Is your Hawk fully loaded or just a shell? Just hoping to gather some feedback, good or bad.

 

-Thomas


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2005 FWC Hawk

2005 GMC Sierra 2500 Duramax CCSB


#2 Casa Escarlata Robles Too

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Posted 08 November 2020 - 11:06 PM

Welcome to the cult.

Several members have the Hawk/Tundra combo and seem to work out well.

Lighthawk and Billharr are two I can think of.

 

I have a loaded Bobcat on a2002 Tundra.Works very well for me.

Frank


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2002 Tundra AC TRD 4WD Limited 2009 ATC Bobcat loaded http://sharychic.blogspot.com/


#3 Beach

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Posted 08 November 2020 - 11:22 PM

It is doable. I had mine on a 1st gen tundra with the 4.0 six cyl.  for 3 years before moving to a 3/4 ton. You'll need to modify the rear suspension and up grade tires and shocks. 


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#4 BBZ

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Posted 08 November 2020 - 11:29 PM

I have a older grandby shell on a f150.. Airbags and upgraded shocks, E rated tires.. hardly notice its there..

 

If I were traveling in a fully loaded FWC, I do think I would want a 3/4 ton truck but I also need my truck for work and really don't want to be driving around in a 3/4 ton truck all the time... We travel light.. it works..


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2023 F-150 Scab HDPP + 2013 Grandby Shell +

 

https://www.wanderth...ect-90s-granby/

 

 


#5 Dphillip

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Posted 09 November 2020 - 01:22 AM

9D012A21-0CB4-470B-A0F2-BE25BA89B934.jpeg

 

My Hawk is well equipped on a regular cab 1/2 ton GMC 4X4. I did add air bags but have not changed to a greater load range tire. It handles perfectly fine in my opinion. I will also occasionally tow a 1000 pound trailer with either a motorcycle or old Jeep on the trailer. Only in the mountains will the truck struggle to maintain speed otherwise it does fine. In a few years when I trade for a new truck I’ll purchase another half ton. 

 

Also, with the camper on the truck and towing the trailer and the Jeep I’m still under the gross combination weight rating of the truck according to the owners manual.


Edited by Dphillip, 09 November 2020 - 01:41 AM.

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#6 OregonOzzy

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Posted 09 November 2020 - 01:56 AM

Thomas- I had a 2002 Hawk (fully stocked minus furnace) on 2012 Tundra RockWarrior for a few years. The E-rated tires, Hellwig Rear Sway Bar and Firestone RideRite Airbags, definitely helped. Only tried w/o those upgrades once on a 400mi trip over the Cascades and the sway and the squishy tires convinced me to move forward with those upgrades. There is only two of and we travel light, but there was no way you could remain under the Tundra Max load capacity. The 1st opportunity I got to upgrade to a 3/4T truck, I did and never looked back. More details on that is somewhere on this forum. Good luck with your decision.


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#7 AWG_Pics

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Posted 09 November 2020 - 02:14 AM

I have a well equipped 2019 Hawk on an 2019 Tundra. It works fine for me. Have spent about 8 weeks of 2020 on the road with this combo and have had no issues. Do have E tires and firestone ride-rite airbags. A good amount of the 8 weeks has been on way-back-of-beyond 4WD tracks. If a person does not drive like a wildeyed rock-crawling 18 year old then there are no issues.

 

Here are two trip photo reports from 2020 excursions:

 

https://www.flickr.c...157716358035852

 

https://www.flickr.c...157713675177963

 

You can see for yourself I am happy to get into the back country.

 

Tony


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#8 tstumpfig

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Posted 09 November 2020 - 02:33 AM

Thanks everyone for the feedback, Dphillips post is giving me a little bit of hope!

 

I've been trying to get up in this cult but with camper availability and now my truck most likely needing mods, it's been a battle. I have a 2002 GMC Sierra 1500 z71 4x4, haven't crunched an official number but i'm guessing my payload is around 1600 lbs. With Hawk dry weight being around 1100 lbs, i'll blow by that number with camper add ons (dependent on who i buy it from), gear, people, and probably other stuff depending on the trip.

 

I'd pull the trigger on a Hawk shell if i could, but they're just not around at the moment. 


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2005 FWC Hawk

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#9 larryqp

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Posted 09 November 2020 - 03:02 AM

I have a 2019 Hawk shell with furnace, two 10 lb propane bottles, National Luna compressor refrig/freezer, front dinette, some custom small cabinets on a 2016 gas ford f150 Fx4, supercab, 2.7 L ecoboost. I added E rated tires, custom spring pack which has 1100 lbs added capacity. The Hawk never comes off the truck. The truck does not care that it's carrying the Hawk, except for the mpg. I stop fine, I pass others on the flats as well as the mountains. I drive off road in a sane manner, not like an 18 yo rock crawler as AWC_Pics pointed out and life is good.

 

Your issue is more likely the age of your truck and not the 1/4 ton rating.

Good luck and happy hunting.


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2016 F150, FX4, XLT super cab

2019 FWC Hawk Shell

2009 Ford Ranger 4x4, XLT, Supercab total loss on 7/30/19

2014 FWC Shell total loss on 7/30/19

Towed behind our home which is a 2005 Kountry Star Diesel Pusher


#10 Advmoto18

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Posted 09 November 2020 - 01:53 PM

My Hawk weighs ~1400# wet.  

 

Today, "1/2 ton" pickup is almost a misnomer in-so-far-as payload weight is concerned.  That was not the case 10 years ago.

 

Payload specs today, for example, a 2021 Ford F-150 (often thought to be a 1/2 ton pickup) has a payload capacity of 1,745 to 2,238# depending on specific submodel/engine.  Chevy 1,750 to 2,280#, Ram 1,212 to 2,302# and Toyota Tundra, 1,520 to 1,730#;  again, payload is dependent upon submodel and options.

 

Generally, regardless of make, the more expensive, well appointed, 4WD crew cabs will typically have the least payload.

 

So most popup campers will not exceed the payload or GVWR specs of late model year "1/2 ton" pickups.

 

Just remember, payload is anything and everything you or the dealer puts into the truck after it leaves the factory.  So any dealer add-on, fuel, passengers, gear is payload and needs to be calculated accordingly.

 

I prefer the 3/4 ton pickups, been driving one now for over 25 years.  I prefer to have at least 25% buffer between my vehicle's payload spec and what I'm actually carrying.  You're pushing the limits of the suspension and braking when you approach max payload and/or GVWR.

 

Jonathan Hansen published a good article on his web site about the 2021 Super Duty Tremor.  I've been driving Super Duties for over 25 years for payload and towing needs.  I even had a Prius when fuel was ~$4/G!  Today, my daily driver is a '88 BJ-74 Land Cruiser if not my bicycle or motorcycle.


Edited by Advmoto18, 09 November 2020 - 01:54 PM.

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South Carolina Low Country.  





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