2009 Dodge Ram 1500 & New (To Me) Hawk Trip Home

S

Southpaw Surfer

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After a few years of searching for my Hawk I am excited to be going this weekend to purchase one from a friend.

During those years of searching I have also been lurking on this forum. What a wonderful resource it is. Now that I have a FWC of my own I will be able to contribute to the community and continue to learn from all the experience here.

First question of many no doubt.

I will be traveling 250 miles on mostly highway from pickup to home.

My question is whether I need to install the eyebolts through the truck bed (The pick up turnaround will be on the quick side) or if the factory eyebolts are sufficient for the travel home?

Then once home I will have the time to make sure everything is exactly how I won't it for the installation.

My gut instinct is that the angle and the gauge of the bolt isn't sufficient and I should make the time and bring everything I need to install through the truck bed. But I'm hoping the expertise here will say the distance and time for this trip will be okay to bring it home this way.

Below is a pic of my Dodge Ram 1500 factory eyebolt for reference.

Thanks much,

Greg

IMG_4989.JPG
 
Get the info on how to install the eyebolts from FWC or ATC. Install the bolts prior to leaving to pick up the camper, and bring turnbuckles, carabiners, lengths of chain or whatever to be able to vary the lengths enough to buckle it down.
 
Absolutely agree with Vic. You’ve waited years to get it, why wait to do what you’re gonna do eventually and risk damage to either the camper or the truck. Having the eyebolts in place and turnbuckles ready will make it a faster turnaround.
Jim
 
Take the time and have it ready. FWC can give you the measurements. The truck tie-downs don't have the structural strength to secure the camper. FWC has also stated that.
 
I'm buying it from the original owner and it was installed on his truck at the factory. What FWC used originally to install in 2008 (that would be "the kit"?) is what we are going to use tomorrow when I get there.

I'll search the forum and FWC website for installation instructions for a 2008 Hawk on a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 but any guidance and helpful tips is appreciated.
 
Howdy and glad you were able to find a camper !

I strapped and chained my 2012 Hawk onto the truck bed for long ride home rather than make a quick mess of things in the sellers front yard.

The original owner had aluminum turnbuckles he claimed were "factory" that were pretty lame.

Only you can make the right decision about how to bring it home.....freeway miles or bumpy byways ?

Either way , remember to check the camper on the way, stop to admire it and look for loose straps or turnbuckles etc.

Maybe weigh your truck before and after you load it.

It will feel very odd on your truck...it will wiggle a lot along with the truck bed.

OH! and don't walk straight into the jacks while looking things over.

David Graves

PS Should you decide to sleep in the camper on your way home remember it is dang near impossible to raise the roof with the rear door closed ,,,you can hurt your back AND the roof.
 
^ funny, this ...

58510-STRAP-285x170.jpg


was going to be my alternate suggestion.

A pair, min 2" web, with the caveat to first determine that hat there is a good place to attach under the body (there are flat hook versions that can work on C channel frames). Believe me, it's been done before ...

Having a pick up, straps like these are useful thing to carry around ... even as a back up plan.

Good luck !
 
Hello gifslp
Congrats on the camper. I'm sure you have verified fitment for your specific vehicle , just thought I'd mention it. I do not think you would have much of a problem, doing it per FWC instructions, if you were prepared. I would say a second set of hands would be very helpful. My opinion is 250 miles is a long way with out it being properly secured. Hard to control the environment.

Russ
 
Thanks everybody for the tips and suggestions. It was a successful trip to pick it up. Ended up not messing around or chancing anything and installed the eyebolts on site.

The seller was really great. Not only did he help me install the eye-bolts but he and someone he hired to work on his property helped me spot it while I loaded the Hawk for the first time. That would have been beyond nerve racking to go it alone on my first attempt.

On top of that it was only the second day of snow in Sonora this year the day before the pick up. Since I was pulling a trailer to bring home the custom dolly that he had built for the trailer and there was plenty of ice on the road to his place he arranged for me to drop the trailer at his buddies house at a lower elevation.

At the end after all the help he provided we loaded the dolly in his truck and he drove it down to his buddies and helped me load it on the trailer.

Really a great guy and a great FWC Hawk. It's a 2008 and he only used it twice and garaged it all these years. The refrigerator, water tank, water pump, water heater were never used. I tested them all out and they work perfectly. It even smelled new when I opened the door.

Taking her out on her maiden voyage with her new family tomorrow night. We are both very happy.

pai-6mlV7nxRD0qe5qmplzM3i8LWqwUga1rIdSu_dUNelr_-wF4rA9baYoDYWmKgs6nbtgWAG42djQ=w2559-h1360-rw
 
Hi new owner,

For the life of me I cannot figure out how to say hello to some of the alius names folks use.

Glad you got it home but make sure now to snug things up if needed....

You will find lots of discussion of turnbuckles etc on the forum.

Can you try again with the picture ?

Thanks

David Graves
 
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