Hawk + 1/2 Ton Truck Owners...

[tstumpfig]

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

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

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

 

[Beach]

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.

 

[BBZ]

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..

 

[Dphillip]

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.

 

[OregonOzzy]

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.

 

[AWG_Pics]

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.com/photos/awg_pics/albums/72157716358035852

https://www.flickr.com/photos/awg_pics/albums/72157713675177963

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

Tony

 

[tstumpfig]

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.

 

[larryqp]

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.

 

[Advmoto18]

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.

 

[Ronin]

I had a 2004 Tundra 4x4/2004 Hawk for a few years and added helper springs to level out the ride. The biggest issue I had was braking was marginal. In 2015 I bought a new Tundra 4X4 Double cab and had 2 different fairly loaded Hawks on it. I added Ride-Rites to raise the rear a couple of inches. I never felt the need to do any other suspension mods, but never liked the ride with the camper off. The rear end was lifted an inch or two with the Ride-Rites at 15 psi and it made the rear end too bouncy. I now have a 2019 Tundra 4X4 Double Cab with an ATC Panther Shell equipped with side dinette and stove. The factory weight is 900 lbs. Being a backpacker I'm pretty minimalist in how much stuff I need to bring on my trips. I've had this combo for a year now and haven't felt the need to do any suspension mods though I suspect if I had the camper on full time I'd probably add Sumo Springs in the rear. I live in the foothills and daily driving consists of hills and lots of curvy backroads. When I'm out wandering it's generally paved roads until I hit the backcountry and then it's mainly gravel roads and nothing too crazy as I'm still running the Michelins that came with my Tundra.
Good luck sorting it out!!

 

[Rockaway]

All great info above. I’ll add I run 2018 F150 3.5L FX4 w/air bags and a Hawk -shell w/heater. OH, I also carry a Husky 350s on the back. The weight of the truck + camper+bike is a big deal the more you travel off the beaten path. Gas mileage is also very effected as you add more weight. Keep all this in mind as you make your selection. With very little mods my F150 has proven to be what I want and how I want it both on and off road. The individual front suspension is very comfortable and capable. Solid axels are robust but stiffen ride. A Half ton truck has its place in the pop camper market. Just be careful to know and understand the capabilities of what you drive or ride.

 

[RamblinRoger]

Hi Everyone,

New to forum. Lots of great information. I've a 2018 Tundra 1.5 ton 5.7 liter, Double Cab with 6.5 foot bed. I want to get a Hawk or perhaps another kind or popup camper. (Hawks nice but pricey)

I think the weight of the Hawk loaded will exceed the GVWR (7100 lbs) of the truck by about 200-300 lbs or so. The camper will be off the truck in my driveway when not in use.

Two questions:

Do I need both the Hellwig Overload springs plus Airbags? I'm guessing they have different functions. If both items aren't necessary then which one do you recommend?

Also, if the GVWR is exceeded and the vehicle should be involved in an accident might there be an issue with my insurance company covering the incident b/c the weight was exceeded?

Thank you!

Roger

 

[mtnbiker99]

Hey Roger - i'm relative new to this forum as well AND i'm also in the same situation as you. I have a 2019 F150 crewcab with 6.5 bed and my GVWR is 7100. I took my truck to a CAT scale with the heavy tailgate off and it weighs 5680lbs. (full tank of gas).

So as you can see, without any passengers, gear, bikes, etc. i'll be way over the GVWR. Most people run pretty close to their GVWR if not over. For me, i'll be way over.Truck is stock so i'll have to spend extra $$ on suspension mods. And that will also add extra weight.

So now, i'm in the process of looking for a 3/4 truck. Mainly for family safety and peace of mind.

To answer your questions.
1. I was thinking of the same mods as you. Since the camper will be on part time.
2. I'm in the mindset that insurance companies will find a way not to pay.