Hawk on a Ram 1500

Btw, wait until next year and you'll be able to get the tundra with a cummins turbo diesel in it. =;v)
 
I read somewhere when you figure the percentage of american parts in each truck Toyota was leading if I remember with 68% or something like that.
 
Get a 3/4 ton and you'll never have to worry about a single issue related to GVWR. No airbags to break, no need to upgrade to E-rated tires, no sway bars...
 
I agree with Bwht4x4. 1/2 tons are fine but with my 3/4 I don't worry about the camper, the gear inside, the kayaks on top, or even the boat I'm pulling with it. With the diesel I'm getting 17 mpg with a fully loaded camper. It all comes down to what you are comfortable with and what type of budget you are working with. Whatever you choose good luck and I'm sure you will enjoy it.
 
Nothing to do with GVWR, but I also find it hilarious with my friends that they buy Toyota Tundras and 4-Runners and then complain all day about the mileage they get in them. My Dodge 3/4 diesel with mud terrains and the camper gets the same MPG they get in their trucks.
 
Bwht4x4 said:
Nothing to do with GVWR, but I also find it hilarious with my friends that they buy Toyota Tundras and 4-Runners and then complain all day about the mileage they get in them. My Dodge 3/4 diesel with mud terrains and the camper gets the same MPG they get in their trucks.
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Agree, but for what you are going to do. Friend of mine bought a V6 2WD Tundra and his milage is worse than my 4x4 V8 Tundra.
 
I guess I'll chime in here, I get right a 14 mpg with a 06 tundra access 4.0 2wd/05 Hawk loaded. I'm looking to upgrade to a full size truck, even with the extra springs, my truck is overloaded and that 6cyl has to work pretty hard to push that hawk down the road. I expect the mileage will be better or as good with a small or mid size v8 and the additional power in the hills and when towing will be welcome. Other advantage of a full size truck is the track width which will add to the stability.
 
I have a Hawk with most of the options (no toilet or water heater) on a Ram 1500 with a 1700 lb payload rating. I added Bilstein shocks all around along with airbags and it handles really well…..even when four-wheeling.
 
I'm about to take delivery of a "Hawk" with a frig, sink, stove, one battery, outside shower, and awnings. Plan to slide it into our beautiful new 1/2 ton Ram. I had airbags added to the suspension which I was told increases the payload by an additional 1,000 pounds - more or less. It's just my wife and me and we're lean (but not mean….together we weigh in at 320 pounds. We travel light, clothes and gear wise; eat mostly fresh food which means we never have much food at any one time, and I don't envision ever filling the water tank(s). We live in the Rockies and will therefore often be rolling on gravel and steep rutted roads. My question is this…should I also consider adding sway bars to the truck or will the airbags be sufficient? Looking forward to your expertise as I'm a neophyte in this world of truck campers. (Pretty darn exciting to think I am finally comfortable - after 40 years of backpacking and high altitude alpinism - with the notion of sleeping on something other than foam or a Thermarest pad!) Cheers and thanks!
 
be careful about the verbiage "...adds 1000lbs additional payload". Realistically that is an inaccurate way to look at it because all the airbags do is lift the rear of the truck. Payload stays the exact same in an engineer's mind (considering you did nothing with the actual build of the truck such as bearings, axles, tires, shocks, brakes, frame, etc.)

Just my .02 worth.

Yes, sway bar will help with 'roll' with the camper on.

Enjoy, and be safe!
 
I asked the Toyota manager in the service dept this question. I said if I add E rated tires and airbags does the GVWR stay the same? he said that the rating is printed and it says with P rated tires. Just the act of adding the E rated tires it changes the actual GVWR. So his opinion yes it changes the rating. What that changes to he had no idea.
 
That's the first thing I would buy, before air bags. Take-off tires from any manufacturer are all junk C-rated tires in my mind, except for the TRD Rock Warrior Tundra, which I believe are E-rated BFG TA/KO's. Anybody confirm this?
 
chnlisle said:
I love my 2500 but if I were doing it again I would go with Mikey and go big with a 3500.
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When I started researching pop-up campers and trucks I thought I would get a 3/4 ton. A friend who is a 20+ year truck camper told me not to waste my time with anything less than a 1 ton. I've decided for me a 3500 was the right choice.
 
The certified GVWR(door sticker or glove box sticker) by the manufacture for a vehicle cannot be changed by the addition of air bags, springs, tires or anything else for that matter by the vehicle owner or the dealerships. Any service manager that tells you otherwise is uninformed or is being untruthful...
Do these additions make your truck handle better yes.. are you still outside of the vehicle designs absolutely(assuming your over the GVW).
Loading your vehicle beyond its design is not only a bad idea but, if you are ever in an accident with someone that knows your over the limit and wants to go after you.. good luck explaining why you added all these aftermarket items to help your truck handle a load it was not designed to from the factory..
Then again I have never heard or anyone being sued and losing all there possessions from being overloaded and in an accident. But I have worked to hard for my junk to give it to a lawyer and their client.

yes, this topic is a hot button for me....
 
dauntless225 said:
The certified GVWR(door sticker or glove box sticker) by the manufacture for a vehicle cannot be changed by the addition of air bags, springs, tires or anything else for that matter by the vehicle owner or the dealerships. Any service manager that tells you otherwise is uninformed or is being untruthful...
Do these additions make your truck handle better yes.. are you still outside of the vehicle designs absolutely(assuming your over the GVW).
Loading your vehicle beyond its design is not only a bad idea but, if you are ever in an accident with someone that knows your over the limit and wants to go after you.. good luck explaining why you added all these aftermarket items to help your truck handle a load it was not designed to from the factory..
Then again I have never heard or anyone being sued and losing all there possessions from being overloaded and in an accident. But I have worked to hard for my junk to give it to a lawyer and their client.

yes, this topic is a hot button for me....
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You must worry a lot about loosing your "stuff" to ambulance chasers. I was told that the GVWR was set for the equipment and tires that were on the truck. Changing that changes the GVWR. Sorry if that offends you that was what I was told. I guess you say one thing he says another. I am still in the GVWR on my truck but I don't worry like you do that I will loose all my "stuff". From what I have read we should only use F450's and bigger
 
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