PacificExposure
Advanced Member
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2015
- Messages
- 76
Hi fellow Wanderers. After a couple of years with my wonderful Tacoma/Eagle combo, my wife and I, who are expecting our first child (son!) in December decided we needed a bit more room so I bought an F150 Platinum Ecoboost and began the hunt for a Hawk or Kestrel to fit the larger bed. After an extensive search, I finally was able to find the perfect unit, a nearly unused 2005 Kestrel with all the bells and whistles up in Sacramento for a more than reasonable asking price. I quickly wired a deposit and threw the dog in the truck for what would be a fantastic shakedown run of the new unit.
To avoid traffic on the Thursday we departed, I was wheels-up at 4:15 am. Driving through LA county any time after 6:00 is my nightmare... After 7 easy hours on the road (adaptive cruise control is awesome!), I was in Sac and loading up the Kestrel. The seller was a delightful retiree who generously helped me build the riser platform to adcommodate the 3.5" needed to clear the bed sides. He was drooling over my truck as he's likely about to buy a Ford and a brand new Grandby for his journeys ahead.
After an easy load, I headed north to my buddy's ranch in Happy Camp, CA, 40 miles from the Oregon border. Drove through a pretty serious forest fire on HWY96. The Gap Fire has burned approximately 30,000 acres thus far and luckily was upwind from the property. His 400 acre parcel is bordered on 3 sides by the Klamath river and was paradise on earth. Quads, guns, fishing, horseshoes, and the perfect riverside camp site. Enjoy the photos!
To avoid traffic on the Thursday we departed, I was wheels-up at 4:15 am. Driving through LA county any time after 6:00 is my nightmare... After 7 easy hours on the road (adaptive cruise control is awesome!), I was in Sac and loading up the Kestrel. The seller was a delightful retiree who generously helped me build the riser platform to adcommodate the 3.5" needed to clear the bed sides. He was drooling over my truck as he's likely about to buy a Ford and a brand new Grandby for his journeys ahead.
After an easy load, I headed north to my buddy's ranch in Happy Camp, CA, 40 miles from the Oregon border. Drove through a pretty serious forest fire on HWY96. The Gap Fire has burned approximately 30,000 acres thus far and luckily was upwind from the property. His 400 acre parcel is bordered on 3 sides by the Klamath river and was paradise on earth. Quads, guns, fishing, horseshoes, and the perfect riverside camp site. Enjoy the photos!
