The First Trip With The Hawk

[agate]

Well, after quite some time of lurking we finally bought a Hawk! Drove from Northern MN to Reno for our install on 11/23/09. Went South on 395 stayed first night N. of Bishop somewhere, got down to 16 that night and everything worked great! Carried on to Death Valley, one night at the Furnace "parking lot" campground, one night down by Racetrack, and the last night up in Hanaopah Canyon. We also squeezed a quick drive through Titus Canyon and a quick look see at Dante's Peak. From there is was home bound to St. George, UT area for some quick recon for future trip. Then thje big haul, 291/2 hours straight through home to the North Shore of Lake Superior (with a little winterizing at a rest stop in Nebraska!). Pix to come. I will be back to DV, great spot, lots to do and far from my house!!

Anyway, I wanted to thank all on this forum for sharing, if it were not for the many that share their tales of challenge and success I am not sure I would have gotten what I wanted.

4516 total mile for the first trip, now we have to slow down and look around a bit!

I wish I would have looked at some DV posts before we left, I like the sounds and looks of that Saline Valley and springs, next time...

-mike

 

[craig333]

Wow, quite a break in trip. Grats on your new camper.

 

[SunMan]

Welcome agate. That's a helluva shake down trip. Look forward to the pics.

 

[DLN]

Now that's a break in trip, I don't think we did that kind of mileage in any two year period, way to go agate. Welcome and will be looking forward to pics.

 

[chnlisle]

Ya know whether you're gonna love it for sure.

 

[highz]

A fishing guide, eh? Hmmm. Never fished up your way. Another place to add to my retirement list.

 

[Marc]

Wow ... epic first trip. Way to get out there. We all like pics.

 

[steps212]

I am in the same baot as agate here... I am to purchase my first FWC HAWK tomorrow via my wife. I am currently overseas on a military deployment. I was able to do a lot of home work on here thanks to many of the forum discussions and sent a check list to my wife to handle the deal. Agate or anyone else for that matter Please fill me in on any lessons learned from your trip to Reno as I will be embarking on a trip more than twice the distance to pick up my camper. San Diego To Delaware and back. I know I know seems a bit excessive of a distance to pick up a pop up camper but I was already going that way so what the heck I figured. Ha Ha.

 

[agate]

Wow, one hell of a trip. I got the Helwig helper springs and no air bags. We have a 2003 tundra. It went well. I think the anti-sway bar would have been nice with the curvy mountain driving. I will be pulling boats around Minnesota with mine and the anti-sway could be nice there as well. So my only add-on I wished I would have gotten is an anit-sway bar.

By the way, strangly enough, I am from Rehoboth Beach, DE!

-mike

 

[jcfly]

Agate: Congrats on the new camper, I have an 04 Hawk, and really enjoy it.

Steps212: You'll love the Hawk as well, and thank you for your military service !

04 Hawk on an 01 Dodge Ram - no air bags, extra leaf out back, Rancho 9000 shocks

 

[steps212]

Thanks for the constructive sudgestions I am reading into the anti sway bar. If things go as planned I will be driving on my fair share of mountain roads, Driving down the hwy 1 from Oregon to San Diego on our way back from Delaware will be enough curves to warrant it I am thinking. Please keep the sudgestions coming. I am making a list and checking it twice for all the modifications I will make. Merry Christmas to all.