Which truck for FWC flat bed?

[DieselShack]

I have a 2017 hawk flatbed, just like the one dave had, previously mentioned in this thread. Matter of fact, after my wife and I walked through his, she insisted I sell my land cruiser and adventure trailer and build a truck like his. So we did.

I did build mine on a 2017 ram 3500 though, for the leaf springs. Not that coils are bad, but I knew I could work with deaver springs to build my rear spring set to handle all the weight. Carli Suspension also dialed in my shock tuning to work together with the deavers and to handle the weight like it should. And the ride is amazing. Considering I have a family of five, fully loaded right around the gvwr of 11k pounds, I can boogie out in the dirt. The torque of the cummins and the upgraded suspension make it sooooo much fun to drive - which is a huge priority for me. I have to enjoy driving it.

The 1 ton cummins ram, paired with the flatbed hawk is a match made in heaven. I'm a die hard toyota fan, had built tacomas and a landcruiser prior to this but I wasn't confident in a tundra with a flatbed hawk. I can cruise the highway, headwind and all, and still have passing power.

We've been in this setup a little over a year and it's been simply amazing for our fam. Super functional and efficient. It's was a lot of work to take 3 boys camping, now it's easy peasy.

My oldest is 14, and had a major growth spurt. We can all still sleep comfortably but we're now considering going with a hallmark flatbed. They offer a bunk over the dinette, along with the cabover, which is 3 separate beds. This would be a major upgrade for my growing kids. They also offer air conditioning and larger fresh water tanks. We would still keep the ram because we know it's up for the task but we'd likely rebuild the flatbed and put the hallmark on it.

I don't have any pictures on this computer to upload but if you're on instagram, check us out @theRAMadaINN

 

[fireball]

I have a 2017 hawk flatbed, just like the one dave had, previously mentioned in this thread. Matter of fact, after my wife and I walked through his, she insisted I sell my land cruiser and adventure trailer and build a truck like his. So we did.

I did build mine on a 2017 ram 3500 though, for the leaf springs. Not that coils are bad, but I knew I could work with deaver springs to build my rear spring set to handle all the weight. Carli Suspension also dialed in my shock tuning to work together with the deavers and to handle the weight like it should. And the ride is amazing. Considering I have a family of five, fully loaded right around the gvwr of 11k pounds, I can boogie out in the dirt. The torque of the cummins and the upgraded suspension make it sooooo much fun to drive - which is a huge priority for me. I have to enjoy driving it.

The 1 ton cummins ram, paired with the flatbed hawk is a match made in heaven. I'm a die hard toyota fan, had built tacomas and a landcruiser prior to this but I wasn't confident in a tundra with a flatbed hawk. I can cruise the highway, headwind and all, and still have passing power.

We've been in this setup a little over a year and it's been simply amazing for our fam. Super functional and efficient. It's was a lot of work to take 3 boys camping, now it's easy peasy.

My oldest is 14, and had a major growth spurt. We can all still sleep comfortably but we're now considering going with a hallmark flatbed. They offer a bunk over the dinette, along with the cabover, which is 3 separate beds. This would be a major upgrade for my growing kids. They also offer air conditioning and larger fresh water tanks. We would still keep the ram because we know it's up for the task but we'd likely rebuild the flatbed and put the hallmark on it.

I don't have any pictures on this computer to upload but if you're on instagram, check us out @theRAMadaINN

With a family of five why did you go with the hawk instead of the grandby? Would’ve thought the extra space would be needed when sleeping 5 inside.

 

[DieselShack]

With a family of five why did you go with the hawk instead of the grandby? Would’ve thought the extra space would be needed when sleeping 5 inside.

Good question. A few reasons. I opted for the short bed ram for the turning radius. I came from Toyota’s and enjoyed wheeling so it was a hard concept for me to go to a long bed turning radius. Having gotten used to my new rig, i still prefer the short bed.

Even though i have the shortbed, we extended the flatbed 16” to accommodate a tunnel box which is a storage unit between the cab and the camper. So it’s a short bed frame with a long flat bed.

The tunnel box fits my 37” spare along with all the dirty camping gear that i don’t have to put in the camper. Such as firewood, iSUP’s, chairs, fishing gear, etc. Moving forward, i would do the same thing.

 

[fireball]

What is your sleeping arrangement like?

Can two sleep comfortably next to one another in the dinette? Seems like hawk dinette sleeping would be for one only and the grandby would be pretty comfortable for two.

We have a hawk on a flatbed trailer towed by a 100 series land cruiser. It’s a great setup for us but we are considering a flatbed since the boys are small (1 and 3) and we aren’t doing anything too technical with the LC and probably won’t for at least a few more years.

 

[DieselShack]

What is your sleeping arrangement like?

Can two sleep comfortably next to one another in the dinette? Seems like hawk dinette sleeping would be for one only and the grandby would be pretty comfortable for two.

We have a hawk on a flatbed trailer towed by a 100 series land cruiser. It’s a great setup for us but we are considering a flatbed since the boys are small (1 and 3) and we aren’t doing anything too technical with the LC and probably won’t for at least a few more years.

One or two of my boys will sleep in the dinette bed, the rest of us in the king size. It works great, but I know as my kids get older it's going to get tighter (they're currently 6, 12 & 14). The combination of having an air conditioner, more fresh water and bunk beds gives us reason to at least entertain the idea of swapping out campers. Not complaining at all, the cup is still 1/2 full.

 

[thejm]

Thanks for everyone's input on this. @DieselShack, you're setup sounds and looks like something I'd be happy with. I think I'll scratch the idea of going with a cheaper truck and consider going with a Ram 3500 with the Cummins. Spoke to a guy at a gas station about his and he's on his third. I don't want another underpowered, sluggish vehicle like the last two!

As for the RAM 3500 with Cummins, any recommendations on searching for those used? Any years I should look for and years I should stay away from? Thanks everyone.

 

[So Cal Adventurer]

I have a 2014 Tundra 5.7L with a SLIDE IN Hawk.

I am offroad more than most, and tend to drive the harder spots and trails.

I can say with 100% certainty, the Tundra, regardless of what suspension mods are done to it, is not an ideal platform, especially for the heavier flatbed. Will it "work"? sure, and some are happy with it.

If youre offroad a lot, you be kicking the crap out of it with all that weight. I am on my second front end, and 3rd set of leaf springs trying to dial it in to hold the weight.

Its maxed out, and its obvious when driving it offroad.

My next truck will MOST DEFINITELY be at least a 3/4 ton diesel, and will mount the SLIDE in onto a flat bed, and use the space between for a storage system.

Ive been a Toyota only guy my whole life, and owned and built them all, but they are maxed out big time with the FWC on them, and as much as it hurts me to say it, i will be going Domestic next.

My .02

 

[jrwdlw]

I have a 2014 Tundra 5.7L with a SLIDE IN Hawk.

I am offroad more than most, and tend to drive the harder spots and trails.

I can say with 100% certainty, the Tundra, regardless of what suspension mods are done to it, is not an ideal platform, especially for the heavier flatbed. Will it "work"? sure, and some are happy with it.

If youre offroad a lot, you be kicking the crap out of it with all that weight. I am on my second front end, and 3rd set of leaf springs trying to dial it in to hold the weight.

Its maxed out, and its obvious when driving it offroad.

My next truck will MOST DEFINITELY be at least a 3/4 ton diesel, and will mount the SLIDE in onto a flat bed, and use the space between for a storage system.

Ive been a Toyota only guy my whole life, and owned and built them all, but they are maxed out big time with the FWC on them, and as much as it hurts me to say it, i will be going Domestic next.

My .02

I would say that was a very valuable comment/post. Thanks for contributing your first hand experience.

 

[klahanie]

I would say that was a very valuable comment/post. Thanks for contributing your first hand experience.

x2

And I believe it's all about the application. Although a different person might reach a different conclusion, irrespective of which vehicle, what works for the each owner is whats important.

When we can learn from others experience tho, that's a bonus !

 

[So Cal Adventurer]

x2

And I believe it's all about the application. Although a different person might reach a different conclusion, irrespective of which vehicle, what works for the each owner is whats important.

When we can learn from others experience tho, that's a bonus !

Exactly. If i was mostly traveling the country RV style and sticking to mainly pavement, it would be a great combo.

 

[So Cal Adventurer]

I would say that was a very valuable comment/post. Thanks for contributing your first hand experience.

My pleasure, hopefully it helps someone in the future

 

[Dirtroadsavant]

The team at MLO urged us to go up to a 1 ton truck when we were getting a platform for our flatbed Hawk. We are so glad that we followed that advice. As we spend more and more time in the camper and add more tools, more toys, and more cast iron cookware, we’ve never had a problem at all. We’re not full on rock crawlers, but we get on some rough and challenging BLM tracks in Utah and Arizona. Very very glad that the truck can do it all with ease.