I have recently gotten a Hawk FWC to fit on my 2004 Silverado. We got this primarily to use for a trip to Alaska that I really didn't want to take my Vixen motorhome on. We were on our way home from the annual Vixen meeting in Niagra, CAN and I researched and picked the Hawk as the best fit for this unit, and it is great! We have already taken it over some really extreme roads in Colorado and New Mexico. It is a pleasure to drive out and get beyond the Toyotos (sometimes around) It won't go some places where I was able to get my Jeeps and Samurai, but it really is great for stock suspension. The FWC Hawk is old (1990) but has held up well with nary a shake or rattle and still is dust free inside. I have never had a camper that was dust free before.
The biggest thing we were surprised with was that the Silverado got better mileage with the Hawk on than it did with the topper or by itself. We got about 19 with the topper (150 pounds, aerodynamic) about 18 truck only, and the first time we checked with the Hawk it was 20.63. Overall with Hawk is about 20.5. The previous owner of the Silverado swore he got 21 towing his fifth wheel, but I thought it was just typical salesmanship. This is a lot less than with the Vixen motorhome (25-26 towing the Samurai, 22-23 by itself) but the Vixen takes diesel which costs more, so it isn't all that much more expensive to take the Silverado. I know these numbers don't make sense, but that the way it comes out, and yes I do try to drive the same speed (speedlimit +5) all the time.
I in the process of fitting the unit out, adding a compressor refrigerator, inverter, converter, transfer relay, led lights, porta potti, Maxxfan, extra storage, etc I also plan to install a Gun Rack, even tho I don't have a gun. It is hand for storing walking sticks and umbrellas and when empty at night is a good psychological deterrent. The only problem with that may be the explanation to the Canadian authorities.
My wife is busy finding more and more places that we can go with the 4X4 that we couldn't with the Vixen, but some of those will require a backpack and tent and I am trying to discourage that till she gets her heart valve replaced.
The big question comes in that my wife really wants to carry an extra spare tire. She has read too much, but I have decided that it might be nice to have 2 spare tires with aggressive treads anyway. ( I don't like the noise of them for normal driving) I don't know the best place to put the second tire. I don't want it on the front, blocking the airflow to the radiator, or on the rear where I would have to swing it down or out every time we stopped for the night. I have thought of putting it on the roof, in front of the camper. It would hang out over the windshield a few inches, and would be a problem getting down, but that looks like a better place. Has anyone done this? (Spare tire on roof of Chevy truck) If you have thought of it and found reasons not to, let me know. If you know roof racks that would work, let me know. If you have done it and have pictures, send them.
Thanks,
Wally :elkgrin:
The biggest thing we were surprised with was that the Silverado got better mileage with the Hawk on than it did with the topper or by itself. We got about 19 with the topper (150 pounds, aerodynamic) about 18 truck only, and the first time we checked with the Hawk it was 20.63. Overall with Hawk is about 20.5. The previous owner of the Silverado swore he got 21 towing his fifth wheel, but I thought it was just typical salesmanship. This is a lot less than with the Vixen motorhome (25-26 towing the Samurai, 22-23 by itself) but the Vixen takes diesel which costs more, so it isn't all that much more expensive to take the Silverado. I know these numbers don't make sense, but that the way it comes out, and yes I do try to drive the same speed (speedlimit +5) all the time.
I in the process of fitting the unit out, adding a compressor refrigerator, inverter, converter, transfer relay, led lights, porta potti, Maxxfan, extra storage, etc I also plan to install a Gun Rack, even tho I don't have a gun. It is hand for storing walking sticks and umbrellas and when empty at night is a good psychological deterrent. The only problem with that may be the explanation to the Canadian authorities.
My wife is busy finding more and more places that we can go with the 4X4 that we couldn't with the Vixen, but some of those will require a backpack and tent and I am trying to discourage that till she gets her heart valve replaced.
The big question comes in that my wife really wants to carry an extra spare tire. She has read too much, but I have decided that it might be nice to have 2 spare tires with aggressive treads anyway. ( I don't like the noise of them for normal driving) I don't know the best place to put the second tire. I don't want it on the front, blocking the airflow to the radiator, or on the rear where I would have to swing it down or out every time we stopped for the night. I have thought of putting it on the roof, in front of the camper. It would hang out over the windshield a few inches, and would be a problem getting down, but that looks like a better place. Has anyone done this? (Spare tire on roof of Chevy truck) If you have thought of it and found reasons not to, let me know. If you know roof racks that would work, let me know. If you have done it and have pictures, send them.
Thanks,
Wally :elkgrin:
