On the Edge: Camping the Grand Canyon in a Flatbed Hawk

Story and photography by Jeff Mead

This past spring, my wife Pam and I set off on a six-week road trip through the Southwest—our first big adventure with the Four Wheel Campers Flatbed Hawk we took delivery of last November. We were excited to put it to the test, and this stop, high above the Grand Canyon on a remote BLM campsite, turned out to be one of the most memorable experiences of the entire trip.

A Route Worth Repeating

On May 9, 2025, we moved on from Zion National Park and headed for a remote campsite on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon—a spot we learned about from the FWC Newsletter on the Arizona Bucket List route (thank you for sharing GPS tracks!). After topping off gas, groceries, and whiskey in Kanab, we hit the road.

Along the way, we stopped at a viewpoint where we could see the entire span of the Grand Staircase of the Colorado Plateau—Bryce Canyon, Zion, and a stunning stretch of hundreds of millions of years of Earth’s formation. From there, we wound through the beautiful Kaibab National Forest and crossed an expansive desert plateau until we reached the turnoff to our BLM site. Time to air down the tires.

OnX Offroad worked very well, and the waypoints I had saved helped us find the turnoffs without issue. The dirt road in was not bad, 20 or so miles of it. It was interesting to drive across the desert plateau and see this dark horizontal line in the far distance, wonder what it was, and eventually realize as we got closer, that it was actually a chasm, a very deep, very wide void, in fact, the Grand Canyon.

The Final Stretch

Most of the road was drivable at 20 mph, sometimes a little more, sometimes down to 5 mph.  There were a couple of deep dips in the road where there was a steep descent immediately followed by an equally steep ascent where we had to stop, due to our long wheelbase, to have Pam spot the rear of the Beast (our truck) to make sure the bike rack didn’t have to be removed in order to clear. In both cases we got through with a few inches to spare, thank you Beast!  

The last 1,000 feet of road to the site looked… well, intense. We walked it first to scout the route and decide whether we could tackle it safely—and if so, come up with a plan. Without the 4×4 driving and recovery class we had taken at NORA (Northeast Off-Road Adventures) the month prior, we would’ve likely turned around.

But we did have that training. Pam walked ahead, radio in hand, ready to guide me down the steep, snaking trail to the canyon’s edge. In 4Lo with hill descent control at 2 mph, we crept down ledges and across canted slopes, carefully placing each tire. At one point, all I could see from the driver’s seat was the canyon’s abyss. Trust in Pam—and our radios—was everything.

We reached the bottom without issue, parked, popped up the camper, and made ourselves a well-earned whiskey sour.

A Campsite to Remember

The campsite? Incredible. A sloping plateau led directly to the edge of the Grand Canyon, just 30 feet from our door. We were completely alone—no other people, no lights, no sounds aside from the occasional bird or jet four miles overhead. We spoke little, preferring to quietly experience our deeply felt gratitude and awe in the moment.

That night was warm, bug-free, and absolutely silent. Watching the colors and shadows change as the sun set, then the nearly full moon light up the canyon made for a surreal experience.  When the moon set later in the night, I stepped outside to admire the Milky Way, fully visible above us.

The next day, we took it easy. Blueberry-walnut pancakes for breakfast, a short hike to soak in the view, and some time to reflect on just how good life can be out here. Even though it was over 100°F outside, it stayed comfortable in the camper—thanks to open windows, ceiling fans, and that blissful desert breeze.

Why We Love This Camper

We absolutely love everything about the Flatbed Hawk. The design is brilliant, the layout works for us, and the systems all perform beautifully. The sink, hot water on demand, fridge with freezer, indoor and outdoor showers—it’s all here, all powered by solar (and supported by 810Ah of Expion360 lithium batteries). We joke that our “little house” has an open floor plan: kitchen, bedroom, dining, living room—all in one!

We’ve gotten fast at popping it up and down and love how much more efficient it is than tent camping. We even appreciate features we weren’t sure about—like the outdoor water spigot on the Norweld tray. Turns out, it’s perfect for rinsing hands and filling bottles. The toilet? Surprisingly awesome. It works well, and doesn’t smell when not in use.

Recovery, Teamwork, and the Climb Out

Leaving the site two days later brought a different kind of challenge.

We knew the route back up would test us. We walked it again, reviewed our lines and driving strategy, and felt confident. But about halfway up, things went sideways—literally. While Pam was focused on the rear wheels clearing a ledge, the front wheels drifted off line and pushed the lower control arm of the truck’s front suspension squarely onto a rock, lifting the front left tire into the air.

With the truck perched at a cant and one wheel hanging, we kept calm. No finger-pointing, no stress. Just teamwork. We chocked the tires, carefully dug out the rock after backing up onto a rock ramp we built by hand, and slowly got The Beast moving again—no damage, no drama.

That moment made us appreciate our 4×4 training even more. It also reminded us just how well we work together.

Pam got back in, and we drove to the next challenge: a gravelly, very steep, curved section of road that held the real possibility of slipping. Hauling nearly 11,000 pounds uphill, without knowing just how likely it was to lose traction, made for another nerve-wracking moment. But the truck handled it beautifully. I stayed steady in 4Lo—no speeding up, no slowing down—and powered through without issue.

At the top of that hill, we were back on the plateau. We celebrated with a solid high five and the quiet joy of having worked through it together. The rest of the ride out to the highway was smooth and pleasant. We were absolutely on cloud nine.

As we approached the paved road, we spotted four other Four Wheel Campers heading in as we were heading out. We couldn’t help but wonder if they were bound for “our campsite” the same canyon-rim site we had all to ourselves for two nights and three days.

Back at the road, we aired up the tires and turned toward our next destination: Antelope Canyon.

Let the next adventure begin.

Reflecting on This Lifestyle

Living this way—following our curiosity and nature’s rhythm—is truly amazing. We know how rare it is to have the time, health, and compatibility to travel like this. And we’re squeezing every drop out of it.

Playing everything by ear – when we travel, how long we stay, what we do…  I know that one day I may tire of it, eventually having a desire to contribute more, give back more, find fulfillment and satisfaction in serving others more.  But for everything, there is a time and a purpose.  

Right now, I feel my time and purpose is to do what I have never been able to do for lack of time and/or money or too many other responsibilities.  Do what we love, explore, without an itinerary or schedule, and just enjoy the blessings of good health and each other as best we can – being outdoors and enjoying what so few people get to enjoy – good health in our “Golden Years,” as least for now, while we have it, doing the things we love – taxing ourselves physically outdoors in the best Nature has to offer, renewing our spirits, celebrating our love for each other. Perhaps we are setting a good example for our children, our grandchildren, or others.  But primarily, we are squeezing the most juice out of these lives as we possibly can.

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Inspired by this journey?
Learn more about the Flatbed Hawk Camper or explore your own adventure with the Arizona Overland Bucket List Route.