Any thoughts on instead of going PW, just buy the run of the mill 4x4 6.4L Hemi? Priced out those are only 31-32k. The extreme price difference allows for a lot of modifications... Thoughts?
The PW option package is a real bargain compared to doing it yourself on a new truck. If the PW body configuration meets your needs, that would be the smarter way to go from a purely financial standpoint. But, if you buy a non-PW Ram, you have the option to order a MegaCab or a long bed or a 3500, or some combination of those that might meet your needs better. A non-PW Ram will not give you the articulation of the PW, but will give you a bit more payload in stock trim, or a lot more on a 3500. My PW is a 3G 5.7 automatic, and I love it. Mine weighs about 8500# ready to go, and I felt I needed a little more power in the mountains, so I added a mild 87 octane tune, plus catback exhaust and CAI, and now it is fine. The 6.4 or even a newer 5.7 with 40 more hp would eliminate my old issue, so I'd vote for the 6.4. Diesels are nice, but very heavy, so not as good in soft stuff (sand, snow, mud) as a Hemi. If you feel the need for an aftermarket front bumper and winch mount, I'd still lean toward Aluminess to keep weight off the front end. Definitely talk with Thuren and Carli before you start any suspension mods, and I have also found KORE to be very helpful, even though they are mostly a desert race shop. You will probably want on-board air, so check with ARB to be sure they have lockers available for the axles that will come on your truck. The PW electro-magnetic lockers work fine, but they can be tricky to engage after you are stuck, so I'd chose ARB if I had that choice. And retro-fitting PW lockers to another truck will be mega expensive. I don't think you can fit a smart bar (electro disconnecting front sway bar) to the regular 2500/3500 because the bar's brain is tied into the truck's computer. Plan on a battery upgrade to a Grp 31, and a dual or triple battery system with isolators. Order the dual alternators if you are buying a new truck. Manual transfer case is more reliable if you still have that option on the new trucks. With 6.4 and auto trans, I'd probably get the 4.10 gears if there is a choice, even if you plan to run 37s. My PW is running 4.56s and 35" tires, but I think I'd be happier with 4.10s. For wheels, find a set of genuine PW wheels with the internal beadlocks, or a set of Hummer H2 wheels. The H2s also have the internal beadlock, and they are 1/2" wider with 1/4" less offset (i.e., 1/4" more backspace) so they clear big tires a tad better than stock PW wheels. The H2 wheels have a smaller hub hole, so you'll need a wheel machinist to re-bore the centers to fit the Dodge hubs. It's easy to adapt the Dodge center caps to the Hummer wheels so that no one (except geeks) will notice they aren't factory. I don't think there is anything in the AEV catalog that I would want to put on a new truck.