most capable off-road pickup?

[crismateski]

Those of us who own a Power Wagon consider them to be kind of like a Swiss Army Knife - extremely versatile, they can accomplish almost any task you ask of it.

No other truck comes as well equipped from the factory as a Power Wagon, and it's not even close.

To start with, no other factory pickup comes with a winch. While listed on the build sheet as a 12K, it's actually the 15K. All the specs match the 15K - 315:1 ratio, 7/16 cable, etc, etc.

Same goes for the sway bar disconnect - no other truck has this feature. It's what we use the most in our travels off highway. It makes a huge difference in ride quality. You will not find a better riding 3/4T truck off highway. And whenn aired down to 20 PSI, it's even better!

Add in the full factory skid plates, and IF you can find a set, the factory rock rails, and the truck is ready to rock. Literally!

The 3rd generation trucks are ready to go for 35" tires - the 4.56 axle gear ratio is perfect for 35's. 4th Gen trucks need a little help to clear 35's, but it's minor.

While no where nearly as good as the Raptor Fox shocks, the factory Bilstiens shocks are adequate. An upgrade to 5100's for $300.00 will help immensely.

...and don't even try to load a Raptor like you can a Power Wagon. My daily driving weight is right at 8K - I haul 1200 lbs of gear and topper every day. A PW will also tow pretty much whatever you want. While not in the diesel class for torque, 404 Ft/Lbs will keep thing moving - it's just a wee bit thirsty when doing it.

They certainly have there faults, the front axle being the worst. They eat ball joints, but the reason they do is why they are surprisingly nimble for a 140" wheel base. Those of you that have been out with me know how well this big truck does on the trail. The upper ball joints are angled inward, and that allows for a very tight turning radius, but they wear very quickly - I'm on my third set at just over 53000K.

Perhaps the biggest issue with a Power Wagon is MPG - be forewarned - 14 on the highway, 12 in town, 6 to 8 when aired down below 20 is what they do. While towing our 4K trailer, we get 12 on the highway, 10 on back roads.

Mark

What he said :iagree:

out of the box, if you want to race the desert, the Raptor will take the Power Wagon easy, but for an all around truck to do what a truck should do I think the Power Wagon is in a class of its own. It has room for improvement, but it can handle it's own straight from the factory

 

[leelikesbikes]

DODGE- i was asking myself this same q, i bought a standard cab manual trans hemi 2500, added 4.56's lockers, 12k winch, carli suspension, 37" mtr's and im in it under 15k. i bought the truck with 90k miles on it, the dodges can be had used much cheaper than a taco, and if your the least bit mechanically inclined why waste thousands on a brand new truck. i dont think i could have built anything else that versatile for that amount of $$. with the manual trans i get 14-15 on the hwy, i have never had another similarly built rig that got any better mpg, my SAS'd taco on 37's got 10-12 hwy and my TJ on 35's got around 15.

Wondering if there was the power of suggestion made by the OP in naming the power wagon first? :coffeedrink:

Let's make it more complicated, stock, bang for the buck (price)

Then as to load and towing

Availability of mods

Stock driving range, mpg, @ highway?

Now what say you?

 

[Buliwyf]

Dodge Powerwagon.
-
But you pay for all that stuff. No reason you can't equip a Ford Superduty or any Dodge 2500 just as well. I can't appreciate the Taco. Size and towing are key to my uses, and I don't venture onto tight dirtbike trails.

 

[REDROVER]

what price range ? around 50 k dodge
under 35k Tacoma
over 60k raptor
over 150k HUMMER H1 ALPHA PICK UP FROM AM GENERAL 2014 BRAND NEW AND AVAILABLE

 

[Kaisen]

I'm known for the dissenting opinion, so not to disappoint:

Stock tires: Raptor 35" vs PW 33"
Min ground clearance: Raptor 10.0" vs PW 7.1" (2.9" advantage in min clearance)
Fuel tank: Raptor 36.0 gal vs PW 31.0 gal (5.0 gallon advantage)
Steering: Raptor Rack & Pinion vs PW recirculating ball (Raptor tucks up out of harm's way, PW.....not so much)
Crawl ratio: Raptor 48.4:1 vs PW 37.3:1 (1st gear" Raptor 4.17:1 vs PW 3.23:1, huge advantage in low speed crawl)
Horsepower: Raptor 411 vs PW 383 (18 hp advantage in power)
Torque: Raptor 434 vs PW 400 (34 lb-ft advantage in torque)
Weight: Raptor 6004 vs 6820 (~800 lb advantage)
LB/HP: Raptor 14.6 vs PW 17.8
LB/LB-FT: Raptor 13.8 vs PW 17.1 (Raptor has a 20+% power-to-weight advantage)
Approach Angle: Raptor 31.1° vs PW 21.8° (9.3° advantage in approach)
Breakover Angle: Raptor 20.8° vs PW 18.2°
Departure Angle: Raptor 24.9° vs PW 27.0° (limited by hitch)

No need to install steering protectors, beefier ball joints or suspension arms, better shocks, bigger tires, better skidplates, etc., etc.

The Raptor's 1046 pound payload is roughly the same as a comparably equipped Tacoma that is the ExPo go-to expedition vehicle

Raptors are exceedingly capable in any type of off-road environment.
While they might excel at high speed washboards, they are fantastic at low speed rock crawling as well:

 

[Kaisen]

what price range ? around 50 k dodge

A base 2013 Ram Powerwagon Tradesman is $43K

under 35k Tacoma

Really depends on the model, right? A regular cab 4x4 is $24K

over 60k raptor

A base 2013 Raptor Supercab is $45K, and well equipped

over 150k HUMMER H1 ALPHA PICK UP FROM AM GENERAL 2014 BRAND NEW AND AVAILABLE

Kinda..... it's an unassembled KIT and you need to supply the engine, transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, etc...
The kits start at $60K and with all options runs about $75K, before you supply the powertrain and the labor to put it all together
http://genuinehumveekit.com/

 

[huntsonora]

I prefer the solid front axle on the Power Wagon to the IFS setup on the Raptor.

 

[haven]

"The Raptor's 1046 pound payload is roughly the same as a comparably equipped Tacoma that is the ExPo go-to expedition vehicle"

Maybe, but that makes them both overloaded when equipped for camping. That's why so many Tacoma builds include replacement springs and airbags. You can do the same for the Raptor, but then you lose the fancy factory suspension. The 2013 Power Wagon is rated to carry 1900 lb (full boat Laramie) to 2500 lb (Tradesman) cargo. And the Power Wagon is available with 6.5 ft or 8 ft bed.

And some, but not all, of the Raptor's advantage in crawl ratio is neutralized by the Raptor's taller tires (larger circumference).

Like everyone else is saying, the OP needs to describe more fully the parameters for the "off-road pickup." How many passengers? How much cargo? What about a custom modified (I'm thinking the AEV Brute here)? For what types of terrain? Obviously the full size pickups would be the wrong choice if tight trails are part of the equation.

 

[Kaisen]

"The Raptor's 1046 pound payload is roughly the same as a comparably equipped Tacoma that is the ExPo go-to expedition vehicle"

Maybe, but that makes them both overloaded when equipped for camping. That's why so many Tacoma builds include replacement springs and airbags. You can do the same for the Raptor, but then you lose the fancy factory suspension.

The Raptor's total reserve axle capacity is 1,382 lbs, which means the springs (weakest link) are giving up 336 pounds of payload potential. Stiffer spring rates would recover those 336 pounds. When the vehicle is loaded 336 pounds heavier, it would retain every bit of its "fancy factory suspension", including articulation, travel, shock performance, etc -- you're just compensating for the load.

The 2013 Power Wagon is rated to carry 1900 lb (full boat Laramie) to 2500 lb (Tradesman) cargo.

A base 2013 Powerwagon Tradesman has a 1,903 lb payload, with no options. The Powerwagon SLT package adds 312 lbs of equipment, decreasing the payload to 1,591 lbs.
The Powerwagon SLT is almost equivalent to the Raptor's base level of equipment, but not quite (still missing a lot of things, but in fairness the PW has a winch)

The Powerwagons have 10,510 lbs of total axle capacity (GAWR), but only 8,510 gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) so their axles could handle another 2,000 pounds over their payload rating if the rest of their systems (springs? what else?) were brought up to the same specs.

 

[Kaisen]

Powerwagon Payload:

 

[Fireman78]

I have towed over 17, 000 lbs in 4wd over rough roads in my PW. It really is a remarkable truck.

Sent from my C811 4G using Tapatalk 2

 

[REDROVER]

A base 2013 Ram Powerwagon Tradesman is $43K
Really depends on the model, right? A regular cab 4x4 is $24K

A base 2013 Raptor Supercab is $45K, and well equipped

Kinda..... it's an unassembled KIT and you need to supply the engine, transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, etc...
The kits start at $60K and with all options runs about $75K, before you supply the powertrain and the labor to put it all together
http://genuinehumveekit.com/

you are correct those are very basic figures , fully loaded and finished trucks will be almost at the prices i had on the earlier post ,

used raptor today is over 50 grand ,

and on that hummer 75k doesnt even buy hard doors or hard top, its very basic frame and suspension with soft top, and its a kit, not even a production truck
unless u get the 2006 alpha but thats used .

may be power wagon is the best option

 

[Clutch]

What's the most off-road capable factory pick-up available in the US?

Dodge Power Wagon? Something else?

Bone stock, Regular Cab Tacoma, 4 cylinder, 5 speed manual trans.



eepwall:

 

[Bayou Boy]

Bone stock, Regular Cab Tacoma, 4 cylinder, 5 speed manual trans.

View attachment 177220

eepwall:

Until you shred those tiny car tires on a rock.

 

[Clutch]

Until you shred those tiny car tires on a rock.

Not if you know what you are doing.

Winches, lockers, mid travel suspension, 33-35" tires are crutches...

In the right hands that Tacoma can go anywhere, perhaps more places a Power Wagon or Raptor can go.

Most "capable" is a relative term, people can argue numbers all day long, unless the driver is well versed in driving
off-road...the "most capable" is worthless in the wrong hands.

My observations in the dirt bike world, is that "most" engineers worry too much about numbers to hone their
off-road riding skills, while the guy (or girl for that matter) who has a little less on their mind are some of the best riders
out there.

I would assume it is the same in the 4 wheeled world. But this is just an observation of mine, yours may differ.