new Dodge Power Wagon!

[Fireman78]

Probably end up keeping her.

Although I still have those gas milage woes, I am probably going to keep my Power Wagon after all. I just picked up some side work doing tree thinning, and having a vehicle that can haul a ton of gear, plus pull a 7500 pound chipper up the side of a mountain, and be my daily driver......this truck continues to impress me. All I need is a snorkle and a over the bed tent and I'm ready for an expedition!!
BTW- if anyone is interested, there is going to be a "New" Power Wagon rally in Moab the last weekend of May. It might be interesting seeing these go up against Moabs finest terrain. I'll be there for sure. :rappel:

 

[Fireman78]

Cool Power Wagon Story

I have a little story to tell about this unbelievable truck. So I have to go to Vermeer to pick up our chipper, keep in mind this thing weighs about #7500 pounds. It's awkard, large, heavy. As I was climbing up a long, steady hill on the interstate.. I could only go about 60-65. (about 8000 feet elevation, climbing as well.) I was not impressed with my Hemi's power at this point, at least not compared to a diesle. HOWEVER... as I got to the job site, I had to get the chipper to the crew, who was working way up on a hillside, very thick with trees. The "road" which isn't really a road, is snowy and ICY in all the shady spots. Everywhere it was steep...you guessed it.. ICE. I am fully locked, 4 low, trying to crawl my way up this steep, nasty, icy hill, towing a 7500 pound chipper. I am sliding, spinning, everything, just not moving foward. I slide sideways and wedge myself into a huge juniper, in between my truck and chipper. I can't go foward/backwards, nothing. I start looking for a suitible tree for an anchor as I cut down the juniper wedged into my hitch. I hooked up the winch to a 10" DBH pine and got in the truck... so I'm in 4 lo, fully locked, AND winching a total of 15,000 pounds up an steep , icy path through the woods. It took about an hour and a half or so to go like... 200 yards up the hill. Unbelievable. This truck impresses me more every day.

 

[absolute]

Thanks for the input Fireman! I was seriously looking at the Power Wagon when it came out and was really impressed! The dealerships wouldn't move on price when I was looking so I purchased my first love instead... Chevy!!

I like the way your putting your truck to the limits and then some!! :wings:

 

[charlieaarons]

I was not impressed with my Hemi's power at this point, at least not compared to a diesle.

Supposedly they didn't build a diesel PW because of the weight of the engine, and the torque of the diesel might have destroyed locked axles & diffs.
Consider a PW chassis with a 4-cyl ISB4.5 engine....
250 lb lighter, can be rated up to 460 ft-lb.
Incidentally, I find it disturbing that there is not even an aftermarket locker (air or Detroit) available for the 11.5" AAM axle used in the rear of diesel Dodges and Chevys, nor one for any of the Dodge front axles (except in the PW).
Another argument for considering transplanting a 4 cyl Cummins into a PW chassis.

Charlie

 

[mcgovski]

snorkel on a dodge?

You mentioned you need a snorkel??? I have a 1 ton and I have been looking for a snorkel too...do you have any leads? I live and work on or off dirt roads and i think the snorkel would help with the life of the air filters eating so much dust...
dont want to jack your thread, just wondering if you know where to get a snorkel for a dodge
cool truck

 

[Fireman78]

I also visit the Power Wagon forums, and I will attempt to locate a snorkel for the Dodge. Ya, the guys I work with can't believe I do what I do to a $40K vehicle. It makes me $$$ though, so I'm keeping her. Also- Sometimes I tow our "little" 4000 pound chipper as well, and that one I hardley notice back there. It's the heavier one that is a little rougher. On the highway, on level ground, it's no problem, it's just up the steep grades where I really notice I don't have a diesel. Ya, yesterday was by far the most out-of -this -world winching I've ever done. I wish I had had a video camera, to see everyone cringe!! One thing to remember is that I don't use this for towing that much. I mostly use it off road delivering fuel to the crews that are using saws/chippers, ect. We had a Ford Powerstroke as a fuel truck, but it was too long, too heavy, and kept getting stuck. If I was to tow A LOT, a deisel is for sure the way too go. But for an all around, kick *** truck, this one is tops. In the woods it has no equal.

 

[Fireman78]

Thanks for the input Fireman! I was seriously looking at the Power Wagon when it came out and was really impressed! The dealerships wouldn't move on price when I was looking so I purchased my first love instead... Chevy!!

I like the way your putting your truck to the limits and then some!! :wings:

Have you looked on ebay ? A friend of mine that I work with in the woods with bought one after seeing what it can do on the jobsite. He got an 06 with 17K miles for $25,000!

 

[theMec]

Incidentally, I find it disturbing that there is not even an aftermarket locker (air or Detroit) available for the 11.5" AAM axle used in the rear of diesel Dodges and Chevys, nor one for any of the Dodge front axles (except in the PW).
Another argument for considering transplanting a 4 cyl Cummins into a PW chassis.
Charlie

ARB makes a locker for the front 9.25". They keep threatening to release one for the 11.5 but I don't think it's out yet.

From what I understand, the reason Dodge didn't come out w/ a diesel PW is that there's not enough room for the integrated bumper/ winch.

 

[Fireman78]

[QUOTEFrom what I understand, the reason Dodge didn't come out w/ a diesel PW is that there's not enough room for the integrated bumper/ winch.[/QUOTE]

Among other things.

 

[theMec]

Among other things.

Well, you'd have to add an extra $5k to the price. That'd kill it for many buyers.
I don't see any tech problems though.
In any case, glad you're liking yours.

 

[absolute]

Have you looked on ebay ? A friend of mine that I work with in the woods with bought one after seeing what it can do on the jobsite. He got an 06 with 17K miles for $25,000!

This was back in 05 and I was dead set on a brand new truck at the time! Times have changed and family has expanded, so... I'll be holding on to my HD for awhile!!

 

[stainless]

thread resurrection!

I thought some of you guys might appreciate this.

Dodge 6.7 Cummins PowerWagon (Proof Of Concept)

 

[haven]

Interesting to see both Dodge (2500 Power Wagon with Ultimate package) and Ford (F150 Raptor project) working towards production platforms that offer true off-road suspensions for 2009.

 

[t0mills]

Interesting to see both Dodge (2500 Power Wagon with Ultimate package) and Ford (F150 Raptor project) working towards production platforms that offer true off-road suspensions for 2009.

That's great! If the 2500 Power Wagon Diesel becomes a reality, I will buy it. End of story.

:wings:

 

[Fireman78]

Just wanted to post a few pics of my new shoes.. these are BFG Mud Terrian KM2's 35-12.5-R17 (It comes with stock 33's) Yes they do fit.