Power wagon or 2500 for a light slide in camper

sjxj

Observer
So, you gonna sell the Tundra? If so, I'm interested, and just about an hour away... :ylsmoke:

If so, please PM.

Steve
 

coguzzi

Adventurer
im keeping the Tundra, its a great truck ive owned for a long time, only 115K on it, its going to become my daily driver/shop truck again. I am selling my 99 Tacoma daily driver/shop truck though, which i have mixed emotions about, its been a drop dead reliable truck and i would trust it to go anywhere. but i dont need 3 trucks on top of the other stiff
 

elkhntr

New member
I went the other way .... and this followed me home last week. I drove a standard Laramie and the PW and just wanted the PW. One item of difference is the GVWR which I believe is tire and spring rated. PW is 8,510 and the non-PW Laramie was 10,000.
2015 Power Wagon Laramie ...
IMG_0042_zpsj09rhr67.jpg
 

coguzzi

Adventurer
gorgeous, and that color was on the top of my list (and the blue--wife wanted it). trust me, if i wasnt buying a truck to load a camper into, power wagon would have been home with me a long time ago!

my problem is with the camper and being over GVWR. you are correct, PW 8510, 6.4L 2500 is 10,000. now in the US its not to big of an issue, can get slapped if ever in an accident but there are not GVWR police out there looking for you. BUT, my wife is Canadian and we used to live there, chances of us crossing the border are--not if but when type of situation. They do care about such stuff north of the border, BC especially. i know i could have added air bags and been fine, but legally i was not. now i will be legal even if i put one of my vintage moto guzzi's on a hitch rack, lots of room to play with.

jealous of the power wagon, those things just kick total *****
 

elkhntr

New member
I have an ARE cap coming for it ... if I ever go to a slide in, I'll look hard at a Hallmark. Toured their facility 10 years ago and am still favorably impressed ...
 

aearles

Observer
Ha, our trucks are twins, actually I'm jealous of your cab lights. I have also been planning an ARE, looking at the Z series, and the Overland (for obvious reasons :)). What model did you order, and if you don't mind sharing... how much?

I got a quote for the ARE Overland from a local dealer with screens, carpet, cab seal, and lighting for $2500... too damn much! I asked about just the base cap and didn't hear back so I need to shop around a bit.
 

coguzzi

Adventurer
I have an ARE cap coming for it ... if I ever go to a slide in, I'll look hard at a Hallmark. Toured their facility 10 years ago and am still favorably impressed ...

I worked for four wheel camper for 2 years as shop manager at the local dealer, great product for the right person, somewhat the minimalist of the slide in world. when we had a customer looking for a few more amenities, we sent them to Hallmark as the other brand we liked. they make a great camper, just a slightly different approach from FWC, more loaded.
 

elkhntr

New member
Ha, our trucks are twins, actually I'm jealous of your cab lights. I have also been planning an ARE, looking at the Z series, and the Overland (for obvious reasons :)). What model did you order, and if you don't mind sharing... how much?

I got a quote for the ARE Overland from a local dealer with screens, carpet, cab seal, and lighting for $2500... too damn much! I asked about just the base cap and didn't hear back so I need to shop around a bit.
I like the lights too, but I get unmitigated ******** from the GF over them. Makes them that much better :)

X series with pet screens, tilt down front slider, two led rope lights, two clothes rods, Yakima roof rack, installation and taxes at $2,195.

I have the choice of Leer or ARE locally and they were within spitting distance of each other, price wise.
 

nick325i

Adventurer
Nice trucks! The Laramie's are very nice. I just bought a new 15' Tradesman 2500 with the 6.4 a few weeks ago. I really like it so far it. I'm getting an average of about 15 mpg after 2000 miles with an half and half between city and highway.

They had a PW on the lot and it was very tempting but I realistically don't need the off-road options and couldn't justify the extra cash. It's mainly for getting to and from project sites and towing my RRC. I do catch myself thinking I should have had them run the numbers on that one too but I'm trying to be practical.....

image.jpg
 
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elkhntr

New member
Nick - the dealer I bought mine from had 3 or 4 Power Wagon Tradesman models. I would have bought one of them if it were not for the lack of a rear slider and the seats. With my back, the Tradesman seats were just not comfortable. I like the more utilitarian truck. BTW, your truck is my first choice in color ....
 

nick325i

Adventurer
Nick - the dealer I bought mine from had 3 or 4 Power Wagon Tradesman models. I would have bought one of them if it were not for the lack of a rear slider and the seats. With my back, the Tradesman seats were just not comfortable. I like the more utilitarian truck. BTW, your truck is my first choice in color ....

My dealer had a Tradesman PW but it was still about $7k more. It's been on their lot a while so I might have had some room there but it came down to if I really needed the offroad options. I do own two other vehicles with lockers and etc but don't get me wrong I think the PWs are cool as H*** and a good value for what you get. I know because I've spend the money a few times to build up a trail worthy rig.

For this truck, I wanted silver or white exterior, dark interior, 6.4, 4x4, 4 doors and only the upgraded radio (for Bluetooth) and power windows and locks. Just a big, tough, simple truck.

A lot of it for me also comes down to the fact that my RRC barely fits through most of the local trails and it would break my heart to tear up a $45k truck. If I lived in a more wide open area it would make more sense but hopefully they keep producing the PW and maybe I'll get one in a few years.

On another note, since we have a little group of 6.4 owners here, has anyone has issues with an engine rattle on cold starts? Mine sat for a few days last week and when I started it, it rattled for a few seconds (similar to when you change your oil and it has pressurized yet). It worries me since I've never experienced this other than high mileage engines. Even my RRC with 175k doesn't rattle and it usually sits about 5 days between start ups.

I called the dealer and they said it sounded normal but that I could make an appointment (soonest was a month away) and they would check it out......
 
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Buliwyf

Viking with a Hammer
Should be more of a tickedy tickedy tick on startup. Perfectly normal. Shouldn't last more than 2 seconds. It's the valve train running before being pumped up with oil. If you're truck has cam phasers like my Fords do, then it'll tick even more on startup. (And in Fords case, eventually it'll tick all the darn time)

I religiously use a pint of sticky STP with every oil change. (but only on ag type engines, not sports cars or bikes)
 

coguzzi

Adventurer
nothing like drilling holes in your new truck-ha. but she hardly even notices the camper back there, dropped 1.5" is all. i mght still do air bags once i get some miles under my belt to see how it goes, but the camper is heavier on the driver side, with bags i could level it.

i plan on doing a small lift as well, i dont need to go much bigger tire, just ground clearance im after

anyway--as promised, pics
 

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nick325i

Adventurer
nothing like drilling holes in your new truck-ha. but she hardly even notices the camper back there, dropped 1.5" is all. i mght still do air bags once i get some miles under my belt to see how it goes, but the camper is heavier on the driver side, with bags i could level it.

i plan on doing a small lift as well, i dont need to go much bigger tire, just ground clearance im after

anyway--as promised, pics

Sorry for hijacking the thread on 6.4 issues.

Your camper looks great! I have the Tradesman brother to your truck in silver.

Can you take a few photos of the inside? Let me know how your experience goes.
 

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