For some reason when you were referring to a Power Wagon I was flashing WAY back to the old Dodge Power Wagon that used to be similar to the old Chevy Blazer, with the removable top. They were good trucks, but would be a little long in the tooth for what you're looking for.
I've driven my Jeep from MD to UT twice this year. Once for Easter Jeep Safari and then this past August with the family. 2,100 mile trip, one way. The first time a buddy and I went together and split the driving. That trip inspired my to head back, with the family. My Jeep drives and handles really well, and the ride is remarkably comfortable. Better driving, handling, riding than my Suburban. Not so much room for the kids, and of course you need to inovate for gear storage. I'll attribute some of my Jeep's ride and handling to AEV, but stock JKU's drive and handle pretty well. Modified can be better with good planning and forsight but can be worse too. The AEV suspension is remarkable, imo.
How I ended up with my Jeep is kinda funny. I had a 2006 Rubicon LJ for my hunting and fishing rig. It had a decent Old Man Emu suspension on it and 33" BFG M/T KO's and other accessories and modifications to better suit it to my uses. It was fine with me and one dog, but compared to JK's the TJ ride rough regardless of how good the suspension is. (- until you go with one of the long arm suspensions, like AEV's, but a propoer instal is a LOT of work). Range is limited too by a small fuel tank. Because of range and power and ride issues it was tanking me extra time to get to and from my hunting clubs - which sucks at 4:00am and eats into the family time at noon. I was thinking of spending the $'s on the suspension and a larger or auxilliary fuel tank but my son was getting older and begginning to come on hunting and fishing trips with me, and my daughter too sometimes on fishing trips. Then we got a second dog... The Jeep was shrinking.
My wife kept "stealing" my Jeep to run errands since Jeeps are just fun and I left my LJ with 1/2 doors and just the top, no sides, all summer. I got tired of coming home from work wanting to hop in the Jeep with the dogs and take them for a hike or to a pond to work them on dummies (they are both labs and hunt.) So my kids and I went and bought a four door Jeep for my wife for her B-day, as a suprise. She really loves it! Next thing you know, I'm the one "stealing" her Jeep for the extra room and the greatly improved ride....
I put a 2.5" BB or puck lift on her Jeep and was thinking of other improvements when I was ordered to STOP!
After a couple of months I caved and called AEV and told AEV's Jeff Clark that what I was looking for was something as road worthy as my Suburban for my very regular 2 or 2 1/2 hour trips to the hunting clubs and other longer trips but that was as capable as my LJ Rubicon when I got where I was going. (Suburbans are great, but they weigh a lot and it is easy to get one stuck in mud or high centered. Once stuck they are a ***** to recover because of the weight too.) He laughed and told me that that was not going to be a problem. He was right!
So, anyway, Jeff referred me to several Jeep dealers near AEV's Detroit workshop. One had the right Jeep for me and I bought it via telephone and FedEx. The dealer delivered it to AEV, AEV did their magic and delivered it to me... At the time there was no possibility of ordering one through a Jeep dealer, and even today that option is limited to select dealers.
The 2012 JK's have a much, much improved auto transmission and an engine with more torque and HP, a wider, flatter torque curve, better milage. Unless you're considering a Hemi swap it is the better choice than 2011 and previous, but I understand there are some great deals on 2011's.
A crew cab pickup would no doubt be a roomier cross county traveler. But to me it puts you in the same dilemna that I had with my Suburban. When you get where you're going you still have a BIG truck.
BTW, out in Moab there is no liscense requirement for some of the trails. I let my kids drive some of the easier trails to neat and interesting places. They had a blast. I'll post a couple of photos later.
JPK
