What's your upgrade?

[dienster]

Hi,

I just got a '17 a few weeks ago and am trying to figure out what to add to this truck. I'm in Raleigh, NC and will use it on the beach for surf fishing trips to the outer banks and hauling a boat around as well as having some fun in the mountains and Uwharrie.

I see things like steering box stabilizers that I'm not sure if they are worth the money. So would like to take a poll here to see what is worth it or not in your experience.

If you had to pick one performance and one longevity upgrade for a Powerwagon, what would it be? Also, what isn't worth the money you spent on it?

Thanks,
Steve

[flattire]

Welcome to the forum.

For me I wouldn't do anything but just enjoy the new truck for now. Learn how to use things . Test lockers and winch to see and feel what they do. Experiment with tire pressure for beach driving.

You've got the warranty if something is wrong and doing too many mods can affect it. Maybe consider extended warranty if planning to keep long term.

[OffroadTreks]

Welcome to the forum!

Where you live, and what you want to do, you actually don't need to do anything. If you wanted, you could upgrade to bigger tires. But you don't' even need those if you're just heading out to the beach down at OBX.

But these trucks are incredibly capable in stock trim.

Here is a bone stock 2017 tackling Hells Gate in Moab.



You're not going to find anything this extreme in NC or in the Uwharrie. At some point if you do play in the Uwharrie a bunch, maybe sliders and diff protection. But why be in a rush.

[DamageWagon]

Good tires would probably be the best investment, although that's hard to justify when you have brand new tires.

[Shaved Ice]

On my second Power Wagon. These trucks are extremely capable in stock form. No upgrade is going to make a night and day difference. I know Uwharrie well. Based on your planned usage, the following items will help.

White Knuckle Sliders: I have had these for about two months now. GREAT product.

Winch recovery accessories including sand anchor

Portable air compressor

[waldo]

Both of my wagons are pretty much stock and they pretty much do all I need the way they are. The 16 needs a tire upgrade though. Not a fan of the Duratracs.

[TankerZak]

On my second Power Wagon. These trucks are extremely capable in stock form. No upgrade is going to make a night and day difference. I know Uwharrie well. Based on your planned usage, the following items will help.

White Knuckle Sliders: I have had these for about two months now. GREAT product.

Winch recovery accessories including sand anchor

Portable air compressor

Agreed. I did these first. Few other things but sliders and tires (35s Toyo RT) and winch gear had the most effect. Very careful to keep warranty.

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[dienster]

On my second Power Wagon. These trucks are extremely capable in stock form. No upgrade is going to make a night and day difference. I know Uwharrie well. Based on your planned usage, the following items will help.

White Knuckle Sliders: I have had these for about two months now. GREAT product.

Winch recovery accessories including sand anchor

Portable air compressor

Those are all at the top of the list.

Front hitch for rod rack is already installed.
Have some winch gear, not sure the sand anchor is worth the space. I've only had to dig my Pilot out once.

WK sliders and a cap are just about ordered.

An air system is on the list, any suggestions?

May do cold air intake and the mufflex exhaust if I can without warranty issues.
35s when the stock tires wear out, maybe Thuren Overland front to level it at some point.

[TwinStick]

Lights.

[Retired BLM Rig]

2X on winch recovery accessories and air compressor.
Longevity upgrade: You need Fluid Film if you're going to be driving it on the beach, to keep the salty sand from eating it alive.

Welcome to the

[TankerZak]

On my second Power Wagon. These trucks are extremely capable in stock form. No upgrade is going to make a night and day difference. I know Uwharrie well. Based on your planned usage, the following items will help.

White Knuckle Sliders: I have had these for about two months now. GREAT product.

Winch recovery accessories including sand anchor

Portable air compressor

Those are all at the top of the list.

Front hitch for rod rack is already installed.
Have some winch gear, not sure the sand anchor is worth the space. I've only had to dig my Pilot out once.

WK sliders and a cap are just about ordered.

An air system is on the list, any suggestions?

May do cold air intake and the mufflex exhaust if I can without warranty issues.
35s when the stock tires wear out, maybe Thuren Overland front to level it at some point.

From what I've read, and I'm not an expert on this. But the current Ram 6.4 airbox is basically a CAI from the factory. Someone did some testing and the CAI did nothing at all. I think prevailing logic is to just get a DryFlow replacement filter and call it a day.

I did the Magnaflow 19200 full kit exhaust. It's a little droney between 1500-2k RPM possibly when the MDS is on.

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[FirerescuePW]

Welcome! It sounds like you are almost set up with the items you have planned. You mentioned the Thuren Overland for leveling the truck. The one major-ish upgrade that could make a difference is good shocks. King and Fox are 2 good choices, both available from Thuren.

Otherwise, from your description of planned activities, stock will be fine, and it will keep your warranty safe and the ride balanced.

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[dienster]

From what I've read, and I'm not an expert on this. But the current Ram 6.4 airbox is basically a CAI from the factory. Someone did some testing and the CAI did nothing at all. I think prevailing logic is to just get a DryFlow replacement filter and call it a day.

Dryflow is ordered. Thanks, this type of info is what I was hoping to get out of this thread, what is worth spending the money on.

2X on winch recovery accessories and air compressor.
Longevity upgrade: You need Fluid Film if you're going to be driving it on the beach, to keep the salty sand from eating it alive.

Welcome to the

Thanks, never heard of that product before. How much does it take to do the truck?

Treestraps, shackles, snatch block, tow strap are in the kit already. What am I missing?

[rkgzx9leftcoast]

Welcome!! Sounds like you are on your way... warning, once you start it never stops .LOL Its all in how you are going to use it, and if you find something you need as you go. I have a 16 and have done a lot of what you mentioned and more, 37`s , Thuren front kit, Recovery gear, air compressor. I like factor 55 closed winching products, nice quality. There is a thread on here about air compressors, i got the one that comes in a ammo box and has some tools, really like it. Id imagine you will have to air down going on the beach, so a compressor or air system would be a good idea.
You never know what type of situation you will be in off road, so best to over prepare....I had to pull out a Durango buried in the silty trail wash back in some trails by one of our lakes here in AZ, crazy how capable these trucks are. Mostly enjoy and have fun.

[Reloaderguy]

My first mod was 37's. I couldn't get the factory tires off fast enough.

[RustyPW]

When I first got my PW. I wasn't going to add much to it. Just look at my signature now.

[Chisel]

Congratulations on the new ride. I live in Raleigh as well. Not sure if this qualifies as an upgrade per se but one of the best things I put on my '16 is an AMP bed step. Helps a ton if you're gonna be crawling in and out of the bed much. I'm not a short guy but I got short legs so it was basically a must have.

Ditto on the off-road recovery stuff as well. Need all that first.

[waldo]

I use a 20 lb CO2 power tank for air, but I have two trucks so it's a better option for me. I can just toss it in the bed of whatever truck I happen to be using at the time rather than have two systems.

[Retired BLM Rig]

Thanks, never heard of that product before. How much does it take to do the truck?

Here's a thread for you to check out regarding rust protection. It mentions a few different product options

[TonkaPW]

White knuckle Sliders the best money I have spent on the truck. I have hit those in just about everything and they have held. Great protection for your investment.

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[TankerZak]

Congratulations on the new ride. I live in Raleigh as well. Not sure if this qualifies as an upgrade per se but one of the best things I put on my '16 is an AMP bed step. Helps a ton if you're gonna be crawling in and out of the bed much. I'm not a short guy but I got short legs so it was basically a must have.

Ditto on the off-road recovery stuff as well. Need all that first.

I did an AMP bed step which is awesome!!! I also did a Backflip Revolver. Its literally a roll-up hard tonneau. Its the best tonneau I've ever had and i think I'm on number 5 or 6...

I saw again... roll up hard tonneau AND if you have the Ramboxes the mounting system is beautiful. The mounting rails slide right into the cargo management that comes with the Rambox setup!

Let me know if you want pics.

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[TankerZak]

Masterflow MF 1050 is also great for portable air. Inexpensive. I mean its not onboard air system but i didn't want that. Its very popular in the offroad scene apparently.

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[Low_Sky]

Congratulations on the new ride. I live in Raleigh as well. Not sure if this qualifies as an upgrade per se but one of the best things I put on my '16 is an AMP bed step. Helps a ton if you're gonna be crawling in and out of the bed much. I'm not a short guy but I got short legs so it was basically a must have.

Ditto on the off-road recovery stuff as well. Need all that first.

I did an AMP bed step which is awesome!!! I also did a Backflip Revolver. Its literally a roll-up hard tonneau. Its the best tonneau I've ever had and i think I'm on number 5 or 6...

I saw again... roll up hard tonneau AND if you have the Ramboxes the mounting system is beautiful. The mounting rails slide right into the cargo management that comes with the Rambox setup!

Let me know if you want pics.

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Would you mind taking some pics of the mounting system? I had one of the folding Bakflips on my truck for a while but all the hardware bolted to the Rambox track system made it basically useless. I ended up taking it off. Needed the tracks more than I needed a cover.


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[Z's2016PW]

Its not a ram box but here you go.

[TankerZak]

See in pic #1 above those C clamps on the underside? Ram box version doesn't have that. Those rails just slide into the cargo management rails. With a bit of effort. You can't tell what is OEM and what's add-on.

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