New member from Montana

[JPatch88]

Hey guys, I just got a power wagon and I figured I'd join up here so you can help me spend my money . I found a 2016 Laramie Power Wagon in incredible shape for sale from a local guy and jumped on it to get out of my 2016 Tacoma. Loved the Tacoma on tight trails, but the increase in power, comfort, and surprisingly enough, gas mileage has me really happy so far. So far the plan that I'm telling the wife is to keep it a mild build. Replace the stock duratracs with 35s, get a bit of armor, and eventually a slide in four wheel camper or similar. We're really looking forward to having a comfortable long distance camping build.

Here's a pic of the truck, looking forward to getting to know some of you!

[RustyPW]

[Low_Sky]

Welcome! Here you go, don’t tell the wife.

Step 1: Justify rock sliders and diff protection to safeguard you against costly repairs. Just in case. They’ll pay for themselves the first time!

Step 2: Start driving off-road since now that you have protection, you fear no trail. Trash the stock Duratracs, replace them with 35s.

Step 3: Regret getting 35s because the big rear diff housing and bottoms of the radius arms still whack rocks on the trail. Get 37s.

Step 4: 37s are too big a tire for the stock 4.10 gears, buy 4.88s or 5.13s.

Step 5 (really could happen at any point): Off-road driving has trashed the OEM shocks in far too few miles. Steering is starting to feel a liiiiiittle loose. Put a Thuren 2.5” King suspension under the truck.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Reloaderguy]

Congrats on purchasing the best year Power Wagon.

Order 37's.

[Mule007]

Welcome to the forum, nice looking truck!

[OffroadTreks]

Congrats on the new Power Wagon!

[JPatch88]

Thanks for the welcome guys!

I really feel like I got a good deal on the truck. The original owner never offroaded with it, just used it as a daily driver and to tow a trailer around town rarely. He added Amp power steps and bed step, window tint, and a B&W gooseneck.

The stock duratracs are just about trashed, and I already had a flat with them (my usual luck with them...) so I'll be putting on some 35" Ridge Grapplers as soon as Toyota sends me my check for cancelling my extended Tacoma warranty. I've always gone rock sliders on a truck, but I'll admit... these power steps are really nice and I don't want to lose them. I don't see myself doing too much true "wheeling" so I'm going to hold off for now. The Randy Ellis sliders are interesting, but I worry about drilling down on the rocker with the long winters in Bozeman, and how much Mag Chloride the state uses on the roads.

I'm planning a 2 week offroading/camping trip through eastern Utah and as many of the high Colorado passes as we can hit next summer, so by then I'll have the front/rear diff covers and the Dethloff skid installed. Until then, I'm throwing a soft topper on it to keep my stuff dry, and figuring out what it can handle.

[Reloaderguy]

There's nothing more disappointing than 35's on a Power Wagon. It's like finding a magic lamp and telling the genie 5".

[Low_Sky]

I've always gone rock sliders on a truck, but I'll admit... these power steps are really nice and I don't want to lose them. I don't see myself doing too much true "wheeling" so I'm going to hold off for now. The Randy Ellis sliders are interesting, but I worry about drilling down on the rocker with the long winters in Bozeman, and how much Mag Chloride the state uses on the roads.

White Knuckle, unless you have a connection that does custom work, then tell them "make them just like White Knuckles".

[Low_Sky]

There's nothing more disappointing than 35's on a Power Wagon. It's like finding a magic lamp and telling the genie 5".

Tire chains are the only reason I'm keeping mine.

[OffroadTreks]

There's nothing more disappointing than 35's on a Power Wagon. It's like finding a magic lamp and telling the genie 5".

Tire chains are the only reason I'm keeping mine.

You can get tire chains for 37's broski.

[Low_Sky]

There's nothing more disappointing than 35's on a Power Wagon. It's like finding a magic lamp and telling the genie 5".

Tire chains are the only reason I'm keeping mine.

You can get tire chains for 37's broski.

Tire chains that don't eat fenders are the only reason I'm keeping mine. Next summer will probably be 37 time, and they'll probably be 37x13.50s, I don't see a lot of room for chains around those. Not a lot of margin for error, chains don't rub on sheet metal and plastic, they eat it.

[Bill2014]

There's nothing more disappointing than 35's on a Power Wagon. It's like finding a magic lamp and telling the genie 5".

Ahhhh = all you guys with your magic genie enlargement pumps

[JPatch88]

lol, I'll probably end up with them in the future, but living two states away from family and having this as our roadtrip car, I'm hanging onto every MPG that I can. once the wife has a car we can travel in, all bets are off...

[machete-lc]

Beautiful truck! Funny but I came over to the PW after driving a 16 Tacoma as well. On the road with 35s I get just about the same gas mileage as in my Taco with 265s. Go figure! Love the wagon.

[JPatch88]

Thanks machete! Yeah I was surprised at how the mpgs ended up. So glad I made the jump!

[b40huckers]

Congrats and welcome, I am also new here and new to the Power Wagon. Looks like base housing ...I am in Great Falls. Enjoy the truck!

[FirerescuePW]

Welcome! Glad you found us.

Sent from my SM-G935P using Tapatalk

[Mule007]

Welcome to the forum! Nice looking truck, Enjoy

[JPatch88]

Congrats and welcome, I am also new here and new to the Power Wagon. Looks like base housing ...I am in Great Falls. Enjoy the truck!

Not base housing for me. I'm down in Bozeman living in the middle of a bunch of college kids (some info the landlord left out when I was searching from out of state). Nice to see another guy from Montana on here though!

Got rid of the stock Duratrac tires this weekend and went to 35" KO2s. They definitely aren't 37s, but they fill the wheel wells way better than stock. That and the softopper coming later this week should have me ready for winter.

Side note: hopefully next weekend I get this out into the mountains so I can stop taking crappy driveway pictures.

[04Ram2500Hemi]

Congrats and welcome, I am also new here and new to the Power Wagon. Looks like base housing ...I am in Great Falls. Enjoy the truck!

Not base housing for me. I'm down in Bozeman living in the middle of a bunch of college kids (some info the landlord left out when I was searching from out of state). Nice to see another guy from Montana on here though!

Got rid of the stock Duratrac tires this weekend and went to 35" KO2s. They definitely aren't 37s, but they fill the wheel wells way better than stock. That and the softopper coming later this week should have me ready for winter.

20180915_120653.jpg

Side note: hopefully next weekend I get this out into the mountains so I can stop taking crappy driveway pictures.

The biggest problem with Bozeman is all them damn Bobcat Fans...

Good looking truck, and hello from Missoula.