Thoughts??? To rebuild or to buy new (Used)?

[Redman1973]

It is coming to that time that I am now having to repair OX more often than not.

Looking at two options:

1- put about $16K in her and bring her back up to as new of a condition as I can?

2- buy me a new (Used) echo diesel and put OX in my garage to work on her a little at a time.

However, issues with Option 2 is that I cannot see myself driving another truck as my daily driver all the while that OX sits in my garage collecting dust. BUT... with that, I drive down to Key Largo with my boat about twice a year and having something a little more reliable is key.

"OX" will never leave my family, nor will my wifes PW "Liam" (2019 Power Wagon).

I am all over the place with this thread, which is why I cannot figure out which option to go with.

THOUGHTS?

[Bill2014]

Use the wife's PW twice a year to drive the boat down to Key Largo...
PW's don't usually make the best daily drivers (unless your commute requires lockers )
hence my '14 PW has less than 10k miles on it and my 30+ mpg american made car daily driver has 195k miles on it.
...and the price of gas is now on it's way up up up

[DamageWagon]

What year is your wagon and what’s wrong with it? My 2011 has been through the ringer and I’ve replaced almost every single part except the gears, transmission and bottom end of the engine. I have not spent $16k. Even with a dropped valve, all new steering components, full suspension system, etc. it’s been far far more affordable to keep this running well than to buy a new vehicle.

[Redman1973]

Use the wife's PW twice a year to drive the boat down to Key Largo...
PW's don't usually make the best daily drivers (unless your commute requires lockers )
hence my '14 PW has less than 10k miles on it and my 30+ mpg american made car daily driver has 195k miles on it.
...and the price of gas is now on it's way up up up

What year is your wagon and what’s wrong with it? My 2011 has been through the ringer and I’ve replaced almost every single part except the gears, transmission and bottom end of the engine. I have not spent $16k. Even with a dropped valve, all new steering components, full suspension system, etc. it’s been far far more affordable to keep this running well than to buy a new vehicle.

Not an option... we have an agreement that I do not use her truck for any fishing related activities... not to mention I have a lot of gear I bring with me, and her truck is decked out with everything you can imagine so I would not want to mess it up. Her PW is our family Veh we take on trips etc.

OX has been my daily driver sense I bought her in early 06... yes lockers were required when I lived in 29Palms, CA. Also... I only have 135K on her... so I do not drive her as much as you may think. I daily commute to work is less than 4 miles, where I launch my boat is 6 miles, and where I hunt will depend on what I am hunting. Other than the trips to Uharrie, or Key Largo, that is about it.

OX is an 05 PW I believe she is #47 off the production line if I am not mistaken... Rusty, do you still have the list of when all of our wagons were built?

A lot of what I plan to do with her is cosmetics... new command system (GPS, XM radio, back-up and forward camera), new shoes (debating on going back to the 35" mud grapplers, or stock goodyears), pampering job (new paint, re-hurculiner the rocker panels, rockrails to include a couple of coats on the bed). New lights all the way around (LEDs), new carpet and seat covers. What needs to be done to her is replacement of the cruise control, turn signal switch as they just went out the other day, and the starter, she sparks when I starter up. The ABS and brake lights stay on when it rains, this tells me their is a sensor or wiring issue where moisture is gaining access to bare wire causing a short in the circuit. Going to replace all the sensors.

Price for what has to be done is $11K... the other $6K is to bring her up to what the 4th and 5th gen trucks come with.

The goal is to keep her so that I can give her to my grandson when he is old enough to drive (11 years from now).

[Redman1973]

a couple of pics from the past.

[DamageWagon]

A 3rd gen will never be a 4+ gen. I’d leave that truck as it is. It will never spruce up to anything near what the new trucks are. You can throw all the money at it you want and it will still be a 3rd gen.

[Mule007]

Part of it’s beauty in my mind!

[Redman1973]

A 3rd gen will never be a 4+ gen. I’d leave that truck as it is. It will never spruce up to anything near what the new trucks are. You can throw all the money at it you want and it will still be a 3rd gen.

Com-on-man... if you are truly a PW owner and fan, you see that all PWs, old and new are the best in its class. Wait.. the only truck in its class.

I agree, I do plan on leaving her as is, she just needs to have some parts replaced that are worn out, and give her a new navigation system... nor do I want it to be anything other than her self.

thanks for your input.

[DamageWagon]

My 2011 is the rolling dumpster fire I love. It’s more fun at this point to just wonder when a piston is going to shoot through the hood. You just can’t buy that kind of value.

Gaia on a phone or tablet is a great nav system. Big props to Chrysler on the truck nav the 4th gens got, they have every friggin forest road loaded in these things.

[RustyPW]

Hi Danny,
Think this is what you want.

http://powerwagonregistry.org/

The 3G's are the best.

[Redman1973]

Hi Danny,
Think this is what you want.

http://powerwagonregistry.org/

The 3G's are the best.

thanks bud

[Redman1973]

Well. after thinking this over some, and talking to my son and my wife. I decided that I would keep OX in the family and give it to my son. BUT... just before I had made up my mind to do this, I recieved a call from my good friend who is the sales manager for National Dodge in Jacksonville, NC. He told me in almost these exact words. Hey bro, get a plane ticket and fly up, I have the truck you want. Trust me on this, it is you, and I am going to hold it until you fly up and see it. Well, I was on a plane that Friday and when I got there Friday afternoon, all I could say was wow... She was amazing, and for $25K there was no way I was going to let it go. That was the icing on the cake, and OX now belong to my son. He imidiately took those tiny tires off and went back to the 35" Nitto's.

I bought my 2016 echodiesel Laramie longhorn addition with every bell and wistle those trucks come from. Mike my salesmen was going to sell it for $45K, but he is such a good friend, and he got this truck on a trade in from a customer that has been there longer than I have and a retired Marine.

[Reloaderguy]

Is that the year with all the cam gear problems?