Power Wagon and light slide in camper

[coguzzi]

Long time lurker, first time poster here. I have been lusting after a power wagon for a long time, and finally drove a used '12 at the local Dodge lot last friday, and going to test drive a '15 next week. loved the '12 (not the particular truck since it was neglected) but they tell me the '15 with the 6.4 will blow me away and actually gets better milage.

Anyway, im looking for a truck to replace my 02 toyota tundra as my camper rig. It is a Four Wheel Camper Hawk model, fairly loaded with options, im guessing between 1200-1400 lbs (never weighed it). so lets just say 1300 dry, always loaded with gear, but not water/food unless im going out. I was actually a service manager for four wheel camper for years, we put these in half tons all the time with some suspension mods, and my tundra handled it OK, just ok i would say (i usually carry a motorbike on the back as well--extra 200lbs). its not a daily driver, camper lives in the truck 90% of the time.

So Power wagon has always been on my short list, basically a truck that has everything from the factory i would want to add, and some not possible. factory winch, sway bar disconnect, lockers, skid plates etc. The rubicon of the truck world (i own a rubicon as well, use the sway bar disconnect all the time). older i get the more i appreciate factory built items that all work together.

my issue is load capacity, '12 power wagon (leaf spring) is 1884lbs, the '15 (coil spring) is 1440lbs. crazy leaf vs coil is such a large difference. for comparison, the ram 2500 '12 is 2500lbs and '15 3510lbs. opposite weight rating (coil more).

so my question is from owners, do you think a power wagon is a good idea for a 1300lb four wheel camper hawk? and which generation would you buy? OR, would i be better off buying a 2500 and adding a winch (easier with a bumper probably) and living with out sway bar dissconnect and lockers?

[fbenross]

you sound just like me, as far as how to use the PW. I've had mine on every kind of F'd up trail you can think of with the camper. Only suspension mod is air bags. As they say a picture is worth a bunch of words.

[Powerwagon Nut]

I have an 2005 PW and a 1600 pound (loaded) camper. It is a 1994 Pastime, pretty light construction although it has a wood frame and plywood interior (no pressboard). I love both the truck and the camper...no mods except tork lift camper tie downs. Worth every penny.

edit: I think the leaf springs are better for normal 'truck' use and the coilovers are better for off-roading, if you are going to be hauling heavy loads, towing, and loading up a camper with food, gear, etc. I would find a truck with leaf springs.

[coguzzi]

fbenross, that is good to hear that a Hallmark goes well with the power wagon with only air bags, i know the Hallmark brand well since they are local to me and the brand we always sent people to who were looking for a lil more amenities in the camper than a four wheel camper offered. There is a slide in out there for everyone, FWC is the basic, focused on light weight and duability. we called it the backpackers camper. Hallmark sits in the midlle with some more creature comforts, then there are the Lance style campers with slide outs and faux granite counter tops etc.

Its also awesome to see you routinely carry an XT225 on the back, i carry a Honda CT110 50% of the time but an thinking about moving up to a XT225 since its more open road friendly and onlt 30lbs more. i used to own one, probably shouldnt have sold it. but nice to see a power wagon is handling a heavier than my camper (hallmarks are inherently more heavy than a FWC) and a bike on the back. very close to the exact set up i will have.

fbenross and Powerwagon Nut, i see you both have 05-06 power wagons, i need to see what the payload is on those, wonder if its more than the 10-13, and certainly more than the 14-15.

[cruz]

With minor suspension mods, I see no reason why you would be disappointed with a PW. This is my third truck and camper combo, only changes to my stock '05 are air bags , adjustable Ranchos and E-rated Falkens .
Camper weighs 1200lbs. dry and on average maybe about 450lbs. of gear + provisions . It works for me .

[coguzzi]

for some reason the response i posted this am did not show up

thanks for the return post, and after some research it seems like the 05-09 PW's had a 2500lb cargo capacity, which is what cruz, Powerwagon Nut, and fbenross have for rigs. 2500lbs for 05-09, 1884lbs for 10-13, 1440lbs fpr 14-15. Granted all of you are running a camper that is slightly heavier than the four wheel camper hawk, but...

fbenross, thanks for the post, and we are very similar in our desires, i to carry a motorbike on the back of my tundra/fwc 50% of the time. its a lil honda CT110, laughs per cc are through the roof. but i am thinking about upgrading to a XT225 like you, more road friendly for the inevitable slab time and only 30lbs heavier than the ct110. i used to own one. and this with a Hallmark camper, very familiar with the brand since they are local to me and the brand we would recommend for people looking for a few more amenities than the FWC. FWC is kind of the back packers camper, hallmark right in the middle for amenities, then the lance style campers after that with faux granite counters, slide outs etc. So the hallmark is slightly heavier than me and glad to see the PW is hauling it fine, Hallmark will not even sell to 1/2 ton customers.

hmm, even a non PW 2500 will probably give me more flex with the solid axle vs the tundra with IFS. ive had that thing with the camper in teetering on 2 wheels to tripodding on some trails ive been on. stacking rocks always got me through, but more flex would be nice, and it sure would be nice if a PW would work

[cruz]

i need to see what the payload is on those, wonder if its more than the 10-13, and certainly more than the 14-15.

2005 QC payload is 2210 lbs.

[TwinStick]

If you want a 3rd Gen Power Wagon & are concerned with the weight, get these & be done with it.

http://www.carlisuspension.com/dodge-ra ... gpack.html


If you scroll down, you will find the ones that are designed to carry 1500 lbs at all times. If you will be taking it in & out all the time, then air bags with the Daystar cradle would be the way to go IMHO.

https://www.google.com/search?q=daystar ... d=0CFsQsAQ

[cruz]

One thing to remember, air-bags DO NOT increase payload capacity . They just help you carry MAX. loads.

[Powerwagon Nut]

Thank you for posting those links! I have been considering adding airbags to my PW. It rides very smoothly with the camper on but has a tendency to sway a bit. It doesn't sway excessively, or dangerously, but it is a bit disconcerting at first.

How did your ride change with the addition of the airbags?

[TwinStick]

I would call Sage Carli & talk to them about their +1500 lb springs for your application. My money says they will make it handle like stock with no load---while you are carrying the camper, & eliminate the disconcerting feeling.

I don't have air bags. I have Hellwig Load Pro 35's on mine. My 30' TTrailer/ToyHauler is 10,500 lbs fully loaded, 6400 empty.

[coguzzi]

it appears the real numbers are: Power wagon is 1880lb pay load vs 2550lb for a normal 2500 (that number is with the 5.7, i would do a 6.4). that is 670 lb difference, and when you figure in the extras a power wagon has, factory winch, sway bar disconnect, skid plates front to rear, thats probably 400lbs, maybe. I know i would, and most probably would be adding a winch that would involve a bumper, some under body protection etc to a 2500 for safety purposes.

SO, after that, payloads are actually only off by a couple hundred pounds really. still wavering though between power wagon and 2500 laramie

towing is another, 10,000lb vs 17,000lb, but i hate towing-ha. but something to think about