Help me decide on PW choices please

[RAM4ROKS]

I am going to have to second ggbull in regards to, I wouldn't trade my 2012 for a new one. The disadvantages outweigh the advantages to me:

I will say, I do like the new 6.4L (no replacement for displacement!), the 11.5" rearend (can get lower than 4.56 gears!), and the radius arm frontend (since you can easily move the axle forward to fit 40s!) Also, I have to say the new 2017 Power Wagon SLT graphics look awesome!

Now what I don't like- the CAD is junk, the rear suspension costs a LOT more to modify, those rear suspension lower control arm frame mounts hang down quite a ways, and the rear suspension design severely limits you in terms of a highly modified build- you would have to change everything. To be honest I like the interior better in the 2012. (I am not enamored with the 2013+ interior changes) Lastly, it seems like most of the mechanical problems I have seen posted have been 2014+ rigs. (this may be biased though, seems like the 2014+ production numbers may be higher than 2013 and earlier??? (so maybe seemingly more problems but only because there are more trucks overall???))

As for daily driving, my truck is my DD and I LOVE it!!!! I've got 66k miles on mine thus far and it has been a great truck!
In regards to comfort, I am going to have to disagree with ggbull- my Wagon is the most comfortable vehicle I've owned! It is more comfortable than any vehicle with similar capabilities and is more comfortable than many that aren't as capable!!!! As a direct comparison (two vehicles I can drive back to back), I find my Wagon more comfortable on a 3" Carli 2.5 Performance suspension and 37s than my wife's Yukon Denali XL is. I don't believe I have driven anything I found more comfortable, certainly haven't owned anything more comfortable!

I have owned (just counting driveable 4wds (not counting my two "lawn ornaments I've owned, LOL!)):
2004 Chevy ZR2 Blazer (mostly stock)
1969 Bronco (I guess a low budget restomod is what you could call it)
1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee (bought stock and did a lot of mods)
2007 Silverado Classic Duramax (kept it completely stock as a tow rig)
1987 GMC Jimmy (bought stock with just a nice ORD 3" lift, basically had a completely new rock crawling rig by the time my build was done)
2011 JKU 4 door Wrangler (bought stock, did a reasonable build (I guess one could call it a slightly biased toward rock crawling overlander build))
2013 Toyota Tacoma SR5 V-6, 6 speed manual, extended cab (stock, had for a month and traded in (on my Wagon which was newer- built months AFTER my 2013 Tacoma was built, LOL!)))
1998 Jeep Cherokee (stock, wife's first 4wd)
2012 GMC Yukon 5.3L (stock, wife's old rig)
2013 GMC Yukon XL Denali 6.2L (stock, wife's current rig)

I find my 2012 Wagon more comfortable than any of the above. (and more comfortable than the 4 cars I've owned and the 2 cars my wife has had)

[Dogman691]

I want to thank everyone for your responses. All of your info and opinions was helpful. It was a tuff decision and I came home with a 2016 PW last night. I'm looking forward to getting some use out of it.
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[olyelr]

Nice truck!

Swapped the durashakes for some bfg at's?

[Dogman691]

Yeah, it had the bfg's on it. It has 4200 miles.

[OffroadTreks]

Very nice. I love those low mile trucks that someone else paid the instant depreciation hit on.

[NickPic83]

Nice rig. Congrats

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[RAM4ROKS]

Great looking rig!!! Nice choice! LOVE that color!!!!!!!

[adeluca73]

Excellent score !!

[Dogman691]

Thanks, I'm loving this truck. I have no plans to get rid of it. I'm already thinking about mods.

[ggbull]

Nice truck! Looks like it's the same colour as mine. Dark blue?

[Dogman691]

Yes, True Blue p/c

[JD 500]

Nice truck man !! Very sharp !
Careful how much time you spend reading the posts here.
The more I read, the more shtuff I seem to order online !

[MSCH2112]

Yeah, it had the bfg's on it. It has 4200 miles.

wonder why they would dump the duratraks for the bfgs......

mike

[coder]

Yeah, it had the bfg's on it. It has 4200 miles.

wonder why they would dump the duratraks for the bfgs......

mike

Funny I remember when 3Gens came with BFG's and people would swap them out for duratracs, I guess the grass is always greener on the other side.

[olyelr]

Yeah, it had the bfg's on it. It has 4200 miles.

wonder why they would dump the duratraks for the bfgs......

mike

Because they are noisy and dont balance worth a shit. I dont know if it's just this size or what. This is the only set I have had. But they are extremely noisy for what relatively mild tread they have. But they work damn good!

My guess is the original buyer had no clue what a PW was, bought it cause it looked cool, then realized he couldnt stand the "atrociously noisy off road tires", exchanged them for more street friendly ones, then couldnt believe he could only muster 12 MPG out of the truck and finally threw in the towel.

[nts007]

Beautiful new truck!
The new bfg ko2s are really getting people back to their all terrain. Guys are really liking them. I always liked my old bfg at/s. Never had any of the problems guys are having on 9 different sets on 3 trucks and a car. Yes all terrains on a car. I haven't tried the new model yet but eventually I will.

[DamageWagon]

I had the KO2 in my last truck and had a love/hate relationship with them. They were really squirmy so I had to run them at 65psi, even with a load range E, and you felt every bump. They did have very good traction in most stuff though I never tried mud. They also survived hits that I was fully prepared to have a dead tire and wheel when I got out of the truck, only find it had a scuff mark on it. I was very happy with their durability. Don't have any experience with the original KO but I know Don specifically mentions them in his Death Wobble causes writeup.


Sent from my safe space

[nts007]

Yes I know he does. I have read his write up and disagree with him in part on it. My experience may just be different. I do know that when everyone was yelling bfg tires and I had a strange oscillation i had just swapped back from bfg km2s in a 37 down to all terrains in a 35 and I had a crazy bounce. So swapped back and it went away. Well it wasn't the tires at all. It was bad balljoints. The heavier tire was masking the true problem the truck was having. And that's the issue I have with the toyos. They are an extremely heavy tire and in some cases are masking problems the truck is having just from sheer centrifical force. I have found on every solid axle vehicle I have owned and experienced dw it was a cause of tie rods and track bar. Never steering stab. If you need massive upgraded stab or dual stab you have other problems you have just covered up. My 2c sure but just relating my exp

[olyelr]

I had the KO2 in my last truck and had a love/hate relationship with them. They were really squirmy so I had to run them at 65psi, even with a load range E, and you felt every bump. They did have very good traction in most stuff though I never tried mud. They also survived hits that I was fully prepared to have a dead tire and wheel when I got out of the truck, only find it had a scuff mark on it. I was very happy with their durability. Don't have any experience with the original KO but I know Don specifically mentions them in his Death Wobble causes writeup.


Sent from my safe space

Yes I know he does. I have read his write up and disagree with him in part on it. My experience may just be different. I do know that when everyone was yelling bfg tires and I had a strange oscillation i had just swapped back from bfg km2s in a 37 down to all terrains in a 35 and I had a crazy bounce. So swapped back and it went away. Well it wasn't the tires at all. It was bad balljoints. The heavier tire was masking the true problem the truck was having. And that's the issue I have with the toyos. They are an extremely heavy tire and in some cases are masking problems the truck is having just from sheer centrifical force. I have found on every solid axle vehicle I have owned and experienced dw it was a cause of tie rods and track bar. Never steering stab. If you need massive upgraded stab or dual stab you have other problems you have just covered up. My 2c sure but just relating my exp

I agree, all the BFG AT's I have had treated me very well. Havnt tried the KO2's yet either, but I am sure they are a little better than the previous ones. The 15/32nd tread depth seems a little minimal to me though...

I also agree about the steering stabilizer. A good steering setup does not even need one. Sure, a quality stabilizer helps with steering feel/control in most circumstances, but it is not need to prevent death wobble. They can/do, however, mask the real issues and help prevent death wobble.

[DamageWagon]

That's good to know. I know he mentioned some people have problems, some don't. You may be dead on regarding tire weight as well. I also agree that nobody should need a steering stabilizer, but they are a big improvement when done right. I'm skeptical of the Carli opposed stabilizers. I just don't feel like it's necessary.


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[olyelr]

...I'm skeptical of the Carli opposed stabilizers. I just don't feel like it's necessary.


Sent from my safe space

"Yeah, but my death wobble problems went away when I installed them!"

[nts007]

[Dogman691]

After talking to the salesman when I purchased the Wagon the former owner didn't like the Goodyears. That's why the KO2's are on the PW. I love them. This thing has all the options except the ram boxes. I looked it up on the Ram owners site and it has the extra 5.2 gallon gas tank, dual alternators. I was lucky the dealership had no market for that type of truck in the area I purchased it.