Thinking about...

[MOPARManiac]

I bought my PW to use. I use it to haul, pull, go off-road, etc. The Dodge 1500's are nice looking pickups, but they are pavement queens. If I didn't need my PW I would be driving a 4 dr Limited Jeep and small trailer for hauling things. Have you seen the box size on the 1500's? They are tiny, I can fit more in my old Ramcharger. Speaking of my old Ramcharger, People ask me all the time why I drive the old, worn out rust bucket that gets under 10 MPG. It is simple.....it's easy to work on and it's paid for. Not having a multiple vehicle payment pays for a lot of gas. Speaking of vehicle payments. Why not get your PW paid off and just keep it? From they way you talk (no offense), you seem to like to have constant vehicle payments. I didn't have any payments for years until I traded my 01' in and got my 10' PW. It sucks having payments and I can't wait until it is paid off. I do not drive my PW very much, average around 8,000 miles a year. In 20 years I will still have my 2010 PowerWagon and it will still serve a purpose.

[04Ram2500Hemi]

This is probably the saddest and most disturbing thread I've ever read. Your Power Wagon is what I inspire to make my truck into. I've always said I have myoung84's "Mini Me" Power Wagon. You have no idea how much your freaking truck has cost me. If I wasn't waiting for AEV to either crap or get off the pot with their product, I'd be ordering the Carli Suspension today. I totally understand the financial thought behind a different truck, and the adult in me wants to congratulate you on thinking responsibly, but I have too much of an emotional attachment to my truck to give it up (there's more threads on DT than I can remember about my want for a Power Wagon). Just take your time, think it through, but the facts and figures on paper, and then decide from there.

[myoung84]

I am also a bit emotionally attached, but at the end of the day, I realize it's just a truck. I'm about 50/50 at this point. Money and payments aside, a 1500 will simply work better for what I need. Keeping the PW and paying it off doesn't really help much. That fact of the matter is, I don't haul, pull, or offroad, at least nothing that would require a 2500. There's just not any good places that I can go play around here that's not going to cause major damage. If I lived somewhere like Arizona, Utah, etc, we wouldn't be having this conversation. If I want to go play, I'll toss the ATV in the bed and go to the ATV park that's only 30 minutes away.

And the short bed on the 1500s is only 8" shorter. I had one and it wasn't an issue. Still did everything I needed. Having said that, the 6'4" bed is available on the 1500s now, which is what I would order (bed cover would also swap over). It's only an extra $300 on the Laramie.

[myoung84]

This is what I'm thinking.

[myoung84]

I don't know whether to love or hate you guys. I was staring at these pics on my Possibly for sale thread and I don't know if I can do it. I keep making arguments on why I should, and they make sense, but dammit this truck is too damn awesome to get rid of. It's still not dead yet, but I don't think I'm 50/50 right now. This is hard! LOL

[MSCH2112]

Definitely not minivan time. LOL. The truck is plenty big enough for two kids in car seats. We won't have any more than two kids (assuming the next one isn't twins, LOL)...

i said the same thing at one time. had a boy...then we decided to have another and got twins 16 months later! so we now own a minivan and i do have to say they are pretty awesome for kids. i still hate it though but it does do its job.

i've decided my next pickup will be a 3/4 ton diesel with 285's on stock wheels. just don't find the time anymore with the PW and with a boat and quads you gotta pick your battles. i hope you don't take too big a bath when selling yours.

mike

[GunniPWguy]

I already miss it.

[SheepdogOutdoorsman]

And with 3.92 gears and the 8 speed, the first gear ratio in high range is much better than the 2500. (14.7:1 vs 18.5:1). It will be a pretty quick truck.

Plus, the 1500 Hemi isn't detuned like the HD version ...


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[azracer]

I'm positive you will regret it but hey you will need to decide for yourself and then deal with the decision you make. I doubt you will be saving that much money unless you get a 1500 with factory incentives and zero percent financing for 60 months. Otherwise it will be fuel savings and a smaller payment for a lot longer time than you have to pay now with the PW.

When I dumped my 1500 I got $8000 factory incentives and zero percent financing plus $2000 in dealer incentives and it still hurts making the payments. But I have 3 more payments to go and a lifetime bumper to bumper warranty, so things are beginning to look up now.

[SheepdogOutdoorsman]

I'm positive you will regret it but hey you will need to decide for yourself and then deal with the decision you make. I doubt you will be saving that much money unless you get a 1500 with factory incentives and zero percent financing for 60 months. Otherwise it will be fuel savings and a smaller payment for a lot longer time than you have to pay now with the PW.

When I dumped my 1500 I got $8000 factory incentives and zero percent financing plus $2000 in dealer incentives and it still hurts making the payments. But I have 3 more payments to go and a lifetime bumper to bumper warranty, so things are beginning to look up now.

I as well got the lifetime bumper to bumper warranty ... I'm driving my PW into the ground


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[cruz]

My $.02, I'd try to figure out any other solution for transportation and keep the PW, I'd even drive a Yugo.
But if you do sell it, who ever buys it will be getting one fine truck, you've done a very nice job putting it all together.

[Pit Slave]

Have you thought about refinancing the truck?

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[HammerTime]

My neighbor just bought a shiny new Ford F150 with more bells and whistles than a parade. Nice truck and all but I would be afraid to take it off road. What is this world coming to? (Just kidding) Got to do what is best for you and your family. Minivan time?

LOL!!!!

Honestly, don't do it! The PW isn't that much harder to get around in than the 1500 QC. And you'll be sorry...

And missed!

[Mexican Import]

Once upon a time I had a beloved 2009 Power Wagon and I talked myself into the same type of deal you are now because I had a newborn that me, and sometimes my short old lady were hoisting in and out of the (smaller) back seat. I told myself I wouldn't miss my prized Truck (even though my kids first car ride was in my PW home from the hospital) because of the major practicality and ease of use I was going to be getting. So I went through with it... I would have been way better off paying the truck off and buying a used minivan to haul kids for what it has cost me to go full circle (3 vehicles later) back into a Power Wagon for which there are no known substitutes. Of course this was poor judgement on my part and I dont think you are on that same path but please allow me to offer some cheap advice. Consider keeping the Power Wagon for its purpose and find another used vehicle that you can afford that meets your familys needs... I know I wish I had. btw my kid loves offroading with me in my Power Wagon

[HammerTime]

Once upon a time I had a beloved 2009 Power Wagon and I talked myself into the same type of deal you are now because I had a newborn that me, and sometimes my short old lady were hoisting in and out of the (smaller) back seat. I told myself I wouldn't miss my prized Truck (even though my kids first car ride was in my PW home from the hospital) because of the major practicality and ease of use I was going to be getting. So I went through with it... I would have been way better off paying the truck off and buying a used minivan to haul kids for what it has cost me to go full circle (3 vehicles later) back into a Power Wagon for which there are no known substitutes. Of course this was poor judgement on my part and I dont think you are on that same path but please allow me to offer some cheap advice. Consider keeping the Power Wagon for its purpose and find another used vehicle that you can afford that meets your familys needs... I know I wish I had. btw my kid loves offroading with me in my Power Wagon

This is exactly what I'm talking about!

Listen to the voice of experience!

I hope you enjoy what ever rig you decide to run with. If you do get rid of the PW, you'll be sorry later. Consider yourself forewarned!

I wish I had been.

[R0NAN]

My Dad's best saying is "enjoy those things that make us happy". I live by it. Sure having a baby will put a dent in your available time but time moves by fast and soon you'll want to take your kids out camping. I grew up wheeling, fishing , hunting and camping with my dad and family and they were some of the most memorable times I had. The amount of time you've spent building up such a beautiful truck indicates to me you will miss it once it's gone.
No offence to any 1/2 ton owners but IMO, I think they are too much like a car. A truck needs to be able to do s@"t. I put a load of dirt in my neibours box and damm near had sparks flying of the back it was riding so low.
I would store your PW if you can't afford to run it and get a used caravan. They're a good vehicle, there are many cheap used ones and you can sell it once the kids grow up a bit( althought you'll likely keep it as they are very multipurpose). I bought my wife one and she loves it. It drives nice and I don't give a rats a$$ what people think of me when I drive it cause ....we'll.. At 47 yrs old I am very secure with myself and have nothing to prove. Life is to short to care about what other people think.
Just imagine yourself with your family with a camper on holidays, doing a day trip with the kids wheeling around in the wilderness, swimming in places no one else swims, picnicking in places away from the masses of annoying tourists.... Enjoying nature at its purest and best. What a gift to give to your children. There is no better way to understand that we are a part of everything and everything is a part of us. Seeing and experiencing true nature is awesome for kids.
You've been a great help to forum members here and I wish you and your family all the best wherever life takes you. I was fortunate that my childhood was full of outdoor wilderness adventures and I am extremely greatful towards my parents for that.
(PS. I too along with Will is still hoping to get a bypass kit whenever you have the time to fab some up)

[myoung84]

What about a 2500 Laramie with a 6.4L and the Black Package? I said I'd never own another black vehicle but this is sexy!

[04Ram2500Hemi]

Buying a truck like that isn't going to yield you any better fuel economy, nor is it going to lessen your vehicle payment. Swapping one HD Hemi for another doesn't make sense to me. It's your nickel man, I just would hate to see you waste it on something you won't be happy with.

[Ducky's Dad]

Assuming that you actually need a truck and not just a vehicle for hauling the family around, you will be money ahead to just keep the PW instead of buying a new truck. Do the math, look at the economics of the transaction rather than just the accounting, look at the life-cycle cost of the two options, and the PW comes out ahead on pure economics. Also comes out ahead in pure enjoyment for most of us. If you just want a new truck, that's another matter. My bias is to keep my trucks forever, and that's the plan with my PW. YMMV

[Will]

Paint yours black and refinance it, lower payments and still money ahead and you'll look like you got a new truck. BTW, I think you need to raise the price on this one anyway...

[myoung84]

But it's got the 6.4 in it. Everything I've read says these things are getting around 15-17 MPG, or better in optimal conditions. The lower end torque of the 6.4 will do wonders. I struggle to get 11.0 on the highway... Throw in some headwind and I'm approaching single digits at 70 MPH and running in 5th gear the whole time. Makes me not want to drive it on road trips to see the family, which we do a lot. Sometimes the Jeep is plenty but there's a lot of times that I really need the truck for the crap we take.

The money part is probably less than half of my reasoning, but it's still there. Since I had some negative equity in mine, selling it outright, applying that equity to the new truck, adding some more down payment, and starting over would actually drop my payment a lot. I financed more than I should have after adding the negative from my 2010 and adding a 100k mile warranty (which I'd get some back). I also financed it for way too long, live and learn! Interest rates are better than what I got 2 years ago as well. Refinancing my existing truck with say $6k down still wouldn't get me where it would on a new truck with a better interest rate unless I add a bunch of time to the loan, which I won't do. I'm not going to re-fi this truck for 72 months. I could get into a new truck financed for 60 months with a low interest rate and still pay less that I'm paying now, won't be upside down (won't need GAP, save $800 there), finance charges over the life of the loan will be less than the balance of finance charges of my existing loan, and I'd add very little time to the length of the loan. I've got a giant spread sheet and have been crunching numbers for every option and this actually makes sense...

Like I've said, there are several things at play with reasoning for wanting a new truck. Money isn't all of it. In all seriousness, I know that I would never be happy with another 1500. It would work for what I actually need, but I'd always want another HD chassis. Comparing a 1500 to a 2500 Crew Cab is only about $1500 more. A Mega Cab is $2500 more. What would be really awesome and what I keep going back to (build-your-own is the Devil, LOL) is a Mega Cab Laramie with the 6.4L and 4.10's.

So, here are all the points of my wanting an new truck:
- I am pretty much done building this truck and simply want a new truck and new project. There's not much more I would want to do. Building it is half the fun for me.
- Get to start with a clean slate. I'd do the same as I did with this one, start small and eventually add suspension package and 35's. The 6.4 would be much better for heavy 35s.
- There's really no where to do the offroading that the PW wants and needs. Everything I do I can do in a a 2500 Mega cab, or even a 1500 for that matter.
- I'd get the 6.4L, more power is always better!
- Better gas mileage.
- Better ride with new suspension (negligible, not a strong argument)
- Better vehicle for traveling with Mega-cab.
- Brand new vehicle with new goodies and gizmos
- Lower payment, less interest over the life of the loan, similar length of loan compared to current truck.

And the cons of trading:
- I wouldn't have an awesome Power Wagon that's fully modded anymore
- Lose the lockers and winch (the winch is what I would miss the most, but I'd survive)
- New truck won't look as cool, at least for a while.
- You guys would disown me.

I'm still at 50/50 on this.

[05PWrockcrawler]

Don't do it!!!!!!


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[myoung84]

And I wouldn't do black. I said I'd never own another black vehicle.

[cruz]

I am pretty much done building this truck and simply want a new truck and new project. There's not much more I would want to do. Building it is half the fun for me.

I've suspected this is the main reason all along.
I've got buddies that have searched and lusted after cars and trucks, found 'em, built 'em up just the way they've wanted 'em, and then sold them so they could start all over again. For you and them it seems the journey is the goal, not the destination. No problem with that, enjoy !

[myoung84]

Just test drove a 6.4 4x4 and I'm impressed. It was an Crew Cab SLT model and was averaging 15.5 mpg with some aggressive driving. I don't see why it wouldn't get 16-17 mpg highway in stock form, if not better. This one did have the 18's with a 275/70/18 tire (33.2"). It definitely had more power than the 5.7...

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