New Member; Potential PW Buyer

[Jalapeno]

Hello everyone,

Toyota Tacoma driver here that is considering a move to the Power Wagon. Huge difference in trucks, I know, but part of me wants to move from a mid-size truck to a "real truck" if you know what I mean. That being said, I do have some reservations about dependability and reliability. I've had a few Toyotas over the years and other than basic maintenance like oil, brakes, tires and tune-ups I've never been left stranded or had major problems with the electronics and such forth. How reliable would you say your Power Wagon is? I've been doing some reading on all the Dodge / Ram Truck forums and it seems like some folks have issues with their cruise control, A/C controls and the remote start function if they have it. Others seem to have some issues with the 6.4L with somewhat low mileage; I think there was a guy that had some issues with the rig not starting in extremely hot weather (that's a concern for me as I live in SE Arizona). Are there any common problems y'all are seeing on new Power Wagons? Anything similar to the Toyota Tacoma frame issue that Toyota got hosed on?

Now, my father has an '05 Durango Limited that he absolutely loves. He's never had a problem with it at all. When I'm back home visiting the folks, I will often drive it and I have to say it is pretty darn nice and I love the power. Anyhow...I'm hung up on the Toyota crack pipe with the "legendary" Toyota reliability. I do love my Tacoma, its the TRD Off-Road with the locking rear differential and all sorts of bells and whistles. However, the MPG is about the same as a typical 1/2 ton and might be within reach of what some of y'all with Power Wagons are seeing. I average 16 MPG with a 4.0 V6 on 265/75R16 BFG KO2s. So, my rationale is I should just get a full size truck that has an equal off-road capability. The Tacoma is pretty awesome off-road, so I'm wondering if the Power Wagon will fit the bill.

Last minute thought - I typically use my Tacoma for getting into some rugged backcountry areas here in Arizona for hunting and hiking. Right now I do not tow anything, although the wife has voiced an interest in horses recently and there's now way on God's green earth that the Tacoma will haul a horse trailer.

Okay, I'll wrap it up here. I look forward to y'alls perspectives and suggestions. Thank you in advance.

Regards,
Joel

[Cactus Red]

I'm an ex Taco owner. Moved to a PW for similar reasons as you are contemplating.

A PW will go more places than most Tacos as long as you don't care about the paint...

After 77000 miles in mine, I'm still happy I switched.

A Third Gen does better offroad than the Fourth or new PW simply because of better visibility and shorter wheelbase. Figure you get nearly 18' more room to see stuff. The 9" difference in wheelbase also helps maneuverability some. They newer trucks have a lot more room and creature comforts tho.

Reliability has been OK. Lots of ball joints and tie rod ends if you use it hard. Couple busted exhaust studs.

They aren't perfect outta the box. Big diff's drag, so figure a move up to 35" tires is a top priority. Sliders are 100% required in AZ, and those are a specialty fab shop item now.

We don't talk about mileage. Just know it's bad...

Mark

Dennis Miller "You can't order black coffee anymore. It's un-creamed..."

[06ryan27]

I bought a loaded 12' tacoma sport 4x4 off the showroom floor. Had her for about 3 months and 5k miles. Sold it as soon as My brother offered me his mint 07' power wagon (31k miles at the time) anyways. truck has never been in the shop for anything but exhaust (aftermarket) never left me stranded and has prven nothing but a great truck to me and my bro when he owned it. Anyways I have not once looked back or even thought about selling my wagon. I definitly made a move for the better.

[Will]

I had a short wheel base, single cab 1996 Taco that never gave me a lick of trouble but wanted more truck so I went to a 2003 Dodge 1500 with the 4.7 v8. At the time I lived out of town and drove back roads all the time and loved the bigger truck. Then I moved into town and decided I wanted a smaller truck so I got a brand new 2006 Tacoma crew cab fully loaded. It drank gas, like 14mpg, was fast but wouldn't stop and couldn't pull a wet rope out of a cows ass. The auto transmission went out at 35K miles and was just covered under warranty. The electronics over the cab like the compass and such quit working right out of warranty. I tried to make myself like it so I did a few upgrades to it including an Old Emu suspension system and Deaver springs because the factory springs drove me absolutely crazy squeaking all the time, a new bumper, etc... Installed a tuner and a CAI and got the mpg up to 16mpg but that was it. Finally, just before 75K miles, the transmission started giving signs of failure again, this time, out of warranty and I traded it in on a used 2007 Ram 1500 with a Hemi. It had 37K miles on it and I put another 100K on it and never did anything to it. Finally, in 2010 I ordered the truck I always wanted, the Powerwagon. After my experience with the 2006 Taco, I doubt I'll ever own another unless it's an older one. The Power Wagon will go more places than the 2006 Tacoma ever thought about going, I have put them through the exact same trails and many times the PW just crawls right through places that I would have to hit the gas and force the taco through. Tons more room, tons more carrying capacity, 5 times the truck in my opinion.

As far as Power Wagon durability, I do regular routine maintenance, have almost 120K miles on it right now and I have changed one front wheel bearing and it's getting new ball joints today along with an aftermarket trackbar because the factory trackbar bushings need changing and I'm upgrading. That's it, no other issues at all and I'm riding on 37" tires with stock suspension other than Thuren bent control arms.

Old POS Taco...




The tried and true Power Wagon... haha

[dodgeman324]

Hello Joel. As an owner of two Powerwagon's so far, I can tell you I love them. I have never had any problems with the engine or driveline. I've owned 7 different HEMI vehicles and none have had engine problems. The only time I've ran into issues was when you mess with the geometry of the suspension, like in the case of my current PW, an 05, and I bought it used with an already installed Superlift kit, of about 6inches. However, this lift kit was not PW specific, it was for a regular 2500. But overall, the PW is a great truck, with so many capabilities and towing strength if ever needed. They are reliable trucks.

[Jalapeno]

I'm an ex Taco owner. Moved to a PW for similar reasons as you ate contemplating.

A PW will go more places than most Tacos as long as you don't care about the paint...

After 77000 miles in mine, I'm still happy I switched.

A Third Gen does better offroad than the Fourth or new PW simply because of better visibility and shorter wheelbase. Figure you get nearly 18' more room to see stuff. The 9" difference in wheelbase also helps maneuverability some. They newer trucks have a lot more room and creature comforts tho.

Reliability has been OK. Lots of ball joints and tie rod ends if you use it hard. Couple busted exhaust studs.

They aren't perfect outta the box. Big diff's drag, so figure a move up to 35" tires is a top priority. Sliders are 100% required in AZ, and those are a specialty fab shop item now.

We don't talk about mileage. Just know it's bad...

Mark

Dennis Miller "You can't order black coffee anymore. It's un-creamed..."

Hi Mark,

Thanks for your reply. Okay...so mileage is the forbidden topic which garners beatings. Got it. I do drive about 60 miles per day round-trip for my commute to work. Do you put 87 octane gas in the 6.4L or do you put 91 octane? Just curious as its about a $0.35/gal. difference down here in SE AZ. I'm glad to hear that you've had 77k pain free miles. Those ball joints and tie-rod ends are definitely wear-and-tear items that will eventually be replaced on any rig that goes off-road, Toyota or otherwise. The prospect of a solid front axle is very appealing.

If I do buy a PW I will probably order a new one or have the dealer do a search for one similarly equipped with what I would like. The wife will probably kill me. Although, the creature comforts you mention in the new ones are certainly far more than what my Tacoma has and I'm sure she would appreciate them. But there is something to be said for the relatively spartan interior of the Tacoma; less gizmos to fix.

As for off-roading in AZ, the majority of my trips are mountain trails in the Huachucas, Whetstones, Dragoons and Chiricahuas. Some of the trails can be pretty rough and you can definitely collect your fair share of AZ pin-striping. My Tacoma is a dark green color and it shows every single mishap. If I do buy a PW I will probably look for a silver or white one.

Thank you again for your response. Any other pointers you can give me?

Regards,
Joel

[Jalapeno]

Brandon,

Thanks for your reply and I appreciate your insight on the PW suspension geometry. Definitely something to consider.

Moderators,

I apologize for the double-posting, I'm not sure how I did that, but can this thread be merged into the other duplicate thread?

Regards,
Joel

[Pit Slave]

Moderators,

I apologize for the double-posting, I'm not sure how I did that, but can this thread be merged into the other duplicate thread?

Regards,
Joel

Done.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

[Jalapeno]

Done.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Mahalos!

Joel

[Jalapeno]

I bought a loaded 12' tacoma sport 4x4 off the showroom floor. Had her for about 3 months and 5k miles. Sold it as soon as My brother offered me his mint 07' power wagon (31k miles at the time) anyways. truck has never been in the shop for anything but exhaust (aftermarket) never left me stranded and has prven nothing but a great truck to me and my bro when he owned it. Anyways I have not once looked back or even thought about selling my wagon. I definitly made a move for the better.

Ryan,

Thanks for your comments. It sounds like there are quite a few former Tacoma owners here that have made the ove to the Power Wagon.

Joel

[Jalapeno]

I had a short wheel base, single cab 1996 Taco that never gave me a lick of trouble but wanted more truck so I went to a 2003 Dodge 1500 with the 4.7 v8. At the time I lived out of town and drove back roads all the time and loved the bigger truck. Then I moved into town and decided I wanted a smaller truck so I got a brand new 2006 Tacoma crew cab fully loaded. It drank gas, like 14mpg, was fast but wouldn't stop and couldn't pull a wet rope out of a cows ass. The auto transmission went out at 35K miles and was just covered under warranty. The electronics over the cab like the compass and such quit working right out of warranty. I tried to make myself like it so I did a few upgrades to it including an Old Emu suspension system and Deaver springs because the factory springs drove me absolutely crazy squeaking all the time, a new bumper, etc... Installed a tuner and a CAI and got the mpg up to 16mpg but that was it. Finally, just before 75K miles, the transmission started giving signs of failure again, this time, out of warranty and I traded it in on a used 2007 Ram 1500 with a Hemi. It had 37K miles on it and I put another 100K on it and never did anything to it. Finally, in 2010 I ordered the truck I always wanted, the Powerwagon. After my experience with the 2006 Taco, I doubt I'll ever own another unless it's an older one. The Power Wagon will go more places than the 2006 Tacoma ever thought about going, I have put them through the exact same trails and many times the PW just crawls right through places that I would have to hit the gas and force the taco through. Tons more room, tons more carrying capacity, 5 times the truck in my opinion.

As far as Power Wagon durability, I do regular routine maintenance, have almost 120K miles on it right now and I have changed one front wheel bearing and it's getting new ball joints today along with an aftermarket trackbar because the factory trackbar bushings need changing and I'm upgrading. That's it, no other issues at all and I'm riding on 37" tires with stock suspension other than Thuren bent control arms.

Will,

I have to admit that one of my old Toyotas had some serious automatic transmission issues as well. It was a '95 4Runner with the 3.slow engine and it ate up two transmissions in quick succession. Sounds like you've got a lot of experience with both Toyota and Dodge maintenance, so I appreciate your insight. My personal opinion is that most anyone that off-roads their truck from any manufacturer will have to replace things like bushings, CV joints (for IFS), ball joints, etc. They are items that degrade with time and abuse. The real kicker is when drivetrain components fail for no good or apparent reason.

Also, good to hear that it sounds like the Power Wagon can accept 35" tires stock and 37" tires by only replacing control arms.


Joel

[04Ram2500Hemi]

I had a 2004 HD Hemi before I traded it in on my 2012 Power Wagon, and I'll be honest the HD Hemi is a great platform. My 2004 only had 60K miles on it when I traded it in, but other than routine maintenance I never had to do a thing to it. I just turned 30K on my Power Wagon and again, other than the routine maintenance the truck has been awesome. Had I known the Power Wagon was coming out in 2005 when I bought my 2004 I would have waited another year, and then I'd still have the 2005. The 3rd Gen Power Wagon is definitely a better off road vehicle because of it's size and visibility, but with that being said, I've yet to find a place where I couldn't take my Power Wagon (I'm a not as hard core as other members, so keep that in mind). If you're looking for an HD truck that is pretty impressive in stock form, and is super easy to throw a few mods at to make it awesome, you'd be hard to find a better platform than the Power Wagon. Good luck with your decision.

[old sole mopar]

Go test drive one. Unlock the sway bar and cross a ditch. You'll get it!

[Cactus Red]

I have the venerable 5.7L VVT Hemi. With intake and exhaust both after market, it should be at or near the new 6.4L power wise.

Towing our RPod 178 today from 4600' to 7100' netted us 8.0 MPG with the 5 speed auto. Dismal at best. Daily driving duty gets about 12. The new truck get better, but part of that is because they are 4.1:0 gears vs 4.56:1

Dennis Miller "You can't order black coffee anymore. It's un-creamed..."

[2wagons1driveway]

P.Wagon is best for you broooo (in greasy voice) haha no but seriously. Only two things to remember with p.wagon. Weak front ends. And your driving pure sexiness. Pretty easy....... I'm happy with mine especially the community on here!!!! I won't get rid of it even if I re gift it to my wife/gf It will stay close in the fam I hope. Glad your looking at wagons the stock capability of the truck always amazes me. I'm elevated a bit with a Carli/ Thuren fabrication set up and some other nick nacks but I'm always amazed when I go wheeling with all the other p.wagon guys who have either stock trucks or just a tire size up how much these trucks will eat up... It's pretty bad ass.

this is my rig...


"Escalators are never really broken...their just stairs for alittle while... "

[Jalapeno]

Gents,

Thanks again for the replies. I went and test drove a Power Wagon today. It was a white Laramie, brown interior, had all sorts of gizmos and gadgets. Not sure I like the keyless entry and ignition thing. Call me a bit old fashioned in that regard. The truck drove beautifully. Loved the commanding view from the driver's seat. Engine was great, definitely a gas pig. I'll have to remember to just not look at the gas pump or MPG gauge. It had the RamBox storage feature and I'm no so sure about that as well. Seems like you lose some bed space and you lose the ability to put a ladder rack or camper shell on it if you so desire (I have a camper shell on my Tacoma).

I suppose the only hang-up was price and trade-in values. I asked them to run the numbers and they wanted to low-ball me big time on the Tacoma. The overall price on the rig was about $53k plus tax, title and license. No big deal. The end of the month is coming up with the 4th of July sales as well. I'm in no hurry to bury myself in debt despite how much I like the rig. Plus, I think I'd rather them do a search for something without the options that I foresee as being a headache in the future (keyless ignition), or just order one even though they say the wait is 8-12 weeks.

As for off-roading, I don't do any crazy rock crawling or mud bogging or anything like that. I'm mostly found on remote fire road or rutted trails on relatively steep mountain passes/canyons. The only real modification I've done to the Tacoma is swap out the stock tires for BFG KO2s. I figure if the Tacoma in stock form can get me to just about everywhere I want to go, then the Power Wagon in stock form should do just fine. Maybe I'll add a gunrack for good measure.

Regards,
Joel

[Jalapeno]

P.Wagon is best for you broooo (in greasy voice) haha no but seriously. Only two things to remember with p.wagon. Weak front ends. And your driving pure sexiness. Pretty easy....... I'm happy with mine especially the community on here!!!! I won't get rid of it even if I re gift it to my wife/gf It will stay close in the fam I hope. Glad your looking at wagons the stock capability of the truck always amazes me. I'm elevated a bit with a Carli/ Thuren fabrication set up and some other nick nacks but I'm always amazed when I go wheeling with all the other p.wagon guys who have either stock trucks or just a tire size up how much these trucks will eat up... It's pretty bad ass.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1435286208.159463.jpg

this is my rig...


"Escalators are never really broken...their just stairs for alittle while... "

Beast mode rig.

[Will]

Back on the durability, mine was in the shop yesterday and we thought it was going to get new ball joints, turns out, it needed new hub bearings, ball joints are fine but that's not uncommon with 120K miles on the OD. I forgot to mention the other day, the only electrical issue I've had on the PW is the horn quit working.

[2wagons1driveway]

Ball joints only last like 20,000km on these trucks for some reason!....

"Escalators are never really broken...their just stairs for alittle while... "

[nts007]

As do tool box latches as I can see

[nts007]

You won't regret buying a pw. I miss my 06 more than anything

[Jalapeno]

Will, 2wagons,

Well, if replacing items that are expected to wear-out over time is one of the "issues" you guys are dealing with then that is not much of an issue in my book. Have either one of you guys done a balljoint or wheel bearing replacement on your PW on your own?

As an aside, I went and test drove a new F-150 FX4 today. I know it's not even in the same weight class as the PW, but I think it is probably the only other somewhat off-road capable domestic truck. At the very least it has a locking rear axle and downhill assist. The interior was nice. The EcoBoost engine seems okay, but it's certainly no American V8. The suspension and the ride in the FX4 is atrocious. Compared to the PW I test drove, the FX4 rides like an old boat. Just terrible. Plus, since it's Ford's newest shiny object there aren't a lot of rebates available and they won't budge on price.

Anyhow, I figured if I'm considering unloading the Tacoma for something full-size I should do my due diligence and test drive a few other rigs. I looked at some Silverado Z71 rigs, but they don't even have true locking differentials. Just the G80 auto-locking rear diff. Meh...

Well, we shall see how this all works out. Not a lot of PWs available in AZ right now, so it might be some time before I join the club.

Regards,
Joel

[2wagons1driveway]

Yes your preaching to the choir! .... Not that I have dynatrac ball joints or dynatrac free spin hubs now....

I just like not dealing with the "ooo maybe that will break or bend or shatter" brather just do it with confidence hense jumping the truck. Had the parts. Wanted to test. Cause "you never know"

"Escalators are never really broken...their just stairs for alittle while... "

[2wagons1driveway]

Cause reliable is effin cool no matter what the kids say these days....


"Escalators are never really broken...their just stairs for alittle while... "

[Mike-H]

Will, 2wagons,

Well, if replacing items that are expected to wear-out over time is one of the "issues" you guys are dealing with then that is not much of an issue in my book. Have either one of you guys done a balljoint or wheel bearing replacement on your PW on your own?

As an aside, I went and test drove a new F-150 FX4 today. I know it's not even in the same weight class as the PW, but I think it is probably the only other somewhat off-road capable domestic truck. At the very least it has a locking rear axle and downhill assist. The interior was nice. The EcoBoost engine seems okay, but it's certainly no American V8. The suspension and the ride in the FX4 is atrocious. Compared to the PW I test drove, the FX4 rides like an old boat. Just terrible. Plus, since it's Ford's newest shiny object there aren't a lot of rebates available and they won't budge on price.

Anyhow, I figured if I'm considering unloading the Tacoma for something full-size I should do my due diligence and test drive a few other rigs. I looked at some Silverado Z71 rigs, but they don't even have true locking differentials. Just the G80 auto-locking rear diff. Meh...

Well, we shall see how this all works out. Not a lot of PWs available in AZ right now, so it might be some time before I join the club.

Regards,
Joel

Just a heads up there is a dark Grey 2015 PW at Canyon State Auto in Tempe that has 5k miles.

Funny you mention the FX4. I just picked up a 13 PW after having a 07 FX4. This truck rides way better and a lot more power.

Mike