Help me decide on PW choices please

[Dogman691]

This is my first post and I'm ready to pull the trigger on a Power Wagon and I'm trying to get some advice. I have the opportunity to purchase a 2013 PW and I really like the truck a lot it's awesome. I also drove a 2015 PW and it was just as awesome with the newer hemi. With both having the 6 speed transmission. I not to worried about that, as far as the engine I figured I tuner would be able to help in the power department with the 5.7 hemi.
I guess I wonder if the newer suspension is that much better. I will be doing some mild off roading and light towing. Both are equipped the same. The big difference is $10k between the two.
My question is, is it worth the extra $10k for the 6.4hemi and newer suspension? I've had several hemi vehicles all cars no trucks (5.7 hemi in Dodge Magnum, 6.1 Srt's Charger, and 300) and loved those. If anyone had both please let me know if it's worth the extra money. Any and all advice is appreciated. Thanks everyone.

[NovA ProspekT]

First of all, welcome to the forum!

I have a previous generation Power Wagon and my only experience with the newer trucks is from crawling underneath them at the dealership, so take this for what it's worth...

There is a definite advantage to the coil-sprung rear suspension of the 2014+ trucks, with a smoother ride and better performance both on and off-road. While there isn't a huge difference in peak power between the 5.7 and 6.4 Hemi's, the 6.4 produces both higher peak numbers and higher power throughout the power curve. While there is currently little aftermarket support for the newer engine and suspension, this will certainly change within the next few years.

While the newer trucks are objectively better, there is nothing wrong with the older trucks. A good argument could be made for putting the money saved with the 13' towards not only the engine and suspension, but other goodies as well such as rock-sliders and/or proper recovery equipment

I could be wrong, however I do believe the 13' will have fewer, if any, electronic "nannies".

The best course of action would be to test-drive each one for yourself, only then will you be able to justify the additional cost of the newer truck(or not).

Either way, you can't go wrong; Power Wagons are awesome indeed!

Good Luck

[DamageWagon]

Welcome!

I think between the two, I would hands down go with a '13. I use my truck extensively off-road and tow a light trailer on occasion. I think that the older suspension is superior both front and rear in comparison to the new style. I road in a newer Wagon and can say for the most part it feels exactly the same off road. If you intend to leave it stock it doesn't matter which one you pick. If you want to do any upgrades though, I love that there are so many aftermarket solutions for the previous generation, you can buy them cheap, and the systems are totally figured out. I know the '14-up suspension was a total pain to design any system for, you have to either go with the whole system at once or basically change nothing, you are restricted in what you can change, and really the only sweet suspension builds on the new trucks requires reverting to a 5-link front end anyways. And the rear spring upgrades really hurt payload capacity. I love my 2011 and love the leaf springs - and the fact that it doesn't have nearly as much axle wrap as the new trucks do.

The '13 has the upgraded interior too

I bought my truck because I needed something that functionally was great but was already beat to crap. My truck has been used and abused and it still runs like a champ. I would buy the '13, spend the leftovers on upgrades. I sold my cummins to buy this truck. If I wanted power I would have kept the cummins.

For sure consider this: if you want to spend the same amount of money, here is what that $10,000 buys you -
3.0 King Shocks $3500
Alien Arms $1900
Sliders $900
Tuner $400
Lift springs, shackles, Trackbar $950
Gas money $2000
Taking your truck off-road knowing it isn't brand new: priceless


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[Dogman691]

Thanks this is just the type of opinions I wanted before I made my purchase. I really appreciate info offered. I know it wouldn't stay stock for to long so that something I didn't look into. So the suspension and load capacity changes is really informative. Thanks

[OffroadTreks]

If you're going to be towing, I would go with the 6.4L Hemi. The 5.7 is underpowered for this heavy truck, IMO. And a tuner isn't going to change that. Especially towing in the hills. I've had both engines and there is a notable difference. I tow a 27ft Airstream regularly.

[olyelr]

The thing about the 5.7 PW's is they have 4.56 gears. They very well may pull better than the new 6.4/4.10 combo just because of that, but I have never driven one.

I know my '16 tows our 8000 pound camper around plenty good enough for me.

[DamageWagon]

I think" light off-road and tow a light trailer" need more accurate descriptions.

What type of off-road? How fast? How often? Is it a necessity or is it for play?

How heavy is your trailer? Do you tow in Iowa or Colorado?


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[Dogman691]

I think the heaviest I would be towing would be 5000-5500lbs maybe 10-12 times a year and no more than a couple thousand miles total. Not much mountain roads more here on the east coast, unless I take that vacation to the mid west.
My off road use would be 10-15 times a year more trails (forest and beaches) here in the east coast probably no rock crawling for now.

[adeluca73]

Welcome!

I think between the two, I would hands down go with a '13. I use my truck extensively off-road and tow a light trailer on occasion. I think that the older suspension is superior both front and rear in comparison to the new style. I road in a newer Wagon and can say for the most part it feels exactly the same off road. If you intend to leave it stock it doesn't matter which one you pick. If you want to do any upgrades though, I love that there are so many aftermarket solutions for the previous generation, you can buy them cheap, and the systems are totally figured out. I know the '14-up suspension was a total pain to design any system for, you have to either go with the whole system at once or basically change nothing, you are restricted in what you can change, and really the only sweet suspension builds on the new trucks requires reverting to a 5-link front end anyways. And the rear spring upgrades really hurt payload capacity. I love my 2011 and love the leaf springs - and the fact that it doesn't have nearly as much axle wrap as the new trucks do.

Not entirely true. Theuren has released front suspension upgrades, which maintain stock geometric angles, while leveling the truck and reducing impact stiffness. AEV has a complete suspension kit, off-road improvement and utility enhancement opinions notwithstanding, but they have a complete kit. True, the new rear end has decreased the total payload over the leaf sprung previous gens, BUT it's an immutable fact of engineering, borne out in the system dynamics, and proven through the solutions to the matrix 2nd order ODE's of the system under test, that the new suspensions dramatically reduces axle wrap. Axle hop, well that is completely different phenomenon, which is dependent on such disparate interacting variables, it's nearly impossible to attribute one sys as having clearly less axle hop then the other as a statement of absolution.

For sure consider this: if you want to spend the same amount of money, here is what that $10,000 buys you -
3.0 King Shocks $3500
Alien Arms $1900
Sliders $900
Tuner $400
Lift springs, shackles, Trackbar $950
Gas money $2000
Taking your truck off-road knowing it isn't brand new: priceless

Sure, you'll spend more, and the savings can go toward the above upgrades. However, several of those same upgrades are now available for the newer PW's.

[DamageWagon]

My point is that the newer trucks are quite good, but I don't like their suspension for off-road. The new suspension is better for towing, in part because the front radius arms are like a second swaybar.

You can upgrade the suspension nicely on the new trucks, but you are much more limited than on the older trucks. It is easier to swap springs and shocks now, but you are limited to pintop shocks and you have to do a lot more at once with the new systems. The old system you can build as you go. Thuren and Carli have their stuff pretty figured out. I would only consider the AEV Kit as an option if I towed a lot or wanted 40" tires.

I propose the older truck because the knowledge and components are plentiful and cheap. And you can build a pretty beast truck and still come out with money on top over a new truck If you don't want to do any suspension mods though, I think the only real difference is that the new trucks tow better.

The most important thing is to answer my previous questions though.

Describe your off-roading.
Describe your towing.


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[Reloaderguy]

If I were going to build a 600hp NA motor I'd buy the 5.7 PW.

[Reloaderguy]

Welcome!

I think between the two, I would hands down go with a '13. I use my truck extensively off-road and tow a light trailer on occasion. I think that the older suspension is superior both front and rear in comparison to the new style. I road in a newer Wagon and can say for the most part it feels exactly the same off road. If you intend to leave it stock it doesn't matter which one you pick. If you want to do any upgrades though, I love that there are so many aftermarket solutions for the previous generation, you can buy them cheap, and the systems are totally figured out. I know the '14-up suspension was a total pain to design any system for, you have to either go with the whole system at once or basically change nothing, you are restricted in what you can change, and really the only sweet suspension builds on the new trucks requires reverting to a 5-link front end anyways. And the rear spring upgrades really hurt payload capacity. I love my 2011 and love the leaf springs - and the fact that it doesn't have nearly as much axle wrap as the new trucks do.

The '13 has the upgraded interior too

I bought my truck because I needed something that functionally was great but was already beat to crap. My truck has been used and abused and it still runs like a champ. I would buy the '13, spend the leftovers on upgrades. I sold my cummins to buy this truck. If I wanted power I would have kept the cummins.

For sure consider this: if you want to spend the same amount of money, here is what that $10,000 buys you -
3.0 King Shocks $3500
Alien Arms $1900
Sliders $900
Tuner $400
Lift springs, shackles, Trackbar $950
Gas money $2000
Taking your truck off-road knowing it isn't brand new: priceless


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I can think of a half dozen different coil spring lifts for 2014+ gas 2500s.

[DamageWagon]

Hahahahaha.

You're right for sure, but I don't know of any reputable ones but Carli and Thuren. My point still is that radius arm trucks are much more limited in good options than 5-link trucks. They are just harder to get to work entirely right. Anyways, there's too much arguing about suspension systems without still not knowing:

1. Describe off-road use
2. Describe towing


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[15pwag]

I traded my '11 PW for the '15 PW I have now. I do not miss my '11 at all. I don't crawl rocks or nothin with my rigs but I do off road quite a bit durning huntin season and thats why I love it. To me the 6.4/410 combo is way superior for my needs. I tow a 17 foot duck boat loaded up with all my deeks and gear for a few weeks every year and granted it's not a heavy load but it pulls it way better than the 5.7/456 combo did. That's just my opinion. I could notice the boat back there more with the older truck than I can with my new truck. I get better mileage with my new one too. Not that one buys a truck like this for mileage but it does make a guy feel better gettin 15-17 highway with these trucks. My 5.7 got 13 on a really good day and I mean like once. The ride in the new suspension is better too. If you're not off roading like rock crawling and don't need to creep along over numerous angles at once the newer suspension will work just fine for you and your passengers will appreciate the better road manners. Just my opinion for all this. These newer trucks seem to be taylored to my needs more than they used to be and I love my PW. As long as ram keeps making them I'll keep buying one.

[Dogman691]

I'll try posting my use again for the new PW, I have the wait for admin approval.
I will be towing up to 5000-5500 lbs maybe 10-12 times a year at the most a couple thousand miles total. It will be no real mountain roads as I live on the east coast.
The off road use will be 12-15 times a year and mostly trail and beach type off roading. When I mean trail I talking about forest no rock crawling for now. My off roading will be here on the east coast unless the wife let's me vacation to the mid west.
The PW is for daily driver, play, I live on a property that I would need the truck to utilize the bed and winch for up keep of my property. I hope this information helps. Thanks again

[adeluca73]

1. Not my DD
2. No serious rock crawling yet, moderate off road use dedicated to hunting & camping type activities, not much off roading just to off road and f'off yet
3. Towing a few times/ yr, heaviest was over 14k lbs total weight, truck definitely reacted to the load, but 4.88's & 37's aren't optimal towing configuration

[Low_Sky]

Dogman, since it doesn't sound like you are going to use this truck to any extreme in any category (towing/hauling or off roading) and it's mainly going to be a daily driver, I don't think it matters much which one you pick. If you plan to keep the truck a long time, I'd spend for the newer one.


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[RustyPW]

Dogman, you can join us at Rausch Creek for our get together. It's northeast of Harrisburg Pa. We camp at a KOA there.

This year's link. 2016

http://forum.powerwagonregistry.org/vie ... =12&t=3624

For 2017.

http://forum.powerwagonregistry.org/vie ... 925#p75925

[Dogman691]

I definitely want to go to Rausch Creek. My friend and I were just talking about going since my wife won't let me take her Jeep Wrangler. So I would be looking forward to the 2017 Rausch Creek meet. It looked like you all had a blast.

[vanished]

Hmmm... does Raush Creek allow pumpkins? Lol

[RustyPW]

Hmmm... does Raush Creek allow pumpkins? Lol

Do we get to carve it?

[15pwag]

I would definitely get the newer one with the 6.4 if it's gonna be your daily driver. By the way it sounds it'd fit your use a lot better. That's just me tho. If I had the choice between my 11 and 15, I'd pick my 15 all day everyday.

[vanished]

Hmmm... does Raush Creek allow pumpkins? Lol

Do we get to carve it?

Lmao! Might need some white knuckles before we get there or some rocks may make that happen!


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[Dogman691]

Thanks again for all the advice, believe it or not I was heading to the dealership in the morning. I called my salesman to confirm our appointment for tomorrow and he told me the PW had sold today. So it looks like I will be looking at getting a newer PW more than likely. I plan to have my truck within 30 days. You guys are awesome and I really enjoy this forum board.

[ggbull]

I wouldn't trade my 2012 for a newer dodge. If anything I would buy older. It's tough to off-road a $50000 dollar truck. The power wagon is extremely useful as a tool when working, and tows fairly well all considered. I don't think that it is a good daily driver as the mileage suffers and there is more comfortable options with the same off-road capabilities. Plus some of the newer trucks only have 1100lbs payload. Just my 2 cents.