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Thinking about switching to the Power Wegon

Charles 236

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Being a similar size, w/o -a Knee issue ATT.. I understand your situation.. For years I had RAM Trucks in my job, new ones every 10K miles and could have had many different brands.. Today if I were to replace the Mojave, I would go with the RAM, maybe not a PowerWagon but definitely a RAM Truck. I always advise when someone asks what should I buy, "Its your $$ Get What You Want". The advise to Go Test Drive is good, Go RENT one for A week and really test for your satisfaction.
This is exactly what I advise people. A test drive helps in deciding if the vehicle "fits" a person driving it. But it is not the same as living with it a few days. Rent one and drive it in different ways, areas, and over a few days to see if you really can live with it.
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Riverdog

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Hahaha. I have a TJ to get my Jeep fix. If I get the PW it'll be easier to tow the TJ to the trailhead to do Jeep things.
That sounds like a perfect solution.
 

Jefe1018

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I think about Power Wagons a lot. I think it would be awesome, but every time I hit the tight, twisty trails we have I wonder if I could do it. And with the AZ pinstripes I have now, the wide body would look even worse.
I was looking at dealership inventory and discovered a 2500 Tradesman with the Power Wagon Package is about $20k cheaper. Less bells and whistles inside tho. I really need to go test drive one. Being a retired trucker, I know I would love driving a big truck but I’m not sure about wheeling it
I just got a tradesman power wagon about a month ago and traded in my ecodiesel JTR for it. I had a soft spot for my JT but daily livability is quite a bit better in the PW. I haven’t found a dirt road yet, but I don’t doubt it can go pretty much anywhere I’d taken my JT in the last three years. Storage is so much better, rears passengers are a lot happier, climate controls are better keeping the truck cold or hot.

My tradesman has quite a few options, to the point that I feel the interior is nicer than it was in my JTR, albeit I didn’t have leather seats, but the seats are more comfortable, I wish I had steering wheel volume and track controls but the uconnect5 with wireless CarPlay is a lot nicer than the 4 we get.

MPG have been the downside. I’ve tracked every mile since I’ve gotten her by hand and I’m at 12.4 average, 15.5 best in 1,669 miles including 980 miles of road trip that was all highway. With a 31 gallon tank I still get better range than my JT. I’ll eventually got 35 or 37, which might cancel that out but time will tell.

My truck was CPO with about 4,800 miles on it and I don’t trust dealerships, so I did my first oil change almost immediately. It cost me $84 shipped from amsoil with a wix xp filter. My DIY oil changed with amsoil were about $120 before the filter and I no longer need to also change the fuel filter at every oil change, a filter kit from doc’s was about $100 irrc. Gas is also about a $1 cheaper per gallon everywhere I go over diesel. I don’t cry about maintenance costs, they are what they are, but the hemi seems cheaper to maintain thus far. Probably a little more expensive to maintain than someone coming from a 3.6 however.

Jeep Gladiator Thinking about switching to the Power Wegon IMG_7067
 
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Lost1wing

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Hahaha. I have a TJ to get my Jeep fix. If I get the PW it'll be easier to tow the TJ to the trailhead to do Jeep things.
I handed my TJ over to my son. He comes from the XJ world and goes back to the TJ to get his fix. His XJ is very capable but it doesn't replace a Wrangler.
 

KevinC

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Will a PW fit/park in the same location as your JT? Do you park outside?

I park my JT inside a garage and it barley fits. I refuse to leave a 60K vehicle outside in the elements, especially now that squirrels have found a taste for the current wiring. Two of my neighbors who park outside have spent thousands of dollars repairing rodent damage to their vehicles.
 

legacy_etu

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Jefe1018

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Wow!! What a smoking deal. $47 k is awesome.……and to think Jeep is asking more for Rubicons and Mojave’s. It is a bit barebones but all the mechanical stuff is there.
This is essentially my truck, you’d be surprised with just how much nicer it is than a cloth rubicon. Although I do have the 8.4 connect 5 in mine and a cargo camera plus a few other options.

I’ve only missed the keyless enter and go as well as the steering wheel radio controls.
 
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I just got a tradesman power wagon about a month ago and traded in my ecodiesel JTR for it. I had a soft spot for my JT but daily livability is quite a bit better in the PW. I haven’t found a dirt road yet, but I don’t doubt it can go pretty much anywhere I’d taken my JT in the last three years. Storage is so much better, rears passengers are a lot happier, climate controls are better keeping the truck cold or hot.

My tradesman has quite a few options, to the point that I feel the interior is nicer than it was in my JTR, albeit I didn’t have leather seats, but the seats are more comfortable, I wish I had steering wheel volume and track controls but the uconnect5 with wireless CarPlay is a lot nicer than the 4 we get.

MPG have been the downside. I’ve tracked every mile since I’ve gotten her by hand and I’m at 12.4 average, 15.5 best in 1,669 miles including 980 miles of road trip that was all highway. With a 31 gallon tank I still get better range than my JT. I’ll eventually got 35 or 37, which might cancel that out but time will tell.

My truck was CPO with about 4,800 miles on it and I don’t trust dealerships, so I did my first oil change almost immediately. It cost me $84 shipped from amsoil with a wix xp filter. My DIY oil changed with amsoil were about $120 before the filter and I no longer need to also change the fuel filter at every oil change, a filter kit from doc’s was about $100 irrc. Gas is also about a $1 cheaper per gallon everywhere I go over diesel. I don’t cry about maintenance costs, they are what they are, but the hemi seems cheaper to maintain thus far. Probably a little more expensive to maintain than someone coming from a 3.6 however.

IMG_7067.jpeg
Very good info. Thanks.
 

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1stXMan

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All good points. I love PW myself and think about the switch often. I personally keep coming back to the Gladiator. It fits in the garage, easier to maneuver around town, open air options, huge aftermarket support, etc. PW is a beast, but the Gladiator will go further into the deep since its more narrow.

Have you already installed seat slammers? If not, that might give you some more room for the knee to stretch out.

If money is no object, you should consider a set of Recaro luxury seats. You’ll gain power adjustability and ventilation. For$6-$8k you’ll have the equivalent of Lazyboys in your Gladiator. You’ll lose more than that trading in on the PW.
 

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A PW is fine. I have one problem. I am 6'1" and it is darn hard to put anything of size over those bedrails. I'd find it real hard to use it for yard clean up or anything like that. The manufacturers keep making them taller which I find less useful.

My suburban used to be a large vehicle, not if I go park it near any US mfg'd pickup. I'll stick to the Gladiator size myself. Easy to navigate around the yard, can still haul a decent payload, and it's ass doesn't stick out into traffic in a normal parking spot.
 

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Very good info. Thanks.
Of course.

Also consider the aftermarket. There are few companies making stuff for the power wagon, it is out there, but you won’t find a bumper on sale for $300 like we can with companies like smitty bilt, rugged ridge, etc. that all make in bulk over seas. The upside is that you get great quality products from companies like CJC, Thuren and NH Overland, the downside is that nothing is cheap.
 

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What made you decide on the Power Wagon? Versus all the other fullsize & midsize trucks? My previously owned GMC Canyon was a bit more spacious and was easier to get in & out of versus the Gladiator. Most fullsize & midsize trucks have options with front & rear lockers.

Funny…back in 2001 or so … We were guiding a *Wheelin 101* group at Rausch Creek. We had a bran new Power Wagon in the group. The guy was green as they come. We always have a drivers meeting and talk safety, etc. The guy was an idiot……He didn’t listen to our instructions and spotters. He wasn’t paying attention….. He got himself in an extremely tight situation between trees - got pissed off (again, didn’t listen to spotters). He decided to just drive the truck and literally dented & scratched almost the entire passenger side of the truck.

For the most part - I think the front & rear lockers are great for (say) hunters who get to/from their hunting spots and need the lockers so they don’t get stuck.
But…to use a Power Wagon as a dedicated offroad rig….. Not so much.
YOu’re better off buying a regular fullsize truck, an old built TJ, a trailer…. and have fun without worry.
 
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Tuggernuts

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What made you decide on the Power Wagon? Versus all the other fullsize & midsize trucks? My previously owned GMC Canyon was a bit more spacious and was easier to get in & out of versus the Gladiator. Most fullsize & midsize trucks have options with front & rear lockers.

Funny…back in 2001 or so … We were guiding a *Wheelin 101* group at Rausch Creek. We had a bran new Power Wagon in the group. The guy was green as they come. We always have a drivers meeting and talk safety, etc. The guy was an idiot……He didn’t listen to our instructions and spotters. He wasn’t paying attention….. He got himself in an extremely tight situation between trees - got pissed off (again, didn’t listen to spotters). He decided to just drive the truck and literally dented & scratched almost the entire passenger side of the truck.

For the most part - I think the front & rear lockers are great for (say) hunters who get to/from their hunting spots and need the lockers so they don’t get stuck.
But…to use a Power Wagon as a dedicated offroad rig….. Not so much.
YOu’re better off buying a regular fullsize truck, an old built TJ, a trailer…. and have fun without worry.
I like that the PW has the same basic mechanical features as the Gladiator. Since I have a Mojave currently I'd actually be gaining front locker and sway bar disconnect. We do a lot of snow wheeling where I live and the PW would be great for that on 37s. The TJ does awesome of course but if I want to throw my grandsons and grandma in there it gets tight. Both grandsons are still in carseats. I feel like most other trucks lack true offroad abilities. Also, I do not want IFS.
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