Power Wagon

Now that I have a decent size travel trailer, I've been browsing the 2500's at my local dealer

They have a 2500 Power Wagon which caught my attention but noticed it only had a payload listed for 1450 lb? That's only slightly better then my 1500...

Does that sound right?

yeah its not really a heavy trailer hauler its designed for some serious off roading. the suspension is set up for articulation more than carrying a load.

My 15 2500 5.7 Hemi w/4.10s has a tow and payload max of 13,200lbs and 2,370lbs. with a 2" Thuren level kit it rides better then the PW they have at my local dealer, and can flex just as much up front with the sway bar manually disconnected [emoji16]kept my OEM rear coils to maintain payload and tongue weight capability. Very happy with my setup [emoji16][emoji16][emoji16]

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Payload is not a strong suit of the power wagon they payload is in the 14-1500lb range lower than some 1500s

+1 to all of this.

Power Wagon is purpose built for a different mission. That mission is NOT towing and hauling. But, if you want to go to the next Jeep safari in Moab you will impress a lot of people!

The PW is more capable than people think in towing. They make Weight Distribution Hitchs for the payload issue. This isn't a Power wagon issue it's a tongue weight issue.

You can buy a regular HD and try to copy a PW, it's not gonna end well and you pockets will be a lot lighter than just buying a PW.

Very true. But, if you are looking at HD trucks because you need to move a big toy like a decent sized boat or tt you aren't in the market for a power wagon!

I have a '16 PW, although I love the truck, wish I would have purchased a regular 2500 because of the weight limitations

so I plan on installing a set of Air Lift 5000 to compensate for the weak springs

the power wagon basically has the payload of a 1500, but it will handle that load much better. if your looking for a dedicated tow rig, the power wagon is not for you.

Why not just buy a set of 2500HD springs for the back of the PW. ?
Will loose a little articulate but keep all the other goodies that come on the PW.

69GWC said:

Why not just buy a set of 2500HD springs for the back of the PW. ?
Will loose a little articulate but keep all the other goodies that come on the PW.

Click to expand...

that would also drop the back 2"

a set of air bags will carry the load and keep the better ride of the softer springs

69GWC said:

Why not just buy a set of 2500HD springs for the back of the PW. ?
Will loose a little articulate but keep all the other goodies that come on the PW.

Click to expand...

Its my understanding the rear weight limit is due to the rear axle, not the springs. Airbags won't increase payload. Anyone know what the rawr is on the newer pw's?

So it has a different rear axle under it? did not know that.

it's not the axle, it's the springs, the PW has the 11.5" axle and I believe it's rated for 6900#s

11.5 AAM[edit]

GMC All Terrain concept truck with 11.5 AAM axle
The 11.5 AAM rear differential replaced the "14 bolt" in many of the General Motors "heavy duty" light trucks in 2001 models, however the "14 bolt" is still in production. Besides trucks, it is used in commercial van applications. AAM continues to manufacture this axle for GM, as well as Dodge Ram trucks. Dodge discontinued running Dana Holding Corporation axles after model year 2002 trucks. This is the main axle used in 3rd Generation Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks. The GM version uses a paper gasket and the Ram version uses a re-usable rubber gasket. This attribute also makes the Dodge and GM axles appear very different, because of the different cover used. The GM AAM axle tubes are a smaller diameter then the AAM dodge's. GM also opted to have a vibration dampener installed on the yoke, while dodge opted to place the dampener on the drive shaft. This became the standard axle on all 2500 and 3500 RAM trucks for model year 2014.

Features[edit]
Increased GAWR: 6,900 pounds (3,100 kg) Max.
1541 alloy axle shafts
Larger ring and pinion than the "14 bolt" axle. As well as other components.
Although pinion is overhung/no support bearing like the 14 bolt.
Selectable locking differential on Ram Power Wagon (2014 and newer.)

pkrexer said:

Now that I have a decent size travel trailer, I've been browsing the 2500's at my local dealer

They have a 2500 Power Wagon which caught my attention but noticed it only had a payload listed for 1450 lb? That's only slightly better then my 1500...

Does that sound right?

Click to expand...

"BoldAdventure" on here pulls an airstream all over the country with his PW & loves it. Look him up & ask, but I think he is really happy with the truck pulling.

monteholic said:

it's not the axle, it's the springs, the PW has the 11.5" axle and I believe it's rated for 6900#s

11.5 AAM[edit]

GMC All Terrain concept truck with 11.5 AAM axle
The 11.5 AAM rear differential replaced the "14 bolt" in many of the General Motors "heavy duty" light trucks in 2001 models, however the "14 bolt" is still in production. Besides trucks, it is used in commercial van applications. AAM continues to manufacture this axle for GM, as well as Dodge Ram trucks. Dodge discontinued running Dana Holding Corporation axles after model year 2002 trucks. This is the main axle used in 3rd Generation Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks. The GM version uses a paper gasket and the Ram version uses a re-usable rubber gasket. This attribute also makes the Dodge and GM axles appear very different, because of the different cover used. The GM AAM axle tubes are a smaller diameter then the AAM dodge's. GM also opted to have a vibration dampener installed on the yoke, while dodge opted to place the dampener on the drive shaft. This became the standard axle on all 2500 and 3500 RAM trucks for model year 2014.

Features[edit]
Increased GAWR: 6,900 pounds (3,100 kg) Max.
1541 alloy axle shafts
Larger ring and pinion than the "14 bolt" axle. As well as other components.
Although pinion is overhung/no support bearing like the 14 bolt.
Selectable locking differential on Ram Power Wagon (2014 and newer.)

Click to expand...

Their is no way in hell the rear axle on the PW is rated for 6900#, that's the entire GVWR of a 1500.... that makes no sense, with a RAWR of 6900#, that thing should have a 3k payload, if not more. I you're talking 6900# , then the RAWR is probably something like 2900#, which would give it a ballpark of 1400# payload, which is on pay with many CC 1500's. IF that's the case, then it's not the springs causing the payload issue, it's the AXLE. That's like saying adding airbags will help with payload, and it won't. It'll prevent you from sagging, but the weight is due to the bearing and the axle meeting at the hub, that's really the main snap away point.

Here is a door sticker from a lone star 1500 with 3900 gvwr rear and front axles it has a combined gvwr of 6900 when each add up to 7800 that's the dodge way!

yillbs said:

Here is a door sticker from a lone star 1500 with 3900 gvwr rear and front axles it has a combined gvwr of 6900 when each add up to 7800 that's the dodge way!

Click to expand...

ok think about what you just posted if a half ton ram has 3900 lb axles what do you think a 2500 would have mmmmm. they would be at least 6000lb axles and the weight restriction is the suspension it has to be soft enough to allow a lot of axle movement for that truck to do some serious off roading.Ram Car Reviews - Ram Pricing, Photos and Specs - CARandDRIVER im wrong they are 6200 lb axles

yillbs said:

Their is no way in hell the rear axle on the PW is rated for 6900#, that's the entire GVWR of a 1500.... that makes no sense, with a RAWR of 6900#, that thing should have a 3k payload, if not more. I you're talking 6900# , then the RAWR is probably something like 2900#, which would give it a ballpark of 1400# payload, which is on pay with many CC 1500's. IF that's the case, then it's not the springs causing the payload issue, it's the AXLE. That's like saying adding airbags will help with payload, and it won't. It'll prevent you from sagging, but the weight is due to the bearing and the axle meeting at the hub, that's really the main snap away point.

Click to expand...

the axle in the power wagon is the same as a regular 2500, with the exception of the locker unit. the low payload capacity comes from the suspension. softer, taller springs and a linear spring rate. regular 2500's use progressive rate coils.

barr0208 said:

ok think about what you just posted if a half ton ram has 3900 lb axles what do you think a 2500 would have mmmmm. they would be at least 6000lb axles and the weight restriction is the suspension it has to be soft enough to allow a lot of axle movement for that truck to do some serious off roading.Ram Car Reviews - Ram Pricing, Photos and Specs - CARandDRIVER im wrong they are 6200 lb axles

Click to expand...

I know what I said ? I said their is no way it has 6900# axles, and I was right. I suspected 6k axles , but no way 6900, a base model Pw has a base curb weight of about 7400 pounds with a tank of gas. That makes more sense for the gvwr and payload capacity, it weighs about 2k more than a half ton, and has about 2k heavier axles. Now the math makes sense, it makes no sense to have a ratio like that on a 3/4 ton, if it did, the payload capacity would be quite a bit higher. Also , as I said the half ton has a combined axle rating of 7800 pounds but a gvwr of only 6900 that's 900 pounds less than combined axle carrying power, and its NOT do to springs, I suspect the same from the power wagon, but even more to combat the same ratio. That means it has a combined axle rating of 12400, less (x) comes out to 8500# gvwr, with the truck Weighing 7k# dry that leave it with 1500 pounds of payload. Adding heavier springs won't increase the gvwr nor will it increase the payload capacity. At least, that's what dodge says. I figured though, it should in theory have a much much higher gvwr AND payload by adding springs and bags, it has combined 12400 pound axles, same goes for the half ton.