Power Wagon friendly trails in central/northern WI?

[Docwagon1776]

I'll be in the area for a few days in the trail whale, doing some research on plus sized offroader friendly locations. I've come up with a few, but curious as to any personal recommendations from forum members.

 

[Docwagon1776]

Nobody in WI owns a PW? Or are you all just crawling the local Starbucks?

 

[Travelin Ram]

I can’t help you with WI, but as an aside, this summer I rented a Bronco to evaluate. It was on OEM 35x12.5, same size as my truck.

I measured the track width, and the PW was only about 5/8” wider.

One of these days I’ll find an opportunity to do the same with a JL Wrangler with the factory 35’s. They sure look wide.

Point being the Wagon isn’t really much wider on the trail than some “midsize” competitors.

I’ll concede it feels different hearing the branches screeching along the clear coat on the PW vs the outboard plastic fenders on the SUV’s. But I think you made a solution for that already.

 

[Docwagon1776]

I can’t help you with WI, but as an aside, this summer I rented a Bronco to evaluate. It was on OEM 35x12.5, same size as my truck.

I measured the track width, and the PW was only about 5/8” wider.

One of these days I’ll find an opportunity to do the same with a JL Wrangler with the factory 35’s. They sure look wide.

Point being the Wagon isn’t really much wider on the trail than some “midsize” competitors.

I’ll concede it feels different hearing the branches screeching along the clear coat on the PW vs the outboard plastic fenders on the SUV’s. But I think you made a solution for that already.

The current Wrangler and Gladiator are near enough in width to the PW as to make no practical difference, but length and turning radius is another story. Branches scraping is one thing, but if you can't make the turn between the trees due to length, that's much more of an issue.

 

[olyelr]

The current Wrangler and Gladiator are near enough in width to the PW as to make no practical difference, but length and turning radius is another story. Branches scraping is one thing, but if you can't make the turn between the trees due to length, that's much more of an issue.

I can’t help you with WI, but as an aside, this summer I rented a Bronco to evaluate. It was on OEM 35x12.5, same size as my truck.

I measured the track width, and the PW was only about 5/8” wider.

One of these days I’ll find an opportunity to do the same with a JL Wrangler with the factory 35’s. They sure look wide.

Point being the Wagon isn’t really much wider on the trail than some “midsize” competitors.

I’ll concede it feels different hearing the branches screeching along the clear coat on the PW vs the outboard plastic fenders on the SUV’s. But I think you made a solution for that already.

also, the bodies and much smaller than the power wagon. That makes a big difference too.

 

[Travelin Ram]

You guys worry too much LOL. If you can wedge the front tires through everything else will follow.

Paint is overrated.

 

[62Blazer]

Well, you can say the width is the "same" all you want between a PW versus a Wrangler or Bronco, but there is a significant difference between them when on a tight trail. And it just not the length. I own a PW and have friends or family with both a newer 4 door Wrangler and newer 2 door Bronco and they feel WAY different when driving them on the trail when talking about width (and rubbing body panels on trees and such). On paper the track width of a Wrangler JL is about 6" narrower than a PW, but the biggest difference is how far out the sheetmetal sits. On a PW, again on paper, the overall width minus mirrors is over 79" with the widest part basically being the center of the body all the way from the front to rear bumpers....so a lot of sheetmetal to worry about. On the Jeep JL the overwall width is listed as 74", but 6-7" of that are the plastic fender flares that are just over the tires. So basically you only have around 68" width of sheetmetal to worry about, which is 10" less width than a PW. That is a big difference on the trails. Another factor is simply how far out the wheels sit from the sheetmetal. On a PW if the tires rub the tree, rock, or dirt bank there is a good chance the sheetmetal will also. On the other hand on a Jeep if you rub the wheels on something the body is further away.
My experience isn't just with the PW, but I have wheeled' a fullsize K5 Blazer for years when almost all of my buddies had smaller Jeeps, Toyotas, etc... that have similar overall width differences as a PW versus the newer Jeeps.

 

[DILLIGAF]

There's a reason I ditched my truck for a JK for off roading But for Hunting the Ram is still king !

My Ram has more dents than Whitney Houston.

OP get the off-road map book or app for your area ! Also join whatever local off road FB group. Thats were I found all my cool trails.

 

[ramffml]

"power wagon friendly trails" .... farmers field?

 

[Docwagon1776]

If you were in the blue Power Wagon at North Star casino, thanks! I was the green one who swooped into the parking spot you left. Here for the comedy show, so you left at the perfect time...