Is a PW right for me?

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rtc1036

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PW or should I look elsewhere? I’ve researched for two days straight from multiple locations and am still undecided (lacking confidence due to unfamiliarity) on the PW vs regular 2500. I’ve only ever owned 1/2 tons and the 2500 world is completely new to me. I currently own 2019 F-150 XLT, SCREW, 3.5 and found a great deal on a 2016 PW Laramie that is being held for me. According to Ram web page by VIN, payload is: 1352 and max tow is: 10342. I have about a week to decide.

I live in southwest Idaho and we just bought five acres to homestead. Land is full of 20 years of garbage and old cars/boats that we have to clean up. The land comes with a 20+ foot, bumper pull car hauler that’s in good condition though I don’t know the specifics yet. We close on the land in two weeks.

Wife an I both agree we should upgrade to a 2500 to work the land. Yesterday she tells me she also wants us to pick up an old skid steer and backhoe to maintain and develop the land. We’re will also be looking into livestock down the road.

Other than towing/hauling to clean the land, a trip to pick up the skid steer and backhoe along with the occasional trip for dirt/gravel and such early on, I don’t see myself towing/hauling much, especially heavy, after the “work phase” is done.

We love exploring what the NW has to offer and like the thought of the PW capabilities being purpose oriented to what we enjoy.

Should I pick up the PW and just bag it with cradles or use sumo springs to get by, or forget it and look at a different rig? TIA
 

retired

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in reality your F150 will do about what the PW will do and you will get a lot better mpg in the F150. I have a buddy with a 2019 F150 and we wheel a lot together and he gets about 6-8 mpg better than me and his does fine in most situations. we have done Moab and he did fine on most stuff that we did. He does have a lift and runs 35's
 

TBONE 2018

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If it were me with your circumstances I will get a regular 2500 heavy duty 4x4 for the payload .And try to get an 8' bed it'd be just perfect for your outdoor Excursions .
 

Bamnq6

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You've certainly got options, but I think you're not an ideal use case for the PW. It's really not a 2500 with regard to Payload and Towing.

The PW is limited when talking towing vs a regular 2500. If you need to tow a skid-steer or a backhoe on a utility trailer you are gonna run hard into that 10k max tow.

Lookign here: 2019 f-150 towing and payload chart

Your current F-150 might already beat out the PW in terms of towing and payload. The PW's soft suspension really limits what we can legally do.

With the 6.4 and the 6 speed you're gonna take a pretty big hit on the fuel economy if you need to actually drive the truck. These truck are thirsty.

My $0.02? I'd be looking for a old work truck for usage on the property. Like a single cab, 2wd, dump bed 1-ton if you've got clean-up to do. It's best to not really need to care about the truck that you're working with...
 

crash68

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I currently own 2019 F-150 XLT, SCREW, 3.5 and found a great deal on a 2016 PW Laramie that is being held for me. According to Ram web page by VIN, payload is: 1352 and max tow is: 10342.
I would look for a '19 or newer Ram PW or 2500, that's when they change to the new 8spd trans. It's light years better than the 6spd RFE in that '16.
As for weight handling the PW is a 2500 with the exception of the lighter springs to make the vehicle more off road capable. The brakes and drivetrain of the PW is the same as a 2500. There are some people that add air bags on Daystar cradles to help with the lighter weight springs.
 
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rtc1036

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Based on the chart Bamnq6 posted, my F150 is payload/towing wise superior to the PW, based on numbers only. I think I started looking at 2500’s because the 150 is considered light duty and any 2500 is medium duty, at least according to research.

The PW caught my attention because it comes across as a HD 150. As Crash68 says at the core a PW is an 2500 with a soft suspension, one which can be remedied or worked around, but is it worth it?

My budget won’t allow me to scoop up a ‘19 or newer at the moment. I can afford it, but I’d have to build my house first and see how much I have left.

I’ve started looking for straight 2500’s. I’ll look to see what the cost is for lockers, mild lift/level and compare what the end result is money wise when compared to the PW with bags or just installing OEM 2500 springs w/spacers.

Logic tells me the straight 2500 is the way to go, wants tell me get the PW and make it work for the job. Argh…
 

Nick@GotExhaust

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Regular 2500 would suit your needs better. Most of what makes a PW, a PW makes the truck less useful for what you need the truck for. You can most likely pick up a regular 2500 much cheaper leaving extra money for mods if need be.
 

olyelr

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IMO its a probably quite a bit cheaper to stiffen up the suspension on a power wagon (if needed) than to add gears/lockers/winch/swaybar etc. to a regular 2500.

I kinda look at the power wagon as a 1 ton truck with half ton suspension. My half ton ram has more payload than my power wagon.

I have a ‘16 laramie power wagon that I bought brand new over 5 years ago. Been a damn good truck to me. I dont tow or haul heavy, but I do use it for towing. Have an 8000 pound travel trailer that i drag around with it and it works just fine.

I did add bags/cradles years ago after I leveled the truck so it didnt look like i was sagging *** whenever I towed something. Those work wonderful and have been flawless. Not a single issue with them. And i beat the truck pretty hard in the dunes during the summers (the bumpstops definitely get used lol).


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392DevilDog

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I agree with @olyelr

I would get the Powerwagon. It will be what you need on a farm. And it will haul and tow the things you want. You just have to realize you will not head down the highway at 80 and feel good. Hell, I stopped using the highway...because of people who feel safe towing too large campers at 80.

You can easily make up for what the Powerwagon lacks...with common sense and some aids. It takes a lot to make a regular 2500 do what a Powerwagon does, and then again you will be giving up that capability anyways.

The only reason....the only one...the one and only reason I do not have a Powerwagon is 8 foot bed. If you are getting the short bed any ways...get the Powerwagon.

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Earlier this year, I ordered and received a '21 Power Wagon tradesman. I did not fully appreciate how much the size and weight would reduce off-road ability as compared to my wrangler, even with the disconnects and lockers. Granted, the disco's and locker make a big, big difference. Within a couple of weeks, I stuck the PW with lockers engaged in a field with some surprise mud and on another occasion, high centered it on a steep breakover climb. Both of these errors were may fault of course but in both situations, I was taken by surprise. Apparently, "Power Wagon does care." I hopped in the Wrangler and pulled out the big beast out of both, no problem, and it has an open diff in the front. Also, at the beach, I was again surprised how the PW wanted to wallow in the soft sand like a happy piggie in mud, but the Wrangler floated on top of it with grace and ease.

Looking back, for the needs I have for the PW now, I would have been better off going with a diesel 2500 for about the same price, and using the Wrangler for anything off-road more than fire roads. That, and the Wrangler rides so much better off-road.

However, there is just something great about owning and driving a Power Wagon that brings a smile to my face all the time. It is a unique and somewhat rare truck. I find myself unconsciously issuing Tim Allen grunts as I drive along. "ohhh ohhh ohhh ohhh"
 
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BradN

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I agree with @olyelr

I would get the Powerwagon. It will be what you need on a farm. And it will haul and tow the things you want. You just have to realize you will not head down the highway at 80 and feel good. Hell, I stopped using the highway...because of people who feel safe towing too large campers at 80.

You can easily make up for what the Powerwagon lacks...with common sense and some aids. It takes a lot to make a regular 2500 do what a Powerwagon does, and then again you will be giving up that capability anyways.

The only reason....the only one...the one and only reason I do not have a Powerwagon is 8 foot bed. If you are getting the short bed any ways...get the Powerwagon.

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What he said.
From your post you indicated that you plan hard farm work for a limited time. After that it's more standard truck stuff with an emphasis on fun.
That's what the PW' was built for.
While it may not be optimal for the farm work, it'll get you through it.
 

thkbaron

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yeah you can air bag a PW and they are fine. The issue I have with mine is that the 6 speed mated with bigger tires isn't ideal. it hunts for gears quite a bit. Toss it in 4 and it'll tow all day. I'm looking for something that'll tow a bit better but still in a gas engine. The issue one has to get over is the cool factor of a power wagon. But in the end it's just a winch, decals lockers that honestly don't work great and different radius arms. Theres some other bits but not much.
 

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