Is PW right for me?

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Grand Mesa

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I looked at the width specs of the 2022 Gladiator, it's just 3 inches less than my full size '98 Chevrolet K1500 and tad over 6 inches less than our Power Wagon, but then the Gladiator is nearly a foot (10 and 1/2 inches wider) than our vintage Chevrolet 1/2 ton mini truck. It's no wonder why UTV's have taken over our Colorado 4x4 trails. Even today's smallest 4x4 vehicles are becoming a bit too wide for on our narrowest Rocky Mountain shelf roads.
 

Docwagon1776

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I like full size 8' box 2500 crew cabs to tow a camper and an off road machine to the trails. Using any full size pickup, let alone a 2500 for off-roading just isn't what they are built for. Guys do it, but it beats the heck out of the paint work and the rest of the truck. Get a 2 or 4 up SXS and go places no 4x4, including a Jeep, let alone a PW, ever thought about.

That's a good option, depending on where and how you travel. Our trips are week to multi-week trips that include city visits/hotel stays as well as off the beaten path stuff. Our last trip involved three states with at least an overnight stay (a few states just pass-throughs), a beach hotel, a state park lodging, a national park, and a medium sized city hotel. I'd end up having my trailer/UTV stolen or skipping other things I want to do. I accept I'm not going to do the harder trails with a non-purpose built vehicle but the trade off is worth it. I could do the trailer/purpose built/bought for local trails but here it's mostly mud or tight forest, which isn't really my thing enough to invest the $.
 

Docwagon1776

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I looked at the width specs of the 2022 Gladiator, it's just 3 inches less than my full size '98 Chevrolet K1500 and tad over 6 inches less than our Power Wagon, but then the Gladiator is nearly a foot (10 and 1/2 inches wider) than our vintage Chevrolet 1/2 ton mini truck. It's no wonder why UTV's have taken over our Colorado 4x4 trails. Even today's smallest 4x4 vehicles are becoming a bit too wide for on our narrowest Rocky Mountain shelf roads.

Agreed. A function of alleged market preference (few 'off road' vehicles ever do) and how CAFE is calculated based on foot print have made vehicles bigger and bigger. A today Ranger is roughly the same size as a 70's F-150 as far as footprint.
 
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Gxgn

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The strap is stiff on some of them but loosens over time, I noticed the same thing you did but it's not present in others. I don't know how fast you drive, but it also seems like it's really out of breath at 80mph+, so not the truck I'd want for longer drives through much of Texas. The moving in the wind and the general feel of it made me think it'd be fatiguing to drive long distances. It's also pretty loud on the inside, more so depending on trim, and is pretty expensive for what you get.

Like you, I'm hanging my hopes on the Ranger Raptor for something that's not fatiguing to drive 10-16 hours to get to where I want to use it offroad. If it sucks, I'll just stick with a full size 1/2 ton and avoid certain trails, I guess, or rent a Jeep when possible.
Did you ever consider a 150 Raptor until the Ranger Raptor comes up? I know it’s very wide but at \least is shorter than the PW, lighter and probably nicer to drive…I’m going to try to test one.
 
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Gxgn

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I like full size 8' box 2500 crew cabs to tow a camper and an off road machine to the trails. Using any full size pickup, let alone a 2500 for off-roading just isn't what they are built for. Guys do it, but it beats the heck out of the paint work and the rest of the truck. Get a 2 or 4 up SXS and go places no 4x4, including a Jeep, let alone a PW, ever thought about.
I don’t have that much space to store all kind of toys (nor do I have the budget) so I would much rather have one truck that can do multiple tasks.
 

Dean2

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That's a good option, depending on where and how you travel. Our trips are week to multi-week trips that include city visits/hotel stays as well as off the beaten path stuff. Our last trip involved three states with at least an overnight stay (a few states just pass-throughs), a beach hotel, a state park lodging, a national park, and a medium sized city hotel. I'd end up having my trailer/UTV stolen or skipping other things I want to do. I accept I'm not going to do the harder trails with a non-purpose built vehicle but the trade off is worth it. I could do the trailer/purpose built/bought for local trails but here it's mostly mud or tight forest, which isn't really my thing enough to invest the $.
Okay, so you know your requirements in detail and you have now added a whole bunch of depth and nuance that wasn't in the original question. The original question dealt with using the PW on some fairly challenging trails.

On the basis of the current information I think a PW is the perfect choice for you. You can always rent a UTV for the gnarly stuff when you get there.
 

Docwagon1776

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Did you ever consider a 150 Raptor until the Ranger Raptor comes up? I know it’s very wide but at \least is shorter than the PW, lighter and probably nicer to drive…I’m going to try to test one.

I desperately *want* to like one, but the width puts me off of it, which is why I'm pinning my hopes on the Ranger. I don't flip-flop vehicles very often, although with resale the way it is right now if you are one of those guys this is the time to do it. Right up until recession time, anyway. I'll keep my RAM until I find a Midsize I want. The Tremor is a pretty compelling package for a do-all truck at a (what passes for today) reasonable price point as well.

I want something I can drive from anywhere from Moab to Big Bend to the Kentucky Adventure Trail, do the service road/lighter trails, but also go to St. Louis or Denver and fit in a downtown hotel parking garage. I've even considered a Grand Cherokee Trailhawk, but that air suspension looks like it beats you to death in offroad scenarios plus, well, air suspension.
 

Docwagon1776

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Okay, so you know your requirements in detail and you have now added a whole bunch of depth and nuance that wasn't in the original question. The original question dealt with using the PW on some fairly challenging trails.

On the basis of the current information I think a PW is the perfect choice for you. You can always rent a UTV for the gnarly stuff when you get there.

I think you've confused me with the OP. I just entered the conversation on the pros/cons of the Gladiator and midsized competitors. I know the PW isn't for me. It's cool and it's awesome for the guys it's for, but it's not for me.
 

Dean2

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I think you've confused me with the OP. I just entered the conversation on the pros/cons of the Gladiator and midsized competitors. I know the PW isn't for me. It's cool and it's awesome for the guys it's for, but it's not for me.
You are right, I did think you were the OP. I that case I guess I have a little difficulty seeing how your specific use case relates to the question the OP actually asked. Thus I revert to my original answer, the PW is not a food choice for him, in terms of using a PW on narrow and quite challenging trails, which is what the OP was interested in.
 
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retired

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Next time you drive one drop the tire psi down to low 30's and it will be a much nicer ride. one week and I am off to Moab again. This will be the second trip in the Power wagon to Moab.
 

Docwagon1776

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You are right, I did think you were the OP. I that case I guess I have a little difficulty seeing how your specific use case relates to the question the OP actually asked. Thus I revert to my original answer, the PW is not a food choice for him, in terms of using a PW on narrow and quite challenging trails, which is what the OP was interested in.

See the OP's post #13 and #17 and it should clear up any confusion on how midsized trucks and the Gladiator specifically entered the conversation.
 

turkeybird56

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I like full size 8' box 2500 crew cabs to tow a camper and an off road machine to the trails. Using any full size pickup, let alone a 2500 for off-roading just isn't what they are built for. Guys do it, but it beats the heck out of the paint work and the rest of the truck. Get a 2 or 4 up SXS and go places no 4x4, including a Jeep, let alone a PW, ever thought about.
YUP, I luv my lil Bighorn, but the 1500 clutches 4 X 4, even the newer 48-11/12 BW trans (that is in MY 19 DT), just not gonna take that monster beating, enjoy yer RAM but IMHO get a specific vehicle for Big Time 4 wheeling. Many moons ago, we just got our Hummers (M-1026) in Germany. Got a Frago to do an MSR/Defile run. Trail looked good on map, not so good real world. Ended up going down a 30 degree grade in 4 low and scraped the living heck out of the right side of the Hummer on trees. Well, told PltSgt and 1SGT, how it was. No way, lol, to back up and navigate. Ended up going back to 2nd shop for CARP repaint on right side, lol.

PW great, but really big to maneuver. But also, IMHO, yer dime, and do what makes you happy, Life is Short.
 

Exdeus

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My wife and I have been overlanding for several years now. We started with a RTT and a RAM 1500, went to a Four Wheel Camper and 2500, and then back to a 1500 and are getting a small travel trailer to base camp with. While not specifically a power wagon, I did have a heavily modified 2017 RAM 2500 Diesel. It was on a 3" AEV lift and ran 37" tires with a Four Wheel Camper. The truck had no problem navigating Cinnamon Pass but the switchbacks at the end did require one or two where I had to 3 point it (picture from Cinammon Pass and Padre Island National Seashore). The road was narrow in a few places for such a big truck, but nothing I had an issue with. I never put it into four wheel drive or aired down for Cinnamon as it was very easy. I didn't do Engineers or Imogene as I was worried about height clearance through the tunnel on whichever one has it. With that said, I don't think anything about Imogene or Engineer's is technical and are primarily just flat twisty mountain roads. A 2500 is a big truck and two way traffic got a little dicey in a few parts with mine but nothing that was overly uncomfortable. I have taken mine through Cinnamon Pass and around a handful of areas in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma. With that said, I sold both the truck and the camper last month and down-graded in size to a RAM 1500 Rebel. It has the rear locker and 3.92 gears and is just so much more comfortable to drive. The 2500 drove like a brick and the tire noise was there for sure. As a daily driver that off-roads a handful of times through the year, I just couldn't take it anymore and wanted a smoother daily driver. I am, so far, very happy with the change. I haven't off-roaded or overlanded the Rebel yet, but expect it to have no problems at all on any of these trails as I don't think any of them need a disconnecting sway bar. Now if you are doing the Rubicon or some of the more hard core rock crawling, the PW will be the better option.

Let me know if you have any questions - best of luck in whatever you decide! My prior trucks below.
Overland-1.jpg
Overland-6.jpg
 
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Gxgn

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great shots and nice rig @Exdeus ! I did look at a Rebel yesterday but didn't drive it. I like the idea of a more nimble truck but the Rebel is just as expensive as the PW and likely I'll want to modify it a bit for 35s and it will end up costing more.
I don't intend to do a Rubicon but considering I'll mostly do solo Overlanding it gives me comfort to know the truck is overbuilt for my needs. I think for a while I'll steer away from a heavy camper.
 

Docwagon1776

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great shots and nice rig @Exdeus ! I did look at a Rebel yesterday but didn't drive it. I like the idea of a more nimble truck but the Rebel is just as expensive as the PW and likely I'll want to modify it a bit for 35s and it will end up costing more.
I don't intend to do a Rubicon but considering I'll mostly do solo Overlanding it gives me comfort to know the truck is overbuilt for my needs. I think for a while I'll steer away from a heavy camper.

IMO, the F-150 Tremor is the better value over the Rebel now. It'll upset the guys who post like brands are religions, but you get more for your money with the Ford and when I build/price online I end up with a truck that's about $10k cheaper with all the features I want. The Tremor has the Torsen front differential option, comes with the bigger gas tank, easy to option the 360 degree camera system (which I think would be pretty handy on trails without a spotter), etc. You cannot get the V8 though, 3.5TB only, and the Ram does have a somewhat nicer interior and rides a bit better. If I stick with a full size for my next truck, it'll almost certainly be the Tremor unless Ram does something worthwhile on the mid cycle refresh.
 

jmc921

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I have a plain old 2014 Express CC. I have lifted the front about 1.5” with Falcon shocks all around. I don’t have any big off road plans but would like to do some moderate trails in the PA area. The only modification I plan on is going from the stock 33” to a 34” A/T for a little better clearance and traction. One thing I agree with is the 1500 is a very nice riding on road truck.
 

Jupp Mueller

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I have a 2020 Power Wagon and am building it for overland purposes. I think everybody here who says that they are not suited for moderate offroad trails don’t know what they are talking about.

I have done Engineer, Immogene, Middle Fork Swan River, Blair Mountain, Mineral Creek, Mengel Pass, Lippincott, White Rim, Funnel lake and a bunch more, basically up to difficulty of 6/10 of the trailsoffroad difficulty scale.

If you build it for overlanding it’s going to be a bit tippy due to the height of the rig and the weight distribution (roof top tent, awning, spare tire in a higher location).
The width and height will limit your trail selection a little bit, but it’s actually super rare for it to not fit. Expect pin stripes. I didn’t do Black Bear because I didn’t feel comfortable with a few inches of tire hanging over a crumbly cliff edge with 2 kids in the car, but it can definitely be done.

You’ll also have to do some modifications for it to be trail ready. Sliders and engine/transmission skid plates are a must because of the unprotected plastic transmission oil pan and the long wheel base. I smoked my OEM shocks after 20k and upgraded to a pricey but unbelievably good Thuren suspension package with King shocks that gave the truck muuuch better handling on road and off road.

All in all I’m super happy with this as a trail rig for a family of 4. You never have to worry about space, capability is great to do all the trails you want except the more extreme ones. You can just throw 37s on without having to do anything!

One downside is that aftermarket support is quite weak compared to Toyota and Jeep platforms. Bumper selection was pretty bad for a while but seems to be getting better. Skid plates are really nice but basically produced by one guy in Oregon with months of wait time.

If it was only me and my wife, I’d do a dual cab short bed 3500 lightweight camper build with a diesel engine.

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jmc921

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As an easterner, where are these trails? CA I assume? I would like to explore the west but am NOT a camper. Can these be accessed as day trips with stays in motels at night? Thanks to all you more experienced guys.
 

Exdeus

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As an easterner, where are these trails? CA I assume? I would like to explore the west but am NOT a camper. Can these be accessed as day trips with stays in motels at night? Thanks to all you more experienced guys.
All the ones mentioned for the most part are Colorado. Trailsoffroad.com has trails by state you can check out. There’s tons more options out west, but still many on the East coast and Midwest/Great Lakes region as well. Just different types of trails and routes to run.
 
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