2021 PW Help/Question

jrodgolfer · Jul 27, 2022

Hey folks, new owner here.

I've searched the forum, and scoured the internet, but can't find a definitive answer, so here's my question:

I've owned all types of trucks (most recently a 100 series landcruiser). The PW is everything I want in a vehicle, but the ride is not at all what I was expecting. My Landcruiser was built and had E rated tires, but the ride was manageable. In my PW it seems like there's a constant bounce from the rear of the truck and it's actually made me carsick (first time it's ever happened to me). I see lots of posts about tire pressure (I tried that), a new rear track bar ($$$), but I'm curious if there's a way to get rid of this problem? I don't usually carry much weight in the bed, and don't want to haul around sand bags back there. I pull an overland camper (maybe 1k lbs), and have a hitch rack to carry my KTM 890 Adventure R (500lb tongue weight). Outside of that, I bought the truck for it's off road capability, not towing. Is this something that can be solved, or am I never going to be happy with the ride? It has only 10k miles on it, so I'd be surprised if something is wrong, but I have it at the dealer currently to see if there's something going on with the suspension.

Thanks in advance!

Grand Mesa · Jul 27, 2022

Try different road surfaces. Concrete expansion joints might be the issue with the length of your Power Wagon's wheel base versus Landcruiser.

62Blazer · Jul 27, 2022

The trouble with this question is that it is very subjective....everybody has a different opinion and you will get a hundred different suggestions. I daily drove fullsize 4wd pickups for 20+ years and personally think my current PW rides pretty good for a big 2500 series, or "3/4 ton", truck.
A few companies do make a softer rate rear coil that could make the ride better, and possibly a different set of shocks could help. In regards to tire pressure, I would ask what pressure are you currently running? I only run about 40 psi in my rear tires which really helps.

mtnrider · Jul 27, 2022

A PW is probably one of the smoothest driving HD trucks available. To be very blunt, if it is making you physically sick to drive it there is absolutley nothing you can do to it to change that. There are some small things you can do like lower the tire pressure and add weight to the bed (something you don't want to do) but anything else would just be ******* money away and not get you where You need to be.

.

jrodgolfer · Jul 27, 2022

Grand Mesa said:
Try different road surfaces. Concrete expansion joints might be the issue with the length of your Power Wagon's wheel base versus Landcruiser.

View attachment 498957

If the road is smooth, no issue. Expansion joints are very bad. Even mild road imperfections cause the rear to “flutter” or always seem to in in a compression/rebound cycle, or the bed is vibrating and I can’t tell. The constant “flutter” is what is putting my stomach off.

jrodgolfer · Jul 27, 2022

mtnrider said:
A PW is probably one of the smoothest driving HD trucks available. To be very blunt, if it is making you physically sick to drive it there is absolutley nothing you can do to it to change that. There are some small things you can do like lower the tire pressure and add weight to the bed (something you don't want to do) but anything else would just be ******* money away and not get you where You need to be.

.

Appreciate your response.

jrodgolfer · Jul 27, 2022

Oh, and I had gone to 45psi front/40
rear on 315/70/17 D rated Toyo A/T’s. Didn’t seem to change much at all.

Grand Mesa · Jul 27, 2022

Even with Load Range E tires my Power Wagon rides much smoother than our Ram 2500 4x4 Cummins. That truck has the bouncy ride.

YooperEE5 · Jul 27, 2022

Seems like a read somewhere (maybe over on PowerWagonRegistry forum) that Thuren rear track bar will help?
And possibly a little more psi in the tires? You don't indicate what speed when you experienced the "flutter" so I'm just guessing freeway/highway (70 mph +/-), or how many miles on your tires / truck / bushings?
I would agree with one of the others that Power Wagon is / should be one of the smoothest HD truck rides....
Good luck; hope you find a solution

Adventurebound · Jul 27, 2022

I had experienced something similar when going from my 1/2 ton truck to the PW. Quite frankly, my new truck rode like crap. Heavier and a straight axle. I ultimately wound up spending the $6k and redoing the whole suspension on a truck that I bought for the factory suspension.

I will say, whether it's the new suspension or the fact I forgot how my old truck rode, I am very pleased with the ride now.

My 2cents on the track bar, save your money it will not do what you think it will. At least it made zero difference on mine.

retired · Jul 27, 2022

If empty try 35/30psi. I run toyo 35’s and empty 30psi rear tires is plenty

Fatbob Frank · Jul 28, 2022

My PW rides better than my cousin's Ford F250 King Ranch by a pretty fair margin.
And is comparable to my other cousin's brand new 1500 Trailboss IMO...
In fact, they've both commented on how nice my truck rides for a 3/4 ton.
( And I'm running 65psi in my 35s)
Truth is, no pickup will ever ride as cushy as an SUV, but if the PW is making you sick I can't think of any 3/4 tons that would be any better.
Mabey a Jeep Gladiator or Rebel would better suit your needs...

Grand Mesa · Jul 28, 2022

Besides my Power Wagon I also drive a Chevrolet 4x4 pickup with IFS. Entirely better handling with IFS on our mountain grade highways. I can comfortably exceed the Power Wagon's top speed on our tight switchback corners. If you want a smooth highway ride it's IFS, but off-road I prefer my Power Wagon.

Independent Front Suspension (IFS) vs Solid Axle

Learn the differences between solid axle suspensions and independent front suspensions and how to pick the right one for your vehicle.

www.gorancho.com

jrodgolfer · Jul 28, 2022

Appreciate all the feedback. I honestly think something is wrong with the truck. Seems like the shocks can’t handle the task in the back. Maybe a bad batch? I’ve never been car sick in my life and not a sensitive guy (unless you ask my wife, lol).

olyelr · Jul 28, 2022

jrodgolfer said:
Appreciate all the feedback. I honestly think something is wrong with the truck. Seems like the shocks can’t handle the task in the back. Maybe a bad batch? I’ve never been car sick in my life and not a sensitive guy (unless you ask my wife, lol).

Yea im kind of with you. Im assuming you know what a 3/4 ton truck, or just a truck in general, ride like…sounds to me like there is some type of issue with your truck in particular.

I would unbolt the bottom shock mounts and cycle the shocks to assure there are working properly.

TBONE 2018 · Jul 28, 2022

To me it sounds like you have a broken belt in 1 of your tires. Have you had your tires checked . My 2018 power wagon Is the smoothest driving truck I have ever driven. Once I adjusted tire pressures front in rear.

OC455 · Jul 28, 2022

olyelr said:
Yea im kind of with you. Im assuming you know what a 3/4 ton truck, or just a truck in general, ride like…sounds to me like there is some type of issue with your truck in particular.

I would unbolt the bottom shock mounts and cycle the shocks to assure there are working properly.

^^ This ^^

Check the shocks. Check the bushings.

jrodgolfer · Jul 28, 2022

TBONE 2018 said:
To me it sounds like you have a broken belt in 1 of your tires. Have you had your tires checked . My 2018 power wagon Is the smoothest driving truck I have ever driven. Once I adjusted tire pressures front in rear.

Tires are brand new and fine. Changed tires to see if it would help the ride issue.

Scybron · Jul 28, 2022

love the way my PW rides. No bounce or harsh HD suspension. If its bouncing that should be a function of the shocks. Id concentrate there.

Airmousam · Jul 29, 2022

Hmm, my 21 is smooth as hell, esp for an HD....coming from a Chevy 1/2 ton, I drove em all before getting the PW....maybe test drive another PW if that's an option...depending on where you are maybe someone on here is local and can give you a 2nd opinion...good luck

2021 PW Help/Question

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