2018 Power Wagon - I need some ideas for better performance

[Down the Tubes]

One thing to keep in mind that when the OP states the truck is slow or has no power that is all subjective based on what they feel it should be, or what they are comparing it to. Not saying they are wrong but it is their personal opinion.

The first thing I would say is to make sure that the ECM has been correctly reprogrammed for the larger tires. Going from 33" to 37" tires will cause transmission shifting issues, mainly shift points. I know the OP stated the dealership reprogrammed this but I would double-check that. The second thing is that even if the ECM is reprogrammed the tires and lift are still adding a significant amount of stress (or power requirements) to move the truck around. The tires are larger diameter so it takes more power/leverage to move them plus the are heavier....they are also rotating mass which is worse. Adding 200 lbs. in the bed of the truck is nothing, but adding 200 lbs. of rotating mass (i.e. tires and wheels) can make a big difference. The lift kit is increasing the aerodynamic drag on the truck.

Based on the above and the use of the truck (doesn't sound like any long road trips!) I think that regearing the axles would be the best thing to do. It is the biggest investment in dollars but you will actually be able to feel the difference. I would also invest in some sort of tuner that will enable you to adjust the gear ratio and tire size. Second thing would be a custom engine tune from somebody like Hemifever.

From my personal experience with my '16 PW I really don't have any complaints on the transmission shifting. I ran it with the stock 33's and then upgraded to a heavier and more aggressive 35" tire. Both empty and pulling a smaller 4,000 lb. trailer I thought the transmission shifted fine. When pulling the small trailer it will downshift into 5th fairly soon, which is to be expected, and on a longer and steeper hill on the freeway it might hit 4th. I mean, when you started pulling a grade or gave it gas to pass a vehicle it downshifts.....I have seen people complain about their transmissions and when test driving them the complaint was that they did downshift in those situations. Seems like some people thought the transmission shouldn't have to downshift??? Also have to ask, but the OP is giving it more gas when going up hill, right??

Another question the OP asked was how axle gears affect top speed. If you calculated it out on paper than putting lower axle gears (higher numerically) would lower your top speed, you would still hit the top speed limiters well before you would reach the theoretical top speed when using the redline of the engine versus gearing. With 5.13's and 37" tires the truck would theoretically hit 170+ mph at 5,500 rpm....but you would hit the speed limiter well before than, and even if the speed limiter was removed the truck wouldn't have enough power to go that fast anyway.

Thanks! I am definitely stepping on the pedal when going up hill.
Even when I floor it though, sometimes the truck does not downshift.
The dealer said that they "Calibrated the speedometer," with the Hypertech unit that they sold to me with the truck.
How would I go about checking the ECM? I bought an OBD scanner, but have not had time to check out what it can do.

I think my biggest issue is that the truck doesn't downshift when I need it to.

Sounds like you live in paradise! Bet your elevation is hurting your power too. I would just say screw passing someone and enjoy the scenery! LOL

Gotta get to work on time!
The speed limit on my drive to work is 45. It's up hill. Every morning I get stuck behind somebody that refuses to drive over 35.......

We live at 1,200', my job is at 3,200'. This place definitely has some elevation challenges.....
When I first moved here in the early 90's, I had a Toyota 4x4 with the 22RE engine. I would be in 2nd gear, doing 16 or so, by the time I got halfway up the hill........


Thanks again guys for your input, it is definitely appreciated.

 

[Down the Tubes]

This is a bold statement for a $300 device! I'm going to have to look into this...

Back to your question I would look at re-gearing first. In another thread on here (benefit of 8 speed) someone mentioned a transmission tune helps out significantly...may want to investigate that.

I keep it on City +4 and it really helps a lot!
Without it, the pedal lag was annoying as hell......

W-H-I-P-P-L-E

You're welcome

The thought had crossed my mind!

Based on the above and the use of the truck (doesn't sound like any long road trips!) I think that regearing the axles would be the best thing to do. It is the biggest investment in dollars but you will actually be able to feel the difference. I would also invest in some sort of tuner that will enable you to adjust the gear ratio and tire size. Second thing would be a custom engine tune from somebody like Hemifever.

From my personal experience with my '16 PW I really don't have any complaints on the transmission shifting. I ran it with the stock 33's and then upgraded to a heavier and more aggressive 35" tire. Both empty and pulling a smaller 4,000 lb. trailer I thought the transmission shifted fine. When pulling the small trailer it will downshift into 5th fairly soon, which is to be expected, and on a longer and steeper hill on the freeway it might hit 4th. I mean, when you started pulling a grade or gave it gas to pass a vehicle it downshifts.....I have seen people complain about their transmissions and when test driving them the complaint was that they did downshift in those situations. Seems like some people thought the transmission shouldn't have to downshift??? Also have to ask, but the OP is giving it more gas when going up hill, right??

Another question the OP asked was how axle gears affect top speed. If you calculated it out on paper than putting lower axle gears (higher numerically) would lower your top speed, you would still hit the top speed limiters well before you would reach the theoretical top speed when using the redline of the engine versus gearing. With 5.13's and 37" tires the truck would theoretically hit 170+ mph at 5,500 rpm....but you would hit the speed limiter well before than, and even if the speed limiter was removed the truck wouldn't have enough power to go that fast anyway.

How will the regearing affect my mileage on long trips?
We are planning on moving to the Mainland in about 2 years and will be doing a lot of traveling/camping.
Gotta make up for over 20 years of living where we can't really travel........

 

[Ram Wagon]

Thanks! I am definitely stepping on the pedal when going up hill.
Even when I floor it though, sometimes the truck does not downshift.
The dealer said that they "Calibrated the speedometer," with the Hypertech unit that they sold to me with the truck.
How would I go about checking the ECM? I bought an OBD scanner, but have not had time to check out what it can do.

I think my biggest issue is that the truck doesn't downshift when I need it to.



Gotta get to work on time!
The speed limit on my drive to work is 45. It's up hill. Every morning I get stuck behind somebody that refuses to drive over 35.......

We live at 1,200', my job is at 3,200'. This place definitely has some elevation challenges.....
When I first moved here in the early 90's, I had a Toyota 4x4 with the 22RE engine. I would be in 2nd gear, doing 16 or so, by the time I got halfway up the hill........


Thanks again guys for your input, it is definitely appreciated.

About 1 year after changing my tire size from 33's to 35's, I finally bought an AlfaOBD to correct the tire size (amongst many other things) that made a huge difference in my transmission shifting. I hadn't realized how soft/lag the shifts were until i did the calibration correction. Feels like it did when it was new and running 33's. And yes i too am using a pedal commander-makes it much better than stock.

 

[Down the Tubes]

I bought the OBDLink MX+ a few months ago.....never even took it out of the box. Too much work lately!

Guess I should download Alpha OBD and check it out tonight!

 

[Meister]

Maybe wait til the TRX comes out and test one of them....its supercharged from the factory

 

[Trailmaker]

I bought the OBDLink MX+ a few months ago.....never even took it out of the box. Too much work lately!

Guess I should download Alpha OBD and check it out tonight!

Definitely use the Alpha OBD. And possibly down size your tires to 35” the weight difference and the ratio will give your truck a different prospective. Our trucks come with 33” that measure just under 32” so know another ram 2500 that is running smaller tires? Might be you ticket. Tires that measure up to 34” still look impressive. Just a thought

 

[Down the Tubes]

I remember why I didn't get Alpha OBD yet.....it doesn't work with an iphone. Unless I'm a complete idiot and don't see the iphone version......
Maybe I'll get it for PC.

I just set up the OBDLink.

Definitely use the Alpha OBD. And possibly down size your tires to 35” the weight difference and the ratio will give your truck a different prospective. Our trucks come with 33” that measure just under 32” so know another ram 2500 that is running smaller tires? Might be you ticket. Tires that measure up to 34” still look impressive. Just a thought

I have thought about that, but not sure if 35's will look right with the 4" lift.
I keep coming back to the idea of 35's because I'd love to be able to carry a spare around that fits!

 

[olyelr]

I remember why I didn't get Alpha OBD yet.....it doesn't work with an iphone. Unless I'm a complete idiot and don't see the iphone version......
Maybe I'll get it for PC.

I just set up the OBDLink.


I have thought about that, but not sure if 35's will look right with the 4" lift.
I keep coming back to the idea of 35's because I'd love to be able to carry a spare around that fits!

35’s would look ridiculous under a power wagon with a 4” lift. They almost look small on a stock power wagon.

 

[Trailmaker]

I remember why I didn't get Alpha OBD yet.....it doesn't work with an iphone. Unless I'm a complete idiot and don't see the iphone version......
Maybe I'll get it for PC.

I just set up the OBDLink.


I have thought about that, but not sure if 35's will look right with the 4" lift.
I keep coming back to the idea of 35's because I'd love to be able to carry a spare around that fits!

I did not pay attention to the 4” lift part. Your right, it may look goofy. Or if you carry some weight in your truck daily, then perhaps it squats a little. Send us some photos so we can see this beast again. It has been a while since you uploaded anything new.

 

[Down the Tubes]

Here you go, one dirty, big, mean ass truck!
The guy in the bottom picture is my height, 5' 10"
The truck on the left is my old 2016 diesel 2500 4x4 with stock tires.
The driveway slopes to the right, the Power Wagon is actually a little bit taller than it looks in the picture with 2 trucks.

 

[Trailmaker]

How cow. Do you have to get a running start to jump in? Haha. Yes 37” tires is almost not enough for the lift.
Looks like a super charger is in your future.
Play around with the the shift point manually on the steering wheel to to confirm the transmission is downshifting properly.

 

[sam darakjy]

Your truck and your money but I do not understand how a Power Wagon with 6.4 Hemi and 410hp does not produce enough power. I have a 2018 Tradesman with same engine and transmission and completely stock and it gets up and goes. Tow/haul mode even adds more pep.

 

[Down the Tubes]

How cow. Do you have to get a running start to jump in? Haha. Yes 37” tires is almost not enough for the lift.
Looks like a super charger is in your future.
Play around with the the shift point manually on the steering wheel to to confirm the transmission is downshifting properly.

Ha! That's what the Jesus handle is for....
I've definitely been messing with the manual shift buttons (on the shifter for my truck).
It seems to shift just fine with the buttons.
I think that I'm just annoyed with the shift points at certain RPM's. I can floor the gas pedal when the truck is cruising at 1500 RPM in a higher gear and it won't downshift. I have to force it to downshift sometimes.

Your truck and your money but I do not understand how a Power Wagon with 6.4 Hemi and 410hp does not produce enough power. I have a 2018 Tradesman with same engine and transmission and completely stock and it gets up and goes. Tow/haul mode even adds more pep.

But.....yours is completely stock. Mine has much larger tires and a **** ton more clearance.......I'm just trying to figure out the best bang for buck to get the pep back.
I don't want to spend money on CAI or Cat Back if they don't really do a lot.

We have a 2017 1500 2 wheel drive truck with the 5.7 (not sure what transmission, I think it's the 8 speed), and it hauls ass, but it's completely stock.

 

[19PowerWagon392]

Contact Luke at Steve White Motors 3470 US-70 SE, Newton, NC 28658, (828) 464-3458 I'm saving up for the SuperCharger, it's pricey but will definitely wake up the 6.4 Hemi.
https://www.stevewhiteparts.com/oem-parts/mopar-supercharger-68271244am

 

[Down the Tubes]

Contact Luke at Steve White Motors 3470 US-70 SE, Newton, NC 28658, (828) 464-3458 I'm saving up for the SuperCharger, it's pricey but will definitely wake up the 6.4 Hemi.
https://www.stevewhiteparts.com/oem-parts/mopar-supercharger-68271244am

That would be bad ass! Wonder if that will fit under the hood!

 

[Chap]

Damn, that's a great looking truck!!!

 

[Down the Tubes]

Damn, that's a great looking truck!!!

Thanks! I like it. Just gotta find more trails to go down! Kind of hard here, everything is Agriculture or sacred land. Gotta keep the peace!
I do work on a ranch though and get to take it some cool places there. I think I drive the only muddy/dirty 4x4 on the island.......

 

[Chap]

I had sorta similar question before I saw this post. I was going to ask if it's worth buying a pedal commamder, but you pretty much answered it for me. My truck just is leveled with 35s and afe exhaust. Runs great, just wondered if the pedal commander would give it that little extra snap.

 

[Down the Tubes]

I think it's definitely worth it. Where I live is called, "Up-Country," for a reason.
From sea level, where most of the civilization is on Maui, everything is up.....without the Pedal Commander, the Power Wagon just kind of lugged it's way up the hill.
I know that I could have just stepped on the gas pedal more, but the PC seems to give me more range of usable gas pedal if that makes sense......

 

[IRSmart]

People see my truck all the time and say the same thing: “man, that thing looks awesome, and it has a big Hemi! I bet it’s fast!” I respond the same way every time: my truck was built to be a lot of things, but “fast” was never one of them. If you thought these trucks were fast, you’re going to be disappointed, and unless you are prepared to spend thousands of dollars, nothing will change that. I had a power stroke with bro wheels that stick out with stretched tires try to race me last night. I didn’t even respond, because I knew I’d smoke him. I also know, that unlike his truck, mine is built with quality parts and my daddy didn’t give it to me, so I had that going for me at least lol