My Three Step Plan For A Great Back Country Vehicle

[56PW17]

Here is the fender trimming. Pretty basic really, the tire store just cut off the bottom of the inner fender liner. They cut it quite a bit higher than I would have. I would have left another two inches of fender liner there, and just drilled some small 1/8" holes in it to loop a zip tie through. Then use another zip tie to pull the plastic fender back, and secure it to the body mount. Be careful if you do any drilling through the fender liner on the drivers side though, because there is a wiring harness back there.

It's not that close, its just the angle of the picture.

Any plans to close the hole in the bottom of the well? Or is that not possible? Hard to tell from the angle but i would try and close it to keep dirt and water out of there if you can help it.

 

[3TV]

It is hard to tell in the picture, but that "hole" is only about a half inch deep, with the back wall of the hole being the sheet metal of the cab. I don't think it will be a problem. It may take a few seconds more to spray it off at the car wash, but it isn't really big enough to collect anything. That is what I was talking about though, which I said I would have done it differently. The tire store called and asked if I wanted them to trim off a little plastic, and it didn't sound like they were going to do much, so I said ok. It was done by the time I saw it.

 

[56PW17]

It is hard to tell in the picture, but that "hole" is only about a half inch deep, with the back wall of the hole being the sheet metal of the cab. I don't think it will be a problem. It may take a few seconds more to spray it off at the car wash, but it isn't really big enough to collect anything. That is what I was talking about though, which I said I would have done it differently. The tire store called and asked if I wanted them to trim off a little plastic, and it didn't sound like they were going to do much, so I said ok. It was done by the time I saw it.

Id fill it with great stuff foam, trim it flush and paint it black.

 

[3TV]

I would be afraid that foam will trap moisture and create a problem where none exist.

 

[olyelr]

I would be afraid that foam will trap moisture and create a problem where none exist.

Ditto.

 

[McBroom]

Pack it full of rtv gasket sealer


I love my truck!
Blue Mule 18 Ram 4x4 C/C
Tradesman Power Wagon

 

[crazy jerry]

does it bother you with the tranny wandering all over in the higher gears ?

 

[3TV]

What is this tranny wandering all over in the higher gears you speak of? I have no experience in that, with this truck.

 

[olyelr]

does it bother you with the tranny wandering all over in the higher gears ?

If you are real picky (I am) you would hate 37’s with the stock gearing. I cant hardly stand it with 35’s... was barely acceptable on stock tires IMO.

 

[3TV]

Maybe you're complaining too much. I've owned a lot of vehicles that are worse than a Power Wagon when it comes to gearing, and the transmission shifting too much. I thought the stock gearing on 33s actually felt a little too low. And I really enjoy driving the truck the way it is now, and don't think it needs regeared, even for towing. If you want to feel a transmission wandering back and forth between gears, try driving the Chevy Colorado ZR2 with the 3.6 V6, 8 speed trans, and stock everything that I owned. That truck was constantly shifting back and forth between gears, and only seemed to be in high gear when going downhill. Or, try a Jeep JK with any gearing and tire combo. I've owned several, and they're all terrible. I think this truck drives better with the tire change than just about any other that I've owned.

 

[olyelr]

Maybe you're complaining too much. I've owned a lot of vehicles that are worse than a Power Wagon when it comes to gearing, and the transmission shifting too much. I thought the stock gearing on 33s actually felt a little too low. And I really enjoy driving the truck the way it is now, and don't think it needs regeared, even for towing. If you want to feel a transmission wandering back and forth between gears, try driving the Chevy Colorado ZR2 with the 3.6 V6, 8 speed trans, and stock everything that I owned. That truck was constantly shifting back and forth between gears, and only seemed to be in high gear when going downhill. Or, try a Jeep JK with any gearing and tire combo. I've owned several, and they're all terrible. I think this truck drives better with the tire change than just about any other that I've owned.

I owned a jk rubicon with a manual trans. That didnt bother me at all with 35’s and stock gearing.

Im not complaining too much. I just cant stand it when the truck kind of struggles to keep overdrive on a flat road. And downshifts at the slightest incline. Even with stock tires, my truck was almost a joke in overdrive at anything under 60.

 

[olyelr]

I just drive around in 5th gear most of the time right now. But I would rather get back into overdrive and gain the extra gear in between again.

 

[3TV]

My JK's all had the auto transmission. I hear the stick shift was a lot better as far as gearing goes with that vehicle. The auto trans was pretty horrible though.

 

[scoutpappa]

I just drive around in 5th gear most of the time right now. But I would rather get back into overdrive and gain the extra gear in between again.

Alpha OBD? I'm running 35's and reset the TPMS and programmed the tire size. No issues with hunting.

 

[crazy jerry]

ya i mostly just use 5th. with no plans to regear ill just have to deal with it

 

[3TV]

When I'm on the highway I'm usually towing my trailer with a couple of UTVs on it. I use tow/haul mode, which doesn't let it go in high gear anyway. Perhaps that is part of why I think it works fine.

There is usually two of these on the trailer.

 

[olyelr]

Alpha OBD? I'm running 35's and reset the TPMS and programmed the tire size. No issues with hunting.

I dont have issues with gear hunting per-say... the gearing is just simply too frikin high. I dont drive 80mph everywhere. Anywhere under 60-65 and my truck feels like its struggling to stay in overdrive. Its perfect in 5th. I dont have a single road in my entire county that is over a 55mph speed limit.

Yes, I reprogrammed for the tire size. I had to wait a week or so for the tazer unit to come in, and lemmy tell ya, driving like that was a joke lol. It would upshift way too soon, which makes it even worse, and then it would have a hard time downshifting. It shifts just like it did when it was stock again now... like **** But its even worse because the tires effectively made the gear ratio even higher.

Now that I have the travel trailer out for the summer, Im really not liking the gearing.

It still works. Dont get me wrong. Just not to my standards.

 

[olyelr]

I used to be able to tow my travel trailer (800o pounds) in 5th. Now its mainly 4th. If it does slip into fifth on a downhill slope, it will be right back down to 4th on a flat run again.

And yes. I tow nothing without using tow haul mode. Hell, I drive with no trailer sometimes with tow haul mode.

 

[olyelr]

When I'm on the highway I'm usually towing my trailer with a couple of UTVs on it. I use tow/haul mode, which doesn't let it go in high gear anyway. Perhaps that is part of why I think it works fine.

There is usually two of these on the trailer.

Your rig looks killer!

 

[3TV]

Part of the difference in our opinion's on gearing may be that the speed limit around here is 80 mph. And on the highway leading to where the above picture was taken there effectively is no speed limit. I can't remember the last time I drove 55 on an open highway.