62Blazer
Senior Member
Since I constantly see posts asking how a Power Wagon tows here are some real-world experiences if people are searching for information about it.
2016 Power Wagon, 1.5" Thuren front springs w/ Fox 2.0 shocks, 1" rear coil spacers and stock shocks, Airlifter 5000 air bags, 37x13.50R17 Ridge Grapplers on 17x9 wheels. So yes, a lifted PW on 37's....... Previous truck for comparison was a Chevy 2500HD crew cab shortbed with the gas 6.0L, auto, 4.10 rear axle, stock suspension with slightly larger tires (33's, basically the same size as stock PW).
Trailer 1 - small 6x12 single axle pulling a SxS so total weight is maybe 3,000 lbs. Obviously not an issue in general. Was surprised the first time on the freeway at 70+mph you could feel just a tiny bit of sway. Looked out the mirror and could see some minor trailer sway...nothing major, but you could feel it in the truck. Pulled the SxS as far forward as possible (maybe another 8") and it was fine and never noticed this with the Chevy even with less tongue weight. Again, not big deal but just the fact it was noticed. I've pulled this load for thousands of miles on the freeway.
Trailer 2 - 28' enclosed trailer, 9,900 lb. GVW and is around 4,500 lb. empty. Fully loaded would estimate around 7,000 lb. with 1,000 lb. tongue load (have a hitch with scales on it). 30 lbs. in the air bags and rear tires at 45 PSI (when empty run 38 PSI) it tows perfect. 65-70 mph on the freeway, even with 20 mph gust crosswinds, were cruise control and one hand on the steering wheel. With no air in the bags it has a decent amount of squat, but not too much squat. With 30 lbs. in the bags the rear suspension feels really planted and solid with no bouncing on expansion joints, but doesn't feel harsh. Did not have WD hooked up.
Trailer 3 - 26' enclosed trailer, 7,000 lb. GVW and around 4,000 lb. empty. Probably only 6,000 lb. but improperly loaded with too much tongue weight. Hitch scales said 1,300 lbs. Caused excessive squat. While I didn't notice it, there were witness marks where the rear bump stops had just touched the axle pads. Keep in mind I have 1" spacers so the bump stops are 1" further away from the pads versus stock. I would not drive this down the freeway as-is but the 2 mile trip was fine. Don't have a built-in air compressor for the bags so they were not inflated at all. This picture makes is look worse than it really was because of the angle, but it was too much squat.
Overall on tongue weight:
The PW can handle around 800 lbs. on stock springs with what I would consider normal and reasonable squat.
1,000 lbs. of tongue weight is "okay" and not excessive squat, but the PW really could use a little assistance. 30 PSI in air bags (rated up to 100 PSI) was good.
1,300 lbs. of tongue weight is just too much for the factory suspension. While it didn't feel bad or anything towing a short distance and slower speeds, and would probably be fine on the freeway, it's really too much. You should have either air bags and/or WD hitch
2016 Power Wagon, 1.5" Thuren front springs w/ Fox 2.0 shocks, 1" rear coil spacers and stock shocks, Airlifter 5000 air bags, 37x13.50R17 Ridge Grapplers on 17x9 wheels. So yes, a lifted PW on 37's....... Previous truck for comparison was a Chevy 2500HD crew cab shortbed with the gas 6.0L, auto, 4.10 rear axle, stock suspension with slightly larger tires (33's, basically the same size as stock PW).
Trailer 1 - small 6x12 single axle pulling a SxS so total weight is maybe 3,000 lbs. Obviously not an issue in general. Was surprised the first time on the freeway at 70+mph you could feel just a tiny bit of sway. Looked out the mirror and could see some minor trailer sway...nothing major, but you could feel it in the truck. Pulled the SxS as far forward as possible (maybe another 8") and it was fine and never noticed this with the Chevy even with less tongue weight. Again, not big deal but just the fact it was noticed. I've pulled this load for thousands of miles on the freeway.
Trailer 2 - 28' enclosed trailer, 9,900 lb. GVW and is around 4,500 lb. empty. Fully loaded would estimate around 7,000 lb. with 1,000 lb. tongue load (have a hitch with scales on it). 30 lbs. in the air bags and rear tires at 45 PSI (when empty run 38 PSI) it tows perfect. 65-70 mph on the freeway, even with 20 mph gust crosswinds, were cruise control and one hand on the steering wheel. With no air in the bags it has a decent amount of squat, but not too much squat. With 30 lbs. in the bags the rear suspension feels really planted and solid with no bouncing on expansion joints, but doesn't feel harsh. Did not have WD hooked up.
Trailer 3 - 26' enclosed trailer, 7,000 lb. GVW and around 4,000 lb. empty. Probably only 6,000 lb. but improperly loaded with too much tongue weight. Hitch scales said 1,300 lbs. Caused excessive squat. While I didn't notice it, there were witness marks where the rear bump stops had just touched the axle pads. Keep in mind I have 1" spacers so the bump stops are 1" further away from the pads versus stock. I would not drive this down the freeway as-is but the 2 mile trip was fine. Don't have a built-in air compressor for the bags so they were not inflated at all. This picture makes is look worse than it really was because of the angle, but it was too much squat.
Overall on tongue weight:
The PW can handle around 800 lbs. on stock springs with what I would consider normal and reasonable squat.
1,000 lbs. of tongue weight is "okay" and not excessive squat, but the PW really could use a little assistance. 30 PSI in air bags (rated up to 100 PSI) was good.
1,300 lbs. of tongue weight is just too much for the factory suspension. While it didn't feel bad or anything towing a short distance and slower speeds, and would probably be fine on the freeway, it's really too much. You should have either air bags and/or WD hitch
