Power Wagon vs 2500 Cummins

[DNKLYF]

Hey all,

Wanted to get opinions on the PW vs 2500 Cummins. I’m in the market for one of these vehicles to build an overland vehicle. No crazy rock crawling but some decent off roading /expeditions. My budget is about $70K which is the cost of a new PW or a lightly used Cummins. Outside of overlanding it will be used around town, hardware store runs, taking the wife and dog hiking etc. I’ll occasionally drive it to work which is about 60miles round trip.

I won’t be towing any crazy weights so either platform will do just fine. With either one I plan to upgrade to a Carli Pintop suspension, 35’s, bed/roof rack, sliders etc.

The benefits to the PW that I see are:
Better off-road capability from the factory
Factory winch
Can afford a brand new vehicle (never had a new car/truck)
Factory front & rear lockers, sway bar disconnect

Benefits of the Cummins:
More durible
Higher torque
Better MPG for longer expeditions & with increased payload
Better resale value

Seems the PW would be better off the lot, but the Cummins may offer longer term benefits. Any input would be much appreciated. Thank you!!

 

[Whiskey13]

I have owned two Cummins trucks and also two Power Wagons. Love them both for what their intended use is. I personally would go with the power wagon for overlanding just simply because of the weight of the Cummins in the front end.
The Cummins will give you better fuel range but in the middle of the night when that storm hits and you are out in the boonies the pawer wagon will get you back to the hard.

 

[thkbaron]

yup unless you really need the towing capabilities and the payload I'd stick with the power wagon.

 

[Grand Mesa]

Our 4th generation Cummins 4x4 and Power Wagon. Both on 35's. The go to truck for remote rural mountain living excluding heavy payloads and towing is the Power Wagon.

 

[Airmousam]

Like you said its new and the PW will give you a better ride too

 

[69GWC]

The bad to me and why I did not buy another Cummins is all the emissions crap, much higher cost, a transmission I don’t like and it just seems to cost more to own. But if you need a diesel it’s what you want to buy.

I am really liking my PW and very glad it’s the truck I picked over all the others I was looking at.

 

[Big_Papa_R]

I think it all depends on what you want to do with it. PW are sweet but if you wanting to put big bumpers on and and a bunch of cargo in the back your kinda limited. When I was looking i found a new basic bighorn Cummins was cheaper then pw. It left me with enough for a lift tires and led lighting.

 

[jerry clements]

I have my PW set up for overlanding and I'm happy. But it may have been more logical to do a cummins as the MPG hit is pretty big. On 37s, I occasionally see 12 MPG and often 10 or 11 MPG.

 

[man n black]

At the OP.
The Cummins would be trickier to mount a winch behind the bumper what with all the radiators and stuff behind the grill. MOST of the mods you would be doing would be the same as for Cummins vs. PW, though the disconnect-able sway bar is a nice factory addition to have. That being said, our Cummins on Thuren suspension gets us plenty far offroad on 37s very easily and we now use it very much as you have described since we sold the TT last year.

Ch

 

[TorqueWagon]

I have owned two Cummins trucks and also two Power Wagons. Love them both for what their intended use is. I personally would go with the power wagon for overlanding just simply because of the weight of the Cummins in the front end.
The Cummins will give you better fuel range but in the middle of the night when that storm hits and you are out in the boonies the pawer wagon will get you back to the hard.

I gotta agree with the fact that the diesel is just so heavy in the front it is not well suited for snow or mud off road.