Sled deck with two snowmobiles on a 2024 Power Wagon

[tron67j]

Just my 2 cents but I think with the sleds up that high it might be a little spooky pws don’t like a high centre of gravity at least mine doesn’t. The closer you get to max payload the scarier it gets. I’ve added about 500 lbs to my truck but it’s down low under the frame still counts as weight though. A leaf sprung 2500 would be better imho

This is an excellent statement of fact, your CoG will change and could be an issue combined with the off-road that could throw you around. If the paths are going to warrant the PW, that combined with the over weight of the vehicle with sleds, platform, people, gear, and payload is certainly more critical to your use despite the sarcasm. Bags, as mentioned, don't add PC but they can mask the true feeling of how the truck is reacting to off-road bumps and such and would seem to counter some of why one would buy a PW in the first place. I suggest considering a non-PW Ram 2500.

 

[joesstripclub]

The reason I want a PW is to get out to remote spots here in the Sierras in the summer with the camper and the fam. PW seems like it’d be great for that.

The sled deck is 7’ and would stick out a foot at most I think. And the snowmobiles are very front heavy and light in the rear, so most of the weight should be right on top of the rear tires. I’d be towing 1 snowmobile 90% of the time which would put the payload at 900lbs. 2 would be an exception. I put studded snow tires on in the winter. They manage the kind of snow and ice we get here really well. But it sounds I’ll still need to be careful with the top heaviness having 2 on.

Do airbags and cradles affect the PW’s offroad capabilities?

I'm wondering if you wouldn't be better off with a non-PW 2500 and adding some more aggressive tires and possibly lift if you needed it. Maybe a rebel package truck.

The point of the cradles is so they dont affect the offroad suspension flex, it will basically let the airbag float if needed. There is a thread in here with some pictures and reviews of guys who took theirs offroad.

 

[62Blazer]

Just a general comment that is not directed at any one person. If a non-Power Wagon truck would work, all that means is you may need to do some modifications to the PW to make it work just as well. It's not like the PW is some completely different design. Stiffen up the suspension some as that is basically the only thing different between a PW and regular 2500 in regards to payload capacity and how it handles weight in the bed. Yes, I understand the difference between a PW and 2500....that comment is ONLY talking about the payload capacity and had nothing to do with the lockers, swaybar disconnect, or winch.
I think airbags are a great addition to handle the weight and the direction I went. Not only do they stiffen up the rear suspension, they are also mounted outside of the factory springs. Just by geometry of them being spaced outwards they would help get rid of any side sway. In my case they made a big difference when towing a trailer. Didn't really have any issues with a medium size trailer but about 35 psi in the bags really makes it feel more stable. Of course on a bigger trailer they got rid of excessive squat also.

 

[olyelr]

Just a general comment that is not directed at any one person. If a non-Power Wagon truck would work, all that means is you may need to do some modifications to the PW to make it work just as well. It's not like the PW is some completely different design. Stiffen up the suspension some as that is basically the only thing different between a PW and regular 2500 in regards to payload capacity and how it handles weight in the bed. Yes, I understand the difference between a PW and 2500....that comment is ONLY talking about the payload capacity and had nothing to do with the lockers, swaybar disconnect, or winch.
I think airbags are a great addition to handle the weight and the direction I went. Not only do they stiffen up the rear suspension, they are also mounted outside of the factory springs. Just by geometry of them being spaced outwards they would help get rid of any side sway. In my case they made a big difference when towing a trailer. Didn't really have any issues with a medium size trailer but about 35 psi in the bags really makes it feel more stable. Of course on a bigger trailer they got rid of excessive squat also.

Completely agree. Also…could always just swap in normal 2500 rear coils with a small spacer if its such a big issue. But i think bags would be the end all fix on a power wagon.

 

[tahoelocal]

One thing to consider is how capable will the pw be being at close to payload (camper, you wife and kids plus food and water) it isn’t going to wheel into remote spots with all that weight as well as it would with just a couple passengers.

That’s a valid point. Not planning on doing any offroading with the sleds, but definitely with the camper. Wife, 3yo son, dog, some camping gear in the bed of the truck. The camper is 500lbs, with the fam I would imagine 350lbs in the cab and 800lbs max in the bed. Mid-size trucks and jeeps seem to do just fine for moderate trails with these campers, so I’m expecting the PW to perform just fine. Not planning on taking it on anything too gnarly lol, just trying to do weekend warrior trips to spots around the Sierras. The PW should be more capable off road than a non-PW 2500 with this setup and the ride smoother and more comfortable for the fam.

 

[62Blazer]

One thing to consider is how capable will the pw be being at close to payload (camper, you wife and kids plus food and water) it isn’t going to wheel into remote spots with all that weight as well as it would with just a couple passengers.

I understand that comment as you will loose some off-road capability with the weight and such, but it's all relevant to what you are comparing it to. Compared to a standard 2500 loaded the say way the PW will have much more capability and be able to go more places. Sure, you will not be able to go everyplace an unloaded PW does.

 

[tahoelocal]

After going back and forth with another forum member who has a 1500lb camper on his Power Wagon and emailing CJC about it, this seems to be the setup for maintaining offroad ability while increasing payload capacity:

Thuren Rear Track Bar
Thuren Power Wagon Front Coils
Carli R2 Rear Coils
Rear Thuren Fox Shocks for Power Wagon
Carli Rear Sway Bar Links

This setup also preserves a similar lift to what the Power Wagon has stock. The full Carli Pintop system will raise the lift by another 2" which is not good for offroading with heavy loads.

So this seems to be the sweet spot and the most viable way forward for the summer camper/sled deck in winter setup.

 

[18CrewDually]

By design the 2500 will be tipsy with sleds up on the deck. 2500s have inboard coil springs, and a PW are soft at that
A 3500 has outboard leaf springs that provide alot more stability and payload right out the gate.
All those parts you're going to throw at a 2500 is just a band-aid. I'd buy a nicely equipped 3500 and add to that to get the PW attributes, IF you feel you even need to after the first season.
Ask any 2500 owner with a slip in camper. There's been a bunch of guys on the forums complaining about the 2500 handling and end up spending a bunch of money on sway bars, airbags, springs, shocks, ect when they would of been way ahead of the game buying a 3500.

 

[Airmousam]

As mentioned I didn't notice anything tippy with a deck and 2 long track sleds on my buddies stock 18 PW...we take long trips to the Canadian border and split the driving, so I've had a ****load of wheel time...I wasn't railing corners or driving like an idiot but zero issues..Felt just fine to me. Its also very likely most of your driving might be without the deck or all loaded up and you'll have that sweet PW ride for the vast majority of your driving.. Try it stock, you can always add on to dial it if you need to..Best truck I've ever had

 

[62Blazer]

By design the 2500 will be tipsy with sleds up on the deck. 2500s have inboard coil springs, and a PW are soft at that
A 3500 has outboard leaf springs that provide alot more stability and payload right out the gate.
All those parts you're going to throw at a 2500 is just a band-aid. I'd buy a nicely equipped 3500 and add to that to get the PW attributes, IF you feel you even need to after the first season.
Ask any 2500 owner with a slip in camper. There's been a bunch of guys on the forums complaining about the 2500 handling and end up spending a bunch of money on sway bars, airbags, springs, shocks, ect when they would of been way ahead of the game buying a 3500.

So it's easier to "add PW attributes" to a 3500 versus swapping out some suspension components? The average home mechanic can swap out rear springs, shocks, and add airbags to a PW on a Saturday afternoon for just over $1,000 in parts (in my opinion the $400 airbags would do it). You are going to have $3,000-$4,000 just to add locking differentials front and rear, and very few home mechanics have the experience or tools to do this. Then add the cost of a winch and mount (over $1,000 even with a cheap winch), a little suspension lift, and not even sure what you would do about the disconnecting swaybar.
I agree that a stock 3500 would work "better" when simply considering hauling stuff down the road. But I don't agree that it would be cheaper or easier to upgrade a 3500 to the same level as a PW for off-road capability.

 

[18CrewDually]

So it's easier to "add PW attributes" to a 3500 versus swapping out some suspension components? The average home mechanic can swap out rear springs, shocks, and add airbags to a PW on a Saturday afternoon for just over $1,000 in parts (in my opinion the $400 airbags would do it). You are going to have $3,000-$4,000 just to add locking differentials front and rear, and very few home mechanics have the experience or tools to do this. Then add the cost of a winch and mount (over $1,000 even with a cheap winch), a little suspension lift, and not even sure what you would do about the disconnecting swaybar.
I agree that a stock 3500 would work "better" when simply considering hauling stuff down the road. But I don't agree that it would be cheaper or easier to upgrade a 3500 to the same level as a PW for off-road capability.

3500 most come with a rear locker already. Even my dually has it.
As for a winch, plenty of cheaper options.

It's up to the OP, Does he want a comfortable and safe non-whiteknuckle tow/haul experience or Does he want to be able to say he has a PW.? That's his decision. I know mine.

 

[62Blazer]

3500 most come with a rear locker already. Even my dually has it.
As for a winch, plenty of cheaper options.

It's up to the OP, Does he want a comfortable and safe non-whiteknuckle tow/haul experience or Does he want to be able to say he has a PW.? That's his decision. I know mine.

You can get a limited slip in the 3500's but not a locker. While the limited slip is a pretty good one, it's not the same as a full locker off-road. And $1,000 for winch and mounting is a cheap option. Even if you got a no-name Chinese winch and mount kit off Amazon you will have close to that much just in parts, plus if you need a shop to install it.
Not saying going the 3500 route is not an option. It just depends on what the priorities are....payload capacity or off-road capability. I think a 3500 with the factory limited slip rear, aftermarket front locker, and a winch would make a good truck. It would have decent off-road capability (at least good enough to take you where a truck with a camper or big load would need to go) and be able to pull heavy loads. But you are still talking about $3,000+ in modifications that the average person can't do in their garage. Of course that is not including the fact you would probably want to do some mods to the 3500 suspension, like a leveling kit and shocks to make the off-road ride tolerable. Where as on a PW just slap some 35's on it and go. I still think simply adding some airbags on a PW would be plenty for what the OP wants. We are not talking about any crazy weight or anything.

 

[18CrewDually]

You can get a limited slip in the 3500's but not a locker. While the limited slip is a pretty good one, it's not the same as a full locker off-road. And $1,000 for winch and mounting is a cheap option. Even if you got a no-name Chinese winch and mount kit off Amazon you will have close to that much just in parts, plus if you need a shop to install it.
Not saying going the 3500 route is not an option. It just depends on what the priorities are....payload capacity or off-road capability. I think a 3500 with the factory limited slip rear, aftermarket front locker, and a winch would make a good truck. It would have decent off-road capability (at least good enough to take you where a truck with a camper or big load would need to go) and be able to pull heavy loads. But you are still talking about $3,000+ in modifications that the average person can't do in their garage. Of course that is not including the fact you would probably want to do some mods to the 3500 suspension, like a leveling kit and shocks to make the off-road ride tolerable. Where as on a PW just slap some 35's on it and go. I still think simply adding some airbags on a PW would be plenty for what the OP wants. We are not talking about any crazy weight or anything.

And let's not forget a Laramie 3500 is over $7k msrp cheaper too. That's ALOT of mod money, IF it is even necessary.

 

[Airmousam]

You can get a limited slip in the 3500's but not a locker. While the limited slip is a pretty good one, it's not the same as a full locker off-road. And $1,000 for winch and mounting is a cheap option. Even if you got a no-name Chinese winch and mount kit off Amazon you will have close to that much just in parts, plus if you need a shop to install it.
Not saying going the 3500 route is not an option. It just depends on what the priorities are....payload capacity or off-road capability. I think a 3500 with the factory limited slip rear, aftermarket front locker, and a winch would make a good truck. It would have decent off-road capability (at least good enough to take you where a truck with a camper or big load would need to go) and be able to pull heavy loads. But you are still talking about $3,000+ in modifications that the average person can't do in their garage. Of course that is not including the fact you would probably want to do some mods to the 3500 suspension, like a leveling kit and shocks to make the off-road ride tolerable. Where as on a PW just slap some 35's on it and go. I still think simply adding some airbags on a PW would be plenty for what the OP wants. We are not talking about any crazy weight or anything.

This post is spot on...OP is not doing anything crazy weight wise, and not sure if the truck is his daily drive...If it is, I don't want roll a 3500 daily..Also I sure as **** don't want a 1000$ Chinese winch on my truck, but thats just me

 

[62Blazer]

And let's not forget a Laramie 3500 is over $7k msrp cheaper too. That's ALOT of mod money, IF it is even necessary.

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According to the Ram.com website, the 3500 Laramie posted above is for a 2wd version. If you want 4wd it starts at $74k.
https://www.ramtrucks.com/bmo.ram_3...Page=ram_3500&year=2024#/models/2024/ram_3500
You do have a valid point, but sounds like you would need to start with a Bighorn model if you wanted to start with a cheaper truck.

 

[soapy]

From my experience when you add a lot of weight in the bed of the PW you can really start to notice a little WAGGLE in the back due to the stock track bar not being in true alignment with the rear axle. I added a Thuren rear track bar to eliminate the waggle you get when going over uneven surfaces and it cured the problem.

 

[18CrewDually]

Also I sure as **** don't want a 1000$ Chinese winch on my truck, but thats just me

I got news for you. The Warn VR winch is entirely made in China and the Zeon (PW winch) is assembled with Chinese parts. The machined case is all that is done in the USA. Everything else is from overseas.
So now what winch are you going to use?

 

[Airmousam]

I got news for you. The Warn VR winch is entirely made in China and the Zeon (PW winch) is assembled with Chinese parts. The machined case is all that is done in the USA. Everything else is from overseas.
So now what winch are you going to use?

I'm fully aware, so not news to me.. I've seen enough **** winches in that price range and I'm taking my Warn every time..

 

[4xdad]

The warn winchs on the pw have a flaw in that the bottom of the solenoid box is open and it gets road grime in it and rots off the terminals I bought a remote wireless controller kit and made new cables for mine. It says in the owner manual that the pw is not meant for a slide in camper so I would definitely recommend some sort of suspension mod like air bags

 

[Airmousam]

The warn winchs on the pw have a flaw in that the bottom of the solenoid box is open and it gets road grime in it and rots off the terminals I bought a remote wireless controller kit and made new cables for mine. It says in the owner manual that the pw is not meant for a slide in camper so I would definitely recommend some sort of suspension mod like air bags

Interesting, thanks...I'll check mine..I just cycled mine in and out last week..prob a couple months late on that..When does this rot start to show itself?