Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives Anybody running one of the new Dodge Power Wagons ?

They look very interesting. Electronic locking front and rear axles, etc.
What do you find with or think about them ? E

I find/think that they are very expensive.

I bought one about a year ago, flew down to southern CA to pick it up, it a '06, fully loaded. Best truck I have had. I was looking for a heavy duty work/hunting truck. Sticker price was 48k, got it for less than half that. I like the tow/haul mode for the mountains or when towing. Do you have any specific questions? I may be able to help. There is a power wagon section on Dodgetalk. Alot of good information there. I do not think there is a better well equipped truck on the market right now other than the power wagon. Truck selection also depends what you are going to use it for. My greatest off road challenge is deep snow.

Thanks Abilene. I'll have to check out Dodgetalk. E

I'm sorry, but the Dodges just keep getting uglier. A guy at work just bought a brand new 2011. Not a very appealing vehicle inside, or out. Locking front and rear diffs might take a little ugly out though. mtmuley

What kind of mileage do you get? I have a buddy that gets 12mpg with his

12 to 14 mpg is about right. It is a heavy truck with the skid plates, steel bars and winch.

I wish they had made one with a cummins

Me too. 2 reasons they didn't were:
No place for the winch and they were breaking halfshafts with diff locks engaged with the torque of the Cummins.

Hmmm. So it works, and holds up better, with the Hemi and an automatic. That makes sense. Less of a sudden torgue inmpact on the system.
It also seems to indicate one should be careful when and how one uses an electronically locked axle. Right ? E

I have seen articles on two Power Wagons with Cummins stuffed in them. One was done by a private party, one by Dodge/Ram. The effort of the private party actually looked to be better done, and the owner was happy with the end result. I guess there is s reason why Dodge went to bigger differentials for the diesels than the ones used on the Power Wagon, as the smaller ones were used on the diesels in the past. I am sure there are ways that you could overcome the torque impact electronically, although common sense and a light foot would no doubt help. I plan to add a front locker to mine in a year or so to help out off road. I think a big issue with any diesel pickup offroad is the extra weight of the engine.

Power Wagons have very low axle ratios and should be able to handle 35" tires with no modifiactions to the suspension and 37"s with a 2" lift puck on top of the springs in the front.

I would have to look at the new Ford Raptor as well, it really seems to be set up for off road right out of the box.

I've seen a few of those Raptors and they look like they need a lift kit. Their suspension doesn't seem to be any higher than a regular stock Ford pickup.

I own a 2007 Dodge Power Wagon! unbelieveable truck. this thing will do some amazing things with both axles locked and the torsion bar disconnected. I have had no problems with mine. It has the g56 6 speed manual transmission which will actually make my crawl ratio nearly twice as low as the automatic. I have done nearly every bolt on possible to the hemi and am not overly impressed with the motor. Fun truck to drive and it is noticeable. If you have ny questions hit me up.

I hear tell that the Dodge trucks, espeically the Hemi's are getting very good gas mileage. 24 mpg on the highway and 16, 17 around town unloaded. It has to do with the cylingers not firing all the time when going down the road.

Thanks for your comments. I believe you. There are several short videos showing the PW in action under various conditions. Very impressive performance. They do show off the advantages of a big, well designed 4WD truck under certain conditions. E

Yes, they do. I was very surprised to learn that even with the Power Wagon's 4.56 gears, it still gets 12-13 mpg. overall. Apparetnly the auto trans has two overdrive gears as well.
The engine also features two spark plugs, that fire at different times, per clynder. E

Under 55-60 on a flat grade they'll get low 20's, have a couple friends and my neighbor who has them.

Agree with the power, or lack there of though. Empty fine, but I drove one last year over this coming Holiday hauling three four-wheelers. Wasn't real impressed.


ps: No comment on the Power Wagon, just the Hemi

I wonder if there are any aftermarket parts for the new Dodge Challengers that would wake up the Hemi in the Powerwagon? I think they make a supercharger kit for the Challenger.

With 4.56 differentials, I'm not sure one would need "waking up." E

Of the videoed tests I've seen, the Ford Raptor is designed as a high speed, desert runner. To compete with the Toyota Tacomas I suspect. At $43,000 base vs. a Tacoma 4dr, TRD at $32,000, they'd better be a whole lot better.
The Dodge Power Wagon is designed to operate at low speeds, much like the Jeep Rubicon.
It appears to do this surprisingly well. While it's ground clearance is about 2 inches less, and it's angles of attack and departure are less, it's breakover angle is just as good. And that's the one that counts where I go.
The Rubicon is alot shorter, but not much narrower. Again, that, being narrow, counts more than shorter in some places. In others, it help to fit in the wheel ruts of the other 4WD trucks.
The longer, heavier Dodge can handle certain places better simply because it can reach across the bad spots. And it's extra weight can help it dig down into the soil to get a better bite for it's tires.
Then, of course, the Rubicon, even with some of the better extras lists for about $32,000 vs. $45,000 for the Dodge. E