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

E,
Depends on if you are buying a new or used 4x4. If buying used, I looked for about 8 months and found a low mileage mint Power Wagon at a reasonable cost, with warranty coverage till 2013.
If you are slightly interested in a PW, you should search one out in your area and take it for a test drive. I would only buy a '06 to '09 year, the '05s do not have the tow/haul button, a feature I really like. I do not care for the 2010 and 2011 PW looks, but to each his own.

No problem. ProCharger kits are available for every PW if your wallet can digest it. Challenger kits are available for up to and beyond 700 HP.

I have a Raptor and it won't do what a Power Wagon will do, particularly in the hauling department, BUT, a Power Wagon won't do what a Raptor will do for higher speed offroad work either. I'd like to have one of each!

I have a 2009 1500 4x4 automatic 5 speed with a 5.7 hemi. The gas mileage is as claimed. Cal74 was not impressed with the power under load. He must be a hard man to impress, or "that" truck had issues. I regularly haul 2 atvs, sometimes 3. And several times a year, fire wood. and there is power to spare. My thought is if Dodge put the same consideration to the P.W. as they did the 1500 {5.7 hemi} it would be an outstanding truck! Do your homework and buy the truck for "your" needs and budget. Good luck!

It looks to me like the Raptor is set up along the lines of a desert race truck with the special shocks etc. I imagine it is a lot lighter than the Power Wagon.

I imagine a Power Wagon with the right lift kit might come close to a Raptor in a high speed situation. There are outfits in California that sell lift kits for the Dodge diesels that are geared for dune jumping etc. Expensive, rear spring packs with more and thinner leafs that reduce load capacity some but help ride and handling substantially, and the longer shocks.

It's nice to see ther Raptor out as a crew cab this year, but now the only engine choice is the 6.2, which I imagine has quite an appetite. Seems like the EcoBoost engine would be a good candidate for the Raptor.

A Powerwagon with a supercharger sounds interesting. Superchargers usually provide power down low, which is what the Hemi lacks. I wonder how fuel mileage is affected by putting bigger tires on the Powerwagon, as low as the gears are 35s might actuallly help mileage.

Ford lists the weight of a king cab Raptor at 6000 lbs. The Dodge PW is listed between 6400-6700 lbs.
The Raptor has alot more than shocks to make it work and hold up. The track is 7 inches wider, the whole front end is modified and beefed up, and the wheel travel is greatly increased. The rear locking axle stays locked at speed, etc.
While this is all good, there is no way I'd consider driving any where in the desert that way. Even if I drove the route before hand. All it takes is one bad call, or one bad rock, and you are rolling over or you have broken something. In a wide open wash, or a well groomed desert road, fine. I've done a fair amount of that in my current 4 cyl. Jeep.
I don't think I'll buy a Raptor just yet. I want to see how they hold up in the hands of John Q public.
But, I must admit, they sure look interesting.
OK, the truth might be that I might be tempted...... E

That's the problem with the Hemi. No low end grunt.

That's what the 4.56 diff ratios and the auto trans are for. E

Going on two years.... no probs.

How much high speed off roadfing have you done with it ? E

A fair amount. You think it's just GOT to come apart but it just eats it all up. You have to adjust your limits a bit. Whoops, bumps and dips that make you pucker just get turned into no big deal. Terrain that would dismantle most other trucks is downright enjoyable. I blitzed out to towards Knik Glacier one day faster than I could believe. Just keep driving faster and faster and when you finally start banging off of the stops (way way higher speeds than you'd believe), back off a little and keep on going.

The truck sits low and wide too. On sidehills and high speed offroad work it inspires confidence. With a lot of trucks, to fit 35s in it, it's sky high. Not so with the Raptor. It was built with them in mind.

Another great feature is that you can engage the locker in 2wd high and turn ALL of the nannies off. This enables you to completely steer with the throttle. You can kick the rear end out and do high speed drifts as if you'd been schooled for it.

I haven't seen evidence of the bed hitting the cab. I was kind of worried about that after my first trip off road.

But, like I said, I sure wish that I had a Power Wagon too.

I've taken a few friends out with me and not kidding, their response is the same. They're completely white knuckling the grab bar, grinning ear to ear, and giggling like a ten year old on a roller coaster ride.

I did think that I'd wadded it up once. I had it in a high speed drift about 50-60mph and launched it sideways over one of those berms that the motoxers cut into the flats at Jim Creek. We really thought it was over for the truck. It just sucked it up and drove out of it. Amazing.

I do have the 5.4. It will shift up and bog. The 6.2 will not do this. But, if I play the throttle right, I can avoid the upshift that seems to irk most guys off road.

I've had a tranny problem. There was stuff in the valving that they cleaned out. I kind of thought that that would lead to more problems because we all know that's not supposed to happen unless there's some sort of malfeasance going on in there but after they flushed the tranny, it's been great.

One thing, the truck is wide. Most trails have their way with the paint. I've got nice pinstriping now. Dang it.

I think if they made a micro Raptor out of the Ranger with the new Ecoboost engine in it, with a front locker, they'd sell like Obama stickers did to Subaru owners in 2008!

Very interesting. That extra wide is great for extra upright stability, but it makes for problems in tight places. The ability to hold up at speed means she's built extra tough for ordinary use. Another plus.
Did you see where Dodge is offering the parts to make an even "better/badder" off road racer out of a Dodge 1500 ? For a mere $20,000, you can have an even "better" designed and built Dodge 1500. Or you can pick and choose jusr which parts appeal to you. Looks like the race is on !
Thanks for sharing. E

Where I work, we have quite a few power wagons and man alive, do we use them. One thing I like about them, is you have to BURY them to get them stuck.

One thing I DONT like, is the suspension seems awfully soft. Take a turn quick, or hit a bump that is on one side of the truck and the entire cab/truck seems to sway back and forth dramitically. I dont care for that.

That an odd comment. They are just as load capable as the other Dodge 2500's. I drive an '06, 2500 which is not like that at all.
Are the Power Wagons were you work the recent models, like the 09-11 versions or are they the older versions ? E

From 2009 to 2011.

Interesting. Thanks. E

Hey guys am considering selling my 2007 Power wagon. Has 60,000 miles, g56 6-speed, and a ton of extras. It will be listed in the classifieds soon and will also be listed on Denver Craigslist. Pm if you or anyone are interested. Hate to sell the truck but i cannot afford it at this time.

The power wagon standard cab/manual makes a great snow plow rig. Wish i had one. In 07 when i was looking to buy a new truck. I looked for a power wagon standard cab. I would have to special order it with months of wait time. $38,500 was the price. On the lot in town where 2 standard cab diesel trucks. 6speed and auto. I wrote the check for the auto trans diesel slt for $34,000 put a warn winch reciever hitch/gaurd on the front for $950 and it has been a great truck. The diesel has locking rear limited slip front. gets better milage off road in low range than the power wagon gets on the highway. Its only real faults are ground clearance and weight. 19mpg on the highway is nice also. Still wish a had a powerwagon standard cab for work/snow plow

What did it cost you to have the locking rear and limited slip front diffs installed ? E

The 07 dodge diesel 4x4 comes with locking rear/limited slip front. The power wagon comes with optional air lockers front and rear 456 gears.

That's news to me. I have an 06, basically the same as the 07's made before the end of the year. Torsen limited slip on rear and nothing available fromt he factory for the front. I have not read anything or found anything on Dodge's website about this option being available on the current diesels. There are aftermarket lockers available for the front axles.

I've got an '06 diesel as well. No lockers from the factory that I know of and no limited slips are/were offered for the front.
The electronic lockers for the Power Wagon are standard equipment for that model and only offered with that model. E

Locking rear is standard on the 07 diesel, Front on mine is limited slip, I assumed it was standard since this truck was not a special order. But the truck also came without needing the front leveling kit, it has always been high in the front. It is marked SLT Heavy duty 2500 Has the 5.9 325hp 600ftlb torque cummins. It also has no rear stabilizer which i thought was a standard part.

I have an early '07 2500 Cummins (5.9) and it doesn't have a rear locker. At least not that I know of??

Want to bet on it?

If I am not mistaken there were no aftermarket lockers for the front axle until a few years ago. I am not aware of limited slip being a viable option for front axles.

I have had a Ford Bronco (old style) and a Jeep with factory limited slip front axles. I have also had a CJ 5 with an aftermarket limited slip front axle. If you mean they aren't available, probably not. If you mean they are not feasible, you're mistaken.

I was mistaken. I am all but certain that limited slips were not available for the front differential on 2007 Dodge. I still do not know of any aftermarket limited slips that area available. I was under the impression that limited slip on a front differential could lead to drivablity problems on paved roads.

Limited slip on the front is not nice on dry pavement. My 1985 dodge w350 4x4 also has limited slip front dana 60 but it has an open rear dana 70. Makes a great snow plow rig chained up

My '05 has tow/haul??