Looking for opinions-no right or wrong here!

[MJawsman]

Ok guys and gals, here is my dilemma:



Employee pricing and cash back have made me look at trading in my 2001 HO 6 speed for either a 3500 Quad Cab SRW Cummins/NV5600 or a Power Wagon. Two totally different trucks I know, but I think I'd be happy with either. I have owned 4 Cummins trucks (93, 95, 97, 01) logged over 500,000 miles and had no issues along the way. So on one hand getting a Cummins is practically a no brainer. Then Dodge decides to build my dream truck-the Power Wagon. I've been an off-road nut since I was 13 (I'm almost 41 now), and my inner child is telling me to follow that dream. I don't tow enough weight to warrant the Diesel, and with the cost of fuel increasing (Diesel is usually 20-30 cents more money/gal), the fuel economy of the diesel becomes a push vs. gas. As for the longer life of a Diesel, 5 years ago I said I would never trade my HO. So either truck will last 5 years (I hope!).



So I put it to a group of people I respect and trust. I've been with the TDR since 95, and I value your opinions and input.



Thanks in advance!

 

[RAMINSPEED]

What do you really want to do with the new truck. Jack it up? Wheel it? Go fast on the dirt?. Its a no brainer. I'd go with the power wagon for real wheeling granted its a little on the large side IMO. Or you can build up a cummins and not have quite the off road capabilities.

 

[JCrockett]

If four wheeling is your passion then go with the Power Wagon. I have read nothing but great reviews about it. It is supposed to be an off roading machine. I really like that truck too. Would like to have on of those too, but can't afford it. I am having to much fun bombing my CTD . I think the KORE system would make that Pwer Wagon even better, they have a special package for it and I don't think it is that expensive... . realativly speaking.

Go with your "inner child" Oo.





Just my . 02

 

[RAMINSPEED]

option: Keep the old truck and buy some POS and fix it up to wheel.

 

[MJawsman]

Well no matter how much any of us like to THINK we go off road, most of our trucks are just daily drivers. No offense to those full-time RVers, trailer pullers or dedicated off-road warriors.



I would say that between going off road and pulling my boat, the amount of time spent NOT just driving around for work or pleasure is about equal.



Two vehicles-one for driving and one for wheeling won't work in my present living situation. No room. I really need one "jack of all trades" truck.



I also forgot to mention that the cost of the two trucks I am looking at is the same within a few hundred bucks. So money is not an issue. If I were paying sticker, I would not be looking at the Power wagon.



Thanks for the replies-keep them coming!

 

[fkovalski]

extreme option: Get the Power Wagen, buy a complete HPCR Cummins and install in place of the Hemi. Sell the Hemi to offset some of the cost.

 

[JOblenes]

Well no matter how much any of us like to THINK we go off road, most of our trucks are just daily drivers. No offense to those full-time RVers, trailer pullers or dedicated off-road warriors.



I would say that between going off road and pulling my boat, the amount of time spent NOT just driving around for work or pleasure is about equal.



Two vehicles-one for driving and one for wheeling won't work in my present living situation. No room. I really need one "jack of all trades" truck.



I also forgot to mention that the cost of the two trucks I am looking at is the same within a few hundred bucks. So money is not an issue. If I were paying sticker, I would not be looking at the Power wagon.



Thanks for the replies-keep them coming!

Yup, I struggled with this one as well. I would not say I am a hardcore offroader. But I do my fair share of wheeling, more importantly I spend about 5 months a year in the woods hunting. Not road hunting, but back deep in the bush, hauling bear bait into swamps, etc. In the end I decided to go the diesel route for the additional towing capacity that I think it offers (not from a legal perspective but from a practical perspective). I know the thing is a beast but my buddies are always surprised at where you can actually go in these big trucks if you want to, and the low end torque, what more could you ask for. It is also not like the Power wagon is any smaller, only lighter. And besides look what happened to my last gasser, it wouldn't even stay on its feet. We took the photo of the girlfirend with her "trophy ram", pretty poor arrow penetration though. The route I chose was to customize the truck myself, hydraulic winches, big tires. I will do a mild lift and get the rock rails in the near future and do a manual disconnect sway bar down the road. And if you like to tinker (like me) then the Power Wagon doens't have much to offer as it is already fully built, what fun is that? But seriously, I don't think you can go wrong either way, and it it nice to have all of that offroad gear and a warranty on the Power Wagon, now you are maknig me second guess myself LOL.

 

[JL penner]

Go with the truck the fits your needs the most. From what it sounds like, the Power Wagon is your truck. Good luck with your decision

 

[67guzzler]

You answered your own question when you said, "I've been an off-road nut since I was 13 (I'm almost 41 now), and my inner child is telling me to follow that dream. "



Power Wagon. Life is about dreams.

 

[Hercules130]

i would wait for them to put the 6. 1 hemi in the power wagon.

 

[2broke2smoke]

cummins ...



buy a couple of lockers and a winch

 

[Red360]

Resale

Don't forget that a diesel truck will carry a higher re-sale than a gasser, unless the bottom falls out of the oil market.

 

[JVolpe]

I use to do a lot of off roading. Had a lot of GM heavy duty 4x4 gasser trucks built the way I wanted. I test drove the Power Wagon just to see if it was that much better than the 2003 QC 4x4 Hemi I had. It is. I wanted to find a trail and see what it would really do off road. I am happy with my 2500 4x4 Cummins, but if the Power Wagon would have been out in 2003 I would probably be driving one now.

 

[67guzzler]

Kore Performance went ga-ga over the Power Wagon. http://koreperformance.com/power_wagon.htm

 

[JCleary]

I LOVE my Cummins, but if I had the choice today, especially with the price of Diesel, I'd be driving a Power Wagon. That is one bad to the bone truck. Nothing else even compares, unless you spend 10 grand outfitting another stock truck.

 

[Grizzly]

Ok guys and gals, here is my dilemma:



Then Dodge decides to build my dream truck-the Power Wagon. I've been an off-road nut since I was 13 (I'm almost 41 now), and my inner child is telling me to follow that dream.





Follow your dream, get the Power Wagon. Me, I'll take the Cummins DRW any day, but that's my dream.

 

[MJawsman]

Dreams are sometimes not very practical. I have been extremely happy with my 4 Cummins trucks, and part of me says not to change a good thing. And with my luck I'll probably end up wishing I had done the opposite of whatever I do!

 

[swexlin]

If you want the PW, I too would wait... Dodge is almost certainly sure to offer the 6. 1 in that, giving that beast some much needed torque.

 

[MJawsman]

If you want the PW, I too would wait... Dodge is almost certainly sure to offer the 6. 1 in that, giving that beast some much needed torque.

I agree that the 6. 1 would be a great value. But "employee price" and cash back right now saves me $10,000 off list. Even at 1/2 of that, is the torque gain worth it?

 

[rbattelle]

I LOVE my Cummins, but if I had the choice today, especially with the price of Diesel,

You guys do realize the Power Wagon likely gets significantly worse fuel economy than the Cummins? It's lucky to get 14. Doesn't diesel now run about the same price as regular unleaded?



-Ryan