Late model Ram Power Wagon owners here?

[Martinjmpr]

Wondering if there are any owners of late-model (say 2012 or newer) Dodge/Ram Power Wagons here? If so, how are they holding up?

I'm casually shopping around for an eventual replacement for my 04 Suburban which is approaching 200k miles. I know I'm going to have to replace it sooner rather than later and I want to have my research done.

Up to this point I had confined myself to researching 1/2 ton pickups but was pleasantly surprised to find some use Power Wagons in my price range. I have to say the package is attractive to me: Sway bar disconnects, locking differentials, solid front axle and a by-god manual transfer case shift lever. For pulling our 3500lb travel trailer it would certainly be overkill but I'd rather go too big than too small.

MPG is a concern but not a huge one - in trailer-pulling or around-town driving my half ton Suburban barely breaks 12mpg, and I can't imagine a modern truck being any worse than that - or am I kidding myself? I'd definitely want the 5 .7 rather than the 6.4 engine, if I could get it that way.

More important than MPG is reliability and longevity. I figure if I'm going to spend $31k+ on a truck I want it to last at least 10 years so I'm looking for something that's not going to have a lot of nickel-and-dime problems creep up, that's why I'm seeking out real-world ownership experience.

[ray1970]

Sort of related.

My Dad has always had Dodge trucks. He had a 2006. When I was shopping for a used truck about four years ago I found the Dodges were usually the cheapest and found a clean 2010 with reasonable mileage in my price range. I called my dad to ask him about his ‘06. He had about 260,000 miles on it at the time and I asked him what all he had had to do with it over the years as far as parts or repairs. He hadn’t done anything other than regular maintenance stuff. I said “no alternator, no transmission, no fuel pump, or anything?” Nope. Nothing.

Needless to say I went back and bought the one I had my eye on.

Mine is a half ton crew cab and I’ve been more than pleased with it. Around town I typically get about 17mpg. I’ve taken it to Houston and back a couple of times and it usually gets 19mpg. Towed a trailer with three ATVs and some camping gear that probably weighed about 4,700 lbs to Grand Junction and back and had no issues going the speed limit. My gas mileage really went to crap in that trip though. I think it might have been down around 10mpg. That’s with my half ton though. Fortunately I seldom tow anything.

Oh, and mine has the 5.7 engine and automatic transmission. Not sure how the power wagon compares.

Also, my Dodge is likely the smoothest riding and quietest full size truck I’ve ever driven.

[fly boy]

I have a 2006 Megacab with the 5.9 diesel and 6-speed manual. At 73,000 miles, no issues, just oil changes and fuel filter changes. I get about 17-21 depending on how I'm driving, and that's with 4.10 gears.

I heard the newer dodges are not to bad. It's a good looking truck, and as long as you don't care about power, rolling coal, or much modification, they will do just fine. If you go Diesel and plan to tow, don't let someone tell you that you HAVE TO HAVE 4.10 gears. I wished I had 3.73 and it would still tow just fine.

[ben4372]

Same as Ray. Bought my 2009 because for the mileage it was way less money than a Ford. Only non maintenance item I've had was cracked exhaust manifold stud. And like Ray, smoothest truck I've ever driven. Had it 6 years now. I'd buy a Powerwagon in a second. I don't need the diesel yet. But I like the solid axles and the special suspension the Powerwagons get. Special control arms I think.

A friend found a Ram 1500 Mega cab. Funny thing is it was a 5.7 with 8 lugs and lighter capacity springs. Apparently the Megacab 1500 is cheap. And a bit confusing as most would assume it is a 2500 or bigger.

[buffalobo]

Mrs bo researched, looked at and drove several Power Wagons before finally picking up a 2007 Ram 2500 last summer. She really wanted the Power Wagon but got frustrated when she couldn't find any in pristine condition.

We have owned 2 Dodge trucks and 2 Dodge Durango's since 2003, all bought used and 2 sold/traded with 230,000+ miles. Repairs beyond regular maintenance have been minimal and usually self inflicted.

I drove a company truck(14 Ram 1500) from new to 130,000 miles in 34 months, $0 repairs beyond regular maintenance.

I am a Ford guy but will spend my money on a Dodge if good deal.

7.3 Powerstroke still rules the garage here.

[Martinjmpr]

Glad to get the feedback on the PW and the other Dodge/Ram trucks.

After giving it some more thought, though, I don't think the PW would be right for me. Don't get me wrong, I think it's an awesome concept but for my needs (pulling a medium trailer and mild off-roading) it would be like swatting a fly with a sledghammer.

Yes, I love the solid axles and the by-god-shift lever for 4wd (I don't like "pushbutton" 4wd controls but I also have to grudgingly admit that the three vehicles we've owned with pushbutton 4wd have worked just fine.) But if I'm being honest with myself, a half ton truck would suit my needs and a 3/4 would be serious overkill.

And I don't mind overkill - except when it comes with a 33% fuel economy penalty, which I'm afraid it would (I'd love to be wrong about that but I don't think I am.) The modern half-ton trucks with multi-speed transmissions and engine management systems are returning some great MPG numbers and while gas is (relatively) cheap now, I know it won't always be.

Of course, the other dilemma for me is: Do I want to buy a new(er) truck at all? My '04 Suburban is still running strong but at 170k I sometimes feel like it's on borrowed time, and those newer vehicles sure are nice.

But on the flip side, I haven't had a car payment for many years and the prospect of car payments as well as a jump in insurance and huge registration costs makes me think I should keep driving my old hoopty until it falls apart.

Decisions, decisions....

[SouthPaw]

I manage a fleet for an energy company and historically, RAM/Dodge have always been the cheapest cost per mile over the life of 100K. This includes all maintenance (excluding brakes/tires) and initial purchase price. GM was the most expensive and Ford fell right in the middle. I used to think Dodge made shit box trucks but I am plenty happy with '13 RAM 2500 Mega Cab 6.7.

[ray1970]

I manage a fleet for an energy company and historically, RAM/Dodge have always been the cheapest cost per mile over the life of 100K. This includes all maintenance (excluding brakes/tires) and initial purchase price. GM was the most expensive and Ford fell right in the middle. I used to think Dodge made shit box trucks but I am plenty happy with '13 RAM 2500 Mega Cab 6.7.

I work for an energy company and my company must have had a different experience. We quit getting Dodge trucks about seven or eight years ago because they claimed maintenance and repair costs on the Dodges were too high compared to the Fords and Chevys. At least that’s what we were told.

I’ve been perfectly happy with my personal truck.

[SouthPaw]

I work for an energy company and my company must have had a different experience. We quit getting Dodge trucks about seven or eight years ago because they claimed maintenance and repair costs on the Dodges were too high compared to the Fords and Chevys. At least that’s what we were told.

I’ve been perfectly happy with my personal truck.

We use Enterprise fleet management and they have statistics from all of their customers they compile from and that is what they showed us. Purchasing new trucks, Dodge is the cheapest out of the gate, while GM barely bats an eye at fleet pricing. Ford comes in close but Dodge is always cheaper.

[Martinjmpr]

I haven't driven a ChryCo product in years (well, the wife's 1995 YJ but that's probably not a fair comparison....)

Though I think it's true that it's tough to buy a "bad" vehicle these days.

WRT half tons I'm on the fence between F-150 and Ram 1500. I actually like the looks of the Ram better but the Ford offers some nice features including a 36 gallon fuel tank, which appeals to me greatly.

You'd think I'd be a Chevy guy since I drive one now but the new Chevy trucks are a big "meh" to me and from what I've seen they sell for near-Toyota prices. If I thought they were any better than the competition I might be tempted but I have no reason to believe they are.