What to do?

Loganwayne said:
keep the truck pick up a xj on the cheap put a used budget boost on it throw some 31s on it and youd be set for most places to wheel conservatively and could do it under a grand it ya shopped smart.
Click to expand...
And more than likely be out less money than you would lose on selling the powerwagon..... Think about the lose on it. By the cheap jeep, wheel it, be done with it...
 
I agree with Snappy and the rest. Keep the Power Wagon and buy an XJ. they can be built cheap, especially if you are not going to do anything extreme. My old XJ was locked on 32's and I went most places the big rock buggies did. It's the one in my Avatar.
 
Honestly I'd the keep the Power Wagon. Just add armor and know your limits. Just because it's all nice and clean downstairs mean you can't wheel it, just have to be careful. Plus wheeling a whale is fun, just ask Morgan.
 
I agree with, keep the PW, buy a $1k-$2k XJ/ZJ, have fun. One of the most fun rigs I have had was a ZJ on 33"s. There are LOTS of club members in your area that will help you work on it :driver:
 
JC said:
I agree with, keep the PW, buy a $1k-$2k XJ/ZJ, have fun. One of the most fun rigs I have had was a ZJ on 33"s. There are LOTS of club members in your area that will help you work on it :driver:
Click to expand...

I really liked that ZJ.

I agree with the masses, get a cheap XJ or ZJ.
 
The only thing I would add to this is, why manual tranny? I was a die hard manual tranny fan until I wheeled an auto.
 
I agree with everyone else. Keep the power wagon and buy a cheap XJ.
 
06redwagon said:
Duane-I am not afraid of a little scratch or dent but I definitely don't want to experience major carnage. I see you have a ramcharger. I would love a k5 or a full size bronco but getting car seats back there would be a major pain.
Click to expand...


On your PW I don't blame you in the least, just saying don't be afraid to get a full size whatever (and car seats aren't that big of a pain). But I do have to agree with practically everyone else: Keep the PW and get a wheeler. You will reach a point where you will want or need a tow rig, and you will wish you had it back.

Duane
 
Nothing wrong with a unibody. Uwharrie is easy. If you were nervous have one of the venders here build a cage. Plenty strong. All that to say is if I ever get back to wheeling it'll be a 4 runner or Toyota pickup. Just want something different than what I had for 10 years


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
A lot of great input, but the Power Wagon is up for sale. It is on craigslist and autotrader. The parking situation at my house sucks, I don't even know where I would keep a trail rig. Now if somebody can offer some space, then I may be able to convince the misses to keep the PW and get a cheap XJ. That one with the tubed doors in Albemarle is very tempting.

I still haven't decided between XJ and 4runner as great arguments have been made for both. Whatever I get will be built over time and once it gets to the point where it should be trail only; most if not all of my kids will be in school which means a lot of bread will be freed up and I can figure out a towing situation then.
 
do you have something else to drive besides what your going to be wheeling in? you never know when somethings gonna break and will leave you with out something to drive. i drive my xj to most of the places i go wheeling at but have a back up plan if i break something and its not my dd. i was just wondering if you had considered that you will break something sooner or later even if its on an easy trail stuff happens.
 
Logan I could get stranded just the same if I kept the PW and wheeled it. The thing is if I were to keep the PW and get a trail rig then I I would need a trailer in addition to weighted tags for the PW. That's another expense. Then I live in an association where I can't keep a trailer at my house so I would have to rent a spot for it at one of the local storage places. Another expense. My current situation does not allow me to have two vehicles. When the kids start school (money gets freed up from not paying day care) and we move then I can get a tow rig and a different rig for each day of the week. I have been off-roading for a very short period of time now and I want to continue to do it. It is tons of fun and the people I have met are awesome.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I vote for the yota. XJs are tough as nails, but you can put 31s on a yota stock. Dont let the IFS scare you. My yota is on 33s locked front and rear, dual cases with IFS. I have seen a taco on 33s with one locker go everywhere at URE.
 
06redwagon said:
Logan I could get stranded just the same if I kept the PW and wheeled it. The thing is if I were to keep the PW and get a trail rig then I I would need a trailer in addition to weighted tags for the PW. That's another expense. Then I live in an association where I can't keep a trailer at my house so I would have to rent a spot for it at one of the local storage places. Another expense. My current situation does not allow me to have two vehicles. When the kids start school (money gets freed up from not paying day care) and we move then I can get a tow rig and a different rig for each day of the week. I have been off-roading for a very short period of time now and I want to continue to do it. It is tons of fun and the people I have met are awesome.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
i understand that its all gonna be extra expenses, im also pretty new to wheeling and have realized that with stock parts on any rig there will be a failure point. depending on how hard you go at stuff depends on how long it last but no auto maker ever designed a truck or suv to but up to the abuse that offroading puts on a semi stock rig other wise they would have beefed it up. im not criticizing the decision that youve made, but at the same time have you thought about what happened if you broke an axel shaft on you PW or anther rig you buy or another part could you go a day or a week with out it? i dont know how much it cost to rent a storage building or a spot on alot in your area. i didnt have room for my xj once i got a roommate but i did find a storage unit that was dirt cheap to house it in. im just trying to give you options that i didnt get when i first started wheeling. either way i hope to run into you on a trail somewhere and can meet you.
 
As mentioned by a few posters, disregard the 2.7 4runner...the MPG difference is unsubstantial. Plus the 3.4 is easily supercharged for more power, which is a plus...but I am partial.
The whole SAS thing is kind of fun too, we are just about done with mine :D

ascontent_a_iad.xx.fbcdn.net_hphotos_ash3_t1_1497783_10153622524805481_217062951_n.jpg
 
T4r that thing is pretty sick looking. That is what I am looking for.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I vote Toyota, esp for a family rig. Could look into a FJ80 Land Cruiser, factory solid axle, plenty of room for 4-4.5 adults plus gear. Also can find ones with factory lockers, just make sure to look at FZJ80s, I think the year range is 95-97. A 4Runner will be good as well just depends on how much of an issue fuel mileage is because the FJ80s drink a little more than the 4Runners do.
 
Redneck I love land cruisers but 80s have too much sheet metal and people tend to overprice the ones with factory lockers. I also like 60s but finding a rust free one becomes a challenge.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Your PW is a 6spd? Wish I had the money. You will miss it when it's gone!

Duane
 
All is not lost fellows. Trying to convince the wife to just get another vehicle.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I'm getting to this thread a little late but- You have an absolutely awesome truck already!!! I wish mine was a stick shift!

Just throwing it out there but, why not keep the power wagon, chop the fenders put 40s on it (on some wheels with less backspacing), Thuren long arm 3" lift up front, then chop the rear spring mounts off, mount the springs forward on the frame (shorten the wheelbase) and 1" down (level the suspension in regards to the 3" lifted front) bob the frame rails aft of the rear axle and do a dovetailed bed cage? (remove the stock bed of course) Also, some beefy rocksliders are needed as well! Then you would have all the awesomeness that is the Power Wagon intact in a shorter more maneuverable package!

OR….. (slightly) milder approach… 3" Carli or Thuren lift all the way around, Carli or Thuren normal arms up front. Cut fenders up front, 40s and a dovetailed bed cage (remove the bed) with a bobbed frame aft of the rear axle. (basically same as above plan minus long arms and minus rear axle relocation) Keep the adding beefy rocksliders though!!!

OR…. same as the milder approach but just remove the bed before you go wheeling and bolt a dovetailed bed cage in its place BUT without bobbing the ends of the framerails. (I wish I would have taken this approach, taken my bed off before I dented it, LOL!) Oh, and keep the adding beefy rocksliders!!!

OR…. do a lift, tires, bed cage, and rocksliders, keep the stock bed on, BUT stay off the TIGHT trails!!!!

Also, just a note: you don't have to worry quite as much about body damage as me, your truck is 10" shorter wheelbase so, a little more maneuverable! It's a very slight difference but, at times, it can do wonders!

If you do keep the Wagon and wheel it, I definitely recommend a bed cage at minimum, I plan on doing one for mine. I saw a pic just recently- these trucks' roofs flatten like a pancake when they get rolled!!!

Here's my most recent pics of the damage on mine:
ai253.photobucket.com_albums_hh43_biglightblue87_muddy_zps58b003fd.jpg

ai253.photobucket.com_albums_hh43_biglightblue87_mudless_zps9ff80ab1.jpg

(bedsides, a little to the rear door, and a busted mirror cover)
 
Or, if you really don't wanna go crazy modding the Wagon, still keep it for mild trails (like Uwharrie) and pick you up a cheap beater for the crazy trails!!! Get some little POS for $1000 or so and go beat the snot out of it!
 
Back
Top