I bought the (Warn) Mopar Winch Acc. Kit online. The straps are extra heavy-duty & made in USA. The 24,000lb snach block is needed for the rating of the winch and large size cable &made in China :-( This kit does NOT contain a choker chain. The Warn winch kits that have a choker chain are not rated high enough for the Power Wagon's winch rating. A double line pull,using a ****** block, doubles the winch capacity using the priciple of mechanical advantage. Cheap horsepower for your winch! Also it allows for angled pulls which are often the only option in many off roading stucks.

Tree trunk protectors are manditory to save the tree and the winch cable from damage, and required in most angle pulls. A winch is a very nice thing to have when wheeling alone in the woods.I bought one for my small truck after getting stuck and nearly having to spend a night in life-threatening conditions, if it wasn'tfor a passing Jeeper who yanked me unstuck with a chain... Ouch!
Usedthat wincha few more times after that, and once to pull out a tree stump.

Re: preloading/stretching the winch cable before use. Pulling the weight of the vehicle slightly uphill works best. Easier it back up ifthewrapping gets crossed too. If on a flat surface, Idrag the emergency braketo add a little more resistance.

 

Well knowing about the pre-loading is great info. I will have to put that on my to-do list. I had to coax mine to engage but they did after a reasonable amount of time. Once I got them to go once it became a little easier to get them to go again. Thats a bummer you guys have been having so much trouble... let us know how it turns out.

Ryan

 

Great advice on how to pre-load!

I never have seen/used synthetic rope I like the concept. It seems like it wouldbind up easy?

Glad to hear more folks are not having problems with the lockers. I am beginning to think positively re: my PW. Just hope to get to the bottom of the problem.

Thanks forthe encouragement!

 

Well, My PW still in shop (week three).

They said they need to order a computer module and see if that will do the fix. Confidence is low again. If I pull the lemon law lever not sure if I would get a PW again. Love the truck, but if the dealer can not fix them, things could get very expensive after the warranty expires!

 

Hello,
I have a 2006 PW I have had no problems with the lockers. Have you had any other problems?
Thanks
AS

 

Thank you for the feedback and I am glad your lockers are working!

The rear axial bearing that failed started all this. The only other problem I have had was minor stuff like a seat belt that was tearing from scraping the pocket edge when the seat belt was retracted and the overheadconsole temperature gage needed to be replaced.

I got a call from the shop Friday and the module did not fix the problem. Now they want to replace the locker sensors. If the problem is not fixed by mid week looks like I will pull the lemon law lever. I just need to decide to ask for another PW or my money back. I am looking at the newToyota full size 1/2 ton's. With some after market lockers and a winch I think it will fit my needs and most of all be reliable!

But the more folk I hear from that have had no problems with PW'smake the decision tuff!!

What you you guys do? New PW or get the money back??

 

Keep your existing ( if fixed) Power Wagon or get a new one. Try and resist the urge to send your money to Asia by buying a Toyota. At least the money goes to Europe if you buy a Dodge (Chrysler). It is bad enough that we have so many imported products from China. Whatever happened to American pride?

 

I will think it over as soon as I hear back from the dealer. MADE IN USA (well in my PW's case HECO EN Mexico) is why I bought thetruck. However, I am often found in rough tertrain in the middle ofnowhere sometimes by myself hunting (which is why I bough a PW). My primary concern is reliability and cost of maintenance.

I am still freaked out that the dealer has know idea of what is the problem. A Friend of mine told me that years ago when she worked at Dodge, they has issues trying to read the computer because the truckswere made in Mexico. That I find hard to believe, but it is a fact that the dealer has no way of diagnosing the problem and is just replacing parts at random. How much would this cost me if it were out of warranty? what is the resale value of a PW with lockers that do not work. These things I must at least consider.

I also own a 1997 Chevy 3/4 that I bought new. Great truck, but it's off roading capabilities are limited and I think the after market lift kits etc...are junk.

On the way home today I saw a white PW driving by. Yes I would like to have one as long as it works!

 

Well, I just got my wagon back and all seems to work for now.

These were the items of repair:

Rear Diff: p/n 5086778-aa Bearing, p/n 5175302-ab actuator, p/n 56051546 wiring harness
Front Diff p/n 4692892-ak module, p.n 5175284-ab actuator, p/n 5086689-aa bearing.

Hope this will help anyone with similar problems.

I will post again in about a week if all is still working or not

 

Glad to here it got fix StarrFlight,

You won't be sorry you kept your PW. I just spent the weekend off-roading with my new PW for the first with a 4x4 club here in Southern California. We went up into the local mountains on some fairly technical jeep trails. Other than destroying 2 hubcaps on the rocks (they stick-out to far past the wheels, I will be removing them first next time) my truck did great. I was able to lock-up the axles, disconnect the front stabilizer-bar, and drive-up trials you couldn't walk-up no problem, one of those jeep guys said your PW makes it look easy. Anything mechanical can break, don't sweat-it, just get out there and have fun using it.