I'm thinking of trading in my truck for a 4wd pickup truck that can hold it's own on a trail. My needs have slightly changed (wife will be trading in her H3 in the semi-near future, so without an off-road vehicle, I need to start planning ahead).

This started with me thinking about getting an H3 or H3T. Front & rear e-lockers, proven off-road (at least with me), and I can transfer over some things I've already purchased for the H3. That seemed like the logical choice.

Then I started thinking about the Power Wagon after reading a review. I've got almost nothing against the Power Wagon (wish it came with leather cooled seats like my current truck, but the H3T doesn't have cooled seats either (at least it has leather)). It is a little large, and not exactly nimble, but I could probably live with that on the trail for the extra power/size on the road and when towing. My main problem here is that nobody wants to really negotiate on a Power Wagon. I'm looking at maybe $3,000 off sticker.

So, with 1500s selling for $12k+ off, would it make more sense to option up a TRX4, Sport or Laramie the way I want and add on the off-road goodies for the $9k I'd save? Lift - easy. Lockers - not too hard. Electronically disconnecting sway bar - No clue. Rock slider rails - no clue.

So, thoughts from the gallery? What would you do? I need a vehicle that's civil during the week, can haul a boat on Saturday and then do some mild trail running/rock crawling on Sunday.

 

If you are talking mild trail running, you certainly don't need electronic say disconects. You could pick up a set of quick disconects for it cheap enough, but doubt you would need to. A locker in the rear would probably be plenty, my last truck had a rear locker and you rarely needed to pull the lever back in to 4 wheel. Still, adding to the front wouldn't be hard. The sliders should probably not bolt on, I would hope they are connected to the frame rather then just the bottom of the cab, but have not seen them to check. If they are bolted to the cab, they would work, but would you really want them? If they are bolted to the frame, or at least braced to the frame, I bet you could get them to work, the frames can't be all that different.

I would go with a 1500 and do it the way you want it. Sounds like you would not be happy with a STOCK Power Wagon and end p modding it anyway, correct? So why pay for the name.....

 

I guess I should have said more than mild. I'm talking about stuff that did damage to my buddy's Xterra. The 14" of clearance on a Power Wagon or a lifted 1500 is barely enough to clear some rocks/ledges given how long the trucks are - so the rails or some serious skid plating would be required on a full-size truck.

Quick disconnects sound like a good idea. And front and rear lockers would be nice to have (when you have 2 wheels off the ground).

 

If I where you I would buy the 1500 and put a six inch lift with 37's and then do the other stuff you where talkng about. The Money you save from the 1500 will build the truck the way you want it. Leave the H3T alone in my opinion.

 

That's what I'm starting to lean towards, but a 2009 H3T Alpha can be had in the low 30's and it's pretty damn trail ready out of the box, all under warranty until 60k miles (100k if certified).

 

Well, if you are going mild to wild..... that changes things.... LOL The Power Wagon will have better components, being a 3/4 ton chassis. Larger brakes, better suspension components etc. If you toss 35's or 37's on a half ton and start spinning and catching on some rocks, you could be asking for trouble. The 4.56 gears would be ideal, the lockers, the disconects etc. If you are serious about wheeling and not breaking ****, the PW almost seems the way to go.

 

A few friends have ranches in the Texas Hill Country or out east which have tricky sections that were previously left to the ATVs or hiking. There are ways to get there by truck and easily bring your gear, but there are some serious obstacles to get over. A stock H3 or Rubicon is close to its limits, so I'd want something of that caliber.

I think you make some good points - there are going to be some serious suspension differences between the 1500 & 2500 that are worth the extra few dollars. Might just have to wait and see if the prices on Power Wagons start to come down any.

So now it's down to the H3T and Power Wagon. The H3T is much more agile and able to squeeze through terrain that the Power Wagon might not be able to get through, but it's a compromise on towing capacity and interior space.

 

I'd keep your current truck and just buy a beater jeep or a second vehicle you can go extreme on. I've had daily driven off roaders before and it sucks because you're always afraid of breaking parts and dealing with down time.

 

Thought about it - but most people I know with "beater Jeeps" end up spending a lot of money on them. And they take up space. And usually aren't the best vehicle to drive 200 miles in - so then they need to be towed. Creates additional hassle. Not one thing has broken on my wife's H3. We did have an alternator replaced after it started making noise after some mudding, but that was covered under warranty.

 

Unfortunately it only takes one time when the wrong part breaks a good distance from the house. But I've done the daily driver thing and I've known many other people that have too. The downside is you have to wheel it "easy" which does get a bit boring when you're with guys in their purpose built rigs that were towed in. Every group needs someone to take pictures and video though.

With all that said, once my three girls get a bit older, I've been throwing around the idea of trading in the wife's Caravan for a 4 door Jeep Rubicon.