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Beth - the every man 4.5 Power Wagon

poorman_pw

poorman_pw

Active Member
Messages
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Reaction score
119
Points
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Location
Southern Nevada
Intro Comments:

Even the poor man’s Power Wagon means you need to be rich.

Looking to build and keep a daily driver that can wheel and work.

My last truck I went all out before even taking delivery, here I’d like to upgrade and change parts as they break and or we find a need.

Truck’s name: Beth (wife says she looks classy, but deep down she can use her crazy like the lady from the Yellowstone show)

Model Year: 2024
Engine: 6.4 Hemi V8 w/MDS
Trim: Tradesman
Color: Granite Crystal Metalic Clear Coat

Delivery: late November 2024, CPO w/ 47xx miles.

Factory Options:

Powerwagon Package:
Hill Descent Control
4.10 Axle Ratio
Tru–Lok® Front and Rear Axles
Front LED Fog Lamps
Powder–Coated Rear Bumper
Powder–Coated Front Bumper
Black Wheel Flares
Rear Wheelhouse Liners
Ram Articulink® Suspension
Front Performance–Tuned Shock Absorbers
Rear Performance–Tuned Shock Absorbers
Front Disconnecting Stabilizer Bar
LT285/70R17D OWL All–Terrain Tires
17–Inch x 8.0–Inch Black Painted Aluminum Wheels
ParkSense® Front and Rear Park–Assist System
Front Electric–Winch
RAM 2500 TRADESMAN CREW CAB 4X4
Tow Hooks
Exterior Color: Granite Crystal Metallic Clear–Coat Exterior Paint
Fuel Tank Skid–Plate Shield
Interior Color: Black Interior Color
Transfer Case Skid–Plate Shield

Tradesman Level 2 equipment group:
Carpet Floor–Covering
Front and Rear Floor Mats
Pwr Adj Heated TT Mirrors w/ Manual Fold/Telescope
FUNCTIONAL/SAFETY FEATURES
Exterior Mirrors with Supplemental Signals
Advanced Multistage Front Air Bags
Mirror Running Lights
Supplemental Front Seat–Mounted Side Air Bags
Rear Power–Sliding Window
Supplemental Side–Curtain Front and Rear Air Bags

Center Stop Lamp with Cargo–View Camera Manual Shift–On–The–Fly Transfer Case
Ram Connect (Connected Services)
Electronic Stability Control
Selectable Tire–Fill Alert
Electronic Roll Mitigation
Google Android Auto™
Hill–Start Assist
Apple CarPlay®
Traction Control
Trailer Sway Damping
4G LTE Wi–Fi Hot Spot

Build details:
LEGEND:
[+] Done
[*] Done but removed, upgraded or didn't work out
[-] Wanted
[/] In Progress

Suspension:

Steering:

Wheels/Tires:
[+] OEM 285/70R17 Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs

Engine/Misc Mechanical Parts:

[+] NH Overland AR800 Fusebox mount
[+] NH Overland ARB engine bay Compressor Mount
[+] ARB twin compressor

Drivetrain:

Armor and the like
[+] Havoc HST Black Running Boards
[/] Rhino bed liner
[-] White-knuckle Rock Sliders
[+] Carli Suspension Front Differential Guard/Skid

Lighting:
[/] Baja Designs Squadron Pro Driving Combo
[+] Morimoto headlights

Exterior:

Recovery Gear:
[+] OEM Warn 12,000lb winch
[+] MotorMic Recovery Strap
[+] Reese Carry Power Tow Strap with Hook
[+] Smittybilt Recoil Kinetic Rope - CC121
[+] Rhino USA Synthetic Soft Shackles
[+] Badland Snatch Block

Interior:
[+] Amazon Seat Covers
[+] Bulletpoint Mounting Solutions Rail mount with three 20mm ball mounting points
[+] BulletPoint Device holder with Kevlar arm (2)
[+] Bulletpoint Mounting Solutions branded Auxbeam AR800 Fusebox with remote switch

Comms and navigation:
[/] Uniden Bearcat 980SSB CB
[+] Baofeng handheld

I haven’t taken many photos, but here is Beth a day after delivery, helping a buddy move:

IMG_7092.jpeg
 
Last edited:
flan said:
Nice and simple. Looks good!
Click to expand...

Thanks! I don’t want to make this like my Gladiator Rubicon, I think I did everything you could before you start welding or changing axles and motors.

bgenlvtex said:
I have an exact duplicate of tht truck, exactly the same configuration.

Really nice truck.
Click to expand...

Sweet! I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about the Tradesman Power Wagon, but seeing it in person the little things like door panels, extra storage under the jump seat, etc. wasn’t that big of a deal. I paid the same as they’re asking for a lot of 5 year old 4.5 gen trucks with 10x the miles. I still have a factory bumper to bumper and power train! What a truck it is!
 
mo_powa_bb said:
Thanks! I don’t want to make this like my Gladiator Rubicon, I think I did everything you could before you start welding or changing axles and motors.



Sweet! I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about the Tradesman Power Wagon, but seeing it in person the little things like door panels, extra storage under the jump seat, etc. wasn’t that big of a deal. I paid the same as they’re asking for a lot of 5 year old 4.5 gen trucks with 10x the miles. I still have a factory bumper to bumper and power train! What a truck it is!
Click to expand...
My second TPW, first being a 2021 (avatar photo)

TPW is to me closer to the original spirit of the Power Wagon than the Power Wagon trim level is. PW came into this world as a pure utility vehicle.. I think they screwed up not making the 75th Anniversary model as a TPW with flat paint and steel wheels maybe a "retro" gauge package and interior trim.
 
bgenlvtex said:
My second TPW, first being a 2021 (avatar photo)

TPW is to me closer to the original spirit of the Power Wagon than the Power Wagon trim level is. PW came into this world as a pure utility vehicle.. I think they screwed up not making the 75th Anniversary model as a TPW with flat paint and steel wheels maybe a "retro" gauge package and interior trim.
Click to expand...

I liked the 75, but you can’t beat the value of the TPW. This truck is still day to day more comfortable and practical than my Jeep and every vehicle before that.
 
Tonight I couldn't take it any longer...

These damn factory halogens are criminal, not halogens in general but the ones they give us in a truck they sticker for over $60,000.00.

Did some research, pulled the trigger on some hybrid Morimoto XB's.

Not sure what the general consensus is here on them, but they were cheaper than any AlphaRex lights that had actual LED's in them... but still $900.00.
 
Make sure you start at a point you’ll still have at least 6 hours of daylight, especially the first time disassembling the grill. Takes a whole lot longer than my JT for sure. With the power wagon winch, you’ll need to get creative for some of the lower brow bolts fastening to the grill, but after some fussing and cussing you’ll be okay. Light output is amazing, 0 flicker in DRL or night time function either… at least yet?

IMG_7441.jpeg
 
mo_powa_bb said:
Make sure you start at a point you’ll still have at least 6 hours of daylight, especially the first time disassembling the grill. Takes a whole lot longer than my JT for sure. With the power wagon winch, you’ll need to get creative for some of the lower brow bolts fastening to the grill, but after some fussing and cussing you’ll be okay. Light output is amazing, 0 flicker in DRL or night time function either… at least yet?

View attachment 80420
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Lights Look great. Nice xj.
 
Rockcrawlindude said:
Lights Look great. Nice xj.
Click to expand...

Thanks brother. The morimoto’s are pretty sweet, driving cross country today they made one hell of a difference vs the halogens.

The XJ is a family mascot at this point. The only thing original I think is the motor’s bottom, the axles and trans. Just a 4inch lift and some 33’s with custom bits here and there but it goes where we point it.
 
Doing a road trip we do every couple of years to west Texas and back. Usually around 3,500 miles total.

The way down was cool, but the way back I’m pulling a smaller utility trailer and it’s hurting the mpg’s. I can’t really say I’m disappointed because I did my research… it’s a freaking power wagon… but at 75-80 I saw 8.9 in my last 200 miles… told my wife the only thing that cares the trailer is there is my wallet.

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poorman_pw said:
Doing a road trip we do every couple of years to west Texas and back. Usually around 3,500 miles total.

The way down was cool, but the way back I’m pulling a smaller utility trailer and it’s hurting the mpg’s. I can’t really say I’m disappointed because I did my research… it’s a freaking power wagon… but at 75-80 I saw 8.9 in my last 200 miles… told my wife the only thing that cares the trailer is there is my wallet.

index.php
Click to expand...
Next time fold the ramp gate forward. You’re basically dragging a parachute.
 
Update… turns out, the I-40 stretch east of Albuquerque is just a lot of suck. Out of New Mexico and into Southern Nevada was long, but I saw regular power wagon mpg’s. That’s a little short of 4,000 miles in under two weeks, 1,130 of which were towing the little trailer.

IMG_7587.jpeg
 
poorman_pw said:
Doing a road trip we do every couple of years to west Texas and back. Usually around 3,500 miles total.

The way down was cool, but the way back I’m pulling a smaller utility trailer and it’s hurting the mpg’s. I can’t really say I’m disappointed because I did my research… it’s a freaking power wagon… but at 75-80 I saw 8.9 in my last 200 miles… told my wife the only thing that cares the trailer is there is my wallet.

index.php
Click to expand...
That has more to do with 80mph on 4.10's than the trailer i think
 
bgenlvtex said:
That has more to do with 80mph on 4.10's than the trailer i think
Click to expand...

Hitting the speed limit doesn’t help, but it also turned out to be the hills along that stretch of I-40. You’re just always climbing. I averaged about 14mpg from Albuquerque into Vegas.
 
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