I know this topic has been discussed some already but I wanted to bring up my specific case and how I am thinking through deciding between ordering a Power Wagon and a Rebel and I would like feedback.
My situation is I currently have a Ram 1500 that it's time to replace. I volunteer with a disaster relief group and have other obligations that have me pulling ~10k lbs a few times a year and I regularly tow ~4000lbs. The 10k lb trailers tend to have high tongue weights of 1500lbs or so. My Ram 1500 has handled the loads admirably despite being overloaded but it's really too much for it so I have been looking at a Ram 2500. I have been wanting a Power Wagon because I think the kit that it comes with from the factory is great and I travel out west every year and I think it would allow me to get more off the beaten path but I have been holding out to see what the Rebel would be when it got announced because of the towing I do.
Now that the Rebel is out it's time to make a decision. The order guides aren't available but it looks like I could basically use the PW option packages as a general guide. I plan to go with the Hemi if I were to get a Rebel so the diesel option does not affect my choice. The dilemma that I find myself in is the price difference between the trucks vs the differences in what you get for that money. The Rebel starts at $67045 and the Power Wagon starts at $69,345. The winch is something I want because a truck with a winch is very useful with the disaster relief work. They have not made it clear if the winch just comes with the Hemi Rebel or if it's an additional cost option. If it is an additional cost I expect it will eat into most if not all of that $2300 difference. It's a $3k option on a Ford with the Tremor package for reference. Lets assume that the winch is included in the price, that means that $2300 gets you a lift, front locker, and front sway bar disconnect. That seems like a lot for $2300. That has me leaning Power Wagon, but the Power Wagon towing and payload capacity is only slightly better than my 1500. The heavy tongue weight is the biggest issue for my 1500 and I would think it would be for a PW too. Of course I would expect the size and weight of the PW to make it tow better than my 1500, but maybe not as well as I want it to. If the Rebel would have come in at a significantly lower price I think the decision would be easy because I doubt I will use the full capability of the PW very often if at all but with the close price the PW seems like a better value.
How many of you tow similar weights with a PW? Do you have airbags? It seems to me that the PW has all the hardware to tow the same numbers as a normal 2500 if it just had different springs so a PW with bags might be the best answer. Does the Articlulink suspension have much affect on the GVWR and GCWR? I am not necessarily disappointed with what the Rebel is, I'm mainly disappointed with the cost of it and how close it is to a PW despite it lacking a lot of the features, especially if the winch is an added cost option. Maybe I should get get a Bighorn or Laramie with the off road package and save some money.
My situation is I currently have a Ram 1500 that it's time to replace. I volunteer with a disaster relief group and have other obligations that have me pulling ~10k lbs a few times a year and I regularly tow ~4000lbs. The 10k lb trailers tend to have high tongue weights of 1500lbs or so. My Ram 1500 has handled the loads admirably despite being overloaded but it's really too much for it so I have been looking at a Ram 2500. I have been wanting a Power Wagon because I think the kit that it comes with from the factory is great and I travel out west every year and I think it would allow me to get more off the beaten path but I have been holding out to see what the Rebel would be when it got announced because of the towing I do.
Now that the Rebel is out it's time to make a decision. The order guides aren't available but it looks like I could basically use the PW option packages as a general guide. I plan to go with the Hemi if I were to get a Rebel so the diesel option does not affect my choice. The dilemma that I find myself in is the price difference between the trucks vs the differences in what you get for that money. The Rebel starts at $67045 and the Power Wagon starts at $69,345. The winch is something I want because a truck with a winch is very useful with the disaster relief work. They have not made it clear if the winch just comes with the Hemi Rebel or if it's an additional cost option. If it is an additional cost I expect it will eat into most if not all of that $2300 difference. It's a $3k option on a Ford with the Tremor package for reference. Lets assume that the winch is included in the price, that means that $2300 gets you a lift, front locker, and front sway bar disconnect. That seems like a lot for $2300. That has me leaning Power Wagon, but the Power Wagon towing and payload capacity is only slightly better than my 1500. The heavy tongue weight is the biggest issue for my 1500 and I would think it would be for a PW too. Of course I would expect the size and weight of the PW to make it tow better than my 1500, but maybe not as well as I want it to. If the Rebel would have come in at a significantly lower price I think the decision would be easy because I doubt I will use the full capability of the PW very often if at all but with the close price the PW seems like a better value.
How many of you tow similar weights with a PW? Do you have airbags? It seems to me that the PW has all the hardware to tow the same numbers as a normal 2500 if it just had different springs so a PW with bags might be the best answer. Does the Articlulink suspension have much affect on the GVWR and GCWR? I am not necessarily disappointed with what the Rebel is, I'm mainly disappointed with the cost of it and how close it is to a PW despite it lacking a lot of the features, especially if the winch is an added cost option. Maybe I should get get a Bighorn or Laramie with the off road package and save some money.
