Help with Desert Truck

[Medsker]

So I’m finding out that desert wheeling in the Mojave desert is quite different than wheeling around Utah or Rock Crawling. Here you get flying along a road and all of the sudden it is washed out or you have smaller bumps that are hard to see. My wife caught one in her new 2011 Jetta and tore the whole front end out of it to the tune of $5000. Where I live there are many places that you can only go on dirt road which was what she was doing.

So I need ideas on what I need to do to the Power Wagon to make it a little more “Baja” ready. As I understand it there is:

Springs – Totally Stock
Shocks – It comes with Bilstein
Bump stops – Totally Stock
Tires – I currently have BFG 33’s
Lift Kit – Totally Stock

I don’t have a lot of money but am wondering on opinions of what I can do to the Power Wagon or if I should just buy an old Bronco, Truck, Jeep or whatever and play with it?

Medsker

 

[Kevin B.]

Get an old 3.0 4Runner. Swap to the 3.4, buy a Total Chaos long travel kit, and enjoy your new Baja truck.

 

[LT.]

I don’t have a lot of money but am wondering on opinions of what I can do to the Power Wagon or if I should just buy an old Bronco, Truck, Jeep or whatever and play with it?

Medsker

For the Power Wagon I would take a serious look at either Carli or Thuren suspension products. Both companies have a few youtube videos of their products being beat in the desert. If, you feel like you want to go another route then, I would take a look at a 90's Ford Bronco. It pains me to say that but, they have a goofy front axle that works well in the desert and it still gives you four wheel drive.

LT.

 

[neagtea]

Carli stuff works good.
Or go a ford ranger lots of built ones for sale.

 

[Thspittingllama]

psh its a fricken power wagon!!!! just drive it like you stole it!!!! She'll be aight.

 

[Thspittingllama]

or trade it in for a ram runner

 

[Medsker]

psh its a fricken power wagon!!!! just drive it like you stole it!!!! She'll be aight.

Part of me agrees with this. I keep thinking just drive it till stuff starts to break and then worry about it.

 

[Medsker]

I was looking at some of the Carli stuff put an it is expensive.

 

[Deweyxj]

If you want a dedicated desert rig, I'd go with a Jeep Cherokee (lighter) or Grand Cherokee (V8 power)! Either way you have a lot of suspension options, covered passenger & cargo space, air conditioning (most likely), & a reasonable starting price! :greg:

If you're running around in any desert from May to October you'll want air, having a closed cargo space will help keep some of the dust off your gear!:-\


:tara: GO JEEP!:tara:

 

[LT.]

I was looking at some of the Carli stuff put an it is expensive.

You get what you pay for most of the time. Quality costs money. When it comes to Dodge desert suspension systems Carli and Thuren are top of the list.

LT.

 

[Medsker]

If you want a dedicated desert rig, I'd go with a Jeep Cherokee (lighter) or Grand Cherokee (V8 power)! Either way you have a lot of suspension options, covered passenger & cargo space, air conditioning (most likely), & a reasonable starting price! :greg:

If you're running around in any desert from May to October you'll want air, having a closed cargo space will help keep some of the dust off your gear!:-\


:tara: GO JEEP!:tara:

Good advice I've been looking at some of the jeep speed stuff. And met a guy down here with a really nice setup Cherokee.

d