Trail Pig 2018 PW Build

[BigBrokenZJ]

Figured it is about time to start a build thread. There won’t be anything earth shattering, but maybe it will give someone some ideas for their rig.

My old truck was a 2014 2500 tradesman. I added some creature comforts, a PW winch, saltas with 35’s, and some lighting. We have gone back and forth between RTT’s and ground tents. I like the way RTT’s pack, and the simplicity of opening, but hate balancing on the bed rails to get the thing closed up, cinched down, and the cover on. So at the moment we are back to slumming it on the ground.

So after years of saying I wanted a power wagon, yet being completely happy with my current rig, I found a 2018 Mohave PW for sale semi close.



Picked it up a month ago, and have been working on it since. We had a trip planned the weekend we picked the truck up, so some quick work was done to put the Bedslide in. Temporarily throw the house battery in, put my old saltas and 35’s on, and throw the rack and awning on.


The weekend trip was great, vented seats rock, and the truck rides much smoother on crappy roads.

However on the highway I’m getting a pretty good sway at speed, especially uphill on a gradual curve. Already have new shocks on the way, and I’m going to put a Thuren rear track bar in to hopefully tighten it up some.

The overall goal is a capable trail rig that can take us and gear for a decent length trip wherever we want to go.

With that in mind, I’m already thinking 37’s, some sliders, and a dethloff skid.The other PW threads on here are horrible influences..

 

[BigBrokenZJ]

So as I have had time I started adding the small things and tightening up the wiring. I made a happy place in the bed for the house battery and charger (rogue wires are going to the solar panel on the slide).



then I ran wires on the slide for two sets of outlets and an inverter.


One set of outlets is on the passenger side for the fridge (threaded ARB-style), and one on the back that has a switched USB port/voltmeter and a 12v plug.



From there it was on to the front end to add some in cab switches.

I plan on adding a lightbar, my old Viair OBA setup, and Abel Components nanny kill and locker bypass. All of these will be wired off the in cab panel, in addition to the manual switch for the house battery charger (don’t want it purely on Acc)


Currently waiting on the UPS Santa to bring the Abel Components gear and lightbar. The OBA is in the garage awaiting wiring.

This also showed up, and is in town getting color matched.

 

[BigBrokenZJ]

The plot thickens!


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[BigBrokenZJ]

Finally back from my work trip and have a few days off, so time to install some of the parts Santa brought.




Truck had a decent sway at highway speeds, shocks felt a little mushy, so shocks and a Thuren rear bar are the first additions.

Thuren bar is stout! I’ve had is front bars on my last two trucks and they were a huge improvement over factory.





And for creature comforts, a Bulleitpoint mounting solutions double cradle. This thing is awesome, super strong.

 

[jadmt]

a couple of weeks or so ago a buddy and I put on the Thuren track bar on his 2020 PW. he said it made a huge difference. We had a ********** of a time at first drilling the stock mount hole out doing it the way Thuren tells you to do it ie have everything tightened down. when we did it that way the drill bit wanted to drill part of the welded in spacer on the thuren. we ended up loosen it up and and then we were able to drill thru. How did your install go? been thinking of adding one to my 2020 even tho I don't have any weird handling quirks.

 

[BigBrokenZJ]

I was dreading doing all the drilling.. especially the last 9/16 hole that is PW specific. That being said, drilling was the easy part and went quick minus grenading the 9/16 bit at the last second, and my 1/2” drill trying to go for a straight KO on me.

Now the torquing… yeah that sucks. I had some special words for the engineers regarding muffler placement.


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[BigBrokenZJ]

Well today was productive.

Did some preemptive having of the fender liner and pinch seam, then had the new shoes installed.
Rides great, and boy does she look nice in the mall parking lot!

Then it was over to pick up my RSI Smartcap from the painter. He did a fantastic job. Took about 2.5 hours to get it all assembled, lined up, and clamped down. The thing is solid.


Seeing as how I have a couple more days off (and don’t want to do house projects..), tomorrow I think I will work on interior and exterior lighting, as well as mounting the tool box on the driver side of the shell.


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[Tex68w]

Finally back from my work trip and have a few days off, so time to install some of the parts Santa brought.

View attachment 679682


Truck had a decent sway at highway speeds, shocks felt a little mushy, so shocks and a Thuren rear bar are the first additions.

Thuren bar is stout! I’ve had is front bars on my last two trucks and they were a huge improvement over factory.

View attachment 679681

View attachment 679683

And for creature comforts, a Bulleitpoint mounting solutions double cradle. This thing is awesome, super strong.
View attachment 679684

Keep an eye on the screws for the Bullet Point mount. Mine has started to come loose after a few months of constantly taking the phone and Garmin out of the cradles. I love the SmartCap, keeping my fingers crossed that they come out with one for the 8ft. long bed.

 

[BigBrokenZJ]

Keep an eye on the screws for the Bullet Point mount. Mine has started to come loose after a few months of constantly taking the phone and Garmin out of the cradles. I love the SmartCap, keeping my fingers crossed that they come out with one for the 8ft. long bed.

Good to know.. the screws that mount to the dash or the small ones on the actual cradles?

Smartcap is well built for sure.


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[Tex68w]

Good to know.. the screws that mount to the dash or the small ones on the actual cradles?

Smartcap is well built for sure.


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The screws on the base.

 

[BigBrokenZJ]

Another day of progress.

The first order of business was fixing the driver map light and at the same time improve the passenger side. It’s a small mid but makes all the difference. Fairly simple but whoever put the clips on in the headliner was angry that day, they did not want to come out!


Overhead console out and apart, new LEDs to go in


Back together. Nice and bright!

 

[BigBrokenZJ]

Then it was on to the exterior lights..

As much as I like the factory fogs, their output leaves a little to be desired. Some amber fog pattern and white spots will be an improvement. Will align them once it gets dark. Also added a 20” bar under the Ram logo on the grill.




Then it was time to play, I wanted to see where the 37’s were going to rub.



My preemptive trimming before installing the 37s was a success. Only rub seems to be on front of the fender liner at the bumper at full stuff and in reverse while disco’d.


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[BigBrokenZJ]

Oh boy!

 

[BigBrokenZJ]

So let’s talk storage..

Without a spare tucked under the rear of the bed, I have some free space (increasingly hard to come by..)

My biggest issue with these trucks is the tank size.

So with that in mind, do I find a way to work a jeep size tank in that space, similar to another thread? Or do I make an storage area that would fit larger
Rotopax when needed, or other goodies when needed?

The best ideas/pics I’ve found came from vw fans and tacos. I’ve also seen some slick drawers on welding rigs but not sure how I would incorporate that.



Anyone have some thoughts?


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[BigBrokenZJ]

If you look closely, you can see the rare and elusive power wagon in its natural habitat



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