Time to Start My Build Thread

So since everyone else is doing it I thought I would post a build thread. I purchased my 2011 Power Wagon back in Christmas of 2010. I traded in a built 2007 Jeep Wrangler. I just got tired of having no power. So far I love it. So much room compared to the Jeep and my wife loves it. She told me we are keeping this one forever (I tend to by lots of different trucks). Back in October we went around the circumference of Utah (1700 Miles) which included about any type of wheeling you could get yourself into and it did great. Still have trouble getting the lockers to go in but from reading on this forum it is a common problem.

A couple of weeks after I bought it I had to drive it to New Mexico to visit my bro-in-law. I of course couldn’t drive through Moab without stopping and doing one trail. We decided to hit the first half of Fins-N-Things. There were a few inches of snow on the ground which makes the slick rock actual slick rock. As I was coming down the back side there is a 8-10 foot drop that is really steep. With snow it was more like a free fall. I hit the front hard enough that the rear tires came off the ground . It bent the front bumper and tore off the plastic valance for me. My wife and I jumped out thinking “that was so cool”. My other bro-in-law was in the back freaking out, not only from the experience but from the damage. My wife said to him “The first dent is always the hardest, now it’s done we don’t have to worry about it anymore”. I love my wife.

Here is a couple pics of my Moab wreck.

I haven’t done a lot of mods yet because it does so well out of the box. I designed some rock rails and had them built. They have removable side steps that are held on by a couple of bolts. I also installed a tonneau cover with the tool box in the back. I also installed a Z-Step rear bench. I love it, when you are old and fat like me it gets harder and harder to climb into the bed.

On the interior I installed a basic CB with external speaker and PA system. I also installed a fire extinguisher. In the center console I installed a couple of switches. Under the blue tape they are labeled Front and Rear lockers. They aren’t hooked to anything right now but will probably be used on the lockers later.

Here are some pics.

That looks great! Ouch about the bumper. I wish my wife reacted the same way to my first damage. I put a big dent in the rocker (no sliders as of yet) and I didn't even notice til 2 days later with all the mud. It is a great truck and I too hope to have it for a long time. Keep up the good work!

That rear step is cool! I need to find myself one of those things. The dent in the front bumper might make a good excuse down the road to find something a little stronger with a better angle of approach.

Ouch! Could have been a lot worse!

So here is a list of the tools and recovery gear I carry. I was to lazy to dig it all out but here is a couple of pics of underneath the rear seat. I'm sure I forgot some things but you get the idea. I am currently making a "Pull Pal" so I will have that in my arsenal.

Tools:
Full set of hand tools
Climbing rope and gear
Makita grinder with cut off wheels
Makita impact gun with add on that turns it into a drill
First aid kit/survival kit
Two way radios
Long sleeve coveralls
Two tarps
CO2 Bottle
Tire repair kit
Mapp gas with self igniting nozzle

Recovery Gear:
2-30 foot snatch straps
15 foot chain
2-tree straps
2 pulleys
4 d-rings
2 shovels
Air Jack
Smittybilt recovery ramps
Hi-Lift (hate it but I throw it in on trips)

I thought I would put a few of my stuck pics on here so I have them for all eternity:

Looks like you are getting your moneys worth out of that rig. Pretty impressive abuse documentation. Remind me not to buy that one when you are done with it. lol

Buried to the axles, I bet that was fun to get out!

I like your recovery kit. ONce I get my swing out toolbox I'll have to come back to this thread to fill it up.

Originally Posted by myoung84

Buried to the axles, I bet that was fun to get out!

When I buried it the ground was soft from a recent rain storm. I walked out 14 miles before I was picked up. It was two weeks before I got back do to some trespassing issues. I was fighting the fact and they eventually dropped the charge. Anyway by then it was all dried up and took a little tug to drive right out

Originally Posted by wingerak92

I like your recovery kit. ONce I get my swing out toolbox I'll have to come back to this thread to fill it up.

I'm glad you like it. It's changed a lot over the years. I've been wheeling for 30 years so I've had to get unstuck many times both on my own and with other people. It seems like every time I wished I had something or another so it goes on the list.

join the club on these low and weak bumpers. you haven't 4wd hard enough if yours isn't banged up.

mike

I like your recovery "kit" as well. Where do I get the three chicks with shovels and how much!?

Originally Posted by jmbones

I like your recovery "kit" as well. Where do I get the three chicks with shovels and how much!?

They are actually my two daughters and my niece. They do everything together...we call them the Twinkies. Every spring break they "make" me take them up to Idaho to stay with my sister and play. We actually got stuck, had to walk out and then come back the next day and walk back and shovel it out. My Bro-in-law is a musician and walked back in with us while playing his banjo the whole way...made the walk much easier

Hardwired my rear locker in. Will do the front when the plug gets here.

Started a new thread about it here:

http://www.dodgetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=367338

Last weekend I took my rear seats out and cut off the hook so now the rear seats will fold down.

I also pulled off the front bumper. I didn't take pics but will take some when I start designing the front bumper. I think I am going to make it out 2" square tubing.

I got my new tires and rims in. They are 37x13.50R17 Nitto Mud Grapplers. Now I have to figure out what to do in the way of lifting it up so they fit.

I will keep you up to date when I figure it out

More pictures!!

Originally Posted by Juday

More pictures!!

I'll get some more. Right now they are off the truck while I figure out the lift. I'm leaning towards pre-runner fenders in front and Carli springs in the back. Of course I will need other things but once I get these I can figure out what I will need.