Ford has an answer to the Power Wagon

^TDZ would argue with you about the sky being blue given the opportunity to. It’s what he gets paid to do.
You both have good points, but remember he’s the that knows everything about vehicles inside and out, including the fact that 3/4ton trucks can only haul 2000lbs!

"I'm not sure why I can't resist responding to this ad hominem nonsense, but my axles have had auto lockers in them for 16 years. In that time, there have been precisely zero times when I have wanted the complexity of a selectable locker. I have wheeled some very tough trails, probably the toughest trails in North America on which a full bodied machine will fit. I'm not saying I've never taken a bypass, but when I did, it had nothing to do with the locker behavior. I've also idled over ledges on which the fancy Jeep Rubicons broke axleshafts, so I certainly wasn't babying it.

I even have onboard air and I just set up a new set of ring and pinions this year, so other than cost, there really would have been no additional work to get the axles set up with selectable lockers. I don't think they offer any performance gain for the trail so I do not have them. If I was going to buy lockers for my pickup, I would buy selectables just to save on tire wear and for ice and snow. Outside of that circumstance, my view is anyone who tells you auto lockers are no good for the trail, quite honestly, doesn't know what he's talking about."

Do you really off road? "Toughest trails in North America"? Kinda doubt it. Try having to traverse a off camber slippery slope at an angle with both axles locked up. You will simply slide down hill.

Selectable is better in every way. Tell me where your non selects do better.

Not an answer, more like a good ‘ol college try! Nothing comes close to the ability of a Powerwagon!

I believe I was mis understood by my following comment.

"Try going down and more import have to back down a very very steep hill that is loose sand or dirt. If your differential is locked steering becomes difficult if not impossible."

I did not mean turning the tires would be difficult I meant that the vehicle would not respond to a steering input much like happens on ice.

If you are backing down a very steep hill with a rear differential locked the only direction you may go is straight regardless where the front wheels are turned. If you start going sideways to the hill you risk rolling the vehicle.

There have been times when my group that goes jeeping we try hills that can not be completely climbed and you are forced to back down.

Lessmore wrote:
"Tremor'. Has to get an award for the dumbest name ever affixed to a vehicle.

Buffalo is bad too.

Durb wrote:
After you add in the 40mm of lift, the bed rails will be at 62 inches before you factor in the 35 inch tires. I doubt you will see many fifth wheel haulers order the option. I'm 6 ft.tall, 62 inches comes to my mouth. Doubt that I could even see the entire bed without the tailgate down. Not for me, it makes a pretty decent truck 99% useless.

3/4 ton trucks aren't for trailer towing anyway. The power wagon has always suffered from low payload with a 300 pound winch setup up front. The payload rating on the Power Wagon was lower than many 1/2 ton trucks when it first came out.

RCMAN46 wrote:

Try going down and more import have to back down a very very steep hill that is loose sand or dirt. If your differential is locked steering becomes difficult if not impossible.

This is why the Jeep Rubicon comes with selective locking differentials.

I have hydraulic assist steering and I have never found steering to even be difficult, and certainly not impossible. If I could shut off either locker, it'd be the rear one, because it's the rear that wants to push. The front tires are turned; they do fine without any differentiation, especially on soft surfaces. On ice or snow it'd be a different story. On the trail, an automatic locker is fine.

Jeep Rubicons come with selectable lockers because they are expected to deal with harsh weather and auto lockers can be scary on ice. It has nothing to do with off road ability; either type of locker works just fine off road.

Flashman wrote:

Correct - if you think selectable lockers are not the way to go you don't go off road much. Have front and rear ARBs on my Jeep and love them.

I'm not sure why I can't resist responding to this ad hominem nonsense, but my axles have had auto lockers in them for 16 years. In that time, there have been precisely zero times when I have wanted the complexity of a selectable locker. I have wheeled some very tough trails, probably the toughest trails in North America on which a full bodied machine will fit. I'm not saying I've never taken a bypass, but when I did, it had nothing to do with the locker behavior. I've also idled over ledges on which the fancy Jeep Rubicons broke axleshafts, so I certainly wasn't babying it.

I even have onboard air and I just set up a new set of ring and pinions this year, so other than cost, there really would have been no additional work to get the axles set up with selectable lockers. I don't think they offer any performance gain for the trail so I do not have them. If I was going to buy lockers for my pickup, I would buy selectables just to save on tire wear and for ice and snow. Outside of that circumstance, my view is anyone who tells you auto lockers are no good for the trail, quite honestly, doesn't know what he's talking about.

“If I wanted round headlights on a vehicle, I'd buy a 49 Ford F-1, 63 Impala or 55 Bel Air...”

‘55 Bel Airs were beautiful!

X2, BillyBob. Mama, Mama! My truck, my truck!

After you add in the 40mm of lift, the bed rails will be at 62 inches before you factor in the 35 inch tires. I doubt you will see many fifth wheel haulers order the option. I'm 6 ft.tall, 62 inches comes to my mouth. Doubt that I could even see the entire bed without the tailgate down. Not for me, it makes a pretty decent truck 99% useless.

Lessmore wrote:
"Tremor'. Has to get an award for the dumbest name ever affixed to a vehicle.

They could call it the Ford Graboid or the Ford Edsel II. That would make Tremor sound like a pretty good name. :)