515 mile road trip last weekend, in my Power Wagon!

powerwagontim · Post by **powerwagontim** » Tue Jun 23, 2009 5:23 pm

Let me start with the warning, this is a story about a Power Wagon. I figure since I am restoring an M37, I might get a little slack showing up with a Power Wagon story! A little background on my truck. It is a 1957, with a 318 Poly, NP435 tranny, Dennan Overdrive, 11.00x16 Michelin XZL tires. Lockrite locker in the rear and an ARB locker in the front. 5:83 gears. This truck is very able, both on and off road.
This last weekend was a Family re-union near Camden Maine. I live near Burlington Vermont, 250 miles from Camden. My Wife and youngest Daughter are away in Guatemala at a language School, and my older Daughter is away for the summer working. That left my 22 year old son and me. A perfect opportunity to drive the Power Wagon. I have driven it to Rallys 150 miles each way before, but this would be the longest trip for me. We left Friday morning at 6 AM. After a couple of hours we hit light rain. About an hour into the rain, my drivers side electric wiper motor quit. We pulled into a parking lot, and I put a volt meter on the dead motor and was getting full voltage. I pulled the motor out and swapped it for the passenger side motor. Got them all back together and of course both started working again.
Two of my Sisters were also heading over to the Re-union, and had been half an hour behind me an hour before, and no doubt gaining on me. Right after I started swapping the wipers, they caught up with Gordon and I. We left with them following me, now with both wipers going back and forth happily. The rest of the trip over was a series of turns, never staying on the same road very long, and the GPS was doing a great job directing us. I had mapped out the route beforehand with a paper map, and had also done a route on the Streets and Trips program. As we neared the Cousins House, we were turning onto smaller and smaller roads, and when we were about 2 miles from the end, we turned onto a small dirt road. Remember, my 2 sisters in a Toyota Camry were following me. The road starts getting smaller and smaller, and steeper, and rougher. I stop and walk back to my Sister's car. She was mad as a hornet, her car having bottomed out twice! (Oh my!) She was unable to get turned around, so I turned her around and the 2 Sisters went back toward the paved roads to try to find their way on better roads. I walked back to the Power Wagon, and could see that the road was getting much more rugged so I locked in my front hubs. We went on, and soon I needed to be in four wheel drive. Soon after that, I was really glad to have the front air locker. The road turned into a wash of just big rocks, and for about a quarter of a mile, it was far more challenging than ANYTHING I have encountered at a Rally. It was a load of fun! We got through, the road improved, and shortly we popped out onto a paved road, victorious! Another 2 tenths of a mile and we were at my Cousins house. We beat my Sistes by about a half an hour!
Over the course of the weekend the truck received a lot of attention, and I answered a lot of questions. I gave a bunch of rides, on the road, and even my 84 year old Aunt wanted a ride! What a trooper.
On Sunday morning, my Cousin wanted to take me to a guy he knew who has a Power Wagon. We drove into his yard and it was a blue 64, with a snow plow and a big water tank on a steel flatbed. She was rough, but a steady worker. The truck had factory power steering and rear shocks, as well as 2 sun visors and an arm rest. The owner was really nice, but didnt have much idea where to get stuff. I gave him a list of the suppliers.
We headed home about noon, and got home at six. There was a section of Interstate 89 that we had bypasses on the way over, but on the way home hopped on. The truck cruised at 65 with no complaint, tach at about 2,100, temp stayed good. Along a long flat section, I eased it up to 70, and again no ill effects, but I brought it right back to 65. Final mileage was 515 miles round trip and she ran like a dream the whole way.
When we got home, I gassed her up, we got 8 1/2 mpg (ugg). But, about 100 FPG (Fun per Gallon)
Thanks for allowing a story about a non military truck.
Tim

HingsingM37 · Post by **HingsingM37** » Wed Jun 24, 2009 1:32 am

Tim ,
Thanks for sharing. Sounds like you had a blast

monkeymissile · Post by **monkeymissile** » Wed Jun 24, 2009 2:17 am

My brother lived in Monkton for a while, nice tiny town

powerwagontim · Post by **powerwagontim** » Wed Jun 24, 2009 2:39 am

Hi Monkeymissle,
I have lived in Monkton since I was 4, What is your Brother's name? If I didnt know him, I probably said hi to him getting coffee at the General Store sometime!
Small world.

And, yes David, it was a real blast!
Tim

Lifer · Post by **Lifer** » Wed Jun 24, 2009 3:31 am

Great story!

Now, you can look forward to repeating the trip with yoour M37 once you get it on the road. Of course, we'll want another write-up on that trip.

Carter · Post by **Carter** » Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:46 am

What a wonderful adventure, I wouldn't try a trip like that with my stock (slow

) truck, glad all went well and thanks for the write-up. Power Wagon or M37 it's all Dodge and great fun.

monkeymissile · Post by **monkeymissile** » Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:52 am

powerwagontim wrote:Hi Monkeymissle,
I have lived in Monkton since I was 4, What is your Brother's name? If I didnt know him, I probably said hi to him getting coffee at the General Store sometime!
Small world.

And, yes David, it was a real blast!
Tim

Tim, it's probably been 10 years since he lived there. His name is Greg Brown. I think I've been to the General Store. I think VT is great.

Post by **Cal_Gary** » Wed Jun 24, 2009 5:27 am

Great story Tim-thanks for sharing it!
Gary