Who needs a RAM TRX when you have the AEV Prospector XL?

[@derrickvarnadore1682]

I have a 2016 prospector power wagon from AEV. It’s the best goddamn truck I’ve ever witnessed. I use it daily for tree work. It has never failed me or left me unable to complete a job. Mine is a 6.4 because I needed the snorkel to actually allow water passage through rivers. I honestly think it’s the best medium duty truck ever built… also the 6.4 is great because diesel isn’t always easy to find in remote portions of Appalachia. Pinnacle of truck evolution is AEV

[@gavinwalker5686]

@Derrick Vernadore I really enjoyed this comment! I’m jealous of how much fun you have in your truck. I think when these diesels have snorkels, it’s more to minimize dust intake, not a true snorkel, right? I didn’t know the 6.4 had a real one. That’s awesome man. I lived back east when younger, Appalachia is beautiful. 👊

[@kmg3144]

Just curious on the 6.4 prospector what are you getting on highway mpg and mpg off-road? Curious about the range with the larger tires.

[@derrickvarnadore1682]

@@kmg3144 seems like 9 mpg no matter what I do… but the truck has a tuner I have no idea how to use and it’s heavier than most with its pull out bed and drawers…. And all the tools.

[@TheGoodTheBadTheRowdy]

My son built his 2500 chassis cab with a 4 seasons camper out back, to look as close to an aev as he could, might not be pretty or have all the bells and whistles but that thing has taken him places and carried extra gear and fuel, his little Tacoma never could before. Hes now been swapping a 5.3L into his tacoma as it was around 800k and needed a new heart haha. He went down the rabbit hole haha.

[@gavinwalker5686]

That sounds awesome. Tacomas are sweet rigs and that will be awesome with the 5.3 in there. But, the size of a full size bed can’t compare. They can hold so much more gear.

[@djjmann]

Known of AEV for years and lusted over the Prospectors. Videos and Photos simply do not do these justice. They are ENORMOUS

[@gavinwalker5686]

@djjmann I totally agree. They are so impressive in person.

[@stevehinkley9099]

Good call on the 8100 shock upgrade, you won't regret it. Also - if you plan to offload this much, get the Carli front lower shock mounts installed. The stock mounts don't hold up well with the new mounting for the 8100 shocks. It's a $300 upgrade that you'll be thrilled to have.

[@gavinwalker5686]

@Steve Hinkley will do. Seems like a WAY better suspension system with those. Do you happen to speak from experience and have one of these?

[@terrytuepah171]

Good luck on your truck build 👍🏻it took me 6 years of saving but I got a 2021 75 anniversary power wagon and have been slowly building it out to my dream truck. Like you say it ain’t cheep but you do have one of the best trucks for off road when it’s done.

[@gavinwalker5686]

@Terry Tuepah right on brother! I saved for years for a truck too haha. Good luck on your build as well 👊

[@AnthonyBennettKY]

Many know about them. They are crazy expensive. You didn’t know isn’t the same as other people not knowing. Now, you can afford one, doesn’t mean everyone else can.

[@gavinwalker5686]

@Anthony Bennett lol I can’t afford one. They are crazy expensive, I feel like the value is catching up to the price more lately since the off road version of half ton trucks, like Raptors and TRXs are are approaching 6 figures, the price leap to one of these isn’t as dramatic.

[@woolengrappler]

I love the AEV Ram. One day! My biggest issue is it’s so tall and I’m only 5’6” so reaching the bed would be a pain.

[@gavinwalker5686]

@woolengrappler I’m only a few inches taller and I feel like it was about chest height 😂 worth the struggle though for sure, they are such nice rigs. I just appreciate how functional and seamless the mods are. Sometimes in the process of heavily modifying a truck you mess up the lines and lose the beauty. I love how these are aesthetic and also super functional.

[@woolengrappler]

@@gavinwalker5686 sounds like I need a step stool or some platform shoes

[@gavinwalker5686]

@woolengrappler 😂 the platform shoes would definitely be the way to go.

[@10-Man]

$117,000. Thats Stupid Money expensive! The working man that knows how to use a truck like that will rarely be able to afford it! …That’s Nuts!

[@gavinwalker5686]

@10MAN yeah that’s a crap ton of money, although it seems that it’s getting more “affordable” as time goes on. A few years ago a price like that for a truck would seem out of this world, but now that Raptors are hitting into the 90s and I’ve seen some loaded up powerstrokes breaking that 6 digit mark, so it seems like less of a jump to get to the PXL than it used to.

[@10-Man]

@@gavinwalker5686 I hear you brother! To explain my perspective, I’m still in shock & reeling from the price’s on used trucks, one of which i recently purchased! & thats a fraction of where your at, So I acknowledge your point! The trucks are holding higher resale value, especially ones well maintained & taken care of! But my issue is with the economics of how we got here & thats another conversation! Good Luck to you & i hope you get the Build your after! That AEV is a Rock Star build!

[@gavinwalker5686]

@10MAN used trucks are ridiculous 🤯 buying one was probably a tough pill to swallow unless you found a deal somehow. Once that shortage hit people thought there vehicles were made of gold 😂 and thank you, I hope I can get that build too, with the real estate market slowing so did my bank account, so we’ll see 😩

[@bradentokoly]

Why does AEV or the dealership leave the factory spare mounted under the truck? This is the second one I've seen with it on a dealer's lot. It cannot, under any circumstances, use that spare... so, why do they leave it mounted?

[@gavinwalker5686]

@Braden Tokoly that’s a great question! Do they just figure it’s not there’s to toss since I technically came with the truck?

[@TheGoodTheBadTheRowdy]

Good lord, my prospector is a green pukey color, kinda wish I had white now hahahaha, looks so good!

[@gavinwalker5686]

White is always clean, but I actually like that green you’re talking about!

[@TheGoodTheBadTheRowdy]

@@gavinwalker5686 going to be getting rid of soon! Just got a 5500 in, going to be building! Its white haha. The green is nice though!

[@gavinwalker5686]

Dang you’re going to build up a 5500? That’s going to be rad!!

[@rhettcollins8682]

Just bought my dream AEV from Larry Miller. 30” miles in got a DEF service light. Then it dropped off. 😢. Who in utah dies the deletes ? Any suggestion would be great. Grest video. Thx.

[@gavinwalker5686]

@Rhett Collins CONGRATS!!!!! Dude heck yeah man, stoked you got an AEV! Assuming it’s a prospector xl if it’s diesel? I’m not sure who does deletes, but scroll through comments and maybe someone mentioned it!

[@CoyoteWoods-fm3gj]

Becareful boys epa is watching.

[@gavinwalker5686]

@CoyoteWoods-fm3gj 👀 haha seriously

[@TheTeaguecowley]

Its a rear spacer lift. You can't have the same payload, and tow capacity and have good suspension flex. I wonder how these compare with the Raptor.

[@gavinwalker5686]

@Teague Cowley definitely a different beast than the raptor. These probably wouldn’t handle speed very well off road, but they have way more ground clearance, so would likely be much better on large rocks. Plus, these tow way more. Raptors are rated for I think 8k? But they squat a lot so probably wouldn’t do that great maxed out.

[@TheTeaguecowley]

@@gavinwalker5686 Lets just compare offroading to offroading, not jumping, or being crazy just offroading...

[@gavinwalker5686]

@Teague Cowley I’d say they would be comparable in capability with the normal off roading that most people do. The pro about the PXL is that is has insane ground clearance, the raptor has better flex but wouldn’t be able to tackle those bigger rocks 🤷‍♂️. Coolness factor wise, which lets be honest plays a role, I’d give it to the PXL purely based off how much more rare to see they are. I see 10 raptors a day easy, they don’t even catch my attention anymore, even though they are dang good trucks.

[@mjareacts2731]

The AEV Prospector XL is a hell of a truck, but considering the 117k price tag, I'll wait for the Silverado ZR2 2500.

[@gavinwalker5686]

@MJA Reacts 117k is no joke, and this didn’t even have the snorkel or the upgraded shocks. How much is that ZR2 2500 supposed to spec out at?

[@mjareacts2731]

@@gavinwalker5686 I'm not sure, but if it's in the range of my 1500 ZR2 (76k) it would be significantly less with the left and advanced shocks, also it has a front and rear selectable locker. Now the Bison version of the ZR2 2500 might cost in that 117k range, so I guess it's a toss up.

[@gavinwalker5686]

@MJA Reacts if it’s in the 70s, or even 80s I think that would be very appealing to a lot of people. With the AEV having 40s, perhaps the bison version would be more of a direct comparison. But either way even if it’s a similar price point, I think competition is always a good thing for the consumer.

[@mjareacts2731]

@@gavinwalker5686 exactly

[@xzerbaluyot9994]

I want one but I'm worried about reliability. I heard transmission problems and def system problems with Ram? What's your input?

[@gavinwalker5686]

🤷‍♂️ who knows really, I think it’s kinda the luck of the draw when picking each specific truck. My transmission has been ok so far but I only have 23k miles and I’m not turning 40s, I only have 35s for now. My Def system has been ok too so far. It had problems last summer but it turns out it was my pcm, not actually my def system. So it’s really hard to say.

[@xzerbaluyot9994]

@Gavin Walker I get it's the luck of the draw but if I'm spending 120k for a truck, it better be damn reliable. Don't get me wrong it looks badass though.

[@gavinwalker5686]

I agree with you 100%.

[@PamDavisH]

Deleting a DEF system is illegal per EPA regulations. You might not get caught in Utah if you live in a rural county and don't go through a dealer to sell vehicle. But it's still illegal under federal law, which is the law that matters.

[@gavinwalker5686]

Yeah that federal law definitely puts a damper on the delete. I’m religious, and I am an Eagle Scout so I’m really not good at being defiant or sneaky. The effort to have integrity and do the right thing is hard wired into my mental operating system whether I like it to not 😂

[@jonchase7752]

I need the front bumper for a 1500

[@gavinwalker5686]

@Jon Chase Does AEV make one for a 1500?

[@jonchase7752]

@@gavinwalker5686 idk I’m saying I want one for a 1500

[@gavinwalker5686]

@Jon Chase I love how clean and how well aev matches their bumpers to the look of the vehicle.

[@jimlelan4906]

What is the status of your 2500 with the dealer and RAM? 🤔

[@gavinwalker5686]

@Jim Lelan I filmed an update on that that I was going to upload first, but there was a terrible glare so the video was even worse than my videos usually are 🤦🏼‍♂️ lol. But a sneak peak for you, is that it’s still in the shop with the dealer and FCA going back and forth requesting and completing tests before determining which system needs to be replaced.

[@johnstepanic1183]

How much will the total conversion cost?

[@gavinwalker5686]

I do show the window sticker towards the end of the video, base price of the PXL is 21k, but then there are extras. Probably around 30k. Which seemed crazy at first, but then I saw guys spending 60k to build out a jeep, lol, and thought maybe that wasn’t so bad. I’ll definitely piece it together and build it over time. The only things you really have to do at the same time are the lift, tires, fenders, and bumpers.

[@jabsterlustina946]

MPG?

[@gavinwalker5686]

@Jabster Lustina I’ve heard it gets 13 driving around and a little better on the freeway 🤷‍♂️ but there’s no official ratings like normal cars have.

[@jabsterlustina946]

Okay thanks. Im interested in getting one.

[@gavinwalker5686]

@Jabster Lustina very cool, let me know if you do! I’ll be jealous 😁 there are quite a few options for the build out, re-gearing is one of them. I’d recommend it for sure, otherwise it’s sluggish trying to turn those tires. I’d also recommend the 8100 series shock upgrade. Other than that, if you chose lights or winch or whatever, it could be added later pretty easily.

[@jabsterlustina946]

@@gavinwalker5686 yeah definitely at least 4:88 with those monster tires.

[@gavinwalker5686]

@Jabster Lustina I think that would get them turning good.

[@josemuniz2878]

Too bad they don’t put lockers in it. Bad that’s a awesome truck.

[@gavinwalker5686]

@Jose Muniz yeah I really wish I’d had lockers too. That’s the only thing it’s missing.

[@jimvalentine3444]

Why go through all the hassle of a diesel? I have a power wagon with the 6.4 and it's great. I've had several diesels, just not worth it.

[@gavinwalker5686]

@Jim Valentine I go back and forth with that actually. I like the idea of being able to get a 5th wheel later without having to change trucks, and I like that the mileage doesn’t tank as much when I’d get really big tires on it. But, the reality is, I’d probably be fine with either.

[@jimvalentine3444]

@@gavinwalker5686 I put 37's on the power wagon and didn't see much change. As far as towing, spending $10-$15k extra for a diesel to get 3-4 extra mpg doesn't add up for me. Mine is my daily driver and it will do hell's revenge. It gets 9-10 towing and 12.5 hwy. Really, after spending $80+ for it gas is the cheapest part...and no delete issues.

[@gavinwalker5686]

@Jim Valentine you make some great points 🤔

[@glenparks5175]

They turned the new Deisels into shit, with horse piss Def and all the smog there big turds that they come after u even if u try tune them go with gas

[@gavinwalker5686]

@Glen Parks this is my first diesel. Definitely something cool about it, perhaps it’s nostalgia, perhaps it’s just because it makes me feel tough and I’m compensating 😂 but they definitely aren’t what they used to be reliability wise. They sure can tow more nowadays with the right setup though. Some 2500 Cummins only tow 14,000, mine is rated for 20,000. Not that I need that much to be honest, not yet anyways.

[@YZFR1000]

I'll take a custom san rail or $80k side by side that will go anywhere

[@gavinwalker5686]

@GSXR4LIFE there are definitely cheaper, and better, off-road options to get to some crazy places. I’ll be taking a family of 6 to those crazy places, which is why I lean towards something like this.

[@echochamber4420]

Who needs a trx? How about those that want to get going rather than putt putting on down the road

[@gavinwalker5686]

They’re cool and all, so are raptors, but I’d rather have one of these bad boys. Plus, I feel like I see a raptor or TRX in every parking lot, at every stoplight, and so their commonality kinda takes away from how cool they are because they’re simply everywhere. I only see 1 or 2 prospector xls a year, and usually it’s briefly driving the other way on the freeway.

[@niekog83]

all that money and it wont tow a heavy 5th wheel. I imagine the payload cap is 1500 pounds. What a waste of money.

[@gavinwalker5686]

Actually no, it’s the same as stock. Typically with lifts it does hurt the trucks capability, but the AEV lifts are designed to maintain factory specs on payload and towing. I’m sure it’ll get that fifth wheel moving a little slower with the tire size being what it is, but it’s still rated for it.

[@warmaster88]

Sir that's a ram

[@gavinwalker5686]

The pinnacle of rams

[@SkywhiteChannel]

Capable? It has no lockers!

[@gavinwalker5686]

@TDGarage lockers make everything better, but, I’ve seen these roll through Moab with no problems, and do all sorts of other crazy stuff, so I’d say yes, capable. They have a lot of contact pressure and tons of clearance, so that helps compensate a little.

[@Southernblueeyes78]

Price is ridiculous

[@gavinwalker5686]

@Southernblueeyes78 they are quite expensive.

[@mjareacts2731]

@@gavinwalker5686 that 117k price tag makes the upcoming Silverado ZR2 2500 feel very appealing.

[@gavinwalker5686]

MJA Reacts hopefully that cheaper price tag would but add some healthy competition into the marketplace and cause AEV to ease up on their mod prices a bit.

[@Bpf1893]

It’s a real shame what the epa and democrats did to the Diesel engine.

[@gavinwalker5686]

@BPG 1893 it really is

[@glenparks5175]

You say it's the Democrats explain there as many Republicans in our government as Democrats, they all fall from same tree there both crap politicians

[@gavinwalker5686]

@Glen Parks that’s very true. There are very few politicians who actually care nowadays from both sides.

[@evansorensen7911]

The smog pollution diesels produce is undeniably bad for the air. In the Commercial trucking industry I’m glad these systems exist. They do produce a much cleaner running engine. That being said, for individuals who own a pickup truck the computers should not be shutting you down so easily. These are manufacturing issues forcing deletes. The filtration systems need to be built much better and not force engine shut downs.(there’s never anything actually wrong with the engine in these cases)

[@gavinwalker5686]

@Evan Sorensen The system definitely needs to be built to a higher standard, I agree. Long term reliability is a big reason a lot of people delete, some like to roll coal and think it looks coal, personally I wouldn’t want my truck to do that. I think as a general rule less pollution is always good, but there is somewhat of a balance between how much pollution and resources are used trying to fix the pollution problem. 🤷‍♂️ and I’m not saying deletes are always justified, I mean that in general when a “solution” is forced before it’s ready and reliable.

[@240TAB00SRG]

Don't to copy Ford style

[@gavinwalker5686]

I think Ford copied these with their Tremor packages. But the tremor is nothing like the prospector xl.

[@240TAB00SRG]

Just copy Ford f250

[@gavinwalker5686]

For doesn’t have anything quite like this but the Tremor package is pretty cool.