I am an unabashed fan of the Ram Power Wagon.
It’s the bulldozer of pickups with a war-fighting history that has transformed itself into a rock-crushing, winch-pulling, steamroller of the off-road world. When I try to imagine what competition goes against the Power Wagon, I cannot really find something that would be a fair fight. The Ford F-150 Raptor, a dune-hopping racer, is the hare to the Power Wagon’s heavy-duty tortoise. And we all know who won that race.
Maybe the Nissan Titan XD will be the Power Wagon’s nemesis, though it lacks the Power Wagon’s off-roading capabilities on paper.
For me, the Power Wagon stands alone.
Thursday, at the Chicago Auto Show, Ram will pull the covers off of the 2017 Power Wagon, attempting to add “more luxurious” to the list of accolades this well-deserving pickup has earned.
The 410-hp Hemi 6.4L V8 under the nicely sculpted hood rumbles with 428 pound-feet of power. The blacked-out grille (and matching black power coated bumpers) adds some intimidation to the Power Wagon. Neatly tucked in behind the bumper is a Warn 12,000-pound winch powerful enough to pull two F-150 Raptors out of a ditch at the same time.
The Hemi, which can deactivate four cylinders when there is not a power demand, includes high-volume oil cooler and aircraft grade stainless steel gaskets and fasteners to handle higher temperatures.
A new round of badging arrives on this pickup with Ram emblazoned on the front, rear and optional tri-fold tonneau cover. There are also some additional Power Wagon badges thrown around on the bed and under the Ram badge on the tailgate. No one will mistake this for just a run of the mill Ram 2500.
The bigger difference with this pickup is its interior, which Ram has upgraded considerably, taking lessons its learned with the Ram Rebel. Off road does not mean simple interiors.
The Power Wagon upgrades its insides with upgrades to the materials throughout the cabin. The seats come in a new material that includes an insert that that shows the Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac tire tread patter moving across it. Its kind of what other vehicles would look like after going head-to-head with the Power Wagon.
Optional leather seats come with Power Wagon stitched up the side bolster. Like the exterior, there’s no denying the vehicle you’re in.
Even when you start up the truck, the 7-inch LCD screen between the speedometer and tachometer lights up with Power Wagon graphics. Of course there’s also the 8.4-inch UConnect screen on the iron-gray center stack.
The deep-dish floor mats will catch any mud or slush and be nicely illuminated by LED lights in the foot wells (as well as door panels and on the ceiling). It’s a comfortable cabin that feels just as at home heading to the opera as it does searching for Sasquatch.
The best part of the Power Wagon is not what you can see but what makes it a Power Wagon.
The heavy duty frame, the 14.3 inches of ground clearance, 2.3 inches more than an average Ram 2500 Heavy Duty, an approach angle of 33.6 degrees, and the ability to ford 30 inches of water without ever slowing down are all the rough and tumble stats a big off roading truck needs. The suspension uses Bilstein shocks and was designed to provide additional travel. It includes an electronic disconnecting sway bar, which lets the axle move independently from the frame. The rear five-link coil suspension provides better articulation than most leaf springs.
Even with more off-road prowess, the Power Wagon can carry 1,500 pounds in its bed and tow 10,0000 pounds.
Of course the front and rear locking differentials give this pickup the ability to drive through, up and over nearly anything. While I haven’t driven this Power Wagon yet, I know its performance will vary far from previous models, and, those, those are simply brute-a-ful.
