Logo
No matching results

Recent Articles

Popular Makes

Body Types

10 Things You Need to Know About the 2017 Ram Power Wagon

AB
by Andy Bornhop
February 17, 2017
5 min. Reading Time
2017 RAM Power Wagon ・  Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

2017 RAM Power Wagon ・ Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

The original Dodge Power Wagon, the first mass-produced 4x4 pickup, appeared in the U.S. market in 1946, when it was built to satisfy returning GIs who wanted a tough go-anywhere truck like the Weapons Carriers they had been driving in World War 2. Dodge has continued to sell various Power Wagons on and off since then, with the nameplate returning for good in 2005. And now, for 2017, there’s a new Ram Power Wagon, and we at Autobytel are happy to report that it’s a far cry from an appearance package—it’s the toughest and most off-road-capable pickup Ram makes, thanks to a slew of substantive improvements. Let’s take a look at 10 things you need to know about the all-new 2017 Ram Power Wagon.

1. It’s Based on the Ram 2500 Heavy Duty 4x4 Crew Cab

That’s a good thing, because the Ram 2500 Heavy Duty 2500 4x4 Crew Cab is a tough and very well-equipped pickup truck with a stout hydroformed steel frame and an available Off-Road package. In Power Wagon form, this newest Ram pickup boasts a 410-horsepower 6.4-liter Hemi V8 (the Cummins diesel is not available), a 6-speed automatic transmission, a Borg-Warner transfer case, electronically locking front and rear differentials, and beefy axles with 8-lug hubs. The 4-door Crew Cab cabin, if you didn’t already know, is huge, which means the Power Wagon accommodates five adults with ease or six in pinch (when the center front seat is occupied).

 Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

2. Front Suspension: Built For Serious Off-Roading

In front, the 2017 Power Wagon has a version of the Ram Heavy Duty’s 3-link live axle, tuned for better off-road performance. In this “Articulink” arrangement, the forward ends of the Power Wagon’s lower control arms are fitted with an extra bushing that allows for an extra bit of axle articulation, to give the Power Wagon added capability when rock crawling.

Moreover, the Power Wagon also has a front anti-roll bar that can be disconnected via a switch on the dash. Electrically disconnecting this bar, possible only at speeds below 18 mph, improves the ride quality on rough terrain while also making the Power Wagon more capable in situations where axle articulation is your best friend. For the record, the new Power Wagon rides 2.3 inches higher than a standard Ram HD (which makes ingress and egress a challenge), and it boasts a healthy 26 inches of axle articulation—that difference in height between one front wheel when it’s all the way up and the other when it’s all the way down.

 Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

3. Rear Suspension: Built for Serious Off-Roading

Poke your head under that 6-foot, 4-inch covered bed and you can see the Power Wagon’s massive rear axle, which rides on coil springs and is controlled by upper and lower trailing arms, a Panhard rod, and a Bilstein damper attached to the top of the differential. This 5-link design is like that of the Ram 2500 HD, but the Power Wagon’s springs are softer, for added suppleness in the dirt. While the softer springs and added ride height (partly due to the aggressive 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac tires on forged 17-inch aluminum wheels) mean the Power Wagon doesn't tow or carry quite as much weight as a standard HD Ram, it’s a much more capable truck off-road, aided by specially tuned monotube Bilstein shock absorbers front and rear.

 Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

4. It Has Plenty of Power

The 6.4-liter iron-block Hemi V8 is a gem. While this pushrod 90-degree engine—aided by an oil cooler and pistons cooled by oil jets—doesn’t make this 7000-lb. truck feel especially quick, it always has power when you need it, and it never feels strained. It sends 410 horsepower and 429 lb.-ft. of torque to the wheels via a 6-speed automatic transmission and a stout rear end with 4.10:1 gearing. With that rear gear, plus a 2-speed transfer case with a 2.64:1 low range, and a 3.23:1 first-gear ratio, the Power Wagon has a crawl ratio of 3.23:1, which means this Ram pickup feels unstoppable, able to practically idle up challenging, rocky inclines like those we encountered on the Logondale network of trails near Lake Mead. In low-range 4wd, the 2017 Power Wagon has softened throttle response for added driver control.

 Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

6. The Design Story

The new Power Wagon has a macho look influenced by the 1500 Rebel pickup. Although the hood is the same as that of a regular ram pickup, the familiar cross-hatch grille has been tossed in favor of a black design with a silver “RAM” badge and no ram’s head logo. The grille is flanked by bi-functional projector headlamps with LED marker lights, and the bumpers are powdercoated black to match the grille. What’s more, the Power Wagon has black wheel flares, roof lights, and a standard Warn winch (a 12,000-lb. unit with a 90-foot cable) neatly integrated into the front bumper.

One other thing: The Ram Power Wagon badges on the tailgate are the largest we’ve seen on a production pickup, and while we were prepared to dislike the vertical graphics on the side of the bed, we grew to like them when we learned they pay homage to Power Wagons of the past, particularly the tough W150 driven by Gerald McRaney in the TV show Simon & Simon.

 Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

6. The Inside Story

Inside, the folks at Ram have updated the interior with better finishes and materials, plus contrasting stitching and front seats embroidered with the words “Power Wagon.” While you can get cloth seats on a base Tradesman model (a model with chrome bumpers and no Power Wagon graphics), the Power Wagon that Autobytel sampled had supportive seats covered in a handsome black leather with a tire-tread appearance.

New graphics adorn the 2017 Power Wagon's instrument cluster, and although the steering wheel tilts, it does not telescope, which means it might be wise to order the optional adjustable pedals if you need to accommodate drivers of various sizes. All in all, the Power Wagon is in possession of one of the nicest interiors in the truck business, in design, quality, function, and overall space.

 Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

7. Ram Power Wagon Pricing

The 2017 Ram Power Wagon carries an MSRP of $51,695, along with a hefty destination charge of $1320. If you want a Power Wagon based on the cheaper Ram 2500 4x4 Crew Cab Tradesman model (which does not have the graphics but is equipped with all the good off-road hardware, including skid plates), the MSRP starts at $46,995, with the same destination fee.

The particular Power Wagon we sampled, as opulent as a luxury sedan, had an out-the-door price of $62,905. The most expensive option was the $4995 Leather and Luxury Group that provides heated and vented front leather seats, a heated steering wheel, the Uconnect 8.4 infotainment system, an Alpine stereo with 9 speakers, a parking assist program, a backup camera, power folding mirrors and more. The RamBox cargo management system, with a handy locking toolbox integrated into each side of the cargo bed, is a wise $1295 option.

 Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

8. Ram Power Wagon Standard Equipment

This list of standard equipment is lengthy, so let’s boil it down to what’s most significant on the 2017 Ram Power Wagon. Besides all the legitimate off-road hardware (upgraded suspension, locking diffs, disconnecting sway bar, Warn winch, Hill Descent Control, and skid plates for the fuel tank and transfer case), the 2017 Ram Power Wagon has lots of other standard hardware included in its $51,695 base price. This includes front, side and curtain airbag protection, a 7-inch color driver-information display, 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS, electronic stability control, trailer brake control, a tire-pressure monitor, automatic headlamps, heated fold-away power mirrors, and a Class 5 receiver hitch. And if you want a nifty tri-fold cargo cover for the bed, that’s a $545 option. For some strange reason, the rear window defroster is a $195 option; that should be standard hardware on a truck this expensive.

 Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

9. How's It Drive?

Once you’re able to climb into this lifted beast (a chore in and of itself for shorter folks) and motor down the road a few miles, you’ll be impressed with the civility of the new 2017 Ram Power Wagon, which is characterized by good comfort, plenty of power, smooth shifts, and pleasing natural-effort steering. Sure, the aggressive Goodyears howl a bit on the highway, but that’s a small price to pay for the extreme off-road prowess this new Ram offers. That stated, the new Power Wagon is comfortable enough to be used on a daily basis, yet its off-road chops are second to none. This Ram is an expensive, well put together machine that’s best appreciated on the dirt, and where the parking spots are big and wide. And although the Power Wagon’s massive size precludes any EPA fuel economy ratings, don’t be surprised if this new Ram returns about 15 mpg if driven gently in the daily grind.

 Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

10. Ram Power Wagon: Important Numbers

Ground clearance, in inches.

Water fording depth, in inches.

Maximum payload, in pounds.

Maximum towing capacity, in pounds.

Approach angle, in degrees.

Departure angle, in degrees.

Size of the front differential, in inches.

Size of rear differential, in inches.

Size of the front axle shafts, in millimeters.

Size of the rear axle shafts, in millimeters.

Curb weight, in pounds.

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, in pounds.

Size of fuel tank, in gallons.

 Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles


`

Interested in Getting a New Car?

Used Cars Near You

No Data Available

Powered by Usedcars.com
©2024 AutoWeb, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Some content provided by and under copyright by Autodata, Inc. dba Chrome Data. © 1986-2024.