2020 Ram 2500 Power Wagon Road Test and Review

About 10 years ago, factory-built hardcore off-road trucks became a thing. Now they’re a big deal. And their popularity continues to grow. The list of automakers now offering pickups and SUVs with hardcore off-road hardware like locking differentials and lifted suspensions is longer than ever.

One of the most capable off-road machines out there is the 2020 Ram 2500HD Power Wagon. It not only has the coolest name in the history of pickups, the Power Wagon is also the only full-size truck available with solid front and rear axles for durability, locking front and rear differentials for additional traction, and a swaybar-disconnect system to increase its suspension’s travel and articulation. The truck also includes a standard 12,000-pound winch hidden in its powder-coated front bumper and its Ram’s most powerful Hemi-powered pickup. How’s that for hardcore? It competes with the new Ford Super Duty Tremor, Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD High Country, GMC Sierra 2500HD AT4, and Nissan Titan XD Pro-4X.

Dodge first used the Ram hood ornament on its vehicles way back in 1933, and the Ram name first appeared on a Dodge truck in 1981. Eleven years ago, in a marketing play that some still question, Dodge’s line of pickups split off and became the Ram brand. The Power Wagon name dates back to World War II.

Built in Saltillo, Mexico, the 2020 Ram 2500HD Power Wagon comes only with four-wheel drive, a 410-horsepower 6.4-liter gas V8, and a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission. Ram does offer its legendary Cummins turbodiesel engine in some 2500HD trim levels, but it isn’t offered in the Power Wagon. Although the inline six-cylinder makes considerably more torque than the V8, it’s extremely heavy and would compromise the Power Wagon’s off-road abilities. Ram also offers just one body style, a Crew Cab with a 6-foot-4-inch bed. The base price is $54,945, including a $1,695 destination charge. Our test vehicle was equipped with a long list of options and cost about $70,000.

Most off-road pickups, big and small, sacrifice their payload capacity and towing capability to perform better in the dirt. Their lifted suspensions and other special equipment severely compromise their traditional truck performance, so they become one-dimensional weekend playthings.

The Power Wagon, however, is different. Because it’s based on Ram’s Heavy Duty 2500 model, it’s still a real work truck. Although its maximum payload of 1,510 lbs isn’t worth bragging about, it can tow nearly 10,000 lbs. That’s thousands of pounds more than a Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, which is based on the lighter-duty F-150, or the mid-size Chevrolet Colorado ZR2. That makes this truck more useful and a heck of a value compared to many others on the market. Ford, however, has just launched the Super Duty Tremor, which is an off-road package available on its F-250 and F-350 trucks. They’re not as capable as the Power Wagon off-road, but they are available with more horsepower and torque, and they can haul and tow more than the Ram.

The 2020 Ram Power Wagon is significantly more off-road capable than the other versions of the Ram 2500HD. It’s unique coil-spring rear suspension, its electronically disconnecting front stabilizer bar, and an additional joint at the upper axle mount called Ram Articulink give it the most wheel travel in its class.

For greater durability, Ram beefs up its rear axle, and every Power Wagon gets skid plates to protect its underside and powder-coated bumpers. Taller springs and larger 33-inch diameter tires add about 2 inches of additional ground clearance. We measured 9 inches of clearance in the front and 8.75 inches in the rear. Special Bilstein shocks are standard, and the Power Wagon’s two-speed transfer case has a short 2.64:1 low range. It combines with its 4.10 axle ratio for a 35:1 crawl ratio, which gives the truck an impressive ability to claw over rough terrain and climb steep grades. Lock its front and rear axles, and it can climb hills the Tremor can’t. However, the Ford can drive through 33 inches of water, 3 inches more than the Ram.

Turn from the paved road into your local off-road park, and the 2020 Ram 2500HD Power Wagon will handle almost anything you can throw at it. We spent an afternoon on the trails in our test truck and came away impressed with its ability to climb hills and articulate over deep ruts. It’s too big to fit down some trails, but its suspension travel, its ground clearance, and the traction of its Goodyear tires made most obstacles easy to negotiate. It even climbed the biggest, steepest hill in the park with no drama.

The Power Wagon’s body protection is minimal, however, so we didn’t do much rock crawling for fear of denting its bodywork. Although its bumpers are steel and powder-coated, there are no rock sliders under its doors. Unlike most modern trucks, you still engage its four-wheel drive system with a lever on the floor. It isn’t as easy as pushing a button, which is now the norm, but it fits the Power Wagon’s rugged, retro vibe. Although it takes a bit of muscle to get it into 4L, the truck's locking differentials and swaybar-disconnect system are activated easily with buttons on the dash.

The Ram’s 6.4-liter Hemi V8 is smooth and strong and sounds spectacular, with a traditional V8 rumble right out of the 1960s. With 427 lb-ft of torque, it gets this big, burly 6,800-pound truck off the line with a shove, and there’s plenty of passing power on the highway. Accelerating to 60 mph takes about 8.5 seconds. We’re also very impressed with the Power Wagon’s comfortable ride, even with an empty bed. It offers the smoothest ride in the heavy-duty truck segment, thanks to its unique five-link coil-sprung rear suspension.

With Ford, Chevy, and GMC now using a 10-speed automatic transmission, you may think the Ram’s eight-speed is behind the times, but its performance says otherwise. It’s always in the right gear and always ready with a quick downshift. To keep fueling costs down, its big V8 runs on 87-octane regular-grade gas, but it’s a thirsty beast. Heavy-duty pickups don’t receive fuel economy ratings from the EPA. We averaged 12.2 mpg in mixed driving around Los Angeles.

Once you climb up inside, this is a very comfortable truck. Ram has hit a grand slam with the Power Wagon’s interior, which is by far the best cabin in the heavy-duty truck class. Its large, well-shaped seats proved to be comfortable on long drives. Options on our test truck included heated front and rear seats, as well as a heated steering wheel and power-adjustable pedals, which make it easy for shorter drivers to get situated. The driver’s seat is also height-adjustable.

Build quality is extremely high. The Ram’s interior is well-assembled, and everything feels solid. It’s also ergonomic and attractive with an abundance of chrome trim and clean, clear gauges that pack a ton of information. We also appreciated our truck’s four USB ports and its huge 12-inch touchscreen, which is the largest in the class. Its navigation and infotainment systems are easy to use, and you’ll get used to its rotary shifter after just a few days.

Room in the Ram’s rear seat rivals most New York City apartments, and the truck has more interior storage than a mid-century rancher. There are two big gloveboxes, huge door bins, and a massive center console that flips up to create a sixth seat. There’s also a deep open cubby in the dash for phones and wallets and five cupholders.

Cool bed features include a spray-in bedliner, LED lighting, and a light aluminum tailgate that’s damped so it doesn’t slam down. You can also open it with a button on the key fob like the trunk of a luxury car. We’re also huge fans of the optional RamBox cargo management system, which provides covered and lockable storage areas on either side of the pickup bed. Fill them with ice and drinks and you’re the hit of any tailgate party.

This is also a tough-looking truck that reeks of purpose. Power Wagons get a blacked-out grille, black trim, and muscular fender flares. It sits tall on its dark 17-inch wheels and chunky set of white-letter Goodyears.

But it’s the Power Wagon’s retro graphics that make this truck. They’re fashioned after a similar scheme worn by Power Wagons back in the 1970s. Back then, they were part of the optional Macho appearance package and were made famous on the 1980s TV show "Simon and Simon." Ram brought the look back in 2017, and the Power Wagon has pegged the cool meter every since.

For off-roaders who want more, Ram is rumored to be working on the Rebel TRX. Although the company won’t confirm the truck’s existence, some have already nicknamed it the Raptor Killer. It’ll have a more capable suspension than the current Ram Rebel 1500, and the supercharged Hemi V8 with over 700 hp from the Dodge Challenger Hellcat.

We’re sure it’s going to be an impressive machine, but the 2020 Ram Power Wagon is the truck we lust after. Its interior is class-leading and its unique rear suspension gives it an incredibly smooth ride. We’re also impressed with its well-tuned transmission, its powerful Hemi engine, and its performance and comfort, both on and off the road. And it can still handle a hard day’s work. It’s an exceptional truck. If you’re shopping for a luxurious off-road capable full-size pickup, it’s hard to beat.