The Ultimate Heavy-Duty Off-Road Truck

Take a heavy-duty pickup, but make it an off-road monster. This is the Power Wagon way. Motivated by Ram’s glorious 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 (no diesel option), the Power Wagon leans into its all-American V-8 roots. Ram has made a name for itself as a brand centered around models that appeal to the rowdier side of things. It wasn’t always that way, though. The Power Wagon’s more humble beginnings can be traced as far back to 1945. Versions of its more utilitarian life were produced up until 1980, when the model disappeared. Those decades saw tow trucks, military vehicles, and emergency service wagons.

The nameplate returned for 2005, based on the Dodge Ram 2500, a similar recipe Ram uses today. Rather than being aimed at companies or government, the Power Wagon was reborn, again as a multi-use, utilitarian vehicle, but one that was better suited for everyday drivers. This time, you get two trucks in one. The off-road segment has only grown, and there was already a massive aftermarket being created for pickups. Additionally, folks needed something to tow their toys with. That’s where the 2500 part comes in. Since the Power Wagon is based on a 2500, but still offers all the equipment of a designated off-roader, owners can have their cake and eat it, too.

Base Trim Engine

6.4L HEMI V8 ICE

Base Trim Transmission

8-speed automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

Rear-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

405 HP @5600 RPM

Base Trim Torque

429 lb.-ft. @ 4000 RPM

Base Trim Battery Type

Lead acid battery

Make

Ram

Model

2500

Segment

Full-Size Pickup Truck

Pros & Cons

• Reliable powertrain options
• Competitive pricing
• Easy user experience/interface

• Poor fuel economy
• Some cheap interior materials
• Odd new styling

Year Make Model Trim First Impressions

I sure was glad there was more than just “Liability only” coverage on the Ram Power Wagon, because “It’s a very pretty truck.” Okay, cheesy Twister quotes aside, the Ram 2500, specifically in Power Wagon trim, and especially in a bright red paint, really is a very pretty truck, indeed. Too pretty to be perfectly clean, which meant a trip to the local mountain OHV area was necessary. Hungry Valley was the location, and it had a great mix of flat, sand, ruts, and inclines with which to test the Power Wagon’s off-road capability.

Even in a seemingly desolate and harsh environment, the Power Wagon still looks seriously menacing. Its tall, large, and in-charge attitude makes you feel like you can tackle anything. I loved the integrated winch up front and its overall beefier stance. The side graphics that state it is, in fact, a Power Wagon are cheeky but add to the occasion. Perhaps the large badge on the tailgate is a bit much, but nothing about the Power Wagon suggests reservation. I appreciate its honesty as a rowdy, no excuses thing.

Exterior Dimensions

Driving Impressions And Performance

Daily driving the Ram Power Wagon is just as you’d imagine driving a 2500-level truck would be. That is, except you’re elevated significantly higher as the off-road tires and factory lift provide a hilariously tall driving position. Even in the lowest seating position, I felt like I was towering over every other vehicle, and nearly level to those driving larger semi-trucks. It’s odd considering the tires aren’t actually that large. 285-section Goodyear Wranglers are hardly the most aggressive tire to run on such a massive vehicle, but remember the Power Wagon must be good at towing, too.

This means turning over the tires, while still pulling weight, requires a slightly smaller tire, one that’s better suited for on-road with less rolling resistance. I could see this truck being completely at home with a 37-inch tire option. It seems to be all the rage with other manufacturers, so why not Ram and the Power Wagon for those who utilize the off-road features more often than the towing ones? Speaking of which. I wanted to dust off the ol’ ATV and take it for a spin in the mountains. The Power Wagon, with its larger six+ foot bed (a result of Ram using the 2500 platform), perfectly fits the quad in the cargo area with space to spare. More importantly, I could easily close the tailgate, unlike, say, an F-150 Raptor or Ram TRX with their 5.5-foot cargo beds.

Braking And Acceleration

She’s not slow. Exclusively built with the legendary Hemi V-8 under the hood, the Ram Power Wagon reaches 60 miles per hour in about seven seconds. For a heavy-duty truck weighing close to 7,000 pounds, that’s pretty brisk. Sorry diesel lovers, this one is gasoline only. For that, you’d want a different beast altogether. The Hemi feels punchy at any RPM, and has a noticeable growl when you really open it up. The eight-speed automatic does power management well, always keeping things moving smoothly and efficiently.

The nature of a naturally aspirated V-8 engine, especially one displacing 6.4 liters, allows for an effortless feeling of power. Rated at 410 horsepower and 429 pound-feet, the Power Wagon isn’t the most powerful thing on the road, but how it uses that power and deploys it makes it worthy of its name. It feels significant enough to muscle its way out of tough off-road situations, and I was able to deploy that power out in the dirt. It also feels strong enough to tow, perhaps a boat or camper-trailer.

This is, after all, a heavy-duty truck, so when unladen, the Ram Power Wagon has far more braking power than anyone would ever need. This lends well to off-road performance, as the last thing you’d want to worry about is braking reliability. Braking always feels strong in the Power Wagon. Not once did I feel like the pedal feel or performance was lacking in any way. These are the perks of driving a vehicle with overly powerful brakes, meant to stop both the vehicle and a towed vehicle.

Performance Specifications

Make And Model Fuel Economy

The Power Wagon is hardly a fuel-efficient vehicle, but considering its size, weight, and massive V-8 engine, 18 on the highway isn’t the worst number out there. Real-world fuel economy fluctuated significantly in the Power Wagon, especially with off-road driving mixed in with highway and city miles. Overall, in town, I was able to achieve the combined rating, but that was as a result of being overly gentle with the throttle. Naturally aspirated engines are more cut and dry like that, whereas turbocharged engines can be easily manipulated using boost.

Interior Design And Comfort

Ram Power Wagon’s interior is a bit of a mixed bag. Yes, there’s a ton of tech and fun little Easter eggs, but some of the materials are cheap. Power Wagon is a massive vehicle, and that translates into the interior. The front and rear occupant areas are huge, offering enough space for you, your friends, their stuff, a dog, and maybe a trip to Costco without even opening the tailgate. The seats are wildly comfortable and are easily set to a great driving position. The steering wheel is a bit large, but the steering feel is actually really impressive.

Everything is easily within reach, and I’m not particularly tall, so ergonomically, the Power Wagon is spot-on. The truck comes with thicker acoustic-specific glass to keep the cabin quiet. Everything is solidly put together too, with little to no rattling inside, even when off-roading. The design, space, and ease of use are all hits, with the only miss being some of the scratchy plastic and leather materials.

Interior Dimensions

Technology And Ease Of Use

Small glitches aside, the current infotainment systems in the Ram trucks are ridiculously easy (and quick) to connect to for Apple CarPlay. That’s really just the tip of the iceberg, though. Within the infotainment and the driver gauge cluster, there are tons of screens, layouts, infographics, pages, and so much to configure and learn about the vehicle or your surroundings; it’s tough to keep up. I especially like that you can dial up different gauge clusters to show temps and vehicle status in real time. That’s before you even get to the passenger-side screen that allows for further information. That screen is hidden out of view from the driver, allowing the front passenger to connect via HDMI and even watch movies.

The Power Wagon essentially can be turned into a rolling movie theater. The Harmon Kardon stereo system sounds great, too. Overall, the integrated tech in the Power Wagon and Ram trucks in general is very impressive. There are USB/USBC ports everywhere, including three of each front and center, just below the infotainment screen. Below that are two wireless phone chargers. The cluster of off-road buttons makes manipulating the chassis a breeze. Front and rear locking differentials, disconnecting sway bars, and four-wheel-drive controls are all easily engaged in one spot. Trailer brake controls are integrated as well. It’s a simple little thing, but having a column-shifter, especially one as crisp to operate as the Power Wagon’s, is such a satisfying element to driving a heavy-duty pickup. It rounds out the tech frenzy in a beautifully simplistic way.

Cargo And Storage Space

10 cupholders for four seats. Eight if you fold up the rear center armrest for a fifth passenger. That cup holder to occupant ratio is absolutely absurd, and I love it. The center console is split between a shallow compartment and a deeper one, handy for different-sized items, and the shallow one is padded. The doorcards can hold quite a bit, and the front driver and passenger side are where you’ll find four of the 10 total cupholders. There are two separate compartmentalized spaces under the rear bench seat, which keep items from flying across the floor of the rear area. The Ram Power Wagon’s cargo bed is a large six-foot, four-inch area that should fit just about anything you’d need to haul, be it toys for the weekend, like motorcycles, or items like appliances should fit with ease.

2025 Ram 2500 Power Wagon Vs. Its Competitors

The Power Wagon invented the (very niche) segment as we know it years ago with the 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 Power Wagon. For literal decades, there wasn’t anything that could really compete from the factory. Now though, the Power Wagon has two forces to reckon with from Ram’s two most significant competitors. Ford introduced its Tremor-badged vehicles, an equipment level that sits below the more focused Raptor models. The F-250 Tremor is aimed directly at the Power Wagon with similar off-road equipment. Chevrolet couldn’t lose out on all the fun, so they decided to give the Silverado HD the ZR2 treatment. Again, aimed squarely at the Ram Power Wagon. ZR2 is the best Chevy’s got, so it may be a strong enough competitor to dethrone both the Ram and Ford with an ultra-slick suspension, one we’ve seen before from Multimatic.

How The Ram 2500 Power Wagon Compares To The Ford F250 Tremor

• 
  

  

  

  Base Trim Engine

  6.8L V-8 ICE

  Base Trim Transmission

  TorqShift 10-speed automatic

  Base Trim Drivetrain

  Other

  Base Trim Horsepower

  405 HP @5000 RPM

  Base Trim Torque

  1050 lb.-ft. @ 1600 RPM

  Base Trim Battery Type

  Dual lead acid batteries

  
  

  
  

  Pros & Cons

  • Class-leading power
  • Class-leading towing
  • Massive interior

  • Can be pricy
  • Can be less reliable
  • Overwhelming size
• 
  

  

  

  Base Trim Engine

  6.4L HEMI V8 ICE

  Base Trim Transmission

  8-speed automatic

  Base Trim Drivetrain

  Rear-Wheel Drive

  Base Trim Horsepower

  405 HP @5600 RPM

  Base Trim Torque

  429 lb.-ft. @ 4000 RPM

  Base Trim Battery Type

  Lead acid battery

  
  

  
  

  Pros & Cons

  • Less expensive than some competitors
  • Easy-to-use infotainment/controls
  • Reliability

  • Blind Spots
  • Poor fuel economy
  • Some cheap interior materials

For daily comfort and maximum towing capability, the Ford F-250 with the Tremor pack will be your best bet in this scenario. A similarly equipped F-250 Platinum will cost about two to five grand more than the Power Wagon, but that’s for a top-of-the-line Platinum model. That means better leather and an overall more luxurious place to be in. The Super Duty Tremor models just aren’t as proven when things get tough off-road, and their tech is a bit lacking in comparison to Ram’s ultra-quick and feature-filled systems.

Performance

Ford has a serious performance advantage in that it offers a diesel option on the Tremor F-250 and even F-350 models. They don’t have the “heritage” of keeping it a gasoline V-8 just for nostalgia’s sake. That being said, Ford’s newest gasoline V-8 options are very powerful, diesel aside. This is a clear win for the Tremor as it simply offers more options, and most of those options are more powerful.

Comfort

While both trucks offer a decent ride quality, it’s the F-250 Tremor that offers a better array of materials inside. Interior comfort isn’t just about a comfy ride. At the prices these trucks go for, there has to be at least a bit of luxury injected. Ford has done that by vastly improving their interior materials over the generations. Sure, a good design is helpful, and Ram certainly leans into the utilitarian side of things, but at $88,000+, a better range of materials would be appreciated.

Technology

The award for best technology goes to the Ram Power Wagon. It’s simply easier to use and offers more options for receiving information and changing settings. Where I appreciate Ford’s use of knobs for settings like stereo volume and temperature control, its current infotainment system just isn’t as intuitive or extensive as Ram’s. The portrait-style screen has grown on me, and with an extended period of use, I’m convinced that, in these types of vehicles, it’s the way to go ergonomically.

How The Ram 2500 Power Wagon Compares To The Chevrolet Silverado HD ZR2

• 
  

  

  

  Base Trim Engine

  6.6L V-8 ICE

  Base Trim Transmission

  Allison 10-speed automatic

  Base Trim Drivetrain

  Other

  Base Trim Horsepower

  401 HP @5200 RPM

  Base Trim Torque

  464 lb.-ft. @ 4000 RPM

  Base Trim Battery Type

  Dual lead acid batteries

  Make

  Chevrolet

  Model

  Silverado 2500HD

  Segment

  Full-Size Pickup Truck

  
  

  
  

  Pros & Cons

  • Higher quality interior than some competitors
  • High max towing capacity
  • Feature-rich interior

  • Can be expensive
  • Some reliability issues
  • Fewer model options than some competitors
• 
  

  

  

  Base Trim Engine

  6.4L HEMI V8 ICE

  Base Trim Transmission

  8-speed automatic

  Base Trim Drivetrain

  Rear-Wheel Drive

  Base Trim Horsepower

  405 HP @5600 RPM

  Base Trim Torque

  429 lb.-ft. @ 4000 RPM

  Base Trim Battery Type

  Lead acid battery

  
  

  
  

  Pros & Cons

  • Reliable powertrain options
  • Competitive pricing
  • Easy user experience/interface

  • Poor fuel economy
  • Some cheap interior materials
  • Odd new styling

On higher speed off-road trails, Chevrolet is making moves with their ZR2 models, which use a very fancy suspension system. To operate as a reliable workhorse though, the Ram with its Hemi V-8 and solid front and rear axles will surely stand the test of time with better results. If you want cool-factor though, the Ram Power Wagon runs circles around the more nerdy Silverado HD ZR2.

Performance

Ram may have a durability advantage here because it still equips the Power Wagon with a solid front axle. Chevrolet has opted to use an independent front suspension setup on the 2500 ZR2. While this might help with higher-speed off-roading, you lose the ability to lock the front axle, a key attribute to steep crawling and keeping traction in the worst situations. Like Ford, though, Chevrolet does offer a diesel variant of the ZR2, where Ram only offers the gasoline engine. This significantly ups the price, but then towing capability and power are next-level, too.

Comfort

With Multimatic’s special DSSV shocks equipped and a slightly more luxurious interior, the Silverado HD ZR2 wins the comfort battle. Where the ZR2 loses out on the performance gains of using a stronger, solid front axle, it pays off in ride comfort. The truck can better utilize its fancy shocks with a more sophisticated independent front suspension. This, along with slightly better materials, gives the ZR2 an edge.

Technology

Ram, once again, provides the better infotainment solution. Chevrolet, like Ford, has retained rotary knobs for essentials like volume and temperature, but again, the Silverado HD’s infotainment isn’t nearly as extensive, bold, or easier to use than Ram’s. There’s nothing wrong with their system; it just doesn’t have the visual presence that the portrait-style screen does in the Power Wagon. Viewing things like maps, settings, and the overall size of the information on the Power Wagon’s screen is far easier to digest.

Our Recommendation For Which Model You Should Buy

TopSpeed | Garret Donahue

The Power Wagon variant of Ram’s 2500-level trucks lives in a space all its own. Sure, there are now competitors from Ford with their “Tremor” versions of the F-Series and Chevrolet’s Silverado HD ZR2, but the Power Wagon has been around for far longer and was the original heavy-duty off-roader. Ram seems to know a thing or two about how to cook up this type of recipe. Exclusively powered by Ram’s legendary 6.4-liter version of the Hemi V-8 engine, the Power Wagon retains the all-American quintessential gasoline engine of choice.

Even without the diesel engine, it’s plenty capable of towing heavy things. Since it’s been outfitted with meaty tires and other off-road essentials such as a bumper-mounted winch, locking differentials, and a raised ride height, the Power Wagon can play the split personality game better than any other heavy-duty option from Ram.

If you want the most versatility from one vehicle, the Ram Power Wagon is definitely a wise choice to make, and definitely the one I’d choose if I needed a heavy-duty vehicle to pull a trailer or boat during the week, and then wanted to hit the trails during the weekend. The Power Wagon is reasonably priced, too; this particular example goes for $88,905. It’s typical for vehicles in both the heavy-duty space and off-road space to reach nearer to $100,000, so having both in one seems like a bargain.