2015 AutoGuide.com Truck of the Year: Part 1
2014 Ram 2500 Power Wagon
The Power Wagon is likely the most focused truck in the group, with its sights set on one purpose: off-roading.
Setting it apart from a regular 2500 are locking front and rear differentials, a disconnecting sway bar system, a 2.5-inch lift bringing ground clearance to 14.5-inches, Bilstein shocks, a graphics package (which can be deleted) and beefier front and rear axles. Skid plates protect all of its vital organs while a 12,000-lb front-mounted winch offers reassurance that you can, in fact, pull yourself up by your bootstraps if things get out of hand. And they did.
FAST FACTS
Engine: 6.4L HEMI V8 with 410 HP and 429 lb-ft of torque.
Transmission: Six-speed automatic.
Max. towing: 10,810 lbs.
As tested price: $55,555.
Base Price: $45,690 ($52,990 CDN).
Before we talk about how this thing chews through the mud, let’s see talk about how all this specialty equipment affects the rest of the truck.
First, power for those truck only comes from the 6.4-liter HEMI V8. It feels underpowered in this application and doesn’t offer the get up and go you might expect given its displacement. Steering, as it is in many Ram pickups, is heavy at almost all times. This isn’t necessarily a negative because it offers a planted, strong feeling. That strength in the wheel helps to control the truck on the highway, as a lot of input is needed to keep it tracking straight thanks to the Power Wagon’s listless nature.
I blame the special suspension tuning and the lifted ride height for the squirrely ride. These two attributes also hurt the Power Wagon’s towing ability. The added travel causes the rear end to squat, lifting weight off the front axle. That makes controlling all that weight a little uncomfortable. Extra height in the rear also means you need a drop hitch for most trailers, one added inconvenience of towing with a lifted pickup.
In its favor, I will say that the HEMI performed admirably while hauling. The power, or lack thereof, stays essentially the same with a load hitched on the back, giving the motor the chance to show off its low-end torque.
But, it’s easy to forget about the poor on-road driving dynamics once you hit the mud where it feels totally at home. Off-camber ruts are a non-issue thanks to its locking differentials. In fact, it is the only truck that didn’t require a reverse maneuver to avoid a massive rock on our tight trail section that also includes an especially steep hill that none of the trucks tackled successfully by the end of the day. Well, that’s partially true because the Power Wagon can cheat… Say hello to the winch. After the Power Wagon stalled out about halfway up, we were able to use a thick tree at the top as an anchor to pull the truck the rest of the way.
The Power Wagon is an off-road monster, but its keen focus on doing so leaves other areas to suffer just like the 3500.
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