V8 power is standard in the Ram 2500, which offers a 5.7-liter V8 as base equipment. That engine delivers 383 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque, but if you seek more oomph, Ram offers a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 that puts out 410 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque. This larger V8 is found under the hood of our Power Wagon.
But as with most heavy-duty pickups, there's also a diesel option for the Ram 2500, and the Cummins 6-cylinder turbodiesel has long been available within the Ram Heavy Duty lineup. In its current iteration, it displaces 6.7 liters and puts out 350 horsepower and 660 lb-ft of torque with the 6-speed manual transmission (more on that in a moment). If you go for the 6-speed automatic, those output numbers jump to 370 horsepower and 800 lb-ft of torque.
If you go for either gas engine, you get the 6-speed automatic, and that’s it. But if you opt for the Cummins, you can master each rev with the 6-speed manual transmission. Of course, diesel buyers can opt for the 6-speed automatic, instead of the manual. In our week with the Power Wagon and its hefty 6.4-liter Hemi, we observed fuel economy of just under 12 mpg combined.
A surprising element about this truck is its maneuverability, despite it being a full-size, heavy-duty truck. A three-point turn is not as much of a chore as one might imagine, and you can maneuver in a parking lot quite well.
Designed for off-roading, the Power Wagon includes some unique running gear, including Bilstein performance shocks, 33-inch all-terrain tires, and skid plates for the fuel tank and transfer case. It also features a Warn Winch rated for 12,000 pounds, which we used to tow a Jeep Cherokee on dirt with total ease.
The Power Wagon boasts some trick off-road gear that you’d expect to find on a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon before a Ram pickup. This kit includes an electronically disconnecting front sway bar and front and rear lockers. The sway-bar disconnection allows for greater articulation between the two front wheels, meaning you can tackle very uneven surfaces.
The lockers are for when the Power Wagon encounters uneven footing. A typical differential will leave one wheel spinning while the other goes nowhere. The locker allows them to both crawl at the same speed. With front and rear axles locked, there are few surfaces this truck can’t handle.
Notice, I didn’t write “few places this truck can’t go.” Despite all its incredible off-road gear, many trails are heavily wooded, and the Power Wagon might not fit on some spots where a Jeep Wrangler or Toyota 4Runner could squeeze through.
You may often see Jeeps with winches on the front, however the winch on this Power Wagon is integrated into the front bumper. To use it, you reach into the bumper and pull a metal lever on the driver's side, which releases the motor clutch. This allows you to pull the tow hook out freely. Then you connect the remote-control wire to an outlet on the passenger side of the winch. Instructions are on the remote.
Make sure you slowly reel in the winch so that the cable gets taut before towing the stuck vehicle. If available, drape ropes over the center of the cable. This way, if the cable snaps, it will get dragged down before going for your shins or the windshield of your brand new truck.
On non-Power Wagon versions, an available air suspension provides a seriously smooth ride and lets you adjust ride height. You can lower the truck to make getting in and out easier, and the truck will also lower automatically at highway speeds for improved aerodynamics and handling.
In addition to the old-school column shifter, you get a tow/haul mode button on the dash. When properly equipped, the Ram 2500 can tow up to 17,980 pounds. The Power Wagon specifically tops out at just over 10,000 pounds.
The max payload for the entire 2500 lineup is 3,990 pounds, though the Power Wagon can carry just 1,510.
