Unpopular Opinion: Power Wagons Are 1/2-Ton Trucks

[wjcook68]

I have a RAM 2500 Tradesman CCLB 4x4. I absolutely love my truck. It is great. I also would not mind having a PW either. Awesome truck. To me they are like ice cream. They are all good, it's just that we have to choose a flavor! Chocolate or Vanila? Lol.

 

[Eatonpcat]

This pretty much sums it up.

I have loved the PW since I first saw it in 2005. It's an amazing package and truthfully I would like to have one. But, if I traded my 2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel North Edition for a 2020 Power Wagon, I'd be losing 50% fuel economy, 15% payload, 51 lb/ft of torque, and tow rating is identical. My 1500 has off road suspension, rear locker, and will fit 35s as it sits right now (I've been running them up until recently). So the sad truth is that going to a Power Wagon would be a huge downgrade from my current 1500, and to me that's sad. Calling the PW a "half ton" is an insult to half tons.

I think that while the Ford Super Duty Tremor isn't quite as capable off road as the Power Wagon, it's pretty darned close and you do not give up the ability to do heavy duty truck things. With a name like "Power Wagon", this is the direction Ram should have gone. They should have made it the baddest truck on the road with no limitations. I mean, how many people rock crawl a nearly 4 ton truck? Those people are driving Jeeps. Any truck with a rear locker and 35s will do what 99% of truck owners need.

Good thing for you that I know nothing about Power Wagons, because I would like to argue these points!

My best argument right now is that the Power Wagon has more Lug nuts!!

 

[WXman]

Huge downgrade is a pretty dramatic statement....lol...please stop already

The numbers don't lie. I forgot to mention that I have the 5th Gen interior and the PW still gets the "4.5 Gen" interior.

I'm not hating on the PW. Like I said, I love the idea of the package and I've admired the truck since I saw it in 2005. Even brought home a brochure from the dealer when they first came out. But I just never have been able to bring home a 3/4 ton truck that has less to offer than a 1/2 ton from the perspective of being a truck, and also drinks fuel like it's sponsored by OPEC. Well, I guess the PW does have a winch. I can't add one of those because nobody makes a bumper that'll clear my intercooler yet.

Who knows, maybe when Ram finally does a NEW HD truck (hopefully in the next year or two) they'll beef up the PW and also give it an efficient engine and higher specs. The PW certainly has the most potential in the entire lineup. The TRX is awesome but it's too much $$$$$.

 

[AnthonyD1978]

The numbers don't lie. I forgot to mention that I have the 5th Gen interior and the PW still gets the "4.5 Gen" interior.

I'm not hating on the PW. Like I said, I love the idea of the package and I've admired the truck since I saw it in 2005. Even brought home a brochure from the dealer when they first came out. But I just never have been able to bring home a 3/4 ton truck that has less to offer than a 1/2 ton from the perspective of being a truck, and also drinks fuel like it's sponsored by OPEC. Well, I guess the PW does have a winch. I can't add one of those because nobody makes a bumper that'll clear my intercooler yet.

Who knows, maybe when Ram finally does a NEW HD truck (hopefully in the next year or two) they'll beef up the PW and also give it an efficient engine and higher specs. The PW certainly has the most potential in the entire lineup. The TRX is awesome but it's too much $$$$$.

I came from a 2019 5th Gen 1500 Laramie with fox lift, winch, sliders, 35s, etc, etc... I traded it for a 2019 PW after I saw that the TRX was not going to be as capable off-road. Again, it has a different niche to fill.

It sounds like you use truck as an on-road cruiser with MPG as a priority. I use my truck as an off-road explorer where only having a rear locker would hinder me. The PW is not marketed for you; it's marketed for people like me or as a "status" symbol for some. Also, there is way more to a PW when compared to your 1500 than a winch.

5thgenrams.com is a great resource for you as a 1500 owner. You will be able to feel even better about your purchase over there.

 

[WXman]

I came from a 2019 5th Gen 1500 Laramie with fox lift, winch, sliders, 35s, etc, etc... I traded it for a 2019 PW after I saw that the TRX was not going to be as capable off-road. Again, it has a different niche to fill.

It sounds like you use truck as an on-road cruiser with MPG as a priority. I use my truck as an off-road explorer where only having a rear locker would hinder me. The PW is not marketed for you; it's marketed for people like me or as a "status" symbol for some. Also, there is way more to a PW when compared to your 1500 than a winch.

5thgenrams.com is a great resource for you as a 1500 owner. You will be able to feel even better about your purchase over there.

I've been on that forum for a long while. Most of those guys only care about 24" wheels and bed covers. I use my trucks as trucks.

I understand wanting to explore off road. I came from a Jeep Gladiator that would go places the Power Wagon won't. That's the truck marketed for people who want to explore.

The Power Wagon was, and maybe still is, marketed as a heavy duty truck that can handle the rigors of off road use for guys like loggers and oil field workers. That's where my beef is... true hard work at least from a legal standpoint is severely limited with the PW. Hence, they marketed it wrongly. They need to beef up the specs. 500 more lbs. of payload, a couple more MPG, and another 30 or 40 lb/ft of torque is too much to ask in 2021?

I guess my thoughts have run their course. Thanks for keeping it civil. You don't find that on very many forums!

 

[RV_Goose]

I've been on that forum for a long while. Most of those guys only care about 24" wheels and bed covers. I use my trucks as trucks.

I understand wanting to explore off road. I came from a Jeep Gladiator that would go places the Power Wagon won't. That's the truck marketed for people who want to explore.

The Power Wagon was, and maybe still is, marketed as a heavy duty truck that can handle the rigors of off road use for guys like loggers and oil field workers. That's where my beef is... true hard work at least from a legal standpoint is severely limited with the PW. Hence, they marketed it wrongly. They need to beef up the specs. 500 more lbs. of payload, a couple more MPG, and another 30 or 40 lb/ft of torque is too much to ask in 2021?

I guess my thoughts have run their course. Thanks for keeping it civil. You don't find that on very many forums!

Now piss off ya wanker!

 

[Airmousam]

I've been on that forum for a long while. Most of those guys only care about 24" wheels and bed covers. I use my trucks as trucks.

I understand wanting to explore off road. I came from a Jeep Gladiator that would go places the Power Wagon won't. That's the truck marketed for people who want to explore.

The Power Wagon was, and maybe still is, marketed as a heavy duty truck that can handle the rigors of off road use for guys like loggers and oil field workers. That's where my beef is... true hard work at least from a legal standpoint is severely limited with the PW. Hence, they marketed it wrongly. They need to beef up the specs. 500 more lbs. of payload, a couple more MPG, and another 30 or 40 lb/ft of torque is too much to ask in 2021?

I guess my thoughts have run their course. Thanks for keeping it civil. You don't find that on very many forums!

Lol at gladiator...those are adorable..must have got some great milage with those 268 ponies..hopefully some day the PW will be capable enough for you and get the milage you're looking for...lol...take me thru the interior differences between your truck and my 2021 75th anniversary? Cab ok, I get that...test drove a 2021 Rebel and it looked identical...gladiator...lol...not sure they would have let you test drive a PW if you pulled in in that lil guy

 

[Airmousam]

I'll wait

 

[Xflight29]

By beefing up the power wagon suspension it would not be a true off-road truck as it is meant to be. With the stock ground clearance of over 14 inches is 3 more inches than with the 2500 and its Off-roading, its a monster, able to do things us diesel owners wish we could do. My opinion is its a survivalist masterpiece of a truck. If you want a urban daily driver, commuting through suburbs and some off roading than by a 1500