The Power Wagon Returns – Heavy Duty Model Gets Heavy Duty Upgrades:

One of the most popular models in the Heavy Duty lineup is the Ram 2500 Power Wagon. For the 2019 model year, there is a lot of new goodies for the most capable off-road truck on the market. 

We told you how the new 2019 Ram Heavy Duty lineup was virtually new from the ground up. Sure, they still use the cabs and the boxes from the 4th generation Ram trucks. With an all-new frame, new transmission, new interior, a lot more technology, new axles and a lot more new goodies up its sleeve, the 2019 Power Wagon is far from a mid-cycle refresh. 

The 2019 Ram 2500 Power Wagon sticks with the Crew Cab Short Box 4×4 configuration for the new model year.

Returning for the 2019 model year is the 6.4-liter HEMI V8, which has a proven reliability record and delivers a class-leading 410 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm while providing 429 lb.-ft of torque @ 4,000 RPM. The big story with the 6.4-liter is that it will now be backed by an eight-speed automatic transmission that promises to improve capability, driveability, performance and fuel economy. 

The proven and smooth-shifting TorqueFlite 8HP75 eight-speed automatic is the now is standard on Power Wagon. There are more than 40 individual shift maps to optimize shift points for fuel economy, performance, and drivability. The transmissions use shift-by-wire technology, eliminating a mechanical linkage between the transmission and the gear selector. The 2019 Ram Power Wagon uses Rams innovative rotary shifter mounted on the left side of the instrument panel’s center stack, frees up space traditionally occupied by a console or column-mounted shift lever.

The exterior of the new Power Wagon gets a new revision of the RAM off-road grille design, similar to its smaller brother the 2019 Ram 1500 Rebel. Headlamps and tail lamps receive a blacked out theme and the Power Wagon gets black powder coated bumpers front and rear. Headlights and taillights are now full LED as well. Optional nostalgic graphics are a throw-back to the Macho Power Wagon designs of the late-1970s and are still available.

Speaking of the Macho Power Wagon, the 2019 Power Wagon features new fender flares specific to the Power Wagon. If they look familiar, its because they resemble the ones from the 2017 Ram 2500 Macho Power Wagon Concept.  New 17-inch polished and painted wheels are wrapped with high-traction 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac tires.

Inside, the Power Wagon is more luxurious than ever. Along with the rest of the 2019 Ram Heavy Duty lineup, the cabin of the Power Wagon features the all-new dash and gauges from the 2019 Ram 1500. Controls for locking and unlocking the differentials, hill descent control, and locking and unlocking the front Sway Bar are located next to the new rotary e-shifter. In traditional Power Wagon fashion, the 4WD transfer case shift lever is on the floor. 

When sitting in the Power Wagon, you wouldn’t think you are in a 4th generation cabin at all, as everything has been reworked. Power Wagon does carry over some of the fun interior design theme for 2019. Tire tread patterns run the length of the seat with the words Power Wagon wrote in the bolsters of the seats, as well as the trim pieces like it’s Rebel brother which are a black diamond-plate pattern.

The 2019 Power Wagon can also be optioned with the class-leading 12.1-inch Uconnect infotainment system. Uconnect systems with the class-exclusive 12-inch display also feature the next level of audio entertainment with the new SiriusXM with 360L, delivering a personalized listening experience with more variety, smart content recommendations and thousands of hours of on-demand audio content. A standard 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment system on Power Wagon, while buyers can also opt for an 8.4-inch Uconnect with Navigation.

The 2019 Power Wagon also gets a choice of three new sound systems for the new model year.

Standard on Power Wagon is a six-speaker base system, which includes:

• Two 3.5-inch speakers in the instrument panel
• Two 6×9-inch speakers located in the front doors
• Two 6×9-inch speakers located in the rear doors

Optional is an Alpine Premium 506-watt, 10-channel, 10-speaker audio system, which includes:

• Three 3.5-inch speakers in the instrument panel
• Two 6×9-inch speakers located in the front doors
• Two 6×9-inch speakers located in the rear doors
• Two 3.5-inch speakers located in the headliner
• One 8-inch enclosed, dual-coil subwoofer second-row (passenger side)
• One 10-channel amplifier
• Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)

For the audiophiles out there, Ram has you covered with the optional Harman Kardon 750-watt premium plus 17-speaker audio system. That system includes:

• Three 3.5-inch with one-inch coaxial speakers located in the instrument panel
• Two 1-inch tweeters located in the front doors
• Two 6×9-inch speakers located in the front doors
• Two 6×9-inch speakers located in the rear doors 
• Two 3.5-inch with 1-inch coaxial speakers located in the headliner
• One 8-inch enclosed subwoofer second-row (passenger side)
• One 10-channel boosted Class-D amplifier
• Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)

New to the Power Wagon is a 360-degree Surround View Camera with a birds-eye perspective of the vehicle, which also includes forward-view camera grid lines to help navigate obstacles. Cameras are cleverly hidden in the front grille, bottoms of the mirrors, in the third brake light housing and rear tailgate offering the Power Wagon a clean look, but also protecting the cameras themselves. The front camera can be used for navigating tight trails as well.

Also, all-new is an integrated front-mounted WARN Zeon-12 winch now features a unique fairlead and fairlead retainer with a new synthetic line that cannot kink, does not fray and is more maneuverable. The new line also cuts weight by 28 lbs. Additional light-weighting efforts consist of an aluminum hood, which contributes to weight reductions across the Heavy Duty lineup.

Don’t let the off-road equipment make you think that the Power Wagon isn’t a true Heavy Duty truck. The 2019 Ram Power Wagon has a GVWR of 8,565 lbs. Payload has been rated at 1660 lbs., while GCWR is 18,000 lbs for the 2019 model year. With its 4.10 rear axle ratio, the 2019 Ram 2500 Power Wagon has a max trailer weight rating of 10,620 lbs.

For those who are looking for the capability of the Power Wagon but are on a budget, the Power Wagon package returns for the 2019 model year as an option on Tradesman Crew Cab Short Box 4×4 models. In the Tradesman Power Wagon package, you receive all of the Power Wagon’s standard features… 

• Articulink Suspension
• Front/Rear Bilstein Shocks (Power Wagon Tuned)
• Hill Descent Control
• Tru-Lok Front & Rear Axles
• 4.10 Axle Ratio
• Tow Hooks
• Fuel Tank Skid Plate
• Transfer Case Skid Plate
• Front Electric 12,000-lb. Winch
• Black Wheel Flares, Power Wagon Design
• Fog Lamps
• Bright Chrome Front and Rear Bumper
• Front Disconnecting Stabilizer Bar
• 17-In. X 8.0-In. Cast Aluminum Power Wagon Wheel
• LT285/70R17D OWL Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac All-Terrain Tires
• Rear Wheel Well Liners

Ram has yet to release pricing of the new 2019 Ram 2500 Power Wagon. But since the vehicles are already rolling off the assembly line in Saltillo, Mexico and are expected to arriving in dealers in March, expect an announcement real soon. Ordering for both the 2019 Ram 2500 Tradesman Power Wagon and 2019 Ram 2500 Power Wagon are now open. You can contact your local Ram dealer, for more information.