There Is A Shortage Of Ram 2500 Power Wagons, And Its Not What You Think!

The Ram brand currently offers one of the most diverse lineups of off-road-oriented pickups on the market. For those who are looking for the ultimate high-speed desert runner, the supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI HELLCAT V8-powered Ram 1500 TRX is the best choice on the market. On the other end of the spectrum, if you are looking for the best rock-crawling and harsh element tackler on the market, look no further than the Ram 2500 Power Wagon. But for those who are interested in the Power Wagon, there seems to be a problem of obtaining one at the current moment. 

Although the Ram 2500 Power Wagon only makes up about 5% of the total Heavy Duty production output for the brand, the Power Wagon models have the fastest turnover when they hit dealer lots. But due to the craziness surrounding the automotive industry right now, the Power Wagon is one of the most obscure vehicles to find on lots at the moment.

The Ram 2500 Power Wagon features a unique suspension, factory suspension lift, locking front and rear differentials, disconnecting sway bar, and an integrated front-mounted 12,000-lb. capacity WARN Zeon-12 winch behind the front bumper right from the factory. For 2022, the Power Wagon package can be offered in a number of packages, a topic we already touched on.

In a recent interview with online automotive publication Muscle Cars & Trucks (MC&T), Adrian Ratza, the Brand Manager for the Ram Heavy Duty lineup, discussed the issues about the Power Wagon. According to Ratza, it’s not an issue with the current semiconductor shortage, but an issue obtaining enough various components from its supply chain.

“I don’t know if that’s such a bad thing either. I think if we were just pushing out Power Wagons left and right I’m not sure if that’s gonna be very beneficial for the marketplace,” Ratza said. “There’s a bit of the same treatment with the TRX. There’s a certain amount of them that we want to build every year… it’s consistently our highest turning model that we basically have for Heavy Duty. As soon as they hit the lot they don’t stay there.”

There is no doubt that the Power Wagon has gained popularity since the nameplate returned into the Dodge (errr. Ram) lineup back in 2005. Since then, the Ram 2500 Power Wagon has continued to build upon its capability and now offers a much more luxurious lineup than ever before. For 2022, Ram offered several new additions to the Power Wagon lineup. 

• An all-new Power Wagon Level 3 Equipment Package is available, building off of the 75th Anniversary Edition from the 2021 model year. The new package includes a black grille mesh with a Gunmetal R-A-M grille badge and premium headlamps with Gloss Black surround. Inside, a 12-inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen, a powerful 750-watt, 17-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, premium Medium Greystone Natura Plus, or optional Bristol leather bucket seats with embossed Power Wagon logo, a console armrest badge, and specifications plate badge are included.
• An electronic transfer case is optional on Power Wagon Level 2 and standard Level 3 Equipment Packages.
• New Bristol Leather Seats are optional on Power Wagon Level 2 packaged trucks.
• A full-center console is also available on Level 2 packaged trucks and standard on Level 3 models.

“We’re seeing Power Wagon sales everywhere, cross country. I can’t say that most sales are located in one geographical area. Our sales from New England to out west and down into Texas, we’re seeing Power Wagon sales everywhere. It has that appeal as an icon,” Ratza told MC&T.

Ratza also mentioned that the debut of the Ram 1500 TRX, did affect sales for the Power Wagon.

Each Power Wagon comes standard with the 6.4-liter (392 cubic-inch) HEMI V8 engine with 410 horsepower and 429 lb.-ft. of torque. Sorry Cummins fans, no diesel option here, due to restrictions from the WARN winch. Because of the off-road goodies, the Power Wagon offers a diminished max towing capacity of 10,580 lbs, a payload capacity of 1,560 lbs, when compared to other Ram 2500 models.

There is some good news on the horizon. For those of you who love the Ram 2500 Power Wagon’s style, but don’t need all of the additional off-road goodies, our spy photographers have caught Ram engineers working on a Rebel version of the Ram 2500. According to our sources, the Ram 2500 Rebel will be available with either HEMI or Cummins powerplants and should be appearing at the end of this year as a 2023 model.

Source: Muscle Cars & Trucks