Why buy a used Ram Power Wagon? Turns our it’s a lot of 4×4 truck for your buck. As Nathan would say “Power Wagon Don’t Care!” This is one tough heavy-duty pickup truck with the chassis to tackle some of the scariest off-road terrain anywhere. Let’s dig in and see which used Power Wagons to look for and which ones to avoid.
This buyer’s guide is made possible by our friends at Autotempest.com – you one stop shop for all new & used vehicles at a single place.
History
Let’s go back in time for a minute. Just like Jeep, the Power Wagon lineage goes all the way back to World War II era and specifically the Dodge WC military trucks. This is why the Power Wagon name has so much gravitas. The original “flat fender” civilian versions of the Dodge Power Wagon went on sale in 1946. These trucks are cooler than cool with timeless looks and ultimate toughness.
The early Power Wagons were designed for work, not comfort. These were tractor-like vehicles that maxed out between 45-55 MPH on top speed, depending on axle gearing. They had front and rear PTOs to run winches, saw mills, mowers, or spreaders. These evolved quickly until U.S. sale of the flat fender trucks stopped in 1971.
There were also the W-series Power Wagon trucks that were built between 1957 and 1980. These came in different weight classifications from light duty, all the way to heavy commercial vehicles. Not many of these are left today. There were even some crew cabs in the 1960s, but these are now as rare as hen’s teeth. These bring big money if you can find them! The Power Wagon truck disappeared after 1980, until it made its triumphant return in 2005.
Modern Power Wagons
The modern Power Wagon trucks are based on the Ram 2500 heavy-duty crew cab chassis. These trucks has solid axles in the front and rear, each with a locking differential. The front suspension uses a distinct “Articulink(tm)” suspension trailing arm that allows for more articulation. The Power Wagon is also equipped with a selectable/disconnecting front anti-sway bar and a 12,000-lbs winch from the factory.
This story is focused on the more modern used Ram Power Wagon trucks that are priced between $20,000-$35,000. Specifically, we are focusing on this 2018 Ram Power Wagon that is painted in a somewhat rare Mojave Sand exterior color.
The Ram HD Power Wagon returned as a 2005 model with a 5.7L HEMI V8 and 4.56-to-1 axle gears. While the smaller HEMI V8 is a good engine with a great sound – these earlier trucks were a bit underpowered. There were several available transmissions, and many of these 545RFE 5-speed auto and 66RFE 6-speed auto were known to have problems.
The 66RFE 6-speed automatic was paired to the 6.4L HEMI V8 that Ram still uses in their HD pickup trucks in 2026. However, the 66RFE transmission was swapped for a much more robust ZF 8HP75 8-speed automatic starting in 2019.
Please join me in the video below. Would you buy a used Ram Power Wagon like this?
