Can the more affordable Power Wagon option still tow? Let’s find out!
These days, you have a ton of different options if you’re shopping for a new Ram 2500 truck. There’s the Black Express, the Warlock, the Rebel or, if you’re looking for more luxury, the Laramie and the Limited…and that’s only about half the list. One of the arguably cooler options in the range, however, is still the Power Wagon. Because (say it with me) Power Wagon don’t care! In this video, we’re finding out exactly how well this 6.4-liter Hemi beast can tow up the World’s Toughest Towing Test — the Ike Gauntlet.
Specifically, Kase and Andre are taking a look at the more affordable version of the Power Wagon. At more than $76,000, the higher-end Power Wagon’s price might make your eyes water a bit, unless you go for this Trademan-based 2500 with the Power Wagon Package for about $10,000 less ($66,490). With 405 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque on tap, the Hemi-packing Power Wagon is rated to tow about 10,900 pounds. On that basis, it’s not the go-to truck for full-time towing, as other Ram 2500 models can tow up to 20,000 pounds. Nevertheless, it is still a heavy-duty truck, and one of the huge selling points of these kinds of rigs is their all-around versatility.
Even while maxed out by way of our 14-foot Big Tex trailer and Cat 242D skid steer — about 11,000 pounds in total — this truck managed the downhill test with 5 brake applications. Sure, a Cummins-powered Ram 2500 would have some help with an exhaust brake to hold everything back, but even so, this Hemi-equipped Tradesman Power Wagon managed an impressive performance for being at max capacity. The truck does squat a fair bit thanks to its off-road focused suspension, but still remained a stable towing platform on the way down the hill.
On the uphill run, the Ram 2500 Tradesman Power Wagon put down an 8:20.73 minute time (about 20 seconds off a perfect run at the 60 mph speed limit), as well as 3.2 mpg in terms of fuel economy. That’s one of the lower numbers we’ve seen, though even the diesel-powered trucks manage around 1 mpg better in this sort of mountain climb.
Check out more on how the tests went in the full review below:
