Dodge Power WagonThe 31/44-ton Dodge Power Wagon is an off-road Goliath. Born from the Ram HD platform, it's been optioned up with front and rear lockers, 4.56 gears, a sway bar disconnect, and a factory Warn winch. Basically Dodge looked at what Jeep Rubicon did for the Wrangler and followed its lead.
That strategy turned the Power Wagon into an off-road performer that went almost anywhere we tried to take it with the front and rear lockers engaged and the sway bar disconnected. The 33-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrains were perfectly suited to this platform and if the truck would physically fit on the trail, the Power Wagon's hardware would take it through.
The judges did note that the Power Wagon's breakover angle isn't terrific, but the extensive skidplating (much like on the Hummer H1) makes the bottom of the truck something you can drag over obstacles. Unfortunately, like all 31/44-ton trucks we've tested, the Power Wagon was not well suited to the sand dunes given its leaf-sprung rear suspension and heavy platform.
We tried to keep in mind that a truck this big won't fit into everyone's hometown environment. By the nature of its size it's harder to park and drive around town than the rest of this year's competition. It's no urban dicer, but you gain maneuvering clearance by intimidating other traffic on the street. We wish we could tell you that it was as fast as the Hemi-powered Grand Cherokee, but it's not. Judges were left wanting a Cummins or a V-10 engine in the Power Wagon.
As a group we liked the Dodge's solid-axle steering, but it was apparent to our judges how much more precise the other IFS trucks in our test felt. We think our test truck could have developed a little tire shimmy that we attributed to the steering linkage's getting tagged during our testing, despite the Power Wagon's steering skidplate.
The carryover Dodge Ram cab offers a nice simple work-truck interior with sporty white-faced gauges, but none of us are in love with the stock cloth seats that just feel too flat for any spirited off-road driving. The Power Wagon did feature the best rear seat room of all the pickup trucks, and the flip-down load floor makes for a versatile storage area.
Specifications
| GENERAL |
| Manufacturer | Dodge |
| Model | Power Wagon |
| Base Price | $31,940 |
| Price as Tested | $42,635 |
| Options as Tested | Premium cloth 40/20/40 |
| bench seat, fold-flat load floor storage, Customer Preferred Package 26P (gray upper fascia, Power Wagon Off Road Group, rear folding 60/40 seat, black vinyl floor covering, 4.56 axle ratio, Tru-Lok differentials, wheel flares, front disconnecting stabilizer bar, LT285/70R17 BFGoodrich All-Terrain tires, 17x8 forged aluminum wheels, front electric winch, 8,510-pound GVW rating, clearance lamps, tow hooks, foglamps, transfer-case skidplate), Trailer Tow Group (750-amp battery, Class IV receiver hitch, 7-pin harness, 160-amp alternator), Premium Convenience Group (ash tray, sun visor w/lighted vanity mirrors, front dome lamp w/on-off switch, underhood lamp, power adjustable pedals, sliding rear window, auto-dimming rear view mirror), Premium Security Group (security alarm, Sentry Key theft deterent system, U-Connect hands-free communication, supplemmental side airbags), five-speed automatic transmission |
| ENGINE |
| Type | OHV Hemi V-8 |
| Displacement (liters/cubic inches) | 5.7/345 |
| Bore & Stroke (inches) | 3.92x3.58 |
| Compression Ratio | 9.6:1 |
| Induction Type | Sequential, multiport fuel injection |
| Fuel Req. (octane)/Cap. (gal.) | 89 or 87/34 |
| SAE Peak Horsepower | 345 @ 5,600 rpm |
| SAE Peak Torque (lb-ft) | 365 @ 4,400 rpm |
| TRANSMISSION |
| Type | Five-speed automatic overdrive |
| Model | 545RFE |
| Ratios | First: 3.00:1; Second: 1.67:1 (upshift), 1.50:1 (kickdown); Third: 1.00:1; Fourth: 0.75:1; Fifth: 0.67:1 Reverse: 3.00:1 |
| Transfer Case |
| Type | Two-speed part time |
| Model | NVG 271 |
| Low-range Ratio | 2.72:1 |
| Axles |
| Front Type | AAM 9.25-inch w/Tru-Lok locking differential |
| Rear Type | AAM 10.50-inch w/Tru-Lok limited slip/locking differential |
| Hubs | N/A |
| Ratio | 4.56:1 |
| SUSPENSION |
| Front | Live axle, four-link w/track bar and coil springs |
| Rear | Live axle, longitudinal springs |
| Steering |
| Type | Power recirculating ball |
| Turns Lock-to-Lock/Ratio | 2.75/13.41:1 |
| Turning Radius (feet) | 48.9 |
| Wheels |
| Size (inches) | 17x8 |
| Material | Alcoa forged aluminum |
| Tires |
| Size | LT285/70R17 |
| Brand | BFGoodrich All-Terrain |
| Brakes |
| Front and rear | 13.9-inch discs with ABS |
| 60-0 (feet) | 164.14 |
| ACCELERATION |
| Standing 11/44-mile | |
| (seconds @ mph) | 18.43 @ 70.93 |
| Weight (pounds) | |
| Curb Weight | 6,081 |
| Advertised GVWR | 8,510 |
| Mileage |
| EPA Estimate (city/hwy. mpg) | N/A |
| As Tested (mpg) | 8.88 |
| Dimensions (inches) |
| Wheelbase | 140.5 |
| Overall Length | 228 |
| Overall Width | 95 |
| Overall Height | 79 |
| Front/Rear Track | 69/68.9 |
| Front/Rear Overhang | 40.25/68.25 |
| Min. Front Ground Clearance | 8.375 |
LikesShould fit 35s without rubbingGreat Hemi exhaust soundLockers, gears, and a winch
DislikesA-pillar weatherstripping gets torn by doorLockers wouldn't always engage when we turned the dialWhy no Cummins engine?
VerdictThe most capable off-road pickup ever built.
LikesImpressive engine powerWhisper-quiet interiorExtremely capable Quadra-Drive II four-wheel-drive system
DislikesNot enough ground clearancePathetic transfer-case shifterToo on-road friendly
VerdictA kinder, gentler Grand Cherokee that'll rip your head off with Hemi power!