2017 Ram Power Wagon Debuts at the 2016 Chicago Auto Show

2017 Ram Power Wagon Crew Cab 4x4

With a heritage dating back to World War II, the 2017 Ram Power Wagon showed off its new look today at the 2016 Chicago Auto Show. Sitting at the top of the Ram 4×4 lineup, the refreshed Power Wagon has a bucket load of new interior and exterior design elements. On the outside, there’s a blacked-out theme including:

  • A black grille with billet silver “RAM” lettering
  • Black graphics on the hood and box on non-black Power Wagons (silver graphics on black PWs)
  • Lower black paint
  • Wheels with black inner accents
  • Black powder coated front and rear bumpers
  • Black wheel arches and mirrors
  • Black lettering and badging on tailgate and front fenders

Unique 17-inch wheels wrapped with 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac tires give the Power Wagon much of its off-road look and capabilities. In our run up a snow-covered Gold Mine Hill, the same tires had no difficulty getting a 2016 Wagon to the top (watch the video here).

Inside, the new Power Wagon receives heated front seats to keep your posterior warm while you’re tearing up the trails. Said seats are gray and black with fabric inserts embossed with a pattern emulating the DuraTrac tire tread. Leather seats are optional.

2017 Ram Power Wagon interior

Let’s get down to what really makes the Power Wagon a Power Wagon. The 6.4L HEMI V8 making 410 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm and 429 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm carries over for 2017, as does the automatic 6-speed. A 9.25-inch front axle with center disconnect, 11.5-inch rear axle, 4.10 rear axle ration and 35:1 crawl ratio are also standard. 14.3 inches of ground clearance, a 33.6-degree approach angle, a 23.5-degree breakover angle, and a departure angle of 26.2 degrees should be enough to keep most people out of trouble on the trails. For those whose off-roading ambitions exceed what the truck’s tires, suspension, and powertrain can collectively handle, there’s a factory-installed 12,000-lb electric winch found behind the front bumper… the only one found standard on an American manufactured vehicle.

2017 Ram Power Wagon Crew Cab 4x4

Yes, you can also tow with the Power Wagon, up to 10,030 lbs. Watch the Ike Gauntlet run with a 2016 example of the truck here. Pricing has yet to be announced but it shouldn’t be much more than the current model. Here’s an Everything You Ever Wanted to Know Video of the new truck.

Brian Waring
Brian is an engineer by trade but his true passion is anything automotive. He wakes up every morning to search the web for the latest industry news. He enjoys taking his Tacoma 4×4 off-road in the mountains of Colorado where he spends his free time hiking, biking, and snowboarding with his wife and dogs near their Rocky Mountain home.