Towing on the Highway with the 2017 Ram Power Wagon: 9,000 Lbs Trailer [Video]

2017 ram power wagon trailer towing

How does the 2017 Ram Power Wagon tow? This is precisely what we wanted to find out. The Power Wagon is based on the Ram 2500 HD platform, but it has a unique suspension setup with single-rate coil springs and Bilstein shocks that provide great off-road articulation and a relatively comfortable ride on pavement. The Power Wagon cannot tow or carry as much weight as a regular 3/4-ton HD truck. (Towing and Payload specifications.)  The truck is rated at 9,790 lbs of maximum towing and 1,444 lbs of maximum payload for a base Power Wagon configuration.

The 6.4L HEMI V8 engine is plenty strong for towing. It has the same rating as in other Ram HD trucks: 410 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque. It is backed up by a 6-speed automatic transmission. This is the only power combination available for the Power Wagon. Don’t expect a Cummins I6 or a manual transmission anytime soon.

The 6.4L HEMI and the 6-Speed provide ample propulsion and smooth shifting in this truck. The experience is the same when you hitch up about 9,000 lbs (as we did here). This “first towing” experience is not a very scientific test.  Ram provided us with the trailer and a relatively short highway loop north of Las Vegas, NV. This was enough to tell that the Power Wagon is a stable towing platform for this trailer weight.

We will do more thorough testing of highway towing/empty MPG on our standard 100-mile highway loop, when we get the truck at our headquarters in Colorado. Stay tuned for much more coverage of the 2017 Power Wagon, as we get more time with it.

Check out all the details in the video below.