2018 Ram 2500 Power Wagon: What's Changed

• Most significant changes: A backup camera is now standard and there's an available 8.4-inch audio display screen
• Price change: Power Wagon configurations see increases of $400 to $600
• On sale: Now
• Which should you buy, 2017 or 2018? 2018 because of the standard backup camera and improved tech

The Ram 2500 Power Wagon is a niche off-road pickup truck, the only one built on a three-quarter-ton chassis. Essentially, it's a Ram 2500 factory-built with all the equipment one would add for off-highway use with a suspension tuned for wheel travel and rock crawling rather than towing a second home.

For model-year 2018, the Ram 2500 Power Wagon — available in two flavors — gets updated telematics, the federally mandated backup camera as standard and price increases of $400 to $600.

The Ram Power Wagon comes with some unique standard equipment: locking differentials front and rear, a double-jointed front suspension with a front anti-roll bar disconnect and a 12,000-pound Warn winch integrated into the front bumper. The Power Wagon also comes standard with 4.10:1 axle gears, five Bilstein dampers (four at each corner and one steering stabilizer), manual-shift four-wheel drive, tow hooks, a full set of skid plates, a large alternator, unique upholstery and the only load range D tires in the heavy-duty class for maximum flexibility and traction when aired down.

The Ram Power Wagon has ground clearance of 14.3 inches — optional side steps can help with entry and exit if clearing obstacles isn't a priority — and the suspension is designed to keep the wheels on the ground in undulating terrain, regardless of speed. As a result, the maximum payload of 1,470 pounds and maximum towing capacity of 9,910 are both shy of typical three-quarter-ton numbers but adequate for towing all-terrain vehicles or snowmobiles on mid-size trailers to remote locations.

Offered only as a crew cab, the Ram Power Wagon has a 6-foot-4-inch bed. You can get a spartan Tradesman version of it or it can be optioned up to luxury-class levels with items such as leather upholstery, heated/ventilated seats, 4G LTE, rain-sensing wipers and more. Tow hooks and fender flares are standard. Eight colors are available, including one monotone option; it can be had without the Power Wagon badging.

The Ram Power Wagon has not been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. However, based on NHTSA ratings for the 2018 Ram 2500 4×4 crew cab, we'd expect four-star ratings for overall and frontal crash tests, five stars for the side crash rating and three stars for the rollover rating.

The Power Wagon comes with a gasoline 410-horsepower, 6.4-liter V-8 and a six-speed automatic transmission. The primary mechanical option is a larger, or dual, alternator for up to a 380-amp power supply. Cargo options include the lockable the RamBox for the bed.

Pricing for the 2018 Ram 2500 Power Wagon starts at $48,790 for the bare-bones Tradesman version and $53,690, (prices include a $1,395 destination charge) for the more traditional, fully dressed version.

Updates for 2018 Ram 2500 Power Wagon

• Available 8.4-inch radios with 4G LTE, HD radio, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay and USB Flip, pinch to zoom and improved resolution
• Sirius Guardian with a suite of safety features
• Remote exterior switch in truck bed for LED bed lights
• Standard backup camera

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