9 Facts about the Dodge Power Wagon
The Dodge Power Wagon says a lot with just 3 little words. These tough trucks are able to haul whatever you have that needs hauling, and they have the power to do it even where there are no roads. Let's look at some of the trucks to carry the iconic name.
1. WWII Allied Power
The Jeep was not the only truck that helped the allies win the war in Europe, the Dodge WC series was there too, serving as everything from a troop carrier, to an ambulance, to a staff car, to a weapons carrier. If there was something that needed carrying, from people to cargo, the Dodge was ready willing and able. A big cast iron, flat head, inline six provided power, with a granny gear 4-speed sending it back to a transfer case for 4 wheel drive (and in some cases 6 wheels). Thousands and thousands of these were built between 1941 and 1945 and many of them are still being used around Europe in parades and car shows.
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2. Civilized Power Wagon
In 1946, America was ready to get back to work in the fields and forests, and Dodge had a truck for them too. The new civilian version of the WC truck was dubbed the power wagon and had pretty much all the features the military had offered. As seen in the picture, tractor style power takes off allowed this truck to till the fields, haul grain to the silo, or take the farmer to town to sell his produce. You could buy them in several sizes, from a 126" wheelbase up to 147", and they were rated for a 3,000lb payload. They were badged as Dodge, DeSoto or even Fargo, depending on what country you were in, and which dealer you were shopping at, and they continued with minor changes until 1971, getting a V8 motor eventually.
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3. Willock Swivel Frame
Perhaps the most sought after Power Wagon, by collectors and off-roaders, are the ones modified from 1952 to 1958 by the Willcock company in Canada. These trucks cut the frame in the middle of the cab and the bed and installed a swivel that allowed the front and back axles unheard of amounts of articulation. Less than 100 of these were built, but the idea has never really gone out of favor with the people who need to climb over huge boulders and other companies make similar trucks now.
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4. W100 and W200 Power Wagons
In 1957, Dodge brought out a Power Wagon that combined parts from the military grade truck and their civilian pickup trucks, called the W100 or W200 (depending on payload rating). These were less agricultural than the original Power Wagon, but still just as capable off-road or in a field. There were station wagons like Town Wagon, and vans like Town Panel as well.
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5. Dodge D-series Power Wagons
At this point, Dodge, like all the other major truck makers, was getting more and more civilized. They were still making the original military spec Power Wagon for farmers, ranchers, and others who needs a serious truck that was half tractor, but they were also making the new D-series pickups. The heavier duty, unstoppable, 4x4 Power Wagon was a tougher version of the regular 2wd truck and got all the same power options and year by year evolutionary upgrades. These two very different types of Power Wagon were sold together for another 10 years.
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6. Crew Cab Power Wagon
A lucrative niche market that Dodge catered to was U.S. Forest Service and rural fire department workers. These groups loved the ability to get 6 men and all their gear to remote locations with just one truck. The Dodge Power Wagon crew cab ate less than 6 mules and smelled a lot better too.
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7. Macho Power Wagon
In the late 1970s, just being the power wagon wasn't enough, Dodge produced the D100 based Macho Power Wagon. There wasn't much about this truck that was different than the previous pickup based Power Wagon, except for how loudly these truck screamed Power Wagon. The previous trucks and the more industrial original style Power Wagons made do with a chrome name spelled out on the fender or hood sides. The Macho Power Wagon spelled it out on big splashy decals, most famously on the 1980 model Rick drove in Simon and Simon.
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8. 1981 Power Ram
In 1981 the Power Wagon vanished, replaced by the new Power Ram, which was pretty much the same truck, though. These truck were still based on the third generation D100 trucks that had debuted in 1971, so they still featured a solid front axle and were just as unstoppable off-road. With few changes, these trucks continued until 1993.
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9. Modern Power Wagon
Dodge trucks became Ram, and the Ram Power Wagon was introduced as a specially equipped version of the 3/4 ton rated model in 2004. Now on the third generation Ram Power Wagon for 2017, they still live up to the rough and tough reputation laid down by the originals after the war. A Hemi V8 motor provides power to practically indestructible solid axles front and back, and you get all kinds of other useful off-road accessories, like a winch too. Ram even offers you the throwback graphic made famous by the Macho Power Wagons of the 1970s
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To keep your Dodge, Ram, or Power Wagon running right, check out the how-to sections of DodgeForum.com