Recently, I was lucky enough to be one of the first journalists to drive the 2017 Ram 2500 Power Wagon at the Texas Auto Writers Association’s 2016 Texas Truck Rodeo. Before I got behind the wheel, I asked you to send in your questions about it.
Forum member THEMANFZ1 asked:
“Can we add 35″ or larger tires if desired, or is it a no go like on the Rebel?”
I spoke with a couple of guys at Ram Trucks to get an official answer. One of them told me that the 2017 Power Wagon was developed by engineers to use 33-inch tires. Its suspension, off-road capabilities, emissions, and a long list of other bits of hardware were specifically tuned to work with rubber that size. Although 35s may theoretically fit under the wheel arches, they could pose a major warranty coverage problem should you bring a new Power Wagon into a dealership for issues related to such aftermarket tires. Plus, they would probably rub up front at full steering lock, according to my other Ram Trucks contact.
On Facebook, one of you posed this question:
“Will the 6 speed manual G56..ever come back?.. and are they still running 456. Gears..”
A look at the specs for the 2017 Power Wagon reveals it’s running a 4.10:1 axle ratio. As for the use of a six-speed stick in the Power Wagon, the fellas at Ram said that gearbox is only offered on the company’s heavy-duty diesel trucks. The 2017 Power Wagon is solely powered by a gas 6.4-liter HEMI. Ram doesn’t put a diesel in the Power Wagon partly because of the packaging issues it would pose and partly because of how the engine would affect the Power Wagon’s off-road prowess. The position of the Power Wagon’s front winch would interfere with the placement of the diesel’s charge air cooler. The heavy power plant would put too much weight over the Power Wagon’s front axle and negatively impact its abilities in the rough stuff.
In stock form, the 2017 Power Wagon had no problems on the trails of the Longhorn River Ranch down in Dripping Springs, Texas. It got to the end of each one effortlessly and went on to become the TAWA’s top off-road pickup of the 2016 Texas Truck Rodeo.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
