Saddling Up and Riding the 2017 Ram 2500 Power Wagon in the Texas Truck Rodeo

I came, I saw, I conquered. To the Texas Auto Writers Association’s 2016 Texas Truck Rodeo, the 2017 Ram 2500 Power Wagon, the roads surrounding and the trails of the Longhorn River Ranch in Dripping Springs, Texas.

I observed, too. The newest version of what Ram calls the “Ultimate Off-road Truck” – and what the TAWA named the top off-road pickup of the year – is…

A Visual Stopping Point

While driving with a Ram rep sitting shotgun next to me – in fact, he had just purchased the exact truck I was driving – I told him how I’ve seen so many customized trucks with huge aftermarket wheels and tires that just ruin their aesthetics. It’s not something I find particularly attractive, but I totally understand wanting to make your rig look different and special. The Power Wagon, with its 1979-80 “Macho Power Wagon”-inspired looks, R-A-M grille, 12,000-pound front-mounted winch, black-bezel headlamps, vertical stripe “Power Wagon” graphics, Silver/Matte Black multi-surface wheels, and “Power Wagon” tailgate decal looks special right out of the factory.

Overqualified in Four-Wheel Drive

My colleagues in the TAWA and I had three paths to choose from on the ranch. Trail 1 was the easiest, 3 was the most difficult. I automatically pointed the Power Wagon’s nose toward the latter, eager to take it through whoops and mud and over rocks and low-grip grades.

My use of the sway-bar disconnecting feature and low range was just an exercise of the truck’s features for the sake of curiosity, not necessity. The Power Wagon could’ve taken everything I threw at it and more in two-wheel drive.

A Brand New Truck with an Old-School Bit of Hardware

The Power Wagon has variable-valve timing, Fuel Saver cylinder-deactivation technology, Hill-descent Control, and electronic-locking differentials. Modern, high-tech stuff. Switching from two- to four-wheel drive? Nope, you can’t just turn a dial and shift on the fly. You need to reach down to the floor and wrench an old-fashion lever into place – just the way Ram’s Power Wagon customers like to do it.

Easy to See, Surprisingly Easy to See Out Of

Having laid eyes on the Power Wagon’s massive hood, I was initially concerned that it would pose sight distance problems for me. I was pleased to discover it didn’t. However, if you’re on the shorter side (I’m 5’10”), you might want to crank your seat height up just to be safe. There’s no front camera on this monster.

Apocalypse-Proof

Most full-size trucks look capable of towing and hauling heavy loads to and from work sites all day long. Others look perfect for showing off to other truck-lovers and members of the opposite sex. The 2017 Ram 2500 Ram Power Wagon seems ready for a zombie apocalypse – to climb over building rubble, mow down the undead, bash burning cars out of the way, ford rivers, and mountaineer to distant peaks far removed from the chaos below. It’s the first choice for humanity’s last chance.

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Derek Shiekhi

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.

In addition to writing for a variety of Internet Brands sites, including JK Forum, H-D Forums, The Mustang Source, Mustang Forums, LS1Tech, HondaTech, Jaguar Forums, YotaTech, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts. Derek also started There Will Be Cars on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

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