Big. Heavy. Capable.

Climbing steep hills was effortless for the Power Wagon, but descending was even easier with hill-descent control.

- Miguel Cortina

“Are you interested in trucks that grow hair on your chest?” my editor emailed me. I looked down at my barren torso and looked up again to read the subject line: “2017 Ram Power Wagon drive.” My dormant macho emotion had been stirred.

The 4x4 Power Wagon has one of the longest automotive histories in America. What started as a vehicle to defeat the Axis in World War II, the former Dodge Power Wagon arrived in 1946 with the intention of taking its customers on off-road adventures. Now 71 years and several interrupted generations later, the Ram Power Wagon continues delivering on that promise—but with way more power and enhanced technology.

At 149.3 inches of wheelbase, there’s no doubt the Power Wagon is a big pickup. Based on the Ram 2500 HD 4x4 Crew Cab, the offroad-capable truck comes with only a 6-foot- 4-inch bed yet is 237.3 inches in overall length. With 14.3 inches of ground clearance, it was difficult for this 6-foot-tall journalist to jump into the cabin without having to hoist myself up—but that’s partly a consequence of the side steps having been removed.

Because the Power Wagon was built to spend time off-road, Ram equipped it with a 2-inch lift suspension system composed of high articulation three-link front and five link rear live axle suspension and Bilstein monotube shocks for better axle control. An electronically disconnecting front stabilizer bar allows the truck even more axle articulation. The Power Wagon was designed to conquer the outdoors, but it also has a towing capacity of 10,030 pounds and can carry a payload of 1,510 pounds.