From the July/August 2026 issue of Car and Driver.

Ram's tall heavy-duty Power Wagon stands out for its strong appeal that comes second only to its strong off-road skills. It also carries a high cost starting just over $76,000 before buyers add extra options. Yet those focused only on the off-road parts can choose a less obvious setup that supplies the same hardware at a lower price.

To reach this point you begin at the entry level. That means picking the affordable Tradesman trim as the base model in the Ram 2500 range. The setup calls for a crew cab with the short bed and four-wheel drive but the $56,300 starting price sits well below the higher trims.

A 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 making 405 horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque comes standard so no engine change is needed. Select the $7995 Power Wagon package to gain the full off-road upgrades without extra frills. This brings locking differentials at both ends a 4.10:1 axle ratio the high-travel front suspension upgraded shocks at all four corners an electronic front anti-roll bar disconnect skid plates under the transfer case and fuel tank plus the key Warn winch. The look gains fender flares powder-coated bumpers and black 17-inch wheels with 285/70R-17 Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires.

The numbers look good yet Ram requires the $2295 Tradesman Level 1 Equipment Group when the Power Wagon package is added so the roughly eight-thousand-dollar outlay grows closer to ten thousand. The group adds useful features that improve daily use such as dual-zone climate control acoustic glass and carpet instead of vinyl flooring. It also includes a power-sliding rear window parking sensors and a 12.0-inch upright infotainment display. With a few small extras the tested truck reached $67,665 still $8480 under a full Power Wagon.

Those added items do not match every Power Wagon feature and one clear difference sits right in front of the driver. The Tradesman keeps its traditional gauge cluster with physical dials and a small basic screen in the center. Further upgrades beyond this point are not available on this value version.

Ram notes that government and commercial fleets often choose the Tradesman with the Power Wagon package for extra dirt ability without exhausting their budgets. Time behind the wheel shows this choice reflects practical spending.

HIGHS: Power Wagon ability at lower cost no flashy styling and a compliant on-road ride.

The shocks and springs are softer than typical Ram HD models so the ride stays composed even with an 8565-pound gross vehicle weight rating. The brake pedal feels soft at first touch with long travel yet stopping distances stay short. The truck halted from 70 mph in 216 feet beating the prior gas Ford F-350 Tremor by 22 feet.

Despite its sports-sedan power and house-like mass the 7103-pound Tradesman moved well in track tests. It reached 60 mph in 6.9 seconds and the quarter-mile took 15.4 seconds at 90 mph.

LOWS: Required equipment group trims the savings some comfort items stay unavailable and towing plus payload drop versus other heavy-duty Rams.

Highway fuel economy at 75 mph averaged 14 mpg. With the 31-gallon tank that yields a range near 430 miles.

Less time fueling leaves more time off pavement. The Bilstein dampers smooth the ride on rough trails. While extreme Moab paths may not suit its large size the truck handles rocky roads muddy sections and water crossings up to 30 inches deep with ease. The 12,000-pound winch provides recovery if needed.

A key limit of the real Power Wagon is lower towing capacity as a result of its off-road focus. The standard Tradesman Crew Cab four-by-four with the longer bed and 4.10:1 gears tows over 17,000 pounds but this version drops to 10,530 pounds. Payload falls from as much as 3320 pounds to 1570 pounds.

VERDICT: Avoiding the badges keeps real money in your pocket.

Trade-offs exist in every vehicle yet the Ram Tradesman Power Wagon package lands in a strong middle ground for fleet users or cost-aware explorers. It delivers improved on-road manners and better off-road performance than a regular Ram 2500 while costing far less than the loaded Power Wagon. The difference can easily pay for several tanks of fuel.

Off the Table

The Tradesman with the Power Wagon package brings some comforts but remains simpler than the standard Power Wagon. To keep the price down these options stay unavailable on the lower-cost model.

Two-tone paint ($0-$295 depending on main color)
RamBox fender storage ($1295)
Power sunroof ($1195)
Power Wagon Level 1 package ($4495): Alpine audio keyless entry leather-trimmed front buckets heated power-folding mirrors power-adjustable pedals
Power Wagon Level 2 package ($8545): Level 1 content plus 14.4-inch screen 17 Harman/Kardon speakers front passenger screen leather grab handles and shifter Mopar spray-in bedliner LED bed lights

Specifications

Specifications

2026 Ram 2500 Tradesman
Vehicle Type: front-engine rear/4-wheel-drive 6-passenger 4-door pickup

PRICE
Base/As Tested: $56,300/$67,665
Options: Power Wagon Package (powder-coated front and rear bumpers Ram Articulink suspension 17-inch black-painted aluminum wheels with all-terrain tires front electric winch raised ride height front and rear performance tuned shock absorbers front disconnecting stabilizer bar electronic locking front and rear axles fuel tank and transfer case skid plates black wheel flares 4.10 axle ratio hill-descent control rear wheelhouse liners) $7995; Tradesman Level 1 Equipment Group (includes ParkSense front/rear park-assist system Convenience Group Emergency Vehicle Alert System 12.0-inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen exterior 115-volt AC outlet auto dimming rearview mirror power-sliding rear window Mopar black tubular side steps 400-watt inverter HD radio) $2395; Bed Utility Group (Mopar spray-in bedliner LED bed lighting Mopar deployable bed step) $895; clearance lamps $180

ENGINE
pushrod 16-valve V-8 iron block and aluminum heads port fuel injection
Displacement: 392 in³ 6417 cm³
Power: 405 hp @ 5600 rpm
Torque: 429 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm

TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic

CHASSIS
Suspension F/R: live axle/live axle
Brakes F/R: 14.2-in vented disc/14.2-in vented disc
Tires: Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac
LT285/70R-17 121/118Q M+S

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 149.3 in
Length: 238.9 in
Width: 83.4 in
Height: 80.9 in
Passenger Volume F/R: 64/61 ft³
Curb Weight: 7103 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 6.9 sec
1/4-Mile: 15.4 sec @ 90 mph
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.4 sec.
Rolling Start 5-60 mph: 7.3 sec
Top Gear 30-50 mph: 3.8 sec
Top Gear 50-70 mph: 4.9 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 98 mph
Braking 70-0 mph: 216 ft

Interior Sound
Idle: 44 dBA/4 sone
Full Throttle: 75 dBA
70-mph Cruising: 67 dBA/21 sone

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 10 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 14 mpg
75-mph Highway Range: 430 mi

C/D TESTING EXPLAINED