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By Paul Borden
Men.com correspondent
As if spawning a generation of Baby Boomers wasn't enough, World War II veterans returning from overseas also came back with a desire for trucks, big ones like they had been driving around during the war.
They wrote Dodge asking the company if it could fill that need, and Dodge responded by building the Power Wagon in 1945.
At least that is Dodge's story, and they're sticking to it.
The civilianized Power Wagon was a four-wheel-drive vehicle very similar to the 3/4 ton weapons carrier the GIs were familiar with. It had a 126-inch wheelbase and a 230-cubic inch six-cylinder engine with a two-speed transfer case and four-speed transmission. The interior was Spartan. Many were used as fire engines, buses and tow trucks.
It was sold through the 1968 model year when Chrysler discontinued production for U.S. sales because of safety regulations regarding the 30-year-old cab. More than 95,000 Power Wagons had been sold up to then, and Chrysler continued to produce the truck for export through 1978.
Other versions of the four-wheel-drive pickup carried the Power Wagon nameplate until 1981, when Dodge dropped it in favor of the "Power Ram" designation.
After an absence of nearly 25 years, Dodge revived the Power Wagon for the 2005 model year. Dodge based the new vehicle on its Ram 2500 Series and stocked it with electric-locking front and rear differentials, electronic disconnecting sway bar, a 345-horsepower, 5.7-liter HEMI engine, the tallest standard tires offered on a pickup truck (33-inch BF Goodrich All Terrain tires), a custom-built Warn 12,000-pound winch, and available three-inch heavy-gauge tubular steel rock rails from Mopar.
Can you say macho truck?
Dodge offered Power Wagon buyers a choice of regular or quad cab and either a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission and a slew of options to improve creature comforts.
Our test vehicle featured a laundry list of optional features that ran the base price of $30,650 (including the $900 destination charge) all the way up to $43,260.
Among them: leather seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated seats, deluxe power driver's seat, front-seat center cushion storage, automatic transmission, black vinyl floor covering, 17-by-8-inch aluminum wheels, clearance lamps, tow hooks, fuel tank skid plate shield, 750-ampere maintenance-free battery, security alarm and theft deterrent system, supplemental side airbags, UConnect hands-free communication system, premium sound system with GPS Navigation (but without a large-screen map) and redundant steering-wheel mounted controls, dual-zone air-conditioning and a lot more.
Standard equipment included air-conditioning, multistage airbags, passenger airbag on/off switch, antilock four-wheel disc brakes, manual shift on-the-fly transfer case, power steering, remote keyless entry, power windows and locks and tilt steering wheel - in other words, the usual suspects in today's automotive offerings.
We found the passenger compartment - for our drive we had the regular cab - extremely roomy and comfortable. Getting in and out was somewhat of a challenge, at least for our passenger, and the need for a rail or some sort of step seems quite obvious, assuming a small stepladder isn't handy.
Controls for audio and the air-conditioner are plain and simple and can be operated without resorting to a search through the owner's manual. The AC is operated with either turning two large knobs for the blower and mode or sliding a lever for temperature adjustment.
The instrument panel feature white-faced gauges that are very easy to read with the large tachometer and speedometer flanked by water temperature, fuel, oil pressure and alternator gauges.
This practical approach adds to the feeling of power one gets when settled in behind the wheel. Riding high above ordinary traffic, we immediately wanted to set out to enter our vehicle in a Monster Truck Competition and crush everything in sight. Macho Man indeed. We were ready to take off in whatever direction and any terrain that caught our fancy, which is what the Power Wagon is designed for. Alas, local law enforcement authorities tend to frown on expeditions through school yards and local u-pick-em fields, so we remained on legal roadways.
The ride we found on the road was surprisingly comfortable, firm but not particularly harsh. We maneuvered through urban traffic with ease, enjoying the lofty view one gets from a vehicle of this size. The large windows and large mirrors helped us keep track of traffic and obstacles around us, and, at the same time we were able to navigate a fast-food drive-through without knocking off a mirror or doing other damage.
Given the opportunity, we made use of the Power Wagon to haul a load of sod that was big enough to cause the nursery's handyman to roll his eyes when shown the receipt. First covering the bed with a tarp - which probably wasn't necessary but, still, it wasn't our personal vehicle - we filled the back with 120 18-by-24 inch sections and had plenty of room to spare. The Power Wagon seemed to ask for a bigger challenge on our return trip home.
With its weight, the Power Wagon does not require EPA mileage ratings, but our estimate was in the low teens in a combination of highway and city driving. Hey. The Power Wagon is not about mileage. It's about ... power, of course.
The question of whether a Power Wagon is the pickup truck for you comes down to what exactly you are going to use it for. Do you need a truck just for light loads and quick jaunts around town? And you're never going to take it off-road? Frankly, you may be served by the multitude of other choices available. But if a combination of heavy-duty hauling and off-road capability is what you are seeking, the Power Wagon is more than worthy of consideration.
And then, too, there is always the local Monster Truck competition.
Copyright © 2005 Men.com
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