2014 Power Wagon Sneak Peek

[TwinStick]

At least it should be a bolt in/plug in, upgrade if we 3rd Gen old timers decide we want more than 4.56's !

[flattire]

Thinking about the "phase out" idea. Didn't they also change shocks and tires , (wheels?). The only thing left is the winch and sway bar disconnect that is P.W. specific.

[Mopar Bob]

The Power Wagon will still have unique suspension settings/modifications to enhance off-road capability.

[RustyPW]

so does this mean we could experience a rear suspension death wobble? cool!

Maybe front and rear at the same time, that would be wild!

Can you say Harlem Shake.

[RustyPW]

Dropping the 10.5 rear axle make sense money wise. The PW used the 10.5 with the 11.5 axle shafts. The only truck in the lineup to use that combintion. Most of the 2500's come with the 11.5 anyway. Why not use one diff for all of them. The 4.11's with the 6.4. Think you will still see guys whiching to 4.56's later on.

Changes are coming to save money in the whole line up. Stuff that was PW only, you will see in other models or dropped. Shocks, rims, the 4.56's.

[RAM4ROKS]

I've been having this thought a lot lately after seeing my buddy's Ram 1500 crew cab:
What if they made a shorter bed an option for the Power Wagon? Keep the crew cab but make the shorter bed (like the 1500s) an option? This would give the Power Wagon buyer an option of a 140" wheelbase for a little better maneuverability whilst still keeping the crew cab. (since I really doubt they'll make a regular cab, which makes me sad) It would be similar to how Toyota makes double cab Tacomas in long and short wheelbase. If this had been an option when I bought mine, I would have definitely gone the short(er) bed route!!!

[RustyPW]

I've been having this thought a lot lately after seeing my buddy's Ram 1500 crew cab:
What if they made a shorter bed an option for the Power Wagon? Keep the crew cab but make the shorter bed (like the 1500s) an option? This would give the Power Wagon buyer an option of a 140" wheelbase for a little better maneuverability whilst still keeping the crew cab. (since I really doubt they'll make a regular cab, which makes me sad) It would be similar to how Toyota makes double cab Tacomas in long and short wheelbase. If this had been an option when I bought mine, I would have definitely gone the short(er) bed route!!!

Nice idea, but........ To keep cost down. One wheelbase only, one cab only. A short bed regular cab..........I would be ALL over it in a heart beat.

[Richx76]

I'm really really digging this sneak peek.

Now if I could just get "exact" build dates...and the rest of the specs...

[Richx76]

Interesting for sure. The extra displacement sounds good as does the beefier axle. But kind of disappointing they're going with 4.10s. Though the extra power will help the "peppiness", I imagine those of us going to 35s or larger will be really wanting the 4.56s intead. I'm still on the fence about the suspension. I suppose if the arms are long enough and the links designed well, the off-road performance might be quite good.

I guess I don't understand the problem with the 4.10 axle...it's going to make it a better daily driver, and you still have low range for off road...

Or is there something I'm missing?

Does anyone have a final driver ratio comparison chart that breaks down each gear/transmission for comparison from 2013 to 2014? That may help a bit...

[RAM4ROKS]

Nice idea, but........ To keep cost down. One wheelbase only, one cab only. A short bed regular cab..........I would be ALL over it in a heart beat.

I think they should maintain the crew cab as it is obviously the volume seller (and I think they should add short and shorter bed options) but, don't worry, I am right there with ya on the regular cab!!! Reg cab short bed with a stick shift and the 6.4L! I've already told my wife that if they build that setup, I will be trading my 2012 in!!! She just silently glared at me so.... I think I will take her silence as agreement, right?

[04Ram2500Hemi]

Nice idea, but........ To keep cost down. One wheelbase only, one cab only. A short bed regular cab..........I would be ALL over it in a heart beat.

I think they should maintain the crew cab as it is obviously the volume seller (and I think they should add short and shorter bed options) but, don't worry, I am right there with ya on the regular cab!!! Reg cab short bed with a stick shift and the 6.4L! I've already told my wife that if they build that setup, I will be trading my 2012 in!!! She just silently glared at me so.... I think I will take her silence as agreement, right?

She never said no- so I guess that means yes.

[Cactus Red]

Without knowing the gear ratio of the transmission, all I can supply is the difference between the t'case and rear axle ratios

2.73 x 4.1 = 11.19
2.73 x 4.56 = 12.49

While that may not look like much, it's actually about 11%. In the realm of final drive ratios, it adds up quick. For sake of discussion, lets say the first gear ratio is 4.22 to 1.

4.10's would yield a crawl ratio of 47.22:1, 4.56 comes out to 52.70:1.

Going from the stock tires to a 35" tire is going to be critically important with the new truck - the 11" rear axle will greatly impact the diff clearance over the 10" currently used. Those axles are freakin' huge...

And that's where the 4.10:1 gear ratio is going to hurt. As it is right now, the effective gear ration of a Power Wagon w/ 4.56:1 axles on 35" tires is...

...almost exactly 4.10:1

So, if you start with 4.10:1, it takes it to about a 3.86:1 with 35's, and if you go larger than a 35, it will virtually require a gear ratio change on both axles.

[myoung84]

Here's a link to an excel spreadsheet calculator that I made a long time ago and use all the time. This does everything you could possible want for tire sizes and gear ratios. On the far right side, there are comparisons for the 4.10 and 4.56 ratios in high and low range for the 66RFE. I've also got some stuff on there for the 8 speed that's in my Jeep. Can you imagine having this in the Power Wagon? That would totally make up for the 4.10s with an almost 50:1 crawl ratio in first gear! Then with 4.56s you're looking at a massive 58:1!

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/323 ... ulator.xls

[Ramicon]

Guys, I for one cannot wait until the 2014 Power Wagons come out. I will be the first to order one. As of now you cannot ! I want to order a Hill Green, but was told that unless there are 10 colors ordered that color Ram will not produce it. However this is for all HD, so if someone with a regular Ram HD orders this color it will add to the list. Here are the changes I have read and heard from a deal in Texas.
1) Rams with the 6.4 V8 have an optional dual alternator system, the first gasoline driven one of its kind in either class, combining 220 and 160 amp units for a total of 380 amps
2) The 6.4 runs on regular gas (87 octane) and is hooked up to a six-speed automatic only (66RFE, with an optional Aisin. If it can be ordered with this transmission the first gear is much lower to compensate for the higher gear. See chart

68RFE 3.23 1.84 1.41 1.00 0.82 0.63 4.44 3.42, 3.83, 4.10
AS69RC 3.75 2.0 1.34 1.00 0.77 0.63 3.43 3.42, 3.73, 4.10



3) a new heavier-duty rear axle. An AAM 11.5-inch replaces the AAM 10.5-inch. This is great ! especially if you are going to lift it and put bigger tires on it. Who in the world complained when Jeep Rubcions came with 44’s front and back? I never heard anyone that knew anything about off roading say Gosh I wish I have the old 30 fronts and Dana 35 out back….give me a break.

4) The gear swap to 4.10s is said to improve drivability and fuel economy. With it going from a V8 to a V4, we could see some very nice improvements.

5) Power Wagon comes with the new coil-link rear suspension. Ram truck engineers claim to have hit or exceeded capability targets with the new design thanks in part to the use of progressive rate coils. I can tell you that RAM is not going to go backwards. They know from studies that, this is an oversize Jeep Rubicon, and that the main reason someone buys a Power Wagon is for the off road capabilities and not the towing. This Ram PW will get both jobs done but if towing is you thing get a diesel.
6) I have heard the New 2014 PW will have the cool graphic that the Black show truck had that go all up and down the side.
7) I also heard that there will be 3 new standard colors offered. No idea what they are, but the person that I have been talking to owns a Ram dealership in Texas, and loved the PW….
8) He mentions that there was talk of discontinuing the truck and in 2014 if the sales do not go up they will make it a special order vehicle for one more year. They will “can” the whole line up, and 2015 is suppose to get a new sheet metal update not just head lights and grill and if things follow suit, the 2015 1500’s will get the new look followed by the 2016 HD. According to sales figures the 2013 will be the lowest run of any year…perhaps as low as 200 units were sold. I say were because you can no longer order a 2013 model, and they are not making anymore.
9) as some of you predicted there will be a 10th university for 2015…..lets hope this is not that last year for the vehicle. I personally use my truck every day. I love the sound of the 5.7, I can only imagine what the 6.4 will sound like. I cannot wait!

[Ramicon]

oh a couple more things, I know on the HD they are going to have 18, and 20 inch options, and my fiend said that the 18's will be an option for the PW (no 20's...but they probable had bad offsets for larger tires anyway)

[RustyPW]

For the longest time. They have talked about discontinuing the PW. We're used to it. I keep my trucks for 10 years then get a new one. So this one has to last until 2018. If they discontinue the PW before then. Then I'll keep my '08 forever.

[RAM4ROKS]

I bet the low sales on the 2013s was at least partially due to how late they came out! I bought my 2012 fresh off the truck in the last part of January 2013. That's about 4 months late for a normal model year! (I had had my 2013 Tacoma for a month before I traded it in on the Power Wagon) Another 2012 arrived AFTER mine! The 2014s are supposedly going to come at the normal time (September) so, in effect, the 2013 model year will have been only 9 months long! (at least from what I have been seeing)

The dealer where I got my truck sold all three 2012s they got within a month of their arrival on the lot so, it's not like there's not a demand, Chrysler is just not sending enough! (they were the nearest dealer that had ANY and they are 40 minutes away) Yes, I know that's talking of 2012s now and not 2013 sales but still the idea is the same- Send more, they'll sell!!!

[ACRucrazy]

1) Rams with the 6.4 V8 have an optional dual alternator system, the first gasoline driven one of its kind in either class, combining 220 and 160 amp units for a total of 380 amps
2) The 6.4 runs on regular gas (87 octane) and is hooked ( with an optional Aisin)
3) a new heavier-duty rear axle. An AAM 11.5-inch replaces the AAM 10.5-inch.
4) The gear swap to 4.10s is said to improve drivability and fuel economy.
5) Power Wagon comes with the new coil-link rear suspension.
6) I have heard the New 2014 PW will have the cool graphic that the Black show truck had that go all up and down the side.
7) I also heard that there will be 3 new standard colors offered.
8) He mentions that there was talk of discontinuing the truck and in 2014 if the sales do not go up they will make it a special order vehicle for one more year.
9) as some of you predicted there will be a 10th anniversary for 2015…

I love all of this, 2015 may be the year I buy a new PW then. Dual atl, Aisin 10th anniversary.

[bstefanic]

I would think the increase to a 6.4l but drop to 4.10's would probably make the seat of your pants feel be just about the same as a 5.7l with 4.56's...based on my super calibrated ass. As for 4.10's to increase full economy...really??

[TwinStick]

Well, I call BS. They will be TOTALLY different & not in a good way, at least IMHO anyways. Power & 4x4'ing is all about gearing IMHO. Unless you want to hit the carpet with the skinny pedal, hold on & wait for parts to break.

With the 68RFE your crawl ratio will only be 36.02:1. With the AS69RC it will only be 41.82:1. I think my old 84 Subaru was about there in lo range. My truck is 78.016:1. That is a substantial difference. Enough to go to 35's or 37's & still be alright. The whole reason to get a PW was that it was already mostly done. Now you will have to re-gear it & then the elec lockers prob wont work with new gears. But at least you can. Not with the 10.5", 4.56's is all there is. So, you would end up rebuilding some of the most expensive stuff. Be Cheaper to get a reg 2500 & build it, lift it, re-gear it & add ARB air lockers. As with the H1, when they finally got it right (Dura-Max & Allison), they discontinued it. Same as the H3, 5.3 & manual trans & then they discontinued it. I can certainly see them discontinuing the Power Wagon too. I believe this is just to keep it going for another year or 2, to use up existing inventory, then phase it out & blame it on poor sales, which we all know is BS. I really hope i am wrong on all counts though.

[bstefanic]

Well, I call BS. They will be TOTALLY different & not in a good way, at least IMHO anyways. Power & 4x4'ing is all about gearing IMHO. Unless you want to hit the carpet with the skinny pedal, hold on & wait for parts to break.

With the 68RFE your crawl ratio will only be 36.02:1. With the AS69RC it will only be 41.82:1. I think my old 84 Subaru was about there in lo range. My truck is 78.016:1. That is a substantial difference. Enough to go to 35's or 37's & still be alright. The whole reason to get a PW was that it was already mostly done. Now you will have to re-gear it & then the elec lockers prob wont work with new gears. But at least you can. Not with the 10.5", 4.56's is all there is. So, you would end up rebuilding some of the most expensive stuff. Be Cheaper to get a reg 2500 & build it, lift it, re-gear it & add ARB air lockers. As with the H1, when they finally got it right (Dura-Max & Allison), they discontinued it. Same as the H3, 5.3 & manual trans & then they discontinued it. I can certainly see them discontinuing the Power Wagon too. I believe this is just to keep it going for another year or 2, to use up existing inventory, then phase it out & blame it on poor sales, which we all know is BS. I really hope i am wrong on all counts though.

I couldn't agree more...not to mention all the added head aches added with a coil link suspension in the rear as opposed to leaf springs. Maybe its just me getting more cynical in my old age but the adage of K.I.S.S. (Keep it simple stupid) applies here. I agree with going to the 11.5" rear end, just from the manufacturing cost point of view makes zero sense to have two slightly different axles. But the coil link...even if it actually increases payload, that fact really doesn't matter, I've always seen the powerwagon as a badass off road vehicle that can do work at the same time...a "leatherman" type vehicle. I guarantee when a farmer goes in to look at an all around great heavy duty truck as soon as they see coils in the rear they'll pass it up.

[pdavey]

2) The 6.4 runs on regular gas (87 octane) and is hooked up to a six-speed automatic only (66RFE, with an optional Aisin. If it can be ordered with this transmission the first gear is much lower to compensate for the higher gear. See chart

Good write-up but if they use the same set up as on the SRT's the 6.4 will take premium gas and use 0 or 5w-40 oil.

Great engine by the way. Love it!

[pdavey]

I bet the low sales on the 2013s was at least partially due to how late they came out! I bought my 2012 fresh off the truck in the last part of January 2013. That's about 4 months late for a normal model year! (I had had my 2013 Tacoma for a month before I traded it in on the Power Wagon) Another 2012 arrived AFTER mine! The 2014s are supposedly going to come at the normal time (September) so, in effect, the 2013 model year will have been only 9 months long! (at least from what I have been seeing)

The dealer where I got my truck sold all three 2012s they got within a month of their arrival on the lot so, it's not like there's not a demand, Chrysler is just not sending enough! (they were the nearest dealer that had ANY and they are 40 minutes away) Yes, I know that's talking of 2012s now and not 2013 sales but still the idea is the same- Send more, they'll sell!!!

The Power Wagon was never meant to be a big seller. They only make a certain number a year and keep the production numbers low on purpose. If they discontinue it, I for one would be OK as I don't see myself buying another one unless they come out with the original body style they had in the concept

[RAM4ROKS]

This concept?:
http://dodgeram.org/rides/power_wagon/concept.htm

or this one?
http://www.allpar.com/cars/concepts/ram/powerwagon.html

The first one was neat but, I'd rather just build up an actual original Power Wagon than have a new truck that's styled so much like one. (I've never been one to be too much enamored with retro styled new vehicles, I've always liked the original ones better than the new takes on them) I'd much rather "rest-mod" an old one than buy one new that's like the top concept.

The second one, well... yeah, I'd trade my 2012 in! (just make mine a fleetside!)

(sorry for making them links, I tried to post pics but, I wasn't having any luck)

[pdavey]

This concept?:
http://dodgeram.org/rides/power_wagon/concept.htm

or this one?
http://www.allpar.com/cars/concepts/ram/powerwagon.html

The first one was neat but, I'd rather just build up an actual original Power Wagon than have a new truck that's styled so much like one. (I've never been one to be too much enamored with retro styled new vehicles, I've always liked the original ones better than the new takes on them) I'd much rather "rest-mod" an old one than buy one new that's like the top concept.

The second one, well... yeah, I'd trade my 2012 in! (just make mine a fleetside!)

(sorry for making them links, I tried to post pics but, I wasn't having any luck)

If they did a combination of those (cool body style on 40's) I would buy it as a second power wagon