Story and photos by John Van Wagoner
What is a Ram Power Wagon? Some say it’s like a Jeep, but for men. Some also say that Jeeps are for Barbies. Does that mean a Power Wagon is like a Jeep for Ken? Fact. I love my banged-up, trail-abused 2006 Power Wagon. Err… I mean, I love my wife’s truck. I guess she’s Ken, and I’m Barbie in this household. (I drive the Jeep, mostly). Opinion. The Ram Power Wagon is the most well-rounded, factory-produced 4×4 vehicle on the market. 
Here’s why. Power Wagon is based on a Ram 2500. It’s a ¾ ton pickup truck. It has solid front and rear axles. It’s got similar features to a Rubicon, locking diffs, lower gearing, and electronic sway bar controls. Power Wagon doesn’t have a 4:1 transfer case, BUT it does come with a 12k warn winch from the factory. The cab has way more room than a 4-door Wrangler, more comfortable for adults in the rear seat. (Less cramped for car seats. Stuff 3 car seats in the back of a Wrangler. I dare you.)
One of the biggest reasons the Ram Power Wagon rules the 4×4 trail exploration kingdom is you can tow with your Power Wagon. You can load up your RV or anything else you pull, head to Moab, Colorado, or wherever, drop your RV and then run the same trails those full-bodied Rubicons are running.
Everyone knows that Moab is the Off-Road Mecca. Maybe it’s not the hardest core trail system, but it is the most magical, beautiful, breathtaking scenery you can experience. The red rock of Utah is a universal magnet that draws people from across the globe. There has been a yearly gathering of Ram Power Wagon owners in town since 2005.
RedRock Ram Rally Spring 2022 just wrapped up. The event was a Monday through Friday trip, with a different trail daily. The agenda was simple “Just show up and run some trails as Ram enthusiasts.” We started the week with a Power Wagon classic, Seven Mile Rim. It’s always a great warmup for the week. Wipeout Hill is always a fun time and is a piece of cake for our long wheelbase rigs.
Tuesday is when things got a bit more interesting. We took on Rose Garden Hill. This was a first for all of us on that trail. Rose Garden starts very simply, navigating up Onion Creek, a fantastic drive on its own, then making a turn down an unassuming trail that follows below a large plateau. The fun started when we got to the actual hill. The guidebooks say it has gotten more difficult over the years, and the photos and videos I’ve seen did not make it too worrisome for us big trail whales. Boy, oh boy, were we in for a surprise. As you descend to the base of the hill, the climb looks pretty intimidating, especially to Moab newbies. Our guide was in a built JK and made his way up the hill with no problem. The next rig was a Moab first-timer in a truck with 35” tires. There’s a pretty aggressive double ledge that the long wheelbased rigs did not like at all, and it took a significant amount of work to get the first truck up the hill. The rest of the trucks were all set with 37” tires, but that didn’t make life too easy for them. We had to manage some throttle and brake strategies while pivoting directions between the ledges. We found the best line through these ledges was quite off-camber and sure put a few of us into some side tilts we were not ready for. Eventually, we got all nine rigs up the hill, and everyone was relieved. We won’t be forgetting this day any time soon.
The rest of the week was spent running some of the true Moab classics. Moab Rim has always been a favorite trail for us. Hikers and other trail users always look amused on our way up. “Are you really going to do this with those trucks!?!?” Yep. Yep, we are. The second overview at the back of Moab Rim trail is my favorite lunch spot in Moab.
Hells Revenge is always a must-do. We’ve gotten so comfortable on that trail that our kids are going to be driving it as soon as their feet can touch the pedals. Hells Gate is a breeze with the wheelbase, but taking a Ram up Escalator always gets some more attention from onlookers. We really enjoyed the expanded public routes that opened up this year. They added something new to a very familiar trail.
Friday finished off the week on Poison Spider Mesa. This is always a fun trail. This year we added the Where Eagles Dare loop instead of the regular PSM loop. Eagles Dare has some of the best slick rock climbs and traverses in Moab. The overview of Corona Arch is amazing, and it always feels like you’re the first person out there in years because the trail is not as defined by tire marks as the rest of the trails. We didn’t encounter anyone else on that loop that day. It’s not too often you get a trail to yourself in the spring.
Here’s what I like about the Power Wagon off-roading. Wheelbase. We compromise break-over angles. But looking at the steep climbs and traction found on the petrified sand dunes of Utah, our longer length helps us ascend while minimizing our concerns of back-flipping down the climb. Another thing on the list is that the wagons and the trails pair well together. We have wide opened trails we can shake our hips down. We don’t have to worry if we’re going to rub or brush up against greenery. Everyone we cross paths with (well, almost everyone) is surprised and excited to see regular everyday-looking trucks out on “Jeep trails.” They don’t realize that you don’t have to have just a Jeep, Toyota, or Bronco to get into some killer landscape.
Our group was pretty small this year, but we had an amazing time. We saw old friends, made new friends, and saw the best of Moab. We are looking forward to our next RedRock Ram Rally event in October in conjunction with Trail Hero. Registration is live now. We sold out last year and expect to do so again this year. Be sure to join us on some awesome Ram-only trails in Sand Hollow, Utah, at the best event of the year!
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