[1] The Power Wagon name was revived for the 2005 model year as a four-wheel drive version of the Dodge Ram 2500.

[2][3] As a nameplate, "Power Wagon" continues as a special package of the four-wheel drive version of 3/4 ton Ram Trucks 2500 model.

[5] The Power Wagon was the first 4x4 medium duty truck produced by a major manufacturer in a civilian version.

[6][9] Starting in the 1957 model year, factory four-wheel-drive versions of the Dodge C Series trucks were produced and sold as the W-100, W-200, W-300, and W-500, alongside the older Power Wagon.

[10] The older design Power Wagon was marketed as the "Military Type" to distinguish it from the styled pickup versions.

[10] The "Military Type" sales in the United States ended by 1968, because the vehicle did not comply with new federal light-duty truck regulations.

The civilian Power Wagon continued the lineage of limited production Dodge 4WD trucks from the 1930s, that proved basic four-wheel drive design concepts, primarily for the military.

[13][14] Meant to compete with military-based Ford/Marmon-Herrington and GMC trucks, it had an enclosed all-weather civilian cab and a purpose-designed 8-foot cargo box.

It had a 126-inch (3,200 mm) up to a 147" wheelbase chassis and featured the 230 cubic-inch flathead inline-six engine, a 4-speed manual transmission, a two-speed 1.96-1 ratio low range transfer case for part time 4-wheel drive with a power take off (PTO) which would send power front or rear for operating auxiliary equipment, and 9.00/16-8 ply tires on 16×6.50 inch 5-stud split ring steel rims.

Group of 4 gauges in the center of the dash (Fuel, Amp, Temp, Oil) with black faces.

M601 open cab, flat-faced cowl models and M615 ambulance The first light-duty styled Power Wagons came out in 1957 with the introduction of the four-wheel-drive versions of the Dodge C Series pickups and Town Wagons,[10] Beginning in 1957, 1⁄2-ton two-and four-wheel-drive models were designated D100 and W100s, and 3⁄4-tons as D200 and W200, respectively.

Chrysler Corporation owned the New Process Gear Company (competitors generally used Spicer (Dana) transfer cases and Borg-Warner or in-house transmissions).

A huge boost in sales followed the 1974 release of the extended "Club Cab," popular with families and camper hauling.

Utility and function were unmatched by few competing models, as the towing, payload, and snow plowing capacity of the Power Wagon equipped with "Dana 60" 8-lug axles was very popular with municipal and regional road crews.

The two-ton W500 Power Wagon (only a chassis cab was built) was introduced in 1956 as the C3-HW and lasted through the 1971 model year.

Special features of the Power Wagon include: Upgraded suspension and larger tires naturally give the truck a taller ride height.

In 2010 the Dodge trucks were re-branded as Ram, and the Heavy Duty lineup received a major redesign.

Beginning in 2010, the Power Wagon is only available as a crew cab with a 6.33 ft (1.9 m) bed on a 149 in (3,785 mm) wheelbase.

Due to the softer suspension, the Power Wagon models receive a reduced GVWR, and consequentially a lower payload and towing capacity, as compared to a standard 2500.

This included a new, fully boxed frame, entirely new front end, and interior updated similar to the DT Ram 1500.

[17] The 75AE featured a special "jail bar" vertical bar grille, special badging including an individually numbered plate on dashboard, electronic-shift transfer case, new 17x8.0 beadlock-capable wheels, rock slider steps, special "Mountain Brown" leather bucket seats with center console, and LED projector headlamps borrowed from the top-trim "Limited" models.

The beadlock capable wheels and rock-slider steps were also later added as available options to regular "Power Wagon" models.

All Ram HD trucks, including the Power Wagon, received a facelift for model year 2025.

2017-2018 saw a slightly more subtle graphics package that pays homage to the late 1970s Dodge Macho Power Wagon, with black lower 2-tone paint tying into a vertical black stripe on the bedsides with "Power Wagon" spelled out.

Laramie and Tradesman trim Power Wagons retained chrome bumpers and regular grilles.

It received a new "jail bar" vertical-bar grille, and special "75 Years of Service" emblems on the C pillars.

The “jail bar” grille and outline graphics package became optional on 2022 model year trucks.