Trucks seem to be making headlines for all the wrong reasons lately. In Canada they're blocking major trade routes, and back home manufacturers can't seem to build enough of the things. We're talking about pickup trucks of course, and more specifically Ram's range of Power Wagon trucks. Ram currently builds some of the most popular pickups on the market, including the mighty Ram 1500 TRX, and the hard-working Ram 2500. In a recent conversation with Muscle Cars and Trucks, Adrian Ratza, Ram Heavy Duty brand manager, explains why the manufacturer is struggling to keep up with demand for its popular Power Wagon package. As it turns out, it's not because of issues such as semiconductor shortages, Canadian truckers, or mass recalls.

Ratze points out that Power Wagon models only make up about five percent of the sales mix for all Ram Heavy Duty trucks, and notes that, as with the TRX, exclusivity and overall capacity come into play when Ram figures out how to quantify its sales.

"I don't know if that's such a bad thing. I think if we were just pushing out Power Wagons left and right I'm not sure if that's gonna be very beneficial for the marketplace. There's a bit of the same treatment with the TRX. There's a certain amount of them that we want to build every year. It's consistently our highest turning model that we basically have for Heavy Duty. As soon as they hit the lot they don't stay there," he says.

Power wagon models rely on specialist outside suppliers such as Warn which supplies the heavy-duty winches, and Carli-by-King who's responsible for the shocks. When all these parts come together, the trucks are manufactured in a single plant in Saltillo, Mexico. These trucks then get shipped to the US, where its sales base is truly nationwide, and not just concentrated in traditional trucking states such as Wyoming and Montana.

"We're seeing Power Wagon sales everywhere, cross country. I can't say that most sales are located in one geographical area… our sales from New England to out west and down into Texas, we're seeing Power Wagon sales everywhere. It has that appeal as an icon," said Ratza.

Power Wagon models are packed to the brim with luxury and off-road features, and its this combination of comfort and capability that's creating big appeal, and big demand. The HD Power Wagon Level 3 package adds luxuries such as a 12-inch Uconnect 5 Infotainment system with Navigation and a 17-Speaker Harman Kardon sound system and Off-Road Pages functionality, eight-way adjustable leather bucket seats with heating and ventilation, and keyless entry. In terms of off-road capability, they feature electronically locking front and rear differentials, high and low gearing, a powerful Warn winch, and a max towing capacity of 10,580 lbs. That pulling power comes courtesy of a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 producing 410 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque. With a starting price of $57,490, the 2022 Ram 2500 HD Power Wagon isn't cheap, but people are clearly willing to pay.