typical ford 1/2 ton, slow as molasses... I'm surprised the Power Wagon won, i know its a great off-road truck but i was thinking the raptor had it..

congrats Dodge, Im not a Dodge fan by any means and the Power Wagon is prolly the only dodge i would buy, but either way well done.

I know no body hear me but the true is Ford Raptor is a little better than Ram Power Wagon,I mean better in overall option.Both trucks is great!Good job Dodge and Ford !

I wonder if they raced them in the desert. That's were the Raptor would the PW's lunch.

"Eat the PW's Lunch"

looks like those Mexicans can make a decent truck. Way to go Dodge, I mean Ram.

The buying public may think Dodge/Chrysler/RAM are dead,but in fact they are making/planning some good stuff.
Dont ever count Chrysler out.Thats what everybody was doing back in 1979,and they paid back the government 7 years early.And FIAT is now doing some good things for Chrysler.Ford is great too,but dont overlook the pentastar brand.As for GM.....who???

Both the Raptor and PowerWagon are great vehicles, but with two completely different applications and purposes. Congrats to Chrysler and the PW for winning this award.

the ram have more utility,then drive in sand pit...good and smart choice....y don't believe ford was truck of the year because ,dodge make more change in the new truck compare to ford ,specially whit the dodge engine,you by a truck to pull something not to do you shopping..

Looks like the better truck won!!!

If that raptor had a winch it would have won, Four wheeler mag never compares apples to apples and there staff and owners are brand loyal, I droped the mag when thay said that a solid front axle with leaf springs Ford had more flexablity and clearance then a Independent front tortion bar on a Chevy, maybe the military have it wrong switching all thier equipment to independent suspention

Tracy, I'd love for you to explain to me how our staff is brand loyal and how having a winch would have made the Raptor a winner. I developed our scoring system seven years ago and brought it to FW five years ago and feel it is one of the most fair in the business. Look at the different winners over the past several years and you will see there is no pattern for one car company to be favored. In fact our recent winners have incuded Chevy, Ford, Hummer, Dodge, Jeep, Toyota and Nissan.

Also, show me what story you are referring to and give me a chance to respond to your comments.

--Sean P. Holman
Four Wheeler Magazine

Way to go RAM!!! Cant wait to read the full article. Not sure what Tracy is talking about. You guys at Four Wheeler always do fair and honest tests without any brand loyalty whatsoever. Good work Four Wheeler!!

It would have been better if they waited a few months for the 6.2L Raptor. It might have been different.

The 6.2L Raptor was not eligible for this year's test because it was not available in time. It will, however, be eligible for the 2011 test.

--Sean

@ Tracy - typical immature response - "if you don't like the message kill the messenger."
I like the Raptor better than the Power Wagon but I'm not crying about an unfair test!

The week before, they said the Raptor was the winner. Now it is the Ram. The Raptor won Peterson's Four Wheel & Offroad Magazine 4x4 Of The Year. Both magazines, Four Wheeler and Four Wheel & Offroad are owned by the same company. Give one award to each company even though at first they said the Raptor won "handily" in one mag and now the Ram won "handily" in the other mag. It's a great way to sell more magazines.

"The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor pickup handily won this year's test, despite being pitted against top-of-the-line competition,” said Rick Péwé, Editor-in-Chief of Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road. “The pickup consistently placed well ahead of the competition in most areas, and great value and fun factors sent it over the top. Basic, solid construction gave us the confidence to take the truck wherever we wanted.” As one judge noted “It looks cool, drives fast, and seems to take whatever you throw at it.”

http://www.4wheeloffroad.com/featuredvehicles/131_0911_2010_4x4_of_the_year_winner_ford_f150_svt_raptor/index.html

Seriously u all tell me what truck u would like to be In at a TIME u needed it most at just about any Obstacle in your way ? Raptor 150% NO ? asked !!!!!! 0-60 times are OVERRATED !!!!!!!!!!

Jason, interesting theory but you are incorrect. While I am all for selling more magazines so that I can keep doing what I love and it is true that we are owned by the same company, each magazine operates independently of one another and neither knows the other's winner until the individual editors make the official announcements. In fact, the testing criteria is different between the two titles (based on the magazine's target audience) and the testing takes place at two different times, with two different staffs, at different locations with different vehicles.

--Sean

"The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor pickup handily won." - Four Wheel & Offroad

"The Dodge handily won." - Four Wheeler

Notice both magas said each truck won "handily" and both owned by the same company.

Who can you trust?

I don't see a conspiracy brewing because two press releases used the same word. You can take what I am offering or leave it, I am just trying to give people here some insight in to our decision. I can only speak for Four Wheeler, but as I stated above, each test is run completely independently from the other with different scoring criteria, so it is possible for different vehicles to handily win each magazine's test. However, the person who approves press releases overseas both books and it is possible they had a hand in writing or approving both releases and that is where the commonality lies.

--Sean

Tracy,

I agree! Just look at the top picture, that front axle is too low to the ground and add the weight of the truck, no wonder it needs a winch from the factory...

If I was to build an off-roader I would not choose either one of those heavy monsters...

Unless they are both running at least 40 inch tires, they will get stuck in the backwoods fire lanes after a nice rain!

And really with 40 inch tires, is it really practical to drive daily? Full size trucks are great work trucks BUT keep them away from the off-road world, too big and too heavy. They will get bogged down with their weight in the deep stuff, their too big and wide for the tight stuff and that weight will kill their drivetrains and suspensions at higher speeds off-road!

I choose a compact/mid-size truck to build for off-roading! Less weight, you do not need a gasoline hog V8 to get it to move, better ground clearance to weight ratio, can get through the tight stuff easier and 33 or 35 inch tires would be just fine which means you can still drive it daily and not kill the dam thing!

A solid Toyota is always good to build for off-roading and I mean the real stuff and not the farmers field type of off-roading which these guys usually market too...

Interesting. I cannot afford to have a work truck and a toy, so one has to do the entire job. The Raptor would fall apart in 6 months if I put it to work. Too light and not made to last with heavy loads and hard work. The Power Wagon, on the other hand, is built to do hard work. I just wish it were available with the Cummins and a long bed. Still, for day in day out usability, and not to be confused with a street queen, the Power Wagon is my choice due to it's workability factor. Thanks Ram.

oxi: Toyota, give me a break, they could not build a truck to handle these 2. Tracy i dont believe you are brand loyal, the Ram won because its a better all around truck for hauling, off road, construction work and then can haul a famly of 4 in comfort. The Raptor is awsome dont get me wrong. Should be good with the new ford 6.2 and the new Hemi 6.4 for next year. These are REAL TRUCKS!

dandjslats,

You have no clue about the off-road world do you?

You never take just what the factory builds and claim to be a great off-roader! The factory truck is just the base to build from to build a solid off-roader, that is for those of us who actually will go deep into the backwoods fire-lanes, into the forests, rocks, hills, deep mud, water forgings, desert terrain and so forth...

The problem with both of these trucks especially the Ram is their weight! It gives a poor ground clearance to weight ratio which means to survive in some of the fire lanes in the backwoods around here, it will need at least 40 inch tires or it will get hung up in the ruts or just plain stuck in the deep mud...

Sure the factory put some great products in it like the winch and lockers and at least with this Ram the lower rear shock mounts do not hang below the axle. But a REAL off-road truck is not what the factory has slapped on it and claim it is a great off-roader because I could easily get the Ram stuck in the fire lanes because it lacks proper ground clearance to survive out there...

Not ripping on it but if your going to claim a truck as a solid off-roader, what the factory simply puts on it is not reality. A great off-roader is how easily you can modify it to survive in the real stuff out there and I do not see many Ram Power Wagons built up in the off-road world out there...

Their big and their heavy which means many parts will break off-road!

I have built my Toyota's for off-roading domination! My old 86 with just a 3 inch bodi-lift I had 33 inch tires running underneath and 16 inches of front ground clearance, rear axle was 13 inches above the ground and the frame at least 20+ inches above the ground. And that is just with the bodi-lift and 33's!

I later modded it with 35 inch tires so my ground clearance numbers grew to 17 inches up front, 14 in the rear and the frame sat 23 inches above the ground!

What's impressive is not just the ground clearance numbers but the lack of heavy weight with my truck which means less getting bogged down and sinking in the deep stuff yet nimble enough to make it through the tight situations out there like I was always the scout vehicle to find new trails because the full size trucks were too big to maneuver through the trees in the woods. I was the pathfinder for the club and so forth...

And with an IFS system, I could handle higher speeds off-road to boot...

It was funny that halfway to our off-road trip once the full size trucks had to stop and fill their tanks while I waited on the road for them. I had a 4-cylinder engine (don't be fooled, I was lighter on weight and had factory 4.10's in the rear and a solid t/case) and I could go just about anywhere the monster trucks with 39.5 inch tires and larger could and I didi it with a 4 banger under the hood!

I've always loved Four Wheeler's objective comparison tests, and 9 times out of 10 I'm in complete agreement with their editors. They perform the best comparison tests of anyone in the business, and they truly recognize the benefits of equipment designed for and needed by their core audience of four-wheelers.

Please note that they weren't saying the Raptor is a bad truck - quite to the contrary, they loved it, and if it wasn't for the Power Wagon's greater versatility plus key equipment for four-wheelers (solid axles front and rear, diff locks front and rear, and a winch) then it probably would have come in 2nd to the Raptor. There's a LOT more to this test than 0-60 times, but of course it's worth nothing the superiority of the Ram's engine.

It's tests like this that have led me to be a subscriber to Four Wheeler Magazine for 17 years.

Thank you Geoff,

I could not have said it better.

--Sean

You dont have to biuld up Power Wagons for off road because they are already built!

You know either way you look at people were still going to get upset by this.

If the Raptor had one in both magazines, well then everyone who isnt a Ford guy would have been on the whole "Ford pays the magazines to have their trucks win" or what have you, we've all seen the argument. It would have been the same way if the Power Wagon had one both.

It's all basically school-yard bullying, my truck is better than yours because... oh yeah well mines better because... and it goes on and on.

Also, sure building a truck to meet your purpose is the best way to get your ultimate off-roader, but auto makers simply cant do that. They pick a truck and do what they can with to make it as versitale as possible. In Fords case they chose numerous terrian as their form of versitility whereas Dodge decided on off-roading and actual work ability. If they didnt then you would end up with trucks that not everyone would be interested in, and they would never sell. I mean not everyone has the same off-road needs as the next guy.

So Congrats to both Ford and Ram for both giving us award winning trucks.

Sorry meant if the Raptor had "won" both sorry for the typo

"key equipment for four-wheelers (solid axles front"

Geoff,

Are you kidding me? Solid front axles do not define a vehicle as an off-roader...

I have raced down in Baja and solid front axles are in the minority, solid front axles cannot handle off-road terrain at speed, they are meant to go really, really slow off-road with!

I am starting to question whether the readers of these articles have actually off-roaded? I mean the real stuff where full size trucks need to run 38 inch or larger tires and smaller trucks at least 33 inch tires to not get bogged down and stuck in the deep terrain out there...

@Oxi, you claim to be so knowledgable about off roading but yet again your true knowledge shows. A solid front axle is so widely used because of its durability. Thats why all the rock racers to mud boggers use them because as torque is transferred a ifs simply cannot handle the power especially when ls or lockers are used. It especially becomes a problem when in a extreme flex situation. In the off road cummunity a sfa is king. Heck even a ram 3/4 cummins with the kore suspension did quite well in baja a few years back.

Jeff,

I work for a company that build military trucks and guess what the military is doing?

They are switching to indpendent suspensions!

The Marines already use fully independent suspensions under their meduim tactical trucks like the MTVR and their heavy tactical trucks like the LVSR.

The Army is a little slow at this but they do not require the off-road demands as the Marines do but their next PLS Block 1 is using independent suspensions on their front 2 axles and the M-ATV being rushed to Afghanistan is a fully independent suspended truck that can handle the demands of the mission which requires speed and mobility on top of carrying heavy loads!

Yup, it's 16 inches of wheel travel 4x4 fully independent suspension! That is what the military is buying lately. Solid axles are starting to resemble the old days where the military was slow to move. Today the military wants speed and mobility on top of heavy payloads and an independent suspension is the only thing that will give the military that option.

Read for yourself!

winch, as for the Ram how much would it cost an owner to add these@ Sean P
Maybe my comment was a little unfair and not thought thru, yes Four Wheeler has in the past given "Four Wheeler Of The Year" to several brands, I know, I was a subscriber from 1980 up until a few years ago and watched your magizine evolve into something I didnt like, when I said brand loyal I ment your magazine in general, for instance your Turtle Expadition truck is always a Ford, what about the other brands (heres where the Ford guy says none of the other brands aren't tuff enough, riiiite.) I could be wrong but I don't recall any other brand for the TE, and it seemed like every time I got a new issue most of the artical were on a Ford truck (@ lou N, I'm not crying, I'm not subscribing) , or those super custom trucks built by specialty companys for corperation so they get some free or paid advertisement, in the past for me it was more informative but in the last 5to6 years it hasn't, as for the apples to apples, I know you compare the new year models so an apples to apples isn't always possable, as for me if your comparing a 1/2 ton to a 3/4 ton the 3/4 ton going to win every time nomatter the brand, because I have no use or respect for 1/2 tons, the winch would have given the Ford a little more offroad capablity witch I know you guys love and since the the competition was so close it might of won with a offroad extra to a stock Ram vs getting factory equiped and last for giggles I'm curious of what brand the Four Wheeler Of The Year testing staff own now and in the past.

@ Sean P
Maybe my comment was a little unfair and not thought thru, yes Four Wheeler has in the past given "Four Wheeler Of The Year" to several brands, I know, I was a subscriber from 1980 up until a few years ago and watched your magizine evolve into something I didnt like, when I said brand loyal I ment your magazine in general, for instance your Turtle Expadition truck is always a Ford, what about the other brands (heres where the Ford guy says none of the other brands aren't tuff enough, riiiite.) I could be wrong but I don't recall any other brand for the TE, and it seemed like every time I got a new issue most of the artical were on a Ford truck (@ lou N, I'm not crying, I'm not subscribing) , or those super custom trucks built by specialty companys for corperation so they get some free or paid advertisement, in the past for me it was more informative but in the last 5to6 years it hasn't, as for the apples to apples, I know you compare the new year models so an apples to apples isn't always possable, as for me if your comparing a 1/2 ton to a 3/4 ton the 3/4 ton going to win every time nomatter the brand, because I have no use or respect for 1/2 tons, the winch would have given the Ford a little more offroad capablity witch I know you guys love and since the the competition was so close it might of won with a winch, as for the Ram how much would it cost an owner to add these offroad extra to a stock Ram vs getting factory equiped and last for giggles I'm curious of what brand the Four Wheeler Of The Year testing staff own now and in the past.

too bad power wagon can't be ordered with cummins engine

OXI,

You seem to know your stuff about off-road vehicles. Unfortunately they were not testing vehicles that had been built exclusively for one purpose. They simply were testing the best factory available 4x4 truck. If you want someone to test vehicles that have been massively accessorized to do what you do than I would suggest finding a different magazine. For those of us that want a factory ready off road capable daily driver I say thank you FOUR WHEELER. The test was as close as I can ever remember it being. Keep up the great work and I look forward to next years test.

I read the article. It's kind of funny how there's two key offroad attributes that the Raptor has that aren't touted. I'll take the Raptor on a sidehill any day. Put a Powerwagon on 35s and side hill that pig and watch the yard sale. Another winning feature of the Raptor is it's hill descent. Get on a hairy long steep hill, put it in hill descent, and just drive it back off the hill. No drama, no danger. And then there's the comfort and speed off road. Seriously, that one difference is astounding. A Powerwagon would get disassembled at half the speed on any rough road or trail.

The Powerwagon's more of a work truck than the Raptor by far. For fun offroad, the Raptor's the choice.

By the way, did they put the Raptor in offroad mode for the quarter mile test? It definitely uncorks the engine by changing the shift points.

Me, I'd like to own both. That Powerwagon starts at $7k more than the Raptor. They're different trucks for different purposes.

Lastly, you can add a winch to a Raptor. You can't take the ugly off of that Dodge! (er Ram)

And those little tires on that Dodge are cute for that roller skate look!

Wow, interesting points of view here. Here's my 2 cents:

Yes, I am a Dodge fan. Yes, I sort of like Ford. The Raptor is an amazing off-road vehicle. So is the Power Wagon. Yet, both vehicles were built for two DIFFERENT types of "off-roading". Lets define the difference between the two.

The SVT Raptor was built as a Dessert assault vehicle. Here, this would own the PW...(that doesn't mean that it would "fall apart". The PW is a 2500...do the math)

The Power Wagon was built as a work horse that can handle any trail you can throw at it (with in reason). Quite simply, the PW has more capability when trails are concerned.

Don't get me wrong, the Raptor is very capable with trails. Consider the 35" BFGs, rear locker, good articulation, etc.

However, the PW can disconnect the front sway bar, comes with a winch, has a front locker, and 4.56's.

If I lived in California, NM, AZ, NV, I would buy a Raptor. I happen to live in CO. Therefore, the PW is my ideal choice. I believe the editors of both magazines are smarter than most people (considering that they test trucks for a living), and made the best assesments based on their test data. Considering that, before getting bent out of shape because "you" believe that one truck is better than the other. Did "you" test both vehicles in a highly complex environment?........here's your sign......

Hey maybe if you actually wanted to have a real test you should have user the 6.2L svt raptor instead of the 5.4L...or could your test driver not handle it?

@Parker: If you looked at the date the story was published, you'd see the 6.2-L Raptor was not available at that time.

@Parker - Four Wheeler Magazine is different than this site.
Some sites/magazines picked the Power Wagon others picked the Raptor. Read the tests and criteria and pick what is best for you.
This site tested the 2 and did not declare one better as in reality they are 2 completely different trucks.
Exerpt (last line of test) "That said, to us it’s all the same. We’re looking at two impressive trucks, each excellently equipped for their given purpose. Neither one is junk; we want ‘em both. This represents new ground for pickups: Now consumers have not one, but two factory-engineered off-road pickups to choose from."
http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2009/10/part-1-whats-the-diff-ford-f150-svt-raptor-vs-dodge-ram-power-wagon/comments/page/2/#comments

The 2010 Ram Power Wagon won, the coveted Four Wheeler Magazine's Pickup Truck Of the Year, hands down. If Dirt Sports Magazine had a competition, I am sure the Ford F-150 S.V.T. Raptor would have won? This was a test (Four Wheeler P.T.O.T.Y.) to measure vehicle features, performance, content and OFF ROAD capability. This was not a test for the best high-speed racer.

I applaud Sean P. Holman, and the rest of the Four Wheeler Magazine staff, for putting out a great magazine. I am a Ford guy (fanboi?)! Back in 2004, when my wife and I were in the market for a new truck I was seriously considering a 2005 Ford F-250 4X4 FX4 Crew Cab long bed or an Excursion 4X4, with the diesel. After reading all of the news, and Four Wheeler Magazine's P.T.O.T.Y. award, regarding the NEW Dodge Ram Power Wagon...I ended up buying a 2005 Dodge Ram Power Wagon. I need/want a good off roader more than I need/want a towing/hauling truck. Sorry Ford!

Both the 2005 Dodge Ram Power Wagon and the 2010 Ram Power Wagon, both winners of Four Wheeler Magazine's P.T.O.T.Y. award, are awesome trucks. Great job Dodge/Ram!