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There is no substitute for good, old-fashioned ground clearance. Modern limited slip differentials and off-road driver aids are excellent at maintaining traction. But there are some obstacles that you simply need to drive over. There are only two pickup trucks you can order from the factory with 14 inches of ground clearance, and they couldn’t be more different. The Ram 2500 Power Wagon with a factory lift and Bilstein shocks boasts 14.2-inches of clearance. And the Rivian R1T electric pickup truck, with adjustable air suspension and hydraulic damping, maxes out at 14.4-inches of ground clearance.

The Ram 2500 Power Wagon is a traditional off-roader

Ram 2500 Power Wagon navigating a twisty dirt road, the desert visible in the background.
2022 Ram 2500 Power Wagon | Stellantis

The Ram Power Wagon is steeped in tradition. Dodge debuted the Power Wagon in 1946. This Power Wagon released 4×4 technology engineered for WWII to the public. It was the Detroit’s first factory-built 4WD truck.

Today, the “Power Wagon” is both an option package and trim level for Ram‘s half-ton 2500 line. The modern Power Wagon is one of the most capable off-road vehicles around, thanks to tried-and-true technology. It comes with electronic locking front and rear differentials, disconnecting swaybars, and a Warn Zeon 12 front bumper winch.

Like Ram’s regular 2500 pickup trucks, every Power Wagon since 2014 has rear coil springs. But the Power Wagon is lifted two inches over regular 2500s. It also enjoys “Articulink” front radius arms and Bilstein 4600 shocks. Seventeen-inch beadlock capable rims and 33-inch tires further improve the Power Wagon’s ground clearance. With 14.2 inches of ground clearance, the Ram 2500 Power Wagon stands above every other internal combustion pickup truck.

The Rivian R1T is changing the game

Two Rivian R1T electric pickup trucks driving up a winding paved road, mountains visible in the background.
2022 Rivian R1T | Rivian

The all-new Rivian R1T is shattering many expectations about what a pickup truck can–and should–be. The 2021 Rivian R1T was the first electric truck to market, beating out both Ford and Tesla. Its quad-motor drive propels it to 60 mph a full second sooner than the Hellcat-powered Ram 1500 TRX.

Many reviewers focus on the Rivian’s four electric motors, but its suspension is nearly as groundbreaking. The R1T rides on four-corner air suspension, capable of 6.5 inches of height adjustment.

The R1T is far from the only truck with adjustable air suspension; Ram offers this option on the 1500. But one unique feature of the Rivian R1T is its system of hydraulic dampers with as much range as the air suspension. This means that the Rivian R1T can nearly eliminate body roll, at any height.

Which tall truck is right for you?

Closeup of a blue-gray Power Wagon pickup truck parked on a mountain pass, trees visible in the distance.
2021 Ram Power Wagon 75th Anniversary Edition | Stellantis

The Rivian R1T and the Ram 2500 Power Wagon are very different tools, for very different jobs. If you want a traditional 4×4 that offers abundant ground clearance, at any speed and on any drive, the Ram 2500 Power Wagon is clearly the truck for you.

If you want to be able to use the most ground clearance available on any factory truck to navigate an off-road obstacle, consider the Rivian R1T. You will have to make due with a maximum of 314 miles of electric range. But in return, you can enjoy a mid to full-size pickup truck as capable off-road as a Power Wagon and as fast in a straight line as a Hellcat.

Next, read how the R1T won truck of the year or watch it drag race the Ram 1500 TRX in the video below:

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.