$68,940 Ram 2500 HD level, turbo diesel torque for off-roading

Ford and Chevrolet have eroded the off-road realm of power wagons, and Ram has responded.

On Thursday, the 2023 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty level rang into existence with standard underbody protection, off-road tires, off-road suspension, and available Warn winch or turbo diesel engine.

When launched in Q4, the Rebel will sit below the Power Wagon and fend off the 2023 Ford F-250 Super Duty Tremor and the upcoming 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD ZR2 for $68,940 ( destination included).

Winch or turbodiesel: choose

The Rebel comes standard with a 2500 Heavy Duty 6.4-liter V-8 that produces 410 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque, but a turbodiesel is also available. This option will feature a Cummins 6.7-liter inline-six diesel engine with 370 hp and 850 lb-ft of torque under the hood of the HD Rebel. Notably, this option is not available on the Power Wagon due to clearance issues between the off-roader's front suspension and the engine's oil pan, as well as cooling issues with the standard winch.

Ram bolts a skid plate under the Rebel to protect vulnerable areas such as the fuel tank and transfer case, but due to cooling issues, the 12,000-pound Warn Zeon-12 winch on the 2023 Rebel turbo diesel It cannot be fitted as an option. Nor does it feature the Power Wagon's trick electronic disconnect front stabilizer. The Ford Super Duty Tremor can be optioned with both a turbo diesel engine and a winch.

While the gasoline V-8 engine is hooked to an eight-speed automatic transmission, the turbodiesel uses a rugged six-speed; four-wheel drive, rear limited slip differential, and electronic rear locker are standard.

The Rebel fixes the Power Wagon's inadequate work capacity with up to 16,870 lb towing capacity and up to 3,140 lb hauling capacity. Nothing is yet known about the upcoming 2024 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2, except that it exists.

Riding on 33-inch

Rebel will adhere to the tried-and-true formula from Power Wagon with 33-inch off-road tires. At launch, it will be mounted on standard 20-inch wheels, but 18-inch wheels (17-inch wheels on the Power Wagon) will be available as an option.

It will take more than a keen eye and a quick glance to distinguish the Power Wagon from the Rebel. While the exterior is similar - black bumpers, black lower body color, Power Wagon grille, and blacked-out trim - the main thing that distinguishes the Rebel is its sport hood taken from the Mopar parts bin and different wheels. If equipped with a Cummins turbo diesel, a turbo diesel badge is proudly mounted on the front fenders. A small Rebel badge is attached to the lower left corner of the tailgate.

All heavy-duty levels will be crew cabs with 6'4" beds.

Inside the cabin, the levels are equipped with cloth bench seats, but front bucket seats are also available, with Bristol leather available on models equipped with bench seats and Natura Plus leather on trucks with bucket seats. Ram's new 12.0-inch digital meter cluster comes standard, and a 12.0-inch touchscreen is also available.

All heavy-duty levels will be equipped with a surround-view camera system. Automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, active lane control, and blind spot monitoring will be available.

The 2023 Ram 2500 heavy-duty level is priced at $68,940, which is not cheap. According to Ram, the Rebel falls between the Laramie and Power Wagon in the heavy-duty lineup, but is more expensive than the current 2022 Power Wagon; pricing for the 2023 Power Wagon has not been announced.