FIRST LOOK: 2023 Ram 2500 Rebel Crew Cab 4×4:

Meet the newest addition to the Ram Heavy Duty family: the 2023 Ram 2500 Rebel. That’s right, Ram has finally expanded the Rebel nameplate to the Ram 2500, offering yet another off-road option to its ever-expanding lineup.

Now while some may say that this truck is nothing more than a Power Wagon, they couldn’t be more wrong. Instead of offering the extreme off-road capability of the Power Wagon, Rebel sacrifices some of those hardcore off-road components in favor of more Heavy Duty capability while still retaining a core off-road capable truck.

The all-new Rebel model does borrow a lot of the Power Wagon’s content. This is most evident in the overall look of the truck. Both trucks are only available on the Ram 2500 3/4-ton chassis, are only available in a Crew Cab configuration with a 6-foot, 4-inch box, and share the same exterior styling treatments.

Power Wagon models can continue to be identified by their bold ‘Power Wagon’ bedside and tailgate graphics and standard 17-inch x 8-inch wheels with 33-inch Goodyear Duratrac rubber. The Rebel, on the other hand, goes for a more toned-down look, with a simple ‘Rebel’ and ‘4×4’ badges on the tailgate and 20-inch x 8-inch wheels again wrapped in 33-inch Duratrac tires. 

Unlike the Power Wagon which comes only with 6.4-liter HEMI (BGE) V8 power, the Rebel offers both the HEMI and the legendary 6.7-liter Cummins I6 turbodiesel.

The HEMI features cylinder deactivation and VCT provides 410 horsepower and 429 lb.-ft. of torque and is paired with the 8HP75 8-speed automatic transmission.

The Cummins provides 370 horsepower and a stump-pulling 850 lb.-ft. of torque with a powerband that provides ample torque starting at 1,700 rpm. It comes with 68RFE 6-speed automatic transmission as the only diesel transmission option.

On HEMI models, customers can opt for an integrated front-mounted WARN Zeon-12 winch, rated at 12,000 lbs. The winch is installed at the factory and features a unique fairlead and fairlead retainer that utilizes a synthetic line that is maneuverable and won’t kink or fray. Due to the layout of the Cummins, the WARN winch is incapable of being fitted to the diesel-powered Rebels.

Following in the footsteps of the Power Wagon, the Rebel will offer two additional equipment packages for 2023.

Inside, the 2023 Ram 2500 Rebel offers three different seating options, including a cloth bench or bucket seat, a Bristol leather bench or bucket seat, and a full Natura Plus leather bucket seat. Rebel also features a 360-degree Surround View camera, which includes forward-view camera gridlines to help navigate obstacles. This system provides a single display-screen view of both sides of a trailer to assist drivers in maneuvering towing setups. An available 12-inch frameless digital gauge cluster features nearly two dozen different menus. The full-color cluster features five reconfigurable tiles for at-a-glance data or quick and easy access to the most used information.

The Rebel also ditches the Power Wagon’s softer springs (which give the Power Wagon great wheel articulation), extra joint in the rear suspension, front locker, and the front electronic disconnect sway bar. Instead, it does gain firmer coil springs and continues to have the Power Wagon’s rear locker, an electronic limited-slip differential (e-LSD), and transfer case.

While the Power Wagon has a maximum towing rating of 10,590 lbs. and a payload of 1,630 lbs., the Rebel gains back much of its Heavy Duty credentials with a maximum towing rating of 16,870 lbs. and a payload rating of 3,140 lbs.

Overall the Ram 2500 Rebel offers customers much more Heavy Duty capability in a Power Wagon-styled package for those who don’t take their spend more time down dirt roads than on rock crawling trails. It also allows those who love the Power Wagon’s styling and that have craved Cummins power, a chance to get what they want. 

The 2023 Ram 2500 Rebel Crew Cab 4×4 with the 6.4-liter HEMI, has a starting U.S. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $67,045 plus $1,845 for destination charges (Canadian MSRP will be $75,450 plus $2,095 destination).   

2023 Ram 2500 Rebel Image Gallery:

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