The 2023 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Rebel Is a Diesel Off-Roader

• The 2023 Ram 2500 Rebel is available with a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 or a 6.7-liter six-cylinder Cummins Turbo Diesel.

• The rugged Rebel adds off-road suspension, skid plates and standard 33-inch tires to the Ram and slots between the Power Wagon and Laramie trim trucks.

• The heavy-duty off-roader features a max towing capacity of 16,870 pounds and max payload of 3140 pounds.

Ram’s popular 1500 Rebel is finally getting a big brother. Ram is expanding its Rebel line of off-road-inspired pickups to its 2500 Heavy Duty line of trucks to give customers more off-roading options. Slotted between the legendary Power Wagon and the upscale Laramie, the Rebel heavy-duty truck delivers some extra off-road chops and the more aggressive Rebel styling. This also gives fans of the Ram Rebel a shot at owning a diesel-powered rig.

Powering these 2023 Ram 2500 Rebels is either a gas-burning 6.4-liter Hemi V8 that makes 410 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque or the 6.7-liter Cummins I6 Turbo Diesel that makes 370 hp and 850 lb-ft of torque. Managing the torque from the Cummins diesel is a six-speed automatic, with an eight-speed auto that's mated to the gas-burning V8. Regardless of engine choice, power heads from the transmission exclusively to a transfer case that distributes power to the rear wheels or all four wheels. Like the Power Wagon, this Rebel is available exclusively as a 4x4.

Of course, it takes more than four-wheel drive to turn a truck into an off-roader. Like its lighter-duty sibling, the Ram 2500 sports skid plates that protect the transfer case and the fuel tank. Helping to give as much traction to the standard 33-inch tall tires, Ram also equipped the 2500 Rebel with an electronic locking rear differential and an off-road suspension. Ram offers a 12,000-pound Warn winch as an option in case you need to move debris or haul out a friend.

As you’d expect from a heavy-duty truck, the Ram 2500 Rebel can haul. Ram advertises the max towing for this 2500 Rebel is 16,870 pounds. This isn’t Ram's biggest towing rating, but, it’s more than double what you’ll find from the 1500 Rebel. That 2500's tow rating is joined by a 3140-pound maximum payload.

On the inside of Ram’s new Rebel, you’ll find cloth seats in the base model truck, but you can opt for leather, costing more money. Handling the infotainment you’ll find a 5-inch standard UConnect screen, but an available 12-inch screen can take its place. High-tech features light a 360-degree surround-camera system, adaptive cruise control and blindspot monitoring are also available.

Now, the biggest question is how much? Ram says this will start at $68,940, including destination and delivery charges. That’s more expensive than the 2022 Ram 2500 Power Wagon, which means you can expect a price bump for that on the horizon as well. Of course, the price goes up when optioned with the Cummins, a feature that you can’t add to the Power Wagon. Combining the diesel power, off-road chops and Rebel styling might make this a popular rig when it hits dealer lots later this year.

Do you think expanding the Rebel into the 2500-series trucks makes sense? Tell us your thoughts below.