Ram 2500: Heavy Duty trucks are a need for truck purchasers who value hauling capability and off-road agility, thanks to their robust chassis and solid front axles. The majority of mid-sized and 1500-grade trucks no longer have independent front suspensions, and the Ram 2500 family offers a variety of possible configurations for anything from tool chests for construction sites to toy hauliers and fifth-wheel gooseneck trailering. For the first time in 2023, Ram introduced the Heavy Duty Rebel package for the 2500 range. This package includes a standard gasoline Hemi V8 with 410 horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque.
The HD Rebel’s attractiveness as a toy transporter capable of light off-roading is significantly increased by an optional Cummins turbodiesel inline-six with 370 horsepower and 850 lb-ft of torque; nevertheless, the diesel engine’s weight results in a harsher suspension arrangement when the going gets rough. Compared to the competition’s more common leaf springs, the Ram 2500 offers a class-exclusive five-link coil-sprung rear suspension, just like its more minor brother, the Ram 1500. The resulting smooth ride can also be enhanced by an optional air suspension setup (which makes towing that trailer that much simpler).
The Ram 3500-grade and above trucks are still the only ones that can get the high-output Cummins, giving the Ford Super Duty F-250 an advantage in terms of total power figures at the top of the range owing to the 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8’s 1,050 lb-ft of torque. But Ram managed to up its towing capability by 10 pounds for 2023, making it equal to the F-250’s rating. The Ram is more competent and advanced than Nissan’s Titan XD against the GMC Sierra 2500HD and the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD.
Lower-level Rams are still available in the two-door Regular Cab with an 8-foot bed, the Crew Cab with a 6-foot-4 bed, and the Mega Cab, which is only available with a 6-foot-4 bed since the interior extends a full 11.1 inches. With digital displays, mirrors, and towing-specific technologies, including an automatic Trailer Reverse Steering Control system, Ram upgrades the 2500’s technological features for 2023. Although the Rebel package and Power Wagon models have excellent off-road capabilities for the class, this car is still a workhorse. GM’s optional trailer assistance technologies give it an edge over Ram in this area.
However, there is a ton of other technologies. With significantly more information accessible in lower menus, an optional digital gauge cluster features a programmable five-tile display that may be saved by user profile. The options are topped off with Natura Plus leather bucket seats, genuine wood on the Ram Limited, and a 12-inch Uconnect 5-center infotainment touchscreen. Inside, the Ram 2500’s cabs are cosy and packed with innovative storage solutions. Although Ram provides a wide range of active safety features, practically all come at an additional expense.
The Ram 2500 lineup’s escalating pricing reflects industry-wide trends; the basic 2500 Regular Cab will cost $43,920 (excluding destination) in 2023, an increase of nearly 10%. Starting prices for Crew Cabs range from $47.5400 to $57.015, while prices for Mega Cabs start at $57.115. As the HD Rebel begins at $67,045 (plus $1,800 delivery), adding interior tech options or choosing specific packages may rapidly increase the cost. With the Cummins engine and high-end Level 2 Equipment Group, the price can rise to nearly $90,000. The Ram 2500 isn’t inexpensive but has much to offer.
Performance: Ram 2500
The standard 6.4-litre gasoline V8 still produces 410 horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque with an eight-speed automated gearbox since Ram kept the powertrain of 2500 unaltered for 2023. Optional four-wheel drive (4WD) uses an electronic transfer case. The 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel inline-six maintains its 2022 ratings of 370 horsepower and 850 lb-ft of torque and is mated to a stronger six-speed automatic. (Again, the 1,075 lb-ft high-output diesel is only offered on the one-ton Ram 3500.)
Across the range, adding the Cummins adds just under $10,000 to the 2500’s price, but that is less than adding a diesel V8 to competitors from Ford or GM. While Ford’s F-250 is still the only vehicle in the 2500 grade to offer an available High-Output diesel, the 6.7-litre Power Stroke with a segment-best 1,050 lb-ft, the Chevy Duramax alternative displaces 6.6 litres and produces 910 lb-ft of torque.
For the 2017 model year, a fully loaded Ram 2500 diesel gains an extra 10 pounds of towing capability to equal the 20,000-pound rating of the Ford F-250. However, lower-spec Rams throughout the portfolio haul less, including the Power Wagon, which is geared on off-roading and only offers the gasoline V8 with a towing capacity of 10,520 pounds. With a segment-exclusive coil-sprung rear axle and an available air suspension system, Heavy Duty Rams ride smoother than the competition, regardless of performance. Only the Ford F-150 Lightning and Ram’s own half-ton 1500 have comparable systems, but they aren’t quite as capable of hauling as much.
Fuel efficiency: Ram 2500
The EPA does not rate the fuel efficiency of heavy-duty vehicles. We recorded 16.8 mpg in combined driving in a 4WD Ram 2500 Mega Cab with the diesel engine, with no towing or carrying. According to statistics collected from users of applications like Fuelly, the overall fuel efficiency of the Ram 2500 range is somewhat better than that of the Chevrolet or GMC 2500 trucks but marginally worse than that of the Ford F-250.
The Ram’s optional oil burner uses diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), which is used in all diesel vehicles, to mitigate harmful emissions. The DEF tank may be quickly refilled using a filler next to the petrol neck, and the fluid is easily accessible at gas stations and auto parts retailers. A DEF gauge in the instrument cluster provides plenty of notice, but if the tank runs out, the vehicle will enter a low-speed limp mode until replenishment.
Safety & Driver Support
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awards the Ram 2500 crew cab models four out of five stars. The F-250 crew cab from Ford receives five stars, while the trucks from GM have not yet been evaluated. Heavy-duty trucks aren’t rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), although the Ford F-150 and the light-duty Ram 1500 were named Top Safety Picks. Only slightly smaller than the 2500, the Ram 1500 lacks the heavier-duty suspension and frame.
Ram provides a variety of driver-assistance technologies, such as blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency front braking, lane-keep assist, and a new digital rearview mirror with side view cameras set on new telescopic towing mirrors. There is also the automatic Trailer Reverse Steering Control system from Ram.
Nearly all of these safety or assistance functions are available as options on the 12-inch Uconnect screen, which makes them difficult to operate and costs Ram some points in our ratings. For example, Ford offers emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring on all bars in its basic XL model. In contrast, Chevrolet only provides these features as standard equipment on the top High Country trim.
Comfort & Room:
There is space for three people with a split front bench in the two-door trucks, five with front buckets, or six with a front bench in the spacious interiors of Crew and Mega Cabs. The overall look is unaltered for the new model year. Depending on the model, heated pedals, front seats, rear seats, and a heated steering wheel are either standard or optional.
Despite its enormous size, Ram still falls short of the competition in terms of dimensions on paper. The Crew and Mega Cab variants of the 2500 have 40.9 inches of headroom up front, compared to 39.8 inches for the Regular Cab. However, Ford only provides 40.8 inches of front headroom in every cab, compared to 43 inches for Chevrolet, which tops the class.
The Ram’s 40.9 inches of front legroom falls short of Ford’s 43.9 inches and Chevrolet’s 44.5 inches; nonetheless, the asymmetric transmission hump in the passenger footwell still affects long-distance comfort. Ram’s Crew Cab has 40.2 inches of legroom in the back seats, compared to 43.2 inches for its rivals. Ram’s Mega Cab offers 43.1 inches of rear legroom, which is competitive with the competition, plus an additional eight inches of storage space behind the back seat for customers who want to bring the entire family along.
Infotainment: Ram 2500
The segment’s best entertainment system is Ram’s Uconnect 5, which has an easy-to-use interface and is now enhanced with a digital gauge cluster that can be customized. These options include tow-specific GPS, Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.
The 12.0-inch screen, offered in all trim levels except Tradesman, dominates the look of the dash. However, navigating through many displays requires accessing certain frequently used functions. Additionally, backup and 360-degree cameras can only fit in the top half of the screen, rendering them practically worthless due to pixelation and glare problems. Although a primary dial may have worked just as well, the hard buttons beside the screen make adjusting the climate control settings easier.
Storage & Cargo Space:
Ram provides more variants for the larger 2500 than the smaller 1500, including, but only on the lowest trims, a Regular Cab with an eight-foot bed. There are two Crew Cabs rather than a Quad Cab type. Regular Crews come with either a sizeable eight-foot bed or a six-foot-four bed. The six-foot-four-inch bed is the sole feature of the Mega Cab, a stretched Crew. While Chevrolet and GMC Crew Cabs have beds that are either five-foot-eight or six-foot-five in length, Ford’s Crew Cab comes with a six-foot-one or eight-foot bed. All provide choices for two-door Regular Cab work trucks.
Ram adds RamBox compartments in the sidewalls of the short bed, a segment-exclusive feature, for $999 on most trims and standard (but deletable) on Limited models. However, the built-in locking and drainable storage for tools, filthy gear, or drinks offset the inconvenience and will likely be worth the trade-off for many.
The Ram’s interior has spacious centre consoles with sliding dividers, dash-top compartments, sizable door pockets, and covered bins on the rear floor, depending on trim or extras. The rear seatbacks may be folded down for further storage, and the cushions can be stacked. Ram makes up for this with a fold-out flat floor that looks and feels cheap, while competitors utilize a flat rear floor for cargo.
Design: Ram 2500
Each Ram in the 2500 series undoubtedly has a more commanding and challenging appearance than its Heavy Duty rivals. In terms of pure design, Ford is arguably second. However, Chevrolet’s most recent styling updates raise the visual bar for the sector as a whole. The new HD Rebel retains many of the off-roading features of its 1500-sized sister without the 2500 Power Wagon’s aggressive badging.
Ram’s interior again wins the prize when heavily optioned because of its attractive details and superior construction. While the diesel engine utilizes a more conventional column shifter, most gasoline vehicles have a space-saving dial shifter on the dash. However, Ford and Chevy’s significant interior upgrades have recently helped bridge the gap.
The Ram 2500: Is It Worth It?
Nearly every consumer may discover their ideal heavy-duty vehicle in the Ram 2500 series thanks to its extensive choice of options. The most popular option is still the four-door Crew Cab with a 6-foot-4 bed, so Ram opted to sell the new HD Rebel in that configuration exclusively. The standard Tradesman in that configuration costs $47,540.
The price immediately increases to almost $15,000 when upgrading to the Laramie Crew Cab with an 8-foot bed and four-wheel drive, while the base price of the Limited Mega Cab 44 is a staggering $76,600 before the diesel engine or interior upgrades. Given its solid front axle, limited-slip locking rear differential, all-terrain tires, and aesthetic upgrades, the gasoline-powered HD Rebel, which retails for $67,045, is likely to be popular. However, buyers looking for a more practical work truck can probably customize a pickup on Ram’s website for less money.
With significantly more information accessible in lower menus, an optional digital gauge cluster features a programmable five-tile display that may be saved by user profile. Hidden trade? If you enjoy the appearance of the Forest Service, the work-truck grade 2500s are available in a wide range of vibrant, low-volume colours for a nominal price.
How Much Does the Ram 2500 Cost to Insure?
Although the Ram 2500 has some contradicting information, its insurance rates are comparable to its rivals. Although this averages all 50 states, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record may anticipate an annual premium of around $2,437 for a Ram 2500 Laramie. In contrast, the Ford F-250 King Ranch costs $2,378, the GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali costs $2,492, and the Nissan Titan XD costs $2,681.
Ram 2500 Generations
Fifth Generation
2019 to Present
For the 2019 model year, the fifth-generation Ram range with its 1500, 2500, and 3500 versions made its premiere.
Fourth Generation
2009 to 2018
What is currently marketed as the 2019 Ram Classic still has the design changes from the 2009 model year. All of the Ram trucks for 2012 were branded as Ram after the Dodge moniker was eliminated in 2011. The much-hyped Hemi engine, the Rambox storage system, a new four-door cab type, and the suspension were all included in this edition.
Third Generation
2002 to 2008
The Dodge Ram 1500 had a significant overhaul, including a new structure, suspension, interiors, sheet metal, and powertrains. For the first time, rack and pinion steering was available. Sales increased as a result of this change.
Second Generation
1994 to 2002
The Dodge Ram pickup underwent a drastic facelift to resemble a large truck with a striking vertical grille and hood placed above the front fenders. With this fresh style, sales exploded.
First Generation
1981 to 1993
Initially introduced in 1972 as the Dodge D-Series, the Dodge Ram pickup’s initial generation had four distinct cabs in both two- and four-wheel drive. In 1986, the Ram received a minor update that gave it its recognizable crosshair grille.
Verdict
The 2023 Ram 2500 will make a lot of news this year because of its available diesel engine and Heavy Duty Rebel package. However, the series is still updated with new features and optional technology. Ram’s attractive designs and wide range of trims for every imaginable use case run the gamut from Spartan work trucks to dedicated toy hauliers, topped off by the off-road-equipped Power Wagon and opulent Limited package at the top of the lineup. The class-leading High Output Cummins is still only available on 3500-grade trucks.
