2023 Ram Heavy Duty Rebel: Four Wheeler SUV of the Year Contender

If there has been one thing that Ram fans and off-road enthusiasts alike have been screaming for decades, it has been the desire for a Cummins diesel-powered Power Wagon. As anyone who has paid attention knows, the Ram Power Wagon has only ever been offered with a HEMI gas V-8 engine, first a 5.7-liter and currently a 6.4-liter. Well, after much wailing and gnashing of teeth, Ram has answered the call with the new 2023 Heavy Duty Rebel.

Essentially a "Power Wagon lite," the Ram Heavy Duty Rebel adds some of the most sought-after Power Wagon features like Bilstein shocks, progressive-rate coil springs, a skidplate package, Goodyear off-road tires, and an electronic locking rear differential to the standard 2500 Heavy Duty. And the company does this while retaining the truck's ability to tow and haul. Best of all, you can get the package with either a 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 or the legendary Cummins I-6 diesel.

Ram—and, prior to 2009, Dodge—pickups have won our test a total of 12 times since a separate Pickup Truck of the Year test was created in 1990. Of those, Power Wagon has taken four trophies and the ½-ton Rebel has collected two. So to say we had high hopes for the new 2023 Ram Heavy Duty Rebel would be an understatement. Does the truck live up to its pedigree? Read on to find out.

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Atthe Track

It should come as no surprise that the 2023 Ram Heavy Duty Rebel is, well, heavy. Our test truck tipped the scales at just north of 7,000 pounds with the 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 engine, so we knew from the outset that the dragstrip was not going to be the place where the big Ram would shine the brightest. This was especially true when considering that the truck's 6.4-liter engine produced the least amount of power of any in our test, netting just 410 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque. Given the state of the pickup market, we feel that at this point these big, gas-powered heavy-duty pickups could benefit from a bump in both power and torque, but we digress.

On the track, the Ram Heavy Duty Rebel put down a 0-60 mph time of 8.18 seconds and ran through the quarter-mile in 16.24 seconds, breaking the beams at 88.0 mph (just barely enough to send it back in time). The Ram was able to reign-in its speed by going from 60 mph to a standstill in just 148.26 feet. Our test driver noted that the Ram had the best track performance with the traction control turned off and Tow/Haul mode activated.

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Interior Comfort and Exterior Design

If there's one thing that Ram never skimps on, it would be interior design and comfort. We've come to expect top-tier amenities whenever we slip into a Ram truck, and the new 2023 Heavy Duty Rebel does not disappoint. Our judges loved the interior comfort and the use of soft-touch material throughout the cabin. The team appreciated the large, 12-inch center screen as much in this truck as when it first debuted, and the latest generation of Uconnect software was easy and intuitive to use. More divisive was the new digital instrument cluster, though mostly just because some on the team are old and set in their ways. The rest of us enjoyed the functionality and the depth of information that the new system can display. Everyone enjoyed the seat comfort and legroom, especially in the rear seat, and comments abounded regarding the immense volume of storage space throughout the cabin. It was also noted that except for the faintest tire noise, the cab was almost whisper-quiet.

The team's love for the big Ram didn't fade when it came to the exterior either. The overall exterior design was universally loved (and has aged quite well for a truck that's nearing a refresh), but the Rebel-specific off-road bits really stole the show. Our judges loved both the styling and functionality of the truck's front winch bumper with the optional integrated 12,000-pound Warn winch. They also commented on the accessory rocker protection, though many felt that just a touch more material would have given better purchase for use as an entry step. The truck's new tow mirrors won a lot of praise, except from the contingent that misses the flip-up style mirrors of old. And, alas, there were the wheels, which, though the team didn't dislike the styling, drew much ire for their 20-inch size … but more on that later.

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On the Highway

Ever since Ram introduced its five-link rear suspension for the 2500 Heavy Duty way back in 2014, it has remained one of the best-riding heavy-duty pickups on the highway, and our judges agreed that the 2023 Heavy Duty Rebel carries on the tradition. Though obviously not light-duty smooth, the Ram Heavy Duty Rebel's Bilstein shocks provided great road manners while traversing Southern California's not-so-fantastic roadways. The team noted that the truck was quite maneuverable despite its size, and actually took decently well to navigating twisty mountain roads. The biggest, and really only, complaints came at the expense of the engine. The team noted that the truck just felt underpowered on the highway, and that the engine performance was almost "lackluster." Paired with the 11.94-mpg average economy, it didn't really leave a great taste. Many wondered if the Cummins diesel would have been a better choice for the highway, since it would likely have returned better economy while laying down nearly double the torque. However, that Cummins diesel option comes with a $9,500 price tag.

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When the Pavement Ends

Heading off the pavement is where things began to go slightly off the rails, and we can pin nearly all of the complaints on one area: tire and wheel choice. The 2023 Ram Heavy Duty Rebel comes fit with 285/60R20, load-range "E" Goodyear Duratrac tires mounted on 20-inch aluminum wheels. These measure out to 33.5 inches tall and 11.2 inches wide, with not a lot of room left over for sidewall. Add in the fact that our testing is done with tires at street pressure, which for the Heavy Duty Rebel is a staggering 70 psi, and it doesn't take a psychic to see where we're headed. It was fairly unanimous that the truck's off-road ride was at times brutal. We know that a 17-inch wheel fits because that's what Ram has fitted the Power Wagon with, and every one of our judges agreed that we would happily give up some load capacity to have a better tire-and-wheel package. Even going to an 18-inch wheel would help significantly. And, as we learned from our first drive of the truck, dropping the tire pressure down to just 40 psi makes a significant improvement in off-road ride quality. Ram, if you're listening, fit this truck with a 35-inch-tall tire on an 18-inch wheel and it will be unstoppable.

Tire issues aside, the 2023 Ram Heavy Duty Rebel is far more capable than should be allowed. Outside of the Power Wagon, this is the only configuration that gets a selectable locking rear differential. And although it could be a bit finicky to get to engage at times, the locking differential allowed the large heavy-duty truck to go places that it really shouldn't be able to. The truck climbed with ease, the suspension flexed really well, and the Bilstein dampers did their best to soak up the bumps despite the tire's best efforts at rattling our kidneys.

Now, we know you're wondering, "Why not opt for the Cummins diesel?" We made the decision to invite the 6.4-liter gas powered Ram Heavy Duty Rebel for a few reasons. First, we knew that the off-road ride would be better with the lighter engine. We also weren't doing any towing or hauling. And, most important, we wanted to showcase the factory-installed 12,000-pound Warn winch, which we got to use on a couple occasions to rescue other vehicles. The winch performed flawlessly, as we'd expect from a Warn, however we noticed an interesting issue with the way Ram chose to install the winch. None of our judges could reach their hands through or behind the truck's bumper to engage the winch's free-spool selector. Thankfully someone at the factory had engaged the winch, or we would have been in a world of hurt.

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Bottom Line

The 2023 Ram Heavy Duty Rebel is a truck that's trying to be everything to everybody, and that comes with its challenges. It has a fantastic highway ride, but non-Rebel trucks are better. It's plenty capable off-road, but the Power Wagon is better. It tows and hauls as a ¾-ton should, but not quite as much as the other 2500s. Basically, this truck would make a great tow rig for someone who doesn't need to tow quite at the max and doesn't plan to get too extreme with their 'wheeling. And, quite simply, it's one small wheel-size change away from being the perfect heavy-duty pickup for a lot of people.

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What's Hot

Available 12,000-pound Warn winch, available 6.7-liter Cummins diesel engine, electronic locking rear differential, immensely comfortable interior, classy exterior design

What's Not

20-inch wheels, near-single-digit fuel economy, lowest power output of the group

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Logbook Quotes

• "This is the tow rig that you go 'wheeling in, not the 'wheeler that you tow with. "
• "Wheels super big, like a dirt-going ocean liner"
• "Man this truck looks good, I love the rugged exterior and off-road hardware. "
• "17- or 18-inch wheels and this is the perfect truck. Somebody tell Ram to do it!"
• "I love how quiet this truck is inside, it's easy to forget that you're driving a heavy-duty pickup. "
• "The truck's interior is on-point. It's way nicer than any pickup deserves. "

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2023 Ram Heavy Duty Rebel: Specs & Details

• Base Price: $67,045
• Price As Tested: $85,370
• EPA Fuel Econ (City/Hwy/Comb): N/A
• Tested Fuel Econ (Average/Best): 11.94/14.77
• Engine: 6.4L HEMI V-8
• Power: 410 hp @ 5,600 RPM
• Torque: 429 lb-ft @ 4,000 RPM
• Transmission: 8-speed automatic
• Accel 0-60 MPH: 8.18 seconds
• ¼-Mile: 16.24 seconds @ 88.0 mph
• Braking 60-0 MPH: 148.26 feet