Vehicle Spotlight: a RAM Rebel on the Attack

We have never expected more out of our pickup trucks than we do right now. In a post-Raptor universe, simply transporting material to the job site and clunking down dirt roads in country songs just doesn’t cut the mustard anymore. Consumers need comfort, and performance away from the blacktop like never before. As 2018 approaches, trucks have arguably become America’s premier work/performance/luxury vehicle. And one of the most exciting models in this category is the 2018 RAM Rebel. The Rebel is so well equipped that the RAM brand hopes to lure even non-truck driving car and SUV owners into the fold, and it seems to be working.

Impressive Specs

With an upcoming total RAM overhaul postponed for the time being, FCA has decided to equip some of their remaining stock with specs impressive enough to steal drivers away from the Raptor. Much like Ford’s industry leader begins with the bones of an F-150, the RAM Rebel starts off as a 1500 and transforms into an off-road powerhouse. This impressive workhorse is powered by the Hellcat’s supercharged 6.2L HEMI V8, and it makes a whopping 575 horsepower.

The RAM Rebel features an 8-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. Despite all this power, the Rebel still gets drivers an impressive 22 miles per gallon. With 33″ Toyo Open Country tires that come standard, 17″ wheels, and oversized matte black wheel pockets, the Rebel has an aggressive look and plenty of ground clearance where the pavement ends.

Converting the Faithful to a RAM Rebel

It isn’t just the Ford Raptor faithful that RAM hopes to pluck its Rebel base from. Just ask Erich Ross, a Keystone Automotive Sales Manager and former Air Force Master Sergeant. Ross was once a Jeep Wrangler devotee. His military background gave him an up close look at just how capable they were in rough conditions. But nowadays, you can find him behind the wheel of, you guessed it, his new RAM Rebel.

“I got tired of white-knuckling it down the highway,” Ross says. Trucks like the Rebel mean that drivers no longer have to choose between performance and comfort. His new ride offers a luxurious cab that simply isn’t found in the sparsely-equipped Wrangler. And the RAM Rebel’s Active Level Four Corner Air Suspension allows him to boost his ride height for a smoother ride than his Jeep ever gave him, and even lower the frame up to three inches for easy entry and bed access.

Always Room For Improvement

Although the RAM Rebel is more equipped right off of the lot than nearly every truck to come before it, there is always room for improvement. A healthy aftermarket is working to stay aligned with all the newest models to customize virtually every inch of it, from bumper-to-bumper.

Running boards (like power boards from AMP that automatically deploy when the door opens) add a cool and useful upgrade. Storage units (from brands like DECKED) make the most of any bed space and keep life organized. Tonneaus from trusted names like Truck Hero cover and protect whatever it is you’re hauling. And if you’re going to use this truck as it was intended, you’re gonna get into some deep mud. And if you happen to get stuck (happens to the best of us), nothing is more trusted to get you out of a jam like a Warn winch.

Something For Everybody

No matter what your reason is for buying a RAM Rebel, one thing you will be getting is versatility. You’re buying it for a smooth ride? That’s great, but you’re getting great power too. Looking for a trail-ready blast of fun? You’ve got it, but it also comes with luxury-quality amenities. This truck can just about do it all. And at a cost around $46,000, not break the bank while doing it.

“There’s so little that needs to be done to this truck,” says Ross. “And that’s one of the reasons I went with it.”

And he isn’t wrong, of course. Ross knows his stuff, and the RAM Rebel is pretty much ready to roll off the lot and into whatever situation you put it in. There is so little that needs to be done. But, if there are things you want to be done, there’s a whole aftermarket world waiting to help you make this truck everything you’ve ever though possible.