1 of 6
Budd Stanley photos
2 of 6
Budd Stanley photos
Ram Rebel
No familiar crosshairs on the Rebel, only a very bold and large Ram logo, much like other special off-road edition trucks.
3 of 6
Budd Stanley photos
Ram Rebel
Another large “RAM” logo is embossed in the rear tailgate for good measure.
4 of 6
Budd Stanley photos
Ram Rebel
A 1-in lift in addition to adjustable air springs helps fit 33-in Toyo’s under the fenders.
5 of 6
FPI Studios
Ram Rebel
Special Rebel trim adorns the interior, but what we really like is the scale Toyo tire tread print embossed into the seats.
6 of 6
Budd Stanley photos
Ram Rebel
Toyo Open Country A/T’s connect the 1500 to the trail.
Story & photos by Budd Stanley
The Raptor has some new competition from Ram
Just when I thought Detroit had given me all the off-road candy a little sugar junkie could handle, Ram went and pulled the sheets off the all-new Ram 1500 Rebel. Not just any 1500, this Ram is definitely got the Ford F-150 Raptor in its sights. Ironically enough, the most obvious sign that this is a special Ram 1500 is the lack of the trademark crosshairs grille, replaced with a very bold and somewhat familiar brand logo.
So, we might as well start with the styling. Yes, the familiar crosshair grille that has adorned all Rams for as long as we can remember is gone, replaced with a truly unique grille highlighting the “RAM” brand name. Likewise, the same bold design can be found on the rear, where a large Ram emblem has been embossed into the tailgate along with other Rebel insignia. These special edition design traits are also found in the interior as the seats have been finished in high-durability technical grain vinyl with Sedoso fabric inserts embossed with the Toyo tire tread pattern, matching the Rebel’s actual tire footprint. Now that is pretty cool.
This leads us to the business end of the Rebel; the hardware that makes it a true off-road focused enthusiast’s truck. As mentioned, a set of 33-in Toyo Open Country A/T all-terrain tires are mounted to very unique all-new 17-in silver and black cast aluminum wheels. The Rebel also gets a 1-in factory suspension lift that is further aided by adjustable air springs to lift the Ram to a maximum ride height to 262 mm (10.3-in). The ride is fine tuned with a set of custom Bilstein shocks front and rear as well as a softer rear stabilizer bar to further aid the all-terrain capabilities. Other off-road durability and recovery add-ons include skid plates and suitably beefy tow hooks.
While the Rebel looks like a Raptor fighter, it will not have any special high performance powertrain options to compete with Ford's upcoming EcoBeast. Buyers will have the choice of either the 3.6L Pentastar V-6 or the more aggressive 5.7L HEMI V-8. Those who choose the more fuel-efficient Pentastar will also get the 3.92 final drive ratios in the front and rear differentials.
We have to say, while the Rebels powertrain may not be screaming after the Raptor, we sure do like the increased off-road capabilities Ram have built into this special edition 1500. Expect the Rebel to reach dealership showrooms by late summer this year, but before then, we’ll keep digging for more info on the Rebel as it becomes available.