Ram Energy Wagon consumers have all the time needed to compromise on hauling capabilities. Ram’s answer got here late in 2022 within the type of the Ram 2500 HD Insurgent, an off-roader with extra work functionality.

Sadly, the answer to Ram Insurgent purchaser’s downside comes with a listing of compromises that offers the competitors an edge.

The thought was to make a truck that was extra succesful as a piece automobile whereas sustaining Energy Wagon’s off-road prowess. As a substitute, for about the identical value,  simply $100 lower than a Energy Wagon at $73,730 together with $1,995 vacation spot cost, Ram HD Insurgent has compromises of its personal to attain that aim.

I spent every week with a 2023 mannequin yr Insurgent, nevertheless it carries over unchanged for 2024 apart from a $2,570 value enhance. 

2024 Ram 2500 HD Insurgent

Ram 2500 HD Insurgent can get turbodiesel energy

Energy Wagon homeowners lust over the Ram HD’s non-compulsory Cummins 6.7-liter turbodiesel inline-6 that cranks out 370 hp and 850 lb-ft of torque. The diesel engine comes at a $9,795 premium over the usual gasoline 6.4-liter V-8, which makes 410 hp and 429 lb-ft and is the one engine choice for the Energy Wagon. The Insurgent HD’s lack of an digital disconnecting entrance sway bar permits the diesel to suit. That off-road improve can’t be packaged with the turbodiesel’s oil pan, in keeping with Ram engineers.

The 6.4-liter V-8 comes mated to an 8-speed computerized transmission. Ram’s V-8 is outdated at this level in comparison with the 7.3-liter V-8 accessible within the Ford Tremendous Obligation Tremor and the 6.6-liter V-8 within the Chevrolet Silverado HD ZR2. Each of these engines hook to 10-speed computerized transmissions and have extra torque than Ram’s V-8. 

The turbodiesel pairs with an outdated 6-speed computerized and is down on energy in comparison with the accessible diesels within the Chevy and Ford. It additionally feels a era behind with its loud diesel clatter at idle, lack of glow plugs requiring lengthy cold-cranking instances, and noticeable turbo lag. Regardless of all this, nobody will name the Insurgent HD underpowered. Whereas not as fast because the competitors because of the extra prevalent turbo lag, the Insurgent HD is a momentum machine on the freeway with thrust that builds because the turbo spools.

2024 Ram 2500 HD Insurgent

Ram 2500 HD Insurgent rides like a pickup truck

Most pickup vans, together with some heavy duties, not experience just like the lumber wagons of yesteryear due to advances in engineering and suspension tuning. The Insurgent HD rides precisely prefer it appears to be like, tough and tumble. You’re going to know it is a heavy-duty pickup truck always.

Over damaged pavement the Bilstein off-road shocks don’t absolutely take up the impacts and many motion interprets into the cabin after which to your physique. It’s a bumpy, at instances jittery, experience not like the Energy Wagon with its softer suspension. Ram firmed up the Insurgent HD’s Bilsteins to make the truck higher at hauling and towing bigger hundreds than the Energy Wagon. The compromise makes it maybe the worst using Ram 2500. Computerized self-leveling air shocks will be optioned within the rear for $1,705 for these hauling extraordinarily heavy hundreds, however I haven’t examined these. The most recent Ford Tremendous Obligation Tremor bucks lower than the Ram and absorbs damaged pavement nearer to the way in which the Energy Wagon does. I haven’t pushed the Silverado HD ZR2 but. 

2024 Ram 2500 HD Insurgent

Ram 2500 HD Insurgent can match 37s

The Ram HD Insurgent rides on 33-inch Goodyear DuraTrac All-Terrain tires, the identical tires discovered on the Energy Wagon. Like on the Energy Wagon, these tires are loud and a thrum is ever-present when driving on the freeway.

A Stellantis spokesperson confirmed to Motor Authority that 35- and 37-inch tires will clear on the Insurgent HD ought to consumers decide to upsize.  The latter might be “cosy” in keeping with the spokesperson. The Tremendous Obligation Tremor comes customary with 35s and also will match 37s.

2024 Ram 2500 HD Insurgent

Ram 2500 HD Insurgent balances angles with hauling capabilities

Each Insurgent HD comes as a four-door crew cab with a 6-foot-4-inch mattress. That mattress is able to hauling as much as 3,140 kilos of payload whereas the truck itself can tow as much as 16,870 kilos. Each numbers eclipse the Energy Wagon’s 1,630-pound payload and 10,590-pound tow rankings. 

However the Ford is the champ with the flexibility to tow as much as 18,200 kilos and haul as much as 4,384 kilos of payload. Chevy bests the Ram too with as much as 3,397 kilos of payload and an 18,500-pound tow score. 

The Insurgent HD comes near matching the Energy Wagon’s angles. The Insurgent HD checks in with a 26.6-degree method angle and a 21.8-degree breakover angle in comparison with the Energy Wagon’s 29.4-degree method angle and 22.0-degree breakover angle. Each Ram off-roaders share a departure angle of 26.0 levels. The Insurgent HD’s 13.3-inch floor clearance is substantial, nevertheless it’s nonetheless lower than the Energy Wagon’s 14.2-inches, principally because of the suspension packaging. The Tremendous Obligation Tremor checks in with solely 10.8 inches of floor clearance, whereas the Silverado ZR2 has 11.6 inches, and that may enhance to 11.8 inches when optioning the Bison bundle. Larger floor clearances let these vans roll over off-road obstacles, but additionally create extra lean in corners on the street.

2024 Ram 2500 HD Insurgent

Ram 2500 HD Insurgent off-road {hardware}

One of many defining options of the Energy Wagon is its customary winch. Insurgent HD consumers get a 12,000-pound Warn Zeon-12 entrance winch, however solely as a $2,500 choice and solely with the gasoline engine. The winch restricts airflow to feed the turbodiesel engine.

Chevy’s Silverado HD ZR2 can solely be optioned with a winch in high Bison type with the AEV-supplied entrance bumper. Ford’s Tremendous Obligation Tremor will be optioned with a winch no matter which trim or engine is chosen.

Each Insurgent HD options part-time four-wheel drive, a limited-slip rear differential, and an digital rear locker. Ram additionally bolts skid plates below the Insurgent HD to guard susceptible bits just like the gasoline tank and switch case.

Ford leads the pack with off-road driving modes that customized tailor the truck’s powertrain, braking, and stability management techniques. Chevy equips the Silverado HD ZR2 with off-road driving modes, however they’re far less complicated and there are fewer of them. Ram takes the less-is-more method with no off-road driving modes. It’s just like the Jeep Wrangler of this pack in that it requires the motive force to deal with a lot of the controls when off-roading.

2024 Ram 2500 HD Insurgent

Ram 2500 HD Insurgent blends in

It’ll take greater than a fast look to select the Insurgent HD in a parking zone. For probably the most half, it appears to be like like a typical Ram HD, however a better look will reveal key variations. The 20-inch wheels are Insurgent-specific, it will get the Energy Wagon’s grille, and there’s a two-tone look due to black bumpers, black decrease physique paint, and blacked-out trim. It’s the Insurgent-specific hood that’s annoying. It contains a TRX-like energy dome that interprets to a taller hood, which makes ahead visibility noticeably worse. 

The Insurgent HD’s entrance finish options curves not like the brick-like entrance ends on the Chevy and Ford, which interprets to a truck that’s much less intimidating. It’s a chore to get into and out of the excessive mattress regardless of the afterthought of a bolted-on drop-down step mounted on the motive force aspect beneath the rear bumper. GM and Ford’s bumper nook steps are genius, and Ford’s tailgate-mounted slide-out drop-down step makes my physique much less achy. Appears I’m getting outdated. 

2024 Ram 2500 HD Insurgent

Contained in the cab, Ram’s inside stays the nicest within the section with leather-wrapping on the seize handles, gear shifter, dashboard, and door panels, together with tasteful metallic bits. The Insurgent HD comes customary with fabric bench seats, however my tester featured leather-trimmed entrance bucket seats (a part of the $7,800 Degree 2 Tools Group). The automaker’s new 12.0-inch digital gauge cluster sits entrance and heart. The usual 8.4-inch touchscreen was swapped for the accessible 12.0-inch touchscreen on my well-equipped tester, additionally as a part of the Degree 2 Tools Group. The system runs Stellantis’ UConnect 5 system, which is easy-to-use and operates principally like an iPad. However the earlier system allowed for split-screen capabilities on the big touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and the automobile’s local weather controls or infotainment pages. This newest working system kills that and shows a full display screen of CarPlay. 

As outfitted, my tester would price a whopping $96,850 as a 2024 mannequin due to choices just like the Security Group bundle ($2,240) that provides adaptive cruise management and blind-spot screens, the aforementioned Degree 2 Tools group ($7,800) that provides power-folding mirrors and a rear window defroster, in addition to the larger display screen and leather-based upholstery. 

The 2024 Ram 2500 HD Insurgent isn’t the perfect off-road truck or the most-capable hauler, nevertheless it balances off-road functionality with the requests Energy Wagon consumers have been shouting loudly about for years. Sadly, it took lengthy sufficient to reach that Ford and Chevy give up ready on the sidelines and jumped into the off-road enviornment with newer, extra succesful vans.