Ram Energy Wagon patrons have all the time needed to compromise on hauling capabilities. Ram’s resolution 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 drawback comes with an inventory 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 an alternative, 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 realize that purpose.

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

2024 Ram 2500 HD Insurgent

Ram 2500 HD Insurgent can get turbodiesel energy

Energy Wagon house owners lust over the Ram HD’s elective 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 fuel 6.4-liter V-8, which makes 410 hp and 429 lb-ft and is the one engine possibility 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 response to Ram engineers.

The 6.4-liter V-8 comes mated to an 8-speed computerized transmission. Ram’s V-8 is previous at this level in comparison with the 7.3-liter V-8 obtainable within the Ford Tremendous Responsibility 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 previous 6-speed computerized and is down on energy in comparison with the obtainable diesels within the Chevy and Ford. It additionally feels a technology 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 as a result of 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, now not experience just like the lumber wagons of yesteryear because of advances in engineering and suspension tuning. The Insurgent HD rides precisely prefer it appears, 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. Automated self-leveling air shocks may 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 Responsibility Tremor bucks lower than the Ram and absorbs damaged pavement nearer to the best way 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 patrons choose to upsize.  The latter shall be “comfortable” in response to the spokesperson. The Tremendous Responsibility Tremor comes commonplace 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 scores. 

However the Ford is the champ with the power 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 ranking. 

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, however it’s nonetheless lower than the Energy Wagon’s 14.2-inches, principally as a result of suspension packaging. The Tremendous Responsibility Tremor checks in with solely 10.8 inches of floor clearance, whereas the Silverado ZR2 has 11.6 inches, and that may improve to 11.8 inches when optioning the Bison package deal. Greater floor clearances let these vans roll over off-road obstacles, but additionally create extra lean in corners on the highway.

2024 Ram 2500 HD Insurgent

Ram 2500 HD Insurgent off-road {hardware}

One of many defining options of the Energy Wagon is its commonplace winch. Insurgent HD patrons get a 12,000-pound Warn Zeon-12 entrance winch, however solely as a $2,500 possibility and solely with the fuel 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 Responsibility Tremor may 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 weak 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 driving 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 pick the Insurgent HD in a car parking zone. For probably the most half, it appears like an ordinary 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 because of black bumpers, black decrease physique paint, and blacked-out trim. It’s the Insurgent-specific hood that’s annoying. It includes 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 driving 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 previous. 

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 commonplace 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 obtainable 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 massive 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 geared up, my tester would price a whopping $96,850 as a 2024 mannequin because of choices just like the Security Group package deal ($2,240) that provides adaptive cruise management and blind-spot displays, 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 most effective off-road truck or the most-capable hauler, however it balances off-road functionality with the requests Energy Wagon patrons 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 area with newer, extra succesful vans.