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Slideshow: Ram brings out new trim levels offering range of features.

Willie Vogt

October 8, 2018

9 Slides

The pickup truck business has become a kind of arms race for who can load in the right features for more buyers. The days of a trusty truck with a cloth interior and rubber floor mats may still have value in some applications, but don’t look for that in these three new machines from Ram. The company is carving a niche in the luxe areas, with new trim levels and added features for a range of buyers.

The 2019 Ram pickup has gotten plenty of attention for its new looks and the end of its crossbar grill. The lineup now gets a new Rebel 12 edition, too, but more on that later.

First up is a look at a special package for the heavy-duty truck set. The new 2018 Ram Heavy-Duty Longhorn Ram Rodeo edition was launched at the Texas State Fair, a popular place for new pickups to show up. This new machine is based on the Longhorn trim, but the Ram Rodeo version adds content to the luxury pickup. The folks at Ram are laying claim to the fact that the Longhorn edition is the “world’s benchmark for upscale pickup trucks.” And perhaps they can, given that the trim level has earned the Luxury Pickup Truck of Texas honor from the Texas Auto Writers Association two years in a row. The Ram Rodeo brings advanced tech and towing content to the line.

The Longhorn interior presents unique features and design cues, and the Ram Rodeo edition builds on that theme by adding a suede headliner against contrasting interior colors such as Black and Cattle Tan.

On the exterior, there are body-colored bumpers and side steps. The Longhorn badge stretches the width of the tailgate against available RV Match Walnut Brown, Brilliant Black Crystal, Bright White, Pearl White, Delmonico Red or Granite Crystal Metallic — which is a range of creative color names, if nothing else. The 20-inch aluminum wheels with optional painted pockets are standard on Ram 2500 and 3500 single-rear wheel trucks. Ram 3500 dual-rear wheel trucks receive 17-inch polished aluminum wheels.

The Ram Rodeo adds an essential piece — the fifth-wheel and gooseneck trailer prep package that includes a handy bed-view camera to make lining up trailers and hitches easier. The Ram Rodeo also has Ram’s rear air suspension for comfort and load leveling, when hauling payload or pulling a trailer.

The Heavy-Duty Longhorn Ram Rodeo Edition is available in a Crew Cab or Mega Cab configuration. You can get the four-by-two or four-by-four setup. And it comes standard with a 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 engine, but the company does offer the optional 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel Inline 6.

As for pricing, the 2018 Ram 2500 Heavy-Duty Longhorn Ram Rodeo has a suggested list price of $60,790, not including a $1,695 destination charge. The 2018 Ram 3500 Heavy-Duty Longhorn Ram Rodeo Edition has a suggested list price of $71,260, not including a $1,695 destination charge.

Power Wagon in a new color
The Ram Power Wagon is getting another of those limited-edition colors popular these days. This time out, the color is Mojave Sand, which is a fancy term for tan. But for an off-road-capable pickup, it’s not a bad limited-edition color.

The Mojave Sand color was popular on the Ram Rebel, but this is the first time it’s been offered on a heavy-duty chassis, and it will be exclusive to the Power Wagon. Along with that limited-edition color —it’s only available in the fourth color — are black wheels.

The limited-edition truck features an all-black interior with Ram’s Uconnect 8.4-inch touch screen, and the truck comes with the Heavy-Duty Luxury Group package that includes LED bed lighting, an overhead console, power-heated and fold-away mirrors and a universal garage door opener.

The Power Wagon Mojave Sand limited edition is available in a Crew Cab four-by-four with a starting price of $54,830 plus a $1,695 destination charge. Production of this model is limited to 1,500 trucks.

A 2019 special edition
The 2019 Ram standard-duty 1500 Series pickup gets plenty of new design elements, and now the company is adding the Rebel 12 package. This special-edition pickup has a range of interior and exterior features.

The 2019 Ram has a range of tech, and now the Rebel model gets access including the Uconnect 4C 12-inch screen and navigation. The fourth-generation system has enhanced processing power, multitouch gestures, sharper graphics and the ability to support smartphone integrations. That 12-inch screen is configurable, including the ability to split the screen. And it features an exclusive version of SiriusXM with 360L that includes on-demand content.

The Rebel also has a leather-trimmed interior with heated front seats, and you’ll find Rebel red accents in the cab, too.

As for the exterior, the Ram Rebel has factory-engineered off-road capability. During an Arizona drive earlier this year, the truck showed its smooth-riding features away from the pavement during a media event Farm Progress attended.

This Rebel 12 features a factory-lift, locking rear differential; 33-inch tires (you read that right); Bilstein shocks; skid plates; two hooks; and other off-road-ready features. The Rebel 12 is an available package on all Rebel cab, color and powertrain configurations. The Ram 1500 Rebel 12 starts at $46,990, not including the $1,695 destination charge, and will be available starting in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Learn more at ramtrucks.com

About the Author(s)

Willie Vogt

Willie Vogt has been covering agricultural technology for more than 40 years, with most of that time as editorial director for Farm Progress. He is passionate about helping farmers better understand how technology can help them succeed, when appropriately applied.

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