Should You Take the Ram 2500 Off Road?
With an impressive ground clearance of 13 inches and minimum torque of 429 lb-ft, the Ram 2500 is great for off-roading.
Written by Cassandra Hamilton
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
When you need a truck that can handle all your off-roading needs, look no further than the
Ram 2500
. It’s the perfect fit for the true off-roading enthusiast.If your lust for life can’t be contained by the road, it’s time to start looking for a great off-road vehicle. You know the world feels bigger when you can leave the road behind, but it can be hard to narrow your choices down to the right off-roading vehicle for you.
Thankfully,
Jerry
is more than a car insurance
comparison super app
. We’re here to break down the Ram 2500’s off-road specs including the basics (like ground clearance and torque) and how they affect the off-roading experience. We’ve even got alternatives if you decide the Ram 2500 isn’t right for you.
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Can the Ram 2500 go off-road?
Yes, the Ram 2500 is designed for off-roading and won’t disappoint. The Ram 2500 is designed for slow, crawling speeds and shouldn’t be taken for high-speed treks through the desert, though. Best of all, it comes at an affordable price.
The Ram 2500 starts at $42,775 and offers an optional 4x4 off-road package that’s a good buy for an additional $840 on 2021 models. This package offers a boost to the truck’s off-roading capabilities, including hill descent control, skid plates, shock absorbers, and more.
What is this off-road package boosting though? Why should you as an off-road warrior choose the Ram 2500 for your next off-road vehicle? Let’s look closer at what makes the Ram 2500 a great choice for off-roading.
Ground clearance
When you’re talking about off-roading capabilities, one of the most important aspects is ground clearance. The Ram 2500 has a ground clearance of 13 inches with an extra 0.1 inches added when you buy the 4x4 off-road package.
The vehicles that are best suited to off-roading typically have ground clearances between 8.8 and 10.8 inches. High ground clearances enable you to tackle the roughest terrain without stressing over what’s happening to your vehicle’s undercarriage. When you compare the Ram 2500 ground clearance of 13 inches with its competitor
Ford F-150
, whose ground clearance is 9.4 inches, the Ram 2500 is obviously a great choice for off-roading.Torque
Off-road vehicles need lots of power at low speeds, so ideally you would see a high low-end torque on an off-roading vehicle—that means lots of torque at low RPMs. Torque controls turning power, which is more important than speed when you’re not on a road. This is why low-end torque is so important for a positive trail experience.
You can choose one of two engine options for your Ram 2500 with very different levels of power. If you choose the 6.4 L V8 engine, you’ll get 429 lb-ft of torque. If you choose the 6.7 L Cummins Turbo Diesel I6 engine, the torque increases to 850 lb-ft. Whichever engine you choose will have more than enough torque to handle off-roading.
Tires
The Ram 2500 comes with a set of sturdy LT225/75R16 tires. If you’re not sure how that translates to off-roading, we’ll break it down.
These are
all-terrain tires
, which are rugged enough to handle off-roading without sacrificing driveability on paved surfaces. They wear out more quickly than all-season tires, which does add to your ownership cost, but the aggressive tread provides much-needed traction on the trail.Drivetrain
Two-wheel drive (like FWD or RWD) is a no-go for off-roading. The best option is either 4WD or AWD so the individual tires can gain traction without the others. The Ram 2500 comes standard with RWD, but 4WD is an option on all trim levels except the Power Wagon—4WD comes standard here.
Angles
Angles are crucial to off-roading, especially the approach angle and the departure angle:
- Approach angle: The maximum angle at which a vehicle can climb without interference
- Departure angle: The maximum angle at which a vehicle can descend without interference
The Ram 2500 has varying approach and departure angles depending on the trim level. The trim best suited for off-roading is the Power Wagon with an approach and departure angle of 29.4 and 26 degrees respectively. While these aren’t the greatest angles in the industry, they’re still capable of crawling over rocks.
Off-road rating: Trail Boss
We’ve rated the Ram 2500 using
Jerry’s
super-technical DIRT rating system, broken down in the table below:Rating | Meaning | Description |
|---|---|---|
D | Don’t Try It | Vehicles better suited to highway conditions |
I | In a Pinch | Vehicles that can handle off-road conditions in certain circumstances |
R | Rough and Ready | Vehicles designed for casual off-roading |
T | Trail Boss | True off-road vehicles capable of tackling a range of terrain |
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversThe Ram 2500 earns a T rating. This powerful truck is a serious off-roading vehicle, especially when it comes to its torque. You won’t have to sacrifice comfort for usability, either, with multiple luxury upgrades available for the cabin. Spring for the Power Wagon trim to get the best approach and departure angles and standard 4WD if you’re serious about off-roading.
The best off-road alternatives to the Ram 2500
Maybe the size of the Ram 2500 isn’t appealing to you, or you want an off-road vehicle that offers better approach and departure angles. Whatever your reason, there are some great alternatives to the Ram 2500 available.
Check out these alternatives to the Ram 2500 for your off-road needs.
Alternative | Model | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Best affordable alternative | Ford Ranger | $40,995 | Ford balances on-road practicality with off-road readiness for a truck that drives more like an SUV. |
Best rock crawling alternative | Chevrolet Colorado | $42,600 | This truck’s rear-locking differentials put it in a whole other category. |
Best unique option | Jeep Gladiator | $44,320 | Built on a Wrangler chassis, the Jeep Gladiator’s stunning look is sure to turn heads both on and off-trail. |
MORE: Cheap off road trucks
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Reviewed on 5/28/2023
How to find affordable car insurance for off-road vehicles
When taking the overall cost of ownership for an off-road vehicle into consideration, don’t forget to factor in the insurance increase you’ll pay for owning an off-road vehicle. Off-roading is a risky pursuit that puts your vehicle in danger of damage, and insurance companies are sure to charge more for vehicles that can go off-road.
If that isn’t a deterrent to your off-roading dreams, you should know it’s possible to save on your car insurance even as an off-road warrior when you team up with
Jerry
. Jerry is partnered with over 50 top insurance companies to find you the best car insurance quotes in the business.It takes less than one minute to receive and compare your quotes, and once you’ve made a choice, you could be saving $800 or more per year like the average Jerry user!
“UsingJerryis a super straightforward process, and at each step, you can see exactly what coverage you’re paying for. Thanks to Jerry, I’m paying $900 less each year while keeping full coverage for my new car!” —Martin H.
