The success of the original Ford Raptor highlighted a significant segment of the pickup truck market eager to take on some serious off-roading in their new trucks. In response, Ford updated the Raptor with even more off-road tech, while Ram introduced the Rebel trim level for its wildly popular 1500 pickup.
For the 2020 model year, some of those off-roading components have found their way onto the heavy-duty segment with the introduction of the Ford F-250 Tremor and the Ram 2500 Power Wagon. While both aim to improve the capabilities of two very capable trucks, they go about it in two very different ways.
What Are They?
The F-250 Tremor is brand new for 2020 and is not a stand-alone model like the Raptor. The Tremor off-road package is an add-on available for a variety of F-250 trucks, meaning buyers can select and option their trucks exactly as they desire. Included in the pack is a set of new wheels wrapped in some serious off-roading tires alongside a new 2 inch lift system.
Just like the Ford, the Ram 2500 Power Wagon benefits from a 2 inch lift system as well as off-roading wheels and tires. Unlike the Tremor, the Power Wagon is a standalone trim, meaning overall customization and powertrain options are greatly reduced. Despite this, the Power Wagon carries an ace up its sleeve by offering consumers some extra off-roading goodies the Ford does not.
How Do They Stack Up On Paper?
The Ram Power Wagon has a starting price of $53,550 while the Tremor is an optional extra which will add an extra $3,975 to the cost of a brand new F-250. Therefore, a gas powered F-250 Tremor will cost you at least $53,390 while a diesel powered Tremor will cost you $62,400. The Power Wagon is exclusively equipped with Ram’s 6.4L V8 producing 410 HP while the Ford F-250 Tremor can be had with either the 7.3L V8 gas engine or the 6.7L V8 turbo-diesel.
In terms of transmissions, the Ram utilizes an 8-speed automatic while both the gas and diesel Tremor’s will come equipped with Ford’s excellent 10-speed automatic transmission. In terms of suspension, these off-road competitors are both running 2 inch lifts, towering over their standard counterparts. Unique to the F-250 Tremor is a new crawl feature which works alongside the 10-speed transmission to provide more control when tackling difficult terrain. The Ram Power wagon bests the F-250 Tremor by including locking front and rear differentials as well as an electronically disconnecting sway bar while the Ford has to make due with a locking rear differential and a limited slip differential in the front.
Which Is Best For You?
When stacking them on paper, it becomes clear that the Ram Power Wagon is focused on being the more serious off-roader with its more capable hardware while the F-250 Tremor bests it in order areas such as with its 15,000 pound towing capacity. In terms of aesthetics, both trucks look equally robust in comparison to their standard counterparts, and just like the trucks on which they're based on, they should be easily adaptable with accessories such as extra lights and which system.
Over the last few decades, trucks have become more than just work vehicles, they have to be luxurious as well as capable. Both the F-250 and the Ram 2500 do an excellent job of this. On a daily basis, both should be equally nice to live with, including optional full leather interiors with Apple CarPlay and a variety of luxurious extras. In terms of off-roading, it would take some serious trails in order to declare a clear winner over the other seeing as they are so closely matched. In terms of capabilities, the Ram slightly bests the F-250 but only by a small margin, something most buyers will never notice. This is the type of comparison where there are no wrong answers.
Ford Vs Ram
If you are a diehard fan of American pickups, chances are you already have a favorite brand or model. In this scenario, neither truck makes a compelling argument over the other to sway buyers between brands. Regardless of which off-roading truck you chose, you will most likely be very happy with it.
Both Ford and Ram have really homed in on their markets and as a result have ended up providing near identical trucks. For those in the market for a truly hard-core and capable truck, the winner is very clear, skip the larger trucks and opt for the fantastic Ford Raptor.