Ram is sending two great Ram truck concept vehicles to this year's SEMA extravaganza. We look at the concept dedicated to taking on the great outdoors.
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The Specialty Equipment Market Association show, known as SEMA, takes over Las Vegas next week and Ram will be there with two dramatic concepts and another surprise. The Ram 1500 Rebel OTG concept is sure to draw a crowd as Ram demonstrates how its Rebel can dramatically improve overlanding.
What is Overlanding?
Overlanding is not the same thing as off-roading. Overlanding is adventure travel to remote destinations where the journey is the primary goal. Overlanding is about exploration, rather than conquering obstacles. Ram has upgraded the 2020 Ram 1500 Rebel OTG, which stands for Off The Grid, with several Mopar accessories to demonstrate how the truck can improve any adventure.
“Unlike traditional ‘four-wheeling,’ in overlanding the journey is the final objective. The goal is to explore rather than conquer obstacles,” said Joe Dehner, Head of Ram Truck and Mopar Design. “This is why we developed this concept, to allow vehicle-supported, self-reliant adventure travel, typically exploring remote locations and interacting with other cultures. This is the vehicle that I’d like to have whenever I choose to go ‘off the grid.’”
Ram teamed up with outdoor suppliers to devise a vehicle that could withstand virtually any travel adventure. The Ram 1500 Rebel OTG concept starts with a 2020 Ram 1500 Rebel equipped with the all-new 3.0-liter V-6 EcoDiesel engine. The truck has the available 33-gallon fuel tank to give it maximum driving range. To make it easier to handle unpredictable terrain, the truck has a Mopar two-inch lift kit and huge 35-inch Goodyear tires.
New Mopar Product Concepts
Mopar even came up with Mopar concept accessories to outfit the OTG vehicle. Notice in the photo that the concept truck has a concept front bumper with an integrated winch, a huge grille and a freaky-looking snorkel air intake to improve off-road capability. The truck has both front and rear wheel flares and special step assist rock rails. A concept rear bumper, improves the departure angle of the truck and relocates the exhaust.
Accessories to Make a Long Trip More Comfortable and Fun
The 2020 Ram 1500 Rebel OTG is equipped with a bed rack system that fits on top of the truck bed. It can carry a collapsible rooftop tent. The truck even has a stowable ladder to make it easier to climb into the tent. There is a retractable battery-powered cooler and kitchen unit in the truck bed, complete with a gas stove and sink with an on-board water system.
The concept truck has a number of accessories designed to make it easier to set up camp in the middle of nowhere. A solar panel that can be put up at any time and a backup power supply is also on-board. The concept OTG truck also has an air compressor in the truck bed. Special LED off-road driving lamps are mounted on the front bumper and other LED lamps are used on the back bumper. Additional lighting has also been added to the rear rack system to better light up a campsite at night.
The 2020 Ram 1500 Rebel OTG is just one of 14 customized vehicles that FCA will have on display during SEMA. There will be hundreds of Mopar products on display in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. SEMA runs November 5-8, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
We'll have more on the second Ram truck concept tomorrow.
Follow Mary Conway at @maryconwaymedia and send her car news tips for future stories.
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