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Living in rural Nova Scotia, Matthew Guy has immersed himself in car culture for over 30 years and relishes the thought of a good road trip. A certified gearhead, he enjoys professionally writing about cars and is very pleased to contribute for wheels.ca.

His work has also appeared on Car Throttle, The Truth About Cars, and in CAA Magazine. Find him on Twitter @matthewkguy

Despite the presence of a jetbridge, the Nevada heat smacked us in the face like a frying pan the instant we stepped off the plane. “Now I know what you’ve been talking about,” grinned Lucas as he hitched up his carry-on backpack.

Flying to the American southwest in the middle of July may not rank too high on everyone’s Top 40, not with forecasted daily highs near 50 degrees Celsius and single-digit humidity. But it was that latter metric Lucas wanted to experience; after all, growing up on the far-flung reaches of Canada’s East Coast (his favourite way to describe to others where he lives is to say “go as far east as you can without getting wet”) ensures an intimate relationship with saltwater dampness and perpetual humidity levels that must be experienced to be believed. That a place like where we’d just landed exists on the same planet, let alone within reasonable flight distances on the same continent, beggars belief and puts an exclamation point on Earth’s diversity.

Besides, it’s good to spread one’s wings a bit before tackling the sophomore year of high school, especially after completing a few annums in which all hands were bundled up in masks and more than one exam was proctored via Zoom meetings. It’s easy to dismiss this era by saying kids are resilient – and, largely, most of them are – but to keep one’s grades up in such an environment is a task this old guy could not likely have accomplished 30 years ago. Exploration and travel, when possible, can make for an equally important education as what’s on offer by the hard-working teachers at Lucas' school, a crew doing the best they can with a frighteningly shrinking list of resources.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-177562" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/IMG_9015-scaled.jpg" alt="father and son road trip" width="1920" height="2560" />

Plans for the week were sketched out but nebulous, meaning we didn’t intend to twiddle our thumbs in a hotel lobby nor did we wish to spend seven days on a rigid timetable. This author learned a long time ago there’s a balance between those two extremes, though not after the appearance of numerous wrinkles and a sprinkling of grey hair at my temples. Typical tourist trap activities in the Vegas area were enjoyed, ranging from exploring the outrageous structures to being blinded by that jumbotron at the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Harmon Avenue.

So we hit the road after a couple of days, piling aboard Ram’s new half-ton Rebel G/T, and headed for the Valley of Fire. For those not in the know, this trim is an attempt to capitalize on interest surrounding the <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/vehicle-reviews/why-i-love-my-vehicle-2021-ram-1500-trx-a-supertruck-summer-driver">bonkers TRX</a> which packs a Hellcat engine in addition to a hellacious price tag. The Rebel G/T deploys the standard 5.7L V8 engine that’s been around since Adam was an oakum picker but gifts it an exhaust which provides some of the best start-up and full-throttle noises in any half-ton truck on sale today. These auditory delights were unmuffled by the eTorque mild-hybrid system, gear which helps low-end torque and provides a small fuel economy boost.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-177551" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/IMG_8848-scaled.jpg" alt="Ram valley of fire" width="2560" height="1920" />
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-177556" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/IMG_8824-scaled.jpg" alt="Ram valley of fire" width="2560" height="1920" />

Exterior styling cues like its handlebar mustache of a grille mimics the TRX to a point, while cabin gear such as a shift lever located on the centre console jazz up the interior. The latter addition should placate the dudebros who complained about Ram’s shifter dial, while any gearhead with a pulse will enjoy the snarling exhaust.

Driving to the Valley of Fire from Vegas is a simple matter, though it is wise to take ample amounts of sunscreen and drinking water no matter when you go, let alone in the middle of July. This time of year is decidedly off-peak tourist season thanks to the temps – abandoned interpretation centres and empty gated checkpoints were the norm – but that was fine by Lucas. The utter silence of the Mojave Desert played well to his introverted tendencies, silently speaking to him in a way little else ever could. The sudden appearance of a wild bighorn sheep family moved him to sudden and understandable emotional responses, borderline unspeakable magic at seeing wild desert creatures free to roam and at peace with the world. A good palate cleanser for the soul? You bet it was.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-177560" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/IMG_8809-scaled.jpg" alt="Ram valley of fire" width="2560" height="1920" />

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-177559" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/IMG_8789-scaled.jpg" alt="Ram valley of fire" width="2560" height="1920" />

We hung around until well after dark, mindful of the posted admonishments to drink lots of water and not venture deep into the area’s hiking trails at this time of year for danger of perishing in the heat. It’s one thing to witness stars pop out at night but doing so in a spot utterly devoid of light pollution extends the experience to another level. Suddenly, it’s easy to find the Milky Way, and obscure star formations suddenly stick out like dandelions on a front lawn.

After learning the Hoover Dam can make one feel rather small, we pointed the Ram’s broad nose west, finding off-the-beaten-path places like historic Roy’s in Amboy on the old Route 66 and, further on, the remains of Bombay Beach at the Salton Sea. The latter was sizzling in mid-June and absolutely gobsmacking in terms of its art commentary and how we live in the world. Sitting 250 feet below sea level, this former playground once envisioned as a competitor to Palm Springs and even Vegas was created by an accidental release of water from the Colorado River but, with no natural outlet, has been slowly drying up for decades.

These days, locals welcome artists to the area, showcasing their skills by constructing and leaving installations on what used to be the water’s floor, all created from manners of items like old cars, television sets, subway entrances, phone booths, you name it. Lucas remarked how it gave him food for thought about life and relationships and the world. If any Salton Sea artists are reading this, consider your mission accomplished; getting a teenager to think deeply about such things tends not to be the most straightforward of tasks.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-177548" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/IMG_8871-scaled.jpg" alt="Bombay beach" width="2560" height="1920" />

There were a couple more stops as we traversed highways and byways back to the Nevada airport as our week wound down. Speaking of, there were occasions in which the Ram was pressed into continually running in brutally hot conditions, both below sea level and at more than 3,000 feet of elevation. Never once did it put a foot wrong or give any cause to not have confidence in the thing getting us into (and out) of the remote areas being explored. Modern, well-designed cooling tech is a wonderful thing – both under the hood and in the cab.

Here's looking forward to a good year ahead for ya, son. Like a bit of summertime exploration and travel through the sizzling southwest, I’m sure upcoming studies will provide lots of opportunities for exploration and growth – even if the humidity levels are a lot higher.

A Road Trip at the Edge of Seventeen

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For over half a decade, Dan Heyman has written professionally about cars and car culture, specializing in luxury/performance vehicles, 4 x 4s and pickup trucks, with a micro city car or two thrown in for good measure. If he's not striking a spacebar, he's likely out photographing cars on the twists and turns of the Coast Mountain roads outside his hometown of Vancouver, BC, or cutting a line on a racetrack.

Ram is the latest of the big three truck makers to jump on the EV bandwagon with the 2024 Ram 1500 REV (Ram Electric Vehicle, in case you weren’t sure), unveiled today at the New York Auto Show. It joins the Ford F-150 Lightning and Chevrolet Silverado EV in the race to bring electric driving to the ultra-popular world of the light-duty pickup truck.

The 1500 REV will be available with two all-electric powertrains: one with a 168 kWh battery pack good for up to 560 km, plus a colossal 229 kWh battery version good for over 800 km of range. That eclipses what’s being offered by the Lightning or the Rivian R1T and should be more than what’s required between charging opportunities. If buyers want or need more, an XR range-extended version is going to be announced at a later date and will provide what Ram says is “class-shattering” range. They are keeping mum past that for now, but we’re expecting the possibility of a plug-in hybrid powertrain with a large battery for longer all-EV driving.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-175605" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_0507.jpg" alt="2024 Ram 1500 REV" width="2000" height="1335" />

In addition to the range provided, Ram is claiming a 0-100 km/h time for the REV of around 4.5 seconds thanks to the 654 horsepower and 620 pound-feet of torque made by its dual 250 kW drive motors; there’s one on the front axle, one on the rear. Those figures also allow for a payload of 2,700 pounds (1,225 kg) and a tow rating of 14,000 pounds (6,350 kg) with a 5.7-foot bed as the only choice. There is also a front-axle disconnect that allows the front wheels to spin freely for better efficiency.

Speaking of charging opportunities: Ram is saying that when hooked up to a 350 kW DC fast charger, owners can expect to add about 177 km of range in just 10 minutes. As far as overall charging goes: Ram hasn't confirmed anything there yet, but if current trends in the charging world hold, we expect a charge from 10-80 per cent in 20-30 minutes when hooked up to a DC fast charger, and likely 5-7 hours when hooked up to a level II home charger. And, if you want your Ram to do the charging, it will be able to do so thanks to a 7.2 kW onboard generator in the bed, and a 3.6 kW charging panel in the frunk. That kind of power is enough to power a tailgate party, tools at a job site or even a home, say, during a blackout. Then, when power comes back on, the truck will automatically reverse the energy flow and start to power itself from the grid.

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While the 1500 REV retains the strength of a body-on-frame chassis, it will be getting an all-new STLA platform developed especially for full-size electric vehicles that adds wider frame rails in order to accommodate the battery. The gas truck’s rear multi-link suspension remains for better ride and handling and four-corner air suspension comes as standard.

Styling-wise, the REV is differentiated from other Ram models thanks to its “tuning fork” LED headlamps, new “Ram” badge on the grille, and a new hood design, required to accommodate the 425-litre power-operated frunk.

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Inside, the proceedings are anchored by an optional 14.5-inch central infotainment display, but there’s also a segment-first 10.25” display ahead of the front passenger that allows passengers to help input navigations commands, stream music, and so forth. The standard 12.3” digital instrument cluster, meanwhile, now has a menu that displays charge schedule and there is also one-pedal driving. In top Tungsten spec – that’s a new trim for Ram – we find diamond-knurled real metal inserts, premium quilted leather, and trim-specific Klipsch audio system with 23 speakers.

It's a brave new world for pickups, and Ram appears to be jumping in feet-first with the REV. Exciting times are ahead. Watch this space for more coverage of the EV revolution going on over at Ram.

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A Road Trip at the Edge of Seventeen

2024 Ram 1500 REV boasts ultra-long electric range capability