The Ram 2500HD Warlock Diesel is an off-road package with standard four-wheel drive. It adds a one-inch suspension lift, a tough-looking set of Goodyear all-terrains, performance-tuned shock absorbers, and a bash plate to protect the transfer case. (Jesus Garcia/For the Chronicle)
I am not an economist or an accountant, but I can read, and according to Section 179 of the U.S. Tax Code, businesses can write off the full purchase price of qualifying vehicles. What kind of vehicles qualify? Mainly those with a gross weight that exceeds 6,000 pounds, and that isn't curb weight.
In the vigilante eyes of the IRS, they look at a vehicle's GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight), which represents the maximum amount of weight a vehicle can operate safely. For example, the 2026 Ram 2500HD Warlock has a rated GVW of 11,040 pounds, so it would qualify for a Section 179 deduction. That's a good thing, because the Ram 2500 Heavy Duty, with its monstrously powerful Cummins turbo diesel engine, is not cheap. Power costs money, and can be very entertaining, as I quickly discovered driving this big ox for a week.
Modern pickup trucks come in so many flavors and toppings they could rival any ice cream parlor. Ram offers nine trim levels for the 2500 variant, excluding the 1500, 3500, RHO, and TRX. The model I road tested is the mid-tier 2500HD Warlock, built on the blue-collar favorite Tradesman trim level.
What the Warlock package adds
The Warlock is an off-road package with standard four-wheel drive. It adds a one-inch suspension lift, a tough-looking set of Goodyear all-terrains, performance-tuned shock absorbers, and a bash plate to protect the transfer case.
The Ram 2500HD Warlock Diesel is an off-road package with standard four-wheel drive. It adds a one-inch suspension lift, a tough-looking set of Goodyear all-terrains, performance-tuned shock absorbers, and a bash plate to protect the transfer case. (Jesus Garcia/For the Chronicle)
The name Warlock, at first glance, sounds like a mash-up of masculine vowels, inspiring a Chuck Norris-level of machismo. However, the word "warlock" is defined as a man who practices witchcraft, a wizard. So, if you want to get technical about it, this rolling slab of torque wears a name that is more Gandalf than Rambo. But its name does not distract from its size and towering presence. It's a prize-winning bull on wheels, broad and intimidating but with a gentle side.
Styling that favors function
My grief with modern trucks, apart from their obviously large size, is that they don't look good. Not if you compare them to their generational ancestors. The 2500HD Warlock's massive front grille is a complicated mess of lines that get lost in a void of black paint and comes off looking like the front of a Mack truck. But most people don't buy these trucks for their looks.
Getting into the cab can feel like climbing the ladder of a lifeguard tower. But once you're nestled in the driver's seat, you discover how easy it is to drive thanks to giant side mirrors, cameras, safety features like pedestrian emergency braking as standard, and a spacious interior cabin that can fit a family or a work crew. Because the Warlock is middle of the range and based on the entry-level Tradesman, the interior features cloth upholstery. I found it refreshing to see a well-equipped truck with a humble interior, like a truck built during the good ol' days.
Cabin built for jobsite life
Thick rubber floor mats soaking up anything a steel-toe boot might drag in, large storage compartments, adaptive cruise control, and a center console wide enough to double as a lunch tray for eating on the job were some of the standout features I admired, in addition to the column shifter that I vastly prefer over the rotary dial gear selector in other models like the Ram 1500.
The Ram 2500HD Warlock Diesel is an off-road package with standard four-wheel drive. It adds a one-inch suspension lift, a tough-looking set of Goodyear all-terrains, performance-tuned shock absorbers, and a bash plate to protect the transfer case. (Jesus Garcia/For the Chronicle)
Attached to the column shifter is the eight-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission bolted to the optional 6.7L Cummins turbocharged inline-six diesel ($12,995). The standard engine is a 6.4L Hemi V-8 putting down 405 horsepower and enough brawn to deliver a max payload of 3,940 pounds and a towing capacity of 17,750 pounds. The turbo diesel engine will add $13,000 to the MSRP. For your money, you get 430 horsepower and 1,075 pound-feet of torque, which is enough muscle to pull the Earth out of orbit. The diesel-powered truck's max payload is 4,000 pounds with a class-leading towing capacity of 20,000 pounds.
Torque comes easy
The Cummins diesel has power, but doesn't vocalize it as much as you'd expect. Unlike the older model diesels that chugged and blared like locomotives, this one is much more civilized. As the saying goes, it's the quiet ones you have to watch out for, because not only is the 2500HD diesel strong, it's quick too. It doesn't take a heavy boot to push the needle on the speedometer into triple digits. Moreover, because of its stealthy exhaust note, it is easy to get carried away and not realize how fast you're going. It moves like a heavyweight boxer wearing ballet slippers.
Fuel economy is decent with a range of 14 to 19 mpg. I managed to travel 330 miles, averaging 18 mpg, and by then its 31-gallon fuel tank was half empty.
The Ram 2500HD Warlock Diesel is an off-road package with standard four-wheel drive. It adds a one-inch suspension lift, a tough-looking set of Goodyear all-terrains, performance-tuned shock absorbers, and a bash plate to protect the transfer case. (Jesus Garcia/For the Chronicle)
Pricing is wide-spectrum depending on options and engines. The starting price for the 2500HD Tradesman is a few bucks under $46,000 (gasoline). The 2500HD Warlock starts at $55,500 (gasoline) before options. As odd as it may sound, in today's climate, $75,000 for a company work truck with a powerful diesel engine, quiet enough to take the kids to school and qualify as a tax write-off, seems like a good deal.
But don't quote me. I am not a money guy. I'm just a car guy.
The Ram 2500HD Warlock Diesel is an off-road package with standard four-wheel drive. It adds a one-inch suspension lift, a tough-looking set of Goodyear all-terrains, performance-tuned shock absorbers, and a bash plate to protect the transfer case. (Jesus Garcia/For the Chronicle)
More Information
Engine: 6.7 Inline-six Cummins turbocharged diesel
Transmission: TorqueFlite 8-speed automatic
0 to 60: 7.0 seconds
Starting Price: $55,540 (2500 Warlock)
Price as Shown: $75,340 (2500 Warlock)