The void left by the Ford SVT Raptor departure has been quite, well, empty and desperate. The insane, prerunner-from-the-factory quality and substance to the truck went against conventional wisdom when it arrived. It was loud, fast, and expensive in a time when a slogging economy and high gas prices were the day-to-day norm–and still, it managed to succeed.

Images: FCA US Media

While the second generation of this fierce full-size is still a ways off (slated for a 2016 release as a 2017 model year), challengers have entered the ring to try to and steal some thunder while the getting’s good. One of those challengers is the 2015 Ram 1500 Rebel, sporting a factory lift, 33-inch tires, Bilstein shocks, skid plates, tow hooks, and more extreme off-road mods.

Ram is gearing up to have the truck make a big entrance at the rapidly approaching Overland Expo West, which takes place today, May 15th, through Sunday, May 17th, in Mormon Lake, Arizona. The annual event celebrates an off-road subculture that touts adventure, camping, and other journeys that tend to last more than a day. Nonetheless, it’s accepting of entrants like the Rebel, if for no other reason than to watch it during the demonstrations, which occupy a significant portion of the expo.

“The Ram Rebel fulfills customer demand for an aggressively styled, factory-built off-road-style package,” said Bob Hegbloom, President and CEO of Ram Truck Brand, FCA US. “Overland Expo has grown to be a must-attend event for adventurers who rely on their vehicles to get them off the beaten path. It’s a great fit for Ram Trucks.”

The half-ton will be featured most prominently in a special press conference at 11 a.m. on Saturday, followed shortly afterwards with a customer clinic at 1 p.m. Do you think the Rebel will be able to impress the crowd? Or will it be regarded as just another Detroit novelty? Let us know what you think in the comments below.