4 Great Ram 1500 TRX Alternatives
Ram engineered its 1500 TRX to be the king of off-road trucks. This desert-racing inspired supertruck is powered by a supercharged Hellcat V8. But the flagship of the Ram lineup starts at over $74,000. And while it is loud and fast, it might not even be the most capable off-roader the company makes. Here are four great Ram 1500 TRX alternatives worth considering.
4. The Ram 2500 Power Wagon
While the Ram 1500 TRX is a brash, youthful, high-speed desert racer, it might not be the most capable off-roader in Ram’s lineup. The more mature Ram 2500 Power Wagon boasts a segment-leading 14.2-inches of ground clearance, front and rear locking differentials, part-time hi/lo 4WD, and a winch. While the TRX wins in overall horsepower, it can’t match any of these other stats. And the Power Wagon’s 410 horsepower 6.4-liter HEMI V8 is no slouch.
Dodge first rolled out the Power Wagon name for the world’s first factory 4×4 truck, which brought WWII technology to the public in 1945. If you drive a 1500 TRX, you are communicating that you need to be able to get most places quickly. But the 2500 Power Wagon is about being able to go anywhere, even if you get there a bit slower.
3. The Ram 1500 Rebel
The Ram Rebel is a trim level of the half-ton 1500 pickup truck–just like the TRX. The Ram rebel features an electronic locking rear differential, 33-inch tires, and TRX-like tow hooks. You can order it with a Ram bar and graphics very similar to the TRX. If you upgrade your Rebel with the Ram 1500 G/T package you enjoy a cold air intake, center console shifter (also straight out of the TRX), and Ram Performance Pages software. But you can get into a Rebel for just $47,850.
The original TRX prototype was actually named the Ram Rebel TRX. But the company later split the two badges. While most people order the Ram Rebel with the 5.7-liter HEMI V8, you can order a Rebel (but not a G/T) with Ram’s EcoDiesel V6. A TRX-look off-roading 4×4 with a diesel rumble might be cool enough to impress even a TRX driver.
2. The Ford F-150 Raptor R
Ram chose the TRX name because T-Rexs supposedly hunted Raptors. The automaker couldn’t have been more blunt about throwing the gauntlet. And Ford rose to the challenge. The all-new Ford F-150 Raptor R meets the TRX performance benchmarks–and exceeds them. Its supercharged V8 is based on the powerplant from the Mustang GT500. It also rides on 37-inch tries, which dwarf the TRX’s 35-inch units while benefiting from a surprisingly smooth factory-tuned ride.
But Ford’s flagship F-150 is certainly not your cheapest off-road-ready option. The Raptor R starting price is over $100k, meaning it costs nearly $30k more than the Ram 1500 TRX.
1. The Toyota Tundra TRD Pro
Toyota finally released the third generation of its Tundra for 2022. Along with the all-new truck, off-roaders got an all-new Toyota Tundra TRD Pro. To be honest, this upper-trim Toyota lags behind the Raptor R and TRX in several key metrics: suspension travel, tire size, and horsepower. But it has one unique feature: the Tunder TRD Pro is a hybrid. Instead of a supercharged V8, its premium engine is the i-FORCE MAX: a twin-turbocharged V6 and electric motor combination. The result makes more torque than the base Raptor, but loses out to both the Raptor R and TRX.
It seems every manufacturer makes a desert-race-ready trophy truck. So if you are considering something like the Ram 1500 TRX, you have many great options. Learn about the rise of the Supertruck class or see the TRX battle for off-road supremacy in the video below:
