Skip to main content
Ram 1500 TRX Launch Edition

Does the Ram 1500 TRX Have a Manual Transmission?

The new Ram 1500 TRX pickup truck is an all-new designated off-road prowler brought to us with 702 horsepower. It’s not fast, but it’s set to be one of the most capable off-pavement vehicles on today’s market. With the recent Ford Bronco release of an off-road SUV that sports a seven-speed manual transmission, it’s no …

The new Ram 1500 TRX pickup truck is an all-new designated off-road prowler brought to us with 702 horsepower. It’s not fast, but it’s set to be one of the most capable off-pavement vehicles on today’s market. With the recent Ford Bronco release of an off-road SUV that sports a seven-speed manual transmission, it’s no surprise that everyone is wondering what’s up with this new pickup truck‘s transmission? Can we get our new Ram 1500 TRX with a stick shift or manual transmission?

What engine does the Ram 1500 TRX have?

First of all, before we even go into the transmission, let’s take a look at what the transmission––manual or otherwise––will pair with. According to Ram Trucks, the new Ram 1500 TRX pickup truck gets some serious power under its hood. A 6.2 liter Hemi V8 engine. But this thing isn’t meant to go fast. It doesn’t care that it boasts an impressive and lightning-fast 0-60. However, that’s not what it’s here for. The Ram 1500 TRX is here to prove that you can do donuts in the mud, race through the desert, and bomb down a wooded trail all in one big truck.

The Hemi V8 engine generates 702 horsepower and creates 650 pound-feet of torque for maximum off-road adventure. The Ram 1500 TRX pickup truck is marketed as the stuff of dreams in terms of power and all-terrain capability. And, though it caps out at 118 mph, the TRX goes 0-60 in just 4.5 seconds.

Ram 1500 TRX parked on gravel hill
Ram 1500 TRX | Ram

Does it have a manual transmission?

Paired with this power, we won’t see a manual transmission. The old school and the auto purists will, no doubt, find this disheartening. Unlike the 2021 Ford Bronco SUV, the Ram TRX truck is devoid of stick shift simplicity.

Yet, the pickup truck has 9 driver modes which help its systems adapt to various levels of terrain. So, while it may not provide the driver connection facilitated by manual shifting, the Ram 1500 TRX 1500 drive system does allow for some sophisticated adaptability. And it really comes in handy where it counts off-road, but on the pavement as well.

“From an exclusive switch bank, TRX adapts at your command with nine performance-tuned drive modes for on- and off-road excursions.”

Ram Trucks
Ram Rebel TRX Concept pickup parked in sand
Ram Rebel TRX Concept pickup | FCA

Did the Dodge SRT-10 have a manual transmission?

According to Car and Driver, the 2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10 was one of the founding fathers of performance pickup trucks. This extreme truck “stuffed the Viper’s 500-hp V-10 and six-speed manual transmission into a short-bed, rear-wheel-drive pickup.” So, unlike the all-new Ram 1500 TRX with its eight-speed automatic transmission, the Dodge SRT-10 was equipped with a classic six-speed stick shift.

A black Dodge Ram SRT-10 in a garage.
Dodge Ram SRT-10 | Ted Soqui/Corbis via Getty Images

Does it have a rock crawl setting?

Oh, yes it does. Not only does the Ram TRX boast 11.8 inches of ground clearance, but also 13 inches of front suspension travel and 14 inches of rear suspension travel––according to Ram Trucks. And to go along with this off-road friendly design, Ram gives the TRX ‘Rock Mode.’

“With boulders in your sights, TRX shifts to an extra low gear ratio and uses a 50/50 torque split. Plus, a Selec-Speed® Control holds a set velocity for a controlled decent.”

Ram Trucks
Related

The Most Stunning Camper Van You’ve Ever Seen