Extreme off-road driving has finally met its match. Ram has dumped the Hellcat engine into the half-ton Ram 1500 and added the TRX name to the mix. This souped-up, lifted-up, and revved-up truck is ready to tackle any trail you find. All you’ve got to do is point the front of this Ram truck where you want to go and hit the accelerator that will take you to your next adventure.

The 2022 Ram 1500 TRX is a half-ton truck on steroids

The fact that a Hellcat engine is under the hood already verifies the steroid factor. That isn’t where the extreme qualities of this truck stop. You’ll find a big truck that is dramatically wider, sits up taller, and has the off-road gear you need to tackle any terrain. This truck has a beefed-up suspension that allows for more than 13 inches of wheel travel, a reinforced steel frame to handle the rough trails, and a set of 18-inch wheels wrapped in 35-inch all-terrain tires.

You’ll see enough underbody plating to protect an armored truck and the clearance needed to ford up to 32 inches of water when you drive the Ram 1500 TRX. This truck takes its off-road driving seriously, which could make it the right truck for you to drive.

Challenges for this Ram truck

When a massive supercharged V8 engine is under the hood, you don’t expect the fuel mileage to reach efficient levels. Unfortunately, Car and Driver has tested one of these Ram 1500 trucks and found the mileage number is paltry at best. Their results show us a truck that averages 10 mpg, which is abysmal.

Another drawback to the TRX is its size. This truck is massive and won’t fit under a carport. On city streets, the drive is almost laughable. You’ll have difficulty navigating tight turns and staying in your lane, especially when the lane width drops to the legal minimum.

While the rocker panels of this Ram protect the truck while off-roading, when you drive through mud or in snow, these items tend to collect the stuff around you and make a mess of your entry and exit area. It’s hard enough for people who are short in stature to enter and exit this truck without the added problem of a mess at their feet.

How much power does the Ram 1500 TRX offer?

As mentioned, the engine for the TRX is the same one used in the Dodge Charger and Challenger Hellcats. This engine is a 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V8 that produces 702 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque. Because this Ram is an extreme off-roader, the power is sent to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission, unlike the RWD setup of the Charger and Challenger. If you want to show off with some speed, the Ram TRX can send you to sixty mph in only 3.7 seconds on your way to finishing a quarter-mile in 12.3 seconds at 110 mph, but that’s not what this truck is truly for.

Going off-road in the right truck

If the toughest trails are what you want to tackle, this is the Ram 1500 that can get the job done. The ground clearance comes in at 11.8 inches to give you more than enough room for every obstacle in your path. Add the wheel travel to the mix, and there aren’t many areas you can’t go.

How much does the 2022 Ram 1500 TRX cost?

The starting price for this Ram comes in at $74,000, and it can easily cost $78,000 when available options. That is a lot of cheddar for a truck. If you want an extreme truck that doesn’t reach this threshold, look at the Ford F-150 Raptor. It starts at $65,375.

Should you drive this Ram?

The MotorTrend team loved the Ram 1500 TRX. They made it the 2021 MotorTrend Truck of the Year, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right truck for you. This Ram does come with extreme power, a massive build, and all of the off-road equipment you desire. However, if you want a truck in this class with a smaller, more efficient engine that doesn’t cost quite as much, the Ford F-150 Raptor is another way to go.

Next, find out how much one of the worst full-size trucks could cost you, or watch the Ram TRX take on the Ford Raptor in the video below:

This article was updated on 9/6/2022.