There’s crazy, and then there’s the Ram TRX. You may have thought the Rebel was monster, but waiting until you hear they stuffed the 6.2L V8 from the Hellcat into a half-ton Ram. As many might agree, the Ford Raptor finally has a worthy contender.
What Dodge Ram TRX specs should you know about?
Some of the most notable include:
- Engine: 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V8
- Output: 702 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque
- Performance: 12.9 quarter mile at 108 mph and 0 to 60 in 4.5 seconds
Although its performance metrics definitely delight, there’s more to this truck than its engine. Thankfully, we are here to help you learn about its towing capacity, ground clearance, and much more.
Endless Power for the Ram TRX
Dodge may have split Ram into its own nameplate, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t still heavily involved in its development, as the engine in the TRX comes straight from the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat.
Surprisingly, it’s even branded as such, which no other subsidiary can claim. The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk?
Definitely no mention of Hellcat anywhere, even though it has the same 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V8 engine.
So, what’s so amazing about the Hellcat engine anyway? Well, for starters, it has an incredible 702 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque. That’s enough to launch this 7,800-pound truck down the quarter-mile in a blistering 12.9 seconds. And it’s 0 to 60 time? Just 4.5 seconds.
If you want to boogie up to 100 mph (on the track, of course), then it’ll only take you a mere 10.5 seconds.
The ZF 8HP95 automatic transmission has the noble task of putting all that power to the ground. You can manually row through its eight gears using the shifter on the console or by blipping the steering wheel paddles.
And when it comes time to stop, you’ll have its 15-inch front rotors and two piston calipers on your side plus discs in the back as well. Of course, it also has an anti-lock braking system aiding your mission to stop on a dime whenever you need to slow this beast down fast.
Carrying the TRX wherever it wants to go, are an impressive set of 35×12.5-inch Wrangler Territories by Goodyear. They have a speed rating that’ll carry it up to 112 mph, which is surely more than enough for all your adventures.
If you want to take all your toys along for the ride, you’ll love to hear that it can tow up to 8,100 pounds without breaking a sweat. It’s also capable of carrying around a 1,310-pound payload, which is a bit more than the Ford F-150 Raptor can claim.
Keeping its Feet on the Ground
With the Hellcat engine front and center of its build, the Ram TRX has to sit pretty on the most advanced suspension system possible — and it definitely does. The design team reworked the 1500 from the ground up to make it surefooted while traveling across all types of surfaces.
Equipped with Bilstein Black Hawk e2 shocks at every corner, the suspension can really move.
Dual valves allow for complete customization of the ride quality, while remote reservoirs allow for the most suspension travel possible. At the front, it’s capable of 13 inches of travel, while the back moves 14 inches.
Beyond that, you’ll find the absolute best axle articulation ever known on a street-driven, half-ton pickup. There’s no doubt about it, its suspension can flex, boasting specs such as:
- Ramp-Travel Index: 605
- Approach: 30.2 degrees
- Departure: 23.5 degrees
- Breakover: 21.9 degrees
Overall, the suspension travel on the TRX is up 40% in comparison to the basic Ram 1500, making it the perfect off-road machine. The 11.8 inches of ground clearance helps, too, as you set out to crawl over all the obstacles in your path.
If you want to stay on paved roads, no worries. Just switch back through the eight distinctive drive modes to tighten up the suspension and change the torque split, stability control, and shift times to your ideal range.
A Look at Ram TRX Pros and Cons
If you’re not already putting away your pennies for the Ram TRX when it releases in 2021, take a peek at the pros and cons for help weighing this decision.
Pros:
- Tons of horsepower and torque
- Capable automatic you can easily shift
- Impressive suspension articulation
- Huge disc brakes at all four corners
- Eight distinct driving modes
Cons:
- $71,690 price is $13,000 more than the Raptor
- Only comes in one body and bed configuration
- Advanced safety features are an extra upgrade
- Time at the track will eat up your discretionary funds
- Off-road adventures will dominate your thoughts
In the end, it’s clear that the Ram TRX easily outperforms the competition in nearly every way. Now, we just have to wait to see how Ford, Chevy, and the rest rise up to the challenge.
Photos: Stellantis
