Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Ram’s 700-HP 1500 TRX Super Truck Will Make You Forget All About the Ford Raptor

Extreme off-roading, a.k.a. “overlanding,” has exploded in the last decade. Now, thanks to the latest coronavirus, even more people are looking to venture deep into the great outdoors. But, getting deep into the backcountry requires a worthy rig. For 2022, Ram wants you to know its all-new TRX is that rig. In fact, for hardcore pickup enthusiasts with deep pockets, it might be the only option.

Ram has long been synonymous with heavy-duty hauling, ice-cold Rocky Mountain beers, and Carhartt jackets. It’s the sort of brand Jason Momoa might endorse. The new 2022 Ram 1500 TRX (that’s “T-REX” as in “harder, better, faster, stronger than that other pesky dino-inspired pickup”) epitomizes that rugged, bulletproof image. It’s billed as “the most powerful production street-legal half-ton pickup ever produced.” The official website is full of words like “menacing,” “muscular,” and “imposing.” To put a finer point on it, Ram claims the TRX is “inspired by the competition’s nightmares.” Your move, Ford.

On paper, it’s clear the TRX has the chops to talk that much smack. Under the hood lies a 6.2L Hemi V8 with a twin-screw supercharger for near-instantaneous torque. The powerplant is capable of a maximum 14,600 rpm and boost pressure up to 11.0 psi. The cast-iron engine block features a forged-steel crankshaft and induction-hardened bearings strong enough to withstand a staggering 20,000 pounds of force. When the going gets dirty, the high-performance airbox also filters up to four times as much dust and debris as the Ford Raptor. All this automotive wizardry translates to best-in-class numbers of 702 horsepower and 650 ft-lbs of torque for an eye-popping 0-60 time of just 4.5 seconds.

Recommended Videos

The 2022 Ram TRX is designed to thrive off-road as well. The premium pickup touts exclusive Bilstein Black Hawk E2 shocks — an all-new system that Ram claims is the most sophisticated ever offered on a production pickup. They provide nearly a foot of ground clearance with 13 inches of front suspension travel and 14 inches at the rear. The TRX also features 18-inch, matte black aluminum wheels wrapped in 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory All Terrain tires with beadlock-capable sidewalls. Dedicated dynamic drive modes, including Snow, Sport, Rock, and Mud/Sand, allow the truck to adapt instantly to changing terrain with the turn of a dial. Bottom line: If you can’t drive through it, simply drive over it.

Inside, Ram wants to ensure buyers are getting their money’s worth. The cabin is awash in premium hardware and the latest tech borrowed straight from the luxury car market. That includes a 19-speaker, 900-watt Harman Kardon Premium Audio system, a heads-up display,  a six-button auxiliary switch bank, and a flat-bottom steering wheel with aluminum paddle shifters. If you’re a fancy man, leather-trimmed seating is even an option.

The desire to get far, far off-pavement isn’t a new concept, but the sky-high demand for it certainly is. Ford rewrote the playbook in 2009 with the debut of the Raptor. With its release, the company proved some people are more than happy to shell out $60K for a well-optioned, off-road-worthy pickup. Other American truck makers have since responded with affordable alternatives like the Jeep Gladiator and the Chevy Colorado ZR-2. Now, Ram wants a piece of the action, too.

Ram is banking on well-heeled truck lovers willing to pay even more. The sticker price for an entry-level 2022 Ram 1500 TRX tops $70,000. That’s already $10,000 more than a Ford Raptor before you even start ticking the option boxes. The kitted-out, flagship Launch Edition runs north of $90,000. But, with only 702 such models available, at least you’ll have bragging rights.

If even a premium stock truck isn’t sexy enough for you and money is no object, check out the world’s most extreme overland vehicles.

Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Summer heat killers: EVs with the least range loss
Recurrent tracked the effect of summer heat on more than 29,700 electric vehicles.
Ford Mustang Mach-E

Suppose you are considering an EV purchase or lease this summer and are concerned about battery range during heat waves. In that case, the results of a new study published by EV analytics firm Recurrent Auto can provide valuable guidance. Recurrent calls out the winners and losers in EV range hot temperature-sensitivity.

It's safe to say that EV battery range is affected by extremes in temperature, both hot and cold. As is the case with most general statements, that one, too, is subject to multiple "buts" and "howevers." Most studies of the effects of extreme cold on EV battery range or how hot temperatures can hamper your travel plans report on average EV travel range differences collected across a wide variety of EV brands and models. Some compile results from thousands of EVs of the same brand.

Read more
Indigenous designer Jeremy Arviso creates limited-edition Indian Motorcycle streetwear line
Arivso blends Indian Motorcycle DNA and indigenous visual elements
The Jeremy Arviso limited indigenous streetwear collection for Indian Motorcycle.

Indian Motorcycle announced a collaboration with well-known indigenous streetwear designer Jeremy Arviso. This limited-edition collection brings together Arviso’s bold style and the adventurous spirit of Indian Motorcycle. The nine-piece lineup celebrates a deep connection to land, community, and tradition.
Why Arviso created the collection

"Creating such a meaningful, modern expression of Native American style with a legendary brand like Indian Motorcycle, is both an honor and a  privilege,” Arviso said. “For this collection, I drew inspiration from the brand DNA of Indian Motorcycle, while carefully integrating vibrant color and  indigenous visual elements that symbolize movement and direction throughout the collection. Adorned with arrow motifs, each piece embodies a deep connection to land, community, and heritage.”

Read more
Adidas and Mercedes-AMG F1 launch Silver Arrows fanwear collection before British Grand Prix
The Silver Arrow collection is on sale worldwide at select Adidas retailers and the Adidas website.
F1 drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli wearing Mercedes fan wear with a Mercedes-Benz W196 racecar.

Working with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team, Adidas launched the Silver Arrow pack, a collection of fanwear inspired by the Mercedes-Benz W196 race car. Current Mercedes F1 drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli posed with items from the Silver Arrow collection along with professional models.
Why celebrate the W196?

The W196 wasn't the first Silver Arrow. The first Mercedes to be called a Silver Arrow was the Mercedes W25, which debuted in 1934. However, driver Juan Fangio won the 1954 and 1955 F1 World Championships with the W196, which was among the several models referred to by the group name. The Adidas Silver Arrow collection celebrates the 70th anniversary of the W196's first F1 Championship season.

Read more