Ford F-150 Raptor R vs Ram 1500 TRX: Supercharged Off-Road Pickup Trucks Compared
The Ram 1500 TRX's reign as the mightiest off-road pickup truck has been a short one thanks to the introduction of the new Ford F-150 Raptor R. Set to go on sale this fall, the Raptor R pushes past the existing Raptor to offer supercharged V8 power that's almost identical to that of the TRX, while throwing in some extra goodies of its own.
Here's our comparison of how the Ram TRX and the Ford Raptor R stack up head-to-head.
Power
The big story with both the Ford F-150 Raptor R and the Ram 1500 TRX is of course their over-the-top power production.
The Ram 1500 TRX was the first to the big power party with its version of the venerable Hellcat V8, a supercharged 6.2L motor good for 702 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque, a slight decrease from the Challenger / Charger application due in part to the extra filtering required to keep desert dust out of the intake.
Even despite the Ram's astonishing 6,866 pounds of curb weight, the enormous pickup can hit 60 mph from a standing start in just 3.7 seconds (although terminal velocity is restricted to 118 mph due to tire and aerodynamic concerns).
The Ford F-150 Raptor R ditches the standard Raptor's twin-turbo V6 in favor of a supercharged V8 engine of its own. Featuring 5.2L of displacement (and borrowed from the Blue Oval's own hyper-muscle car, the Shelby GT500 edition of the Mustang), the motor offers up 700 hp and 640 lb-ft of torque, numbers that are virtually identical to those of the TRX. The Ford's automatic transmission features 10 forward speeds (two more than those of the Ram), and while actual acceleration numbers have yet to be released, it's certain to be neck-and-neck with its equally buff rival, especially given that it's projected to weigh in a few hundred pounds lighter.
Off-Road Chops
Riding on a set of 35-inch all-terrain tires, the Ram 1500 TRX demonstrates a commendable 11.8 inches of ground clearance, along with 13 inches of suspension travel. Coil springs are found at all four corners, and the truck relies on Bilstein remote reservoir shocks, which feature a 2.5 inch diameter and are electronically adjustable to provide varying levels of performance based on the terrain that's about to be demolished. The Ram also comes with a full-time four-wheel drive system that's a substantial upgrade over anything else found in the pickup's portfolio.
The Ford F-150 Raptor R steps up to 37-inch tires, which play an important role in pushing its ground clearance past that of the TRX (13.1 inches in total). It also boasts better travel at the rear, (14 inches), which matching the Ford up front (13 inches). Coil springs are along for the ride, as are a set of Fox shocks which like those of the Ram feature adjustable damping. The latter is the biggest difference between the regular Raptor and the Raptor R's suspension setup (as the 37-inch tires are available on the less powerful truck as an option).
The extra ride height gives the Ford an advantage in approach and departure angles, as well as a better breakover angle as compared to the Ram. Full-time four-wheel drive is also included.
Styling and Design
The Ram 1500 TRX looks as ferocious as the thunder lizard its name is intended to evoke. From its bulging hood, to its extroverted bumpers, to its additional body cladding on the fenders, to its enormous tires and 18-inch wheels, everything about the Ram is over-the-top formidable. Its enormous dimensions certainly play into that persona as well: at almost 20 feet long and more than 7 feet wide, it's a true bear to navigate through all but the most wide open of spaces.
Inside, however, the Ram is well-appointed, featuring the latest from the automaker's infotainment division (including a giant center-mounted touchscreen) as well as a reasonably well-appointed cabin in keeping with the 1500's available luxuries.
Ford has taken a somewhat more relaxed approach to visually identifying the Raptor R. In fact, in most ways it's similar to the already-extroverted F-150 Raptor, with the biggest differences being a bigger blister on the hood and numerous badges and decals shouting out its R status.
Inside it's status quo F-150, with the addition of Recaro seats and a respectably upscale presentation.
Price
The Ram 1500 TRX starts at an MRSP of $78,890. Pile on the equipment (including a host of premium interior features, extra safety gear, and practical stuff like tie-downs and a bedliner), and you can easily push the price of the TRX to the six figure level. There are also two special editions of the truck available for 2022 - Sandblast and Ignition - that further personalize its look and feel.
The Ford F-150 Raptor R, on the other hand, starts at just under $110,000. For those keeping score, that's a whopping $30,000 more than the initial TRX price, and nearly the same increase over the regular Raptor.
