Compared: 2023 Ram 1500 TRX vs. 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R
These two super trucks are both a blast off-road, but features and pricing make a difference.
Ram | Ford
QuickTakes:
We love our trucks here in the U.S. They give us the freedom to tow our toys, haul our junk, and move our families with minimal fuss. To that list we can also add: haul some serious butt across the dirt.
The truck world has been all atwitter over two current beasts with so much power and capability they get their own category: super trucks. The 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R and the 2023 Ram 1500 TRX both have gobs of power and outrageous off-road chops, but they differ in a few key ways.
Ram
Ram 1500 TRX Offers Just a Little More Power Than Ford F-150 Raptor R
Both trucks fit squarely into the full-size pickup category, though nothing else in the segment offers such wild amounts of power.
Ford
The Ford F-150 Raptor R has a stonking 5.2-liter supercharged V8 engine under the hood, kicking out 700 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque. The Ram 1500 TRX needs one more liter of supercharged displacement to reach similar numbers: 702 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque.
Ford
Ford Raptor R and Ram TRX Duel It Out When It Comes to Off-Road Features
Putting all that power to the ground in the Raptor is a two-speed transfer case with options for two- or four-wheel drive in high and low as well as a four-wheel drive automatic option. Unlike four-wheel-drive high, which sends the same amount of torque to both the front and rear wheels, four-wheel-drive auto sends power to the front wheels only when slip is detected.
The Raptor R also gets a locking rear differential standard. If you're someone who likes a wild ride in the dirt, drifting around corners, and the like, the Raptor R in two-wheel drive delivers. Remember, leaving in the truck two-wheel drive ups your chances of getting stuck, so choose wisely. You won't have to make this decision in the TRX, which is available only with full-time four-wheel drive. Like the Raptor R, the TRX comes standard with a locking rear differential.
Three key considerations for off-roading are ground clearance, wheel size, and travel, and here the Raptor has the edge. At 13.1 inches off the ground, it has over an inch more ground clearance than the TRX. It also runs 37-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO2 tires, compared with the 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory shoes on the TRX. The two trucks have similar amounts of wheel travel. The TRX has 13 inches of travel all the way around. The Raptor R gets 13 inches in the front, 14 in the rear.
When it comes to suspension, the Raptor R sports electronically controlled Fox Live Valve shocks that keep the truck from bucking and rocking while speeding down the trail. Ram went with slightly smaller Bilstein shocks that feature three compression zones.
Ram
Both do a great job of providing stability at higher speeds, but the TRX has Jump Detection that primes the suspension for a soft landing. The Foxes aren't bad upon landing, but be prepared for a bit of head toss. The Bilsteins, on the other hand, provide a smooth transition from air back to terra firma, soaking up the landing shock before it can make its way into the cabin — or to your neck.
The Raptor R has some trail-tailored technology the TRX lacks, including Trail Turn Assist for tight corners, which brakes an inside wheel to carve a smaller turning radius. Trail Control, meanwhile, keeps the Raptor R at a slow and steady speed in technical situations so the driver need only worry about steering, and Trail 1-Pedal Drive applies the brakes when the driver lifts off the throttle. This provides a smooth braking experience that's helpful in slow-speed rock crawling.
Ram | Ford
The Ram 1500 TRX Costs $22,000 Less Than the Raptor R
The biggest difference between these two trucks may be the price. For 2023 the Raptor R package adds a whopping $31,000 to the standard Raptor's price, bringing the total to $109,000, including destination. There are few options to add to the Raptor R, but you can snag a moonroof for an extra $2,195 or a retractable tonneau cover for $2,200.
Ram
Meanwhile, the Ram TRX starts at $87,000, but if you want to kit it out with some of the tech options that come standard on the Raptor R, such as adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring, you'll pay closer to $99,000. And if you want one, you'd better act fast. The TRX will end production with the 2024 model year.
All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication) and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.
