Two trucks. Both absurd. Both incredible. Both capable of making sports cars nervous in a straight line. The RAM 1500 TRX and the Ford F-150 Raptor R represent the absolute pinnacle of American performance truck engineering — and choosing between them is genuinely difficult.
We are going to settle this properly. Not with specs from a press release, but with a real analysis of what matters when you are spending this kind of money on a truck.
The Numbers: What Are These Trucks?
The RAM 1500 TRX uses the 6.2L supercharged HEMI V8 — the same engine family found in Dodge Hellcat vehicles. It makes 702 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. It runs 0-60 in 4.5 seconds, covers the quarter mile in the low 12-second range, and has a top speed of 118 mph. Curb weight: approximately 6,350 pounds. Ground clearance: 11.8 inches. 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory tires from the factory.
The Ford F-150 Raptor R uses a 5.2L supercharged V8 derived from the Shelby GT500 engine. It makes 700 horsepower and 640 lb-ft of torque. It runs 0-60 in 4.4 seconds, covers the quarter mile in the low 12-second range. Curb weight: approximately 5,950 pounds. Ground clearance: 13.1 inches. 37-inch BFGoodrich KO2 tires from the factory.
On paper they are nearly identical in straight-line performance. The real differences emerge everywhere else.
Off-Road Capability: Edge Raptor R
This is the most important performance category for a truck and it is where the Raptor R has a meaningful advantage. The Raptor R was purpose-built as an off-road performance truck — it has more ground clearance (13.1 vs 11.8 inches), larger tires from the factory (37 vs 35 inch), and a longer wheelbase that provides superior articulation on rough terrain. The Fox Live Valve suspension system is excellent at absorbing high-speed desert running.
The TRX is absolutely capable off-road — its suspension travel and Bilstein bypass shocks are genuine high-performance components — but the Raptor R is the better dedicated off-road performer. If you plan to run Baja-style desert racing or serious rock crawling, the Raptor R is the choice.
On-Road Performance: Edge TRX
On pavement the TRX has a meaningful advantage: it is heavier but it uses the HEMI V8 architecture that was designed for the Challenger and Charger. The power delivery is linear and predictable. The transmission — a TorqueFlite 8-speed — shifts quickly and decisively. The TRX also has a launch control system that is genuinely effective and allows consistent, repeatable quarter-mile runs.
The Raptor R is slightly lighter and quicker to 60 mph but it can feel less planted at speed on pavement. It was optimized for off-road and it shows when you push it hard on a winding road.
Sound: TRX Wins
The supercharged HEMI in the TRX sounds absolutely monstrous. At idle it rumbles with authority. At full throttle it is one of the most spectacular sounds in the truck world — that supercharger whine layered over the deep HEMI bark is genuinely addictive. It is louder, more theatrical, and more dramatic than the Raptor R.
The Raptor R sounds excellent — the GT500-derived engine has real character — but the TRX wins the sound battle convincingly.
Practicality and Towing
Both trucks are full-size pickups with real capability. The TRX can tow 8,100 pounds and haul 1,310 pounds in the bed. The Raptor R can tow 8,000 pounds. Both have crew cab configurations with usable back seats. In terms of actual truck utility, they are similar.
One practical advantage for the TRX: RAM’s interior quality has improved significantly and is generally regarded as more luxurious than the Raptor R’s cabin. The TRX-specific interior touches — including Harman Kardon audio and a 12-inch Uconnect screen — are excellent.
Price and Value
Both trucks carry significant price premiums over standard versions. MSRP for both has typically landed in the $80,000 to $100,000+ range depending on options and dealer markup. In high-demand periods, both have sold for significantly over MSRP.
The TRX has historically had stronger collector appeal given its connection to the Hellcat engine family and the fact that RAM has discontinued the TRX for the current generation. A clean, low-mileage TRX may hold its value better as supply decreases.
Which One Should You Buy?
Buy the RAM TRX if: Sound and drama matter to you. You spend more time on pavement than off-road. You want the Hellcat engine lineage in a truck. You are looking at it as a potential collector vehicle. You prefer RAM’s interior quality and Uconnect system.
Buy the Ford Raptor R if: Serious off-road performance is the priority. You want the lighter, more agile platform. You are drawn to the Ford performance ecosystem. Desert running and high-speed off-road is what you plan to do.
The honest verdict: The TRX is the better all-around performer and the more emotionally satisfying truck. The Raptor R is the better dedicated off-road machine. Both are extraordinary. If you are buying one to drive aggressively on mixed surfaces and want maximum theater — TRX. If you are building a desert prerunner and spending weekends on trails — Raptor R.
Own a TRX and having issues? Try our free AI Diagnostic Tool. See all our RAM TRX coverage for more.
About the Author
Azriel Wilkinson is a United States Air Force veteran with 7 years of aircraft maintenance experience and a Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT owner based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He founded The SRT Garage to provide honest, experience-based information for SRT enthusiasts who want real answers — not recycled specs. Learn more about The SRT Garage.
About The SRT Garage
The SRT Garage is written by a United States Air Force veteran with 7 years of aircraft maintenance experience and a Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT owner based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This site exists to provide honest, experience-based information for SRT enthusiasts who want real answers — not recycled specs. Learn more.