2027 Ram 1500 TRX SRT Initial Drive Review: Ancient Strength in a Contemporary Off-Road Beast

      Byron Hurd

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      Revamped Beast. The 2027 Ram 1500 TRX SRT features a 777-horsepower Hellcat V8, outdoing the Ford Raptor R.

      Off-Road Supremacy. With adaptive Bilstein shocks and 35-inch tires, this vehicle is designed for rugged landscapes and high-speed off-road pursuits.

      Luxury Meets Capability. Even with its immense power, the TRX ensures a plush ride, merging luxury with off-road prowess and everyday practicality.

      Crafted for Excitement. The TRX is designed to elicit excitement, distinguishing itself in an era favoring smaller engines and electric powertrains.

      Bottom line: The 2027 Ram 1500 TRX SRT fuses raw strength with luxury, transforming the off-road pickup experience.

      AI assisted, editor reviewed

      Ram didn’t originate the concept of the speedy off-road pickup. When it was phased out in 2024, the TRX wasn’t even the most potent V8 truck available, with that title belonging to Ford, which arguably spearheaded the trend. The 2027 Ram 1500 TRX SRT aims to rectify that oversight and a few more.

      Indeed, the TRX now officially holds the SRT title—though it has always embodied that spirit. The rejuvenated off-roader takes advantage of updates implemented across the Ram 1500 range during its mid-cycle refresh, alongside an upgraded variant of the 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V8. Ram boosted fuel pressure and enhanced airflow, raising output from 702 to 777 horsepower. This number was further elevated by retrofitting the engine with the old Hellcat Redeye valvetrain, enabling it to rev up to 6,500 rpm.

      Byron Hurd

      With this adjustment, the TRX now surpasses the Raptor R in power and torque, delivering 680 lb-ft. It offers a fully-equipped Ram 1500 with a BorgWarner 48-13 transfer case for full-time four-wheel drive. At the rear, it features a Dana 60 with full-float shafts and an electronic locking differential, avoiding any limited-slip issues.

      The TRX rolls on 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler tires at each corner, accompanied by a set of adaptive Bilstein Black Hawk e2 shocks sourced from the Hurricane-powered Ram RHO. With specifications like these, the TRX is the ultimate rebellious machine best deployed in remote areas, far from prying eyes and sensitive ears.

      This brings me to Buchanan, Michigan, a quaint slice of civilization tucked away in the lush greenery of the state’s southwest region. Once a thriving factory town, formerly home to a Clark Equipment plant, Buchanan's industry (and population) has seen a gradual decline since its apex in the early 1980s. It features a charming array of well-preserved, middle-class homes from the early 20th century, surrounded by agricultural lands and largely vacant brownfields.

      Byron Hurd

      Just north of the town along the St. Joseph River lies a piece of property known as RedBud MX. If you follow motocross, you're likely familiar with this venue. It’s the site of LaRocco’s Leap—a three-jump challenge named after Mike “The Rock” LaRocco’s video-game-style maneuver performed on a 125cc dirt bike.

      Fortunately for us and “downtown” Buchanan, we spent most of our day at RedBud, navigating a hillside course specifically designed for the TRX. While we didn’t actually drive the TRX on the motocross track, our setup was much larger and devoid of problematic obstacles like walls and grandstands. It also didn’t feature the notorious two-foot-deep layer of loose soil that RedBud is known for.

      Our course was straightforward: it included six or seven turns, depending on how one counts them, mixed with substantial straightaways and a few jumps. Yes, that’s my fancy way of referring to “jumps.”

      Byron Hurd

      Two of the jumps were more akin to small bumps. One consisted of some whoop-de-doos that required straightforward steering rather than throttle control. The other was a tiny rise at the start of the back straightaway, which became almost unnoticeable with even slight acceleration.

      That lead us to the last two, one of which featured whoops sizable enough to cause real damage. The course designer indicated that the final layout was achieved after considerable trial and error, which likely resulted in several test trucks getting bumper replacements while finalizing the grades and target speeds. This was probably the section that caused the most troubles.

      The optimal speed for this part was discovered to be 45 mph. If you went below, you risked slamming the front axle (or worse) onto the second hill; go too