The Ford Raptor has been the king of off-road trucks for around a decade. Does the new 2021 Ram TRX take over as the leader from now on? We run real-world 0-60 MPH times on both trucks, run them on pavement and off-road, and do an obligatory rev battle. It’s a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 versus a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6. The Ram TRX is significantly heavier than the Raptor. Let’s dog deeper!
2021 Ram TRX vs 2020 Ford Raptor
In order to be the king of half-ton off-roaders, a truck must have lots of power. Take a look at the direct comparison below. The TRX blows away the Raptor on raw power, but the Ram also weighs about 653 lbs more than the Ford. The Ram has a smaller available fuel tank and much worse fuel efficiency ratings.
| Ram TRX | Ford Raptor | |
| Engine | 6.2L SC V8 | 3.5L TT V6 |
| Power | 702 hp @ 6,100 | 450 hp @ 5,000 |
| Torque | 650 lb-ft @ 4,800 | 510 lb-ft @ 3,500 |
| Transmission | 8-speed auto | 10-speed auto |
| Curb weight (base) | 6,350 lbs | 5,697 lbs |
| MPG (EPA) | 10/14/12 | 15/18/16 |
| Fuel Tank | 33-gal | 36-gal |
| Payload | 1,310 lbs | 1,200 lbs |
| Towing | 8,100 lbs | 8,000 lbs |
| Top Speed | 118 MPH | 106 MPH |
The TRX has a higher top speed. The tires are a limiting factor when it comes to the top speed rating. Naturally, these trucks have the powertrains to go much faster, but the large off-road tires
How about the off-road specs? The comparison cannot be much closer than it is. The Ram TRX either matches or closely edges out the Raptor in most categories. The Raptor has a better overall crawl ratio of 50:1 for slower rock-crawling capability. However, these trucks do not like going slowly!
| Ram TRX | Ford Raptor | |
| Tires | 35-inch GoodYear Territory AT/MT | 35-inch BFGoodrich KO2 |
| Ground Clearance | 11.8 in | 11.5 in |
| Shocks | Bilstein (Active) | FOX (Active) |
| Travel (F/R) | 13-inch / 14-inch | 13-inch / 13.9-inch |
| Approach | 30.2 deg | 30.2 deg |
| Departure | 23.5 deg | 23 deg |
| Breakover | 21.9 deg | 21.8 deg |
| Rear Diff Ratio | 3.55 | 4.10 |
| Crawl Ratio | 44:1 | 50:1 |
| Rear Locker | Yes | Yes |
| Front Locker | Brake Distribution | Torsen LSD |
Roman and Tommy put the new Ford Raptor and a Ram TRX to an acceleration test near Reno, Nevada (about 4,300 feet above sea level). The 2020 Ford Raptor clocks in the fastest 0-60 MPH time of 7.02 seconds. The new 2021 Ram TRX runs the same stretch at the same location in 5.17 seconds. That is a huge difference.
That’s great, but what about the staring prices?
| Ram TRX | Ford Raptor | |
| Starting price (Crew) | $71,690 | $58,135 |
Yep, the TRX starting price is $13,555 (U.S.) higher than that of a Ford Raptor crew cab. Is it clear as mud yet? The TRX has the power, suspension, and the technology to rival and beat the Raptor. It is much quicker at 0-60 MPH, and the that V8 sounds glorious. It all comes at a higher price. Let us know what you think in the comments below.
The complete Ram TRX versus Ford Raptor side-by-side video comparison and 0-60 MPH is coming at about 6am EST Oct 23, 2020 on the TFLtruck Youtube channel.
