LONG-TERM TEST BY SEAN P. HOLMAN EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM PHOTOS: SEAN P. HOLMAN
2021 RAM 1500 TRX Third report: Putting the shine on dirt driving
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or the past nine months, “Take the TRX” has been a common refrain around the Four Wheeler office. Whether it’s a road trip or a wheeling trip, the TRX can do it all. This quarter, we focused on hitting the trails more and diving into the things we love and the things we’d improve on one of our favorite vehicles. While the TRX is a more-than-capable trail machine, there is a certain type of terrain where the TRX comes into its own. We found this magical TRX sweet spot when we were exploring some higher speeds on an undulating desert road with long, broad, low-frequency whoops. Spending our time between around 55 to 70 mph on a particular section, the TRX stretched its legs, soaking up the terrain, topping out and lifting off over rises, and landing without ever hitting the stops. The 12 inches of front travel and 13 inches of rear travel give plenty of room for
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the suspension to breathe. There have been times where we came into a G-out too fast. Fully puckered and ready for our consequences to reverberate through the chassis, we were saved by Bilstein’s Blackhawk e2 semi-active shocks, which unlike the Raptor’s Fox Live Valve units, works on both the compression and rebound circuits (Raptor is compression only). The TRX’s jump detection mode doesn’t just stiffen the shocks but unlocks the transfer case clutches to prevent driveline shock on landing and prevents the transmission from upshifting into a taller gear. Front internal bumpstops, known as a Jounce Cutoff (JCO), engage at the extreme end of compression travel and ensure that the true impact of a hard landing never reaches the occupants. With 702 horsepower at our disposal and a suspension capable of keeping up, you’d expect the TRX to let you drive without intervening, and it does, especially in Baja mode. At 90-degree intersections, full-on, throttle-induced powerslides are never ruined by overaggressive electronics. The TRX also comes equipped with low range and a rear locker, which is nice for traversing those unexpected technical surprises, such as a washout or rocky climb. One of the best parts of taking the TRX out with the family is enjoying the gleeful squeals coming from the back, along with repetitive shouts of “jump it again!” The TRX’s performance is consistent and repeatable, and this truck really is the closest thing you can get to a short course racer or chase truck with a warranty. Speaking of warranties, the TRX has proven to be reliable, save for an incident when we woke up to a curiously dead battery (no, nothing was left on). After a jump start, the TRX would display warnings to the driver, such as “Service Active Suspension” and “Avoid Aggressive Off-Road Maneuvers.” Our research seemed to indicate
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