The flagship Ram truck is the desert-racing-ready 1500 TRX with a supercharged V8 right out of the Dodge Hellcat. Cruising around in the closest thing to a factory-built trophy truck is certainly a flex. But pickup enthusiasts know that a diesel-powered heavy-duty is not a cheap truck either. You don’t need to add many options to a Ram 2500, after the infamous Cummins diesel engine, to have spent more than the guy showing off in his TRX.
How much is a Ram 1500 TRX?
The MSRP of the 2023 Ram 1500 TRX is $85,555 plus destination charges and other fees. Ram’s configurator claims your net price will be $86,550. That’s $15k more than the truck’s 2020 debut MSRP.
How can Ram charge so much for its flagship truck? Like the Ford F-150 Raptor and Mercedes AMG G-Wagon, the TRX is a true factory-built supertruck. Like a supercar, it is more than a vehicle: it is a status symbol.
There are some customization options for the Ram 1500 TRX. But its only engine is a supercharged 6.2-liter V8. There is no diesel Ram TRX.
Ram Trucks may have justified the price hike of its supercharged off-roader by citing global supply chain shortages. But the truth is that $86k is what the market will bear. Enough folks want to be seen in the Ram 1500 TRX that they will pay these prices. And one of the reasons many want to be seen in the truck is because its exclusive and expensive. But it is far from the most expensive truck you can buy.
How much is a Dodge Ram Cummins?
The cheapest 2023 Ram 2500 (with two doors and 2WD) has an MSRP of $45,575. The Cummins diesel engine is a $9,695 on any Ram. With destination charge, your net for a diesel Ram will be at least $57,165. Please note that There isn’t technically a Dodge Ram Cummins diesel truck anymore, as all Ram trucks became a separate brand from Dodge in the 20009 model year.
But when you are comparing a diesel Cummins to a TRX, you must remember that $57k gets you a Tradesman trim with 2WD and a short, two-door “regular” cab. A crew cab heavy-duty with 4WD starts at $52,220. So that’s a $63,910 net–without a stitch of leather or a spec of chrome.
The mid-trim Laramie as a crew cab with a 4WD and the Cummins will set you back $77,770. That’s more than a 2020 TRX, but you don’t have to add many extras to approach 2023 Cummins prices. This is because Ram is happy to sell you luxury options such as air suspension, a sunroof, or multiple levels of driver-aid software. It also offers packages for towing, off-roading, and even in-bed toolboxes.
If you see someone driving a Ram 2500 Limited, rest assured they spent as much as the guy in a new TRX. The same goes for the western-themed “Limited Longhorn” trim, which swaps the luxurious Limited’s futuristic materials for wood and filigree leather.
Is there a heavy-duty diesel Ram TRX?
Chrysler Corporation’s Street & Racing Technology (SRT) team engineered the TRX, based on the Ram 1500. Though it has 700+ horsepower, you can only buy the supercharged truck based on the half-ton chassis. Despite its highly modified off-road suspension, the truck’s tow rating is 8,100 pounds.
But Ram also offers multiple off-road-centered trims of its heavy-duty 2500. The Ram 2500 Power Wagon is a traditional off-roader with a winch and more ground clearance than any other pickup truck. Its fitting name was pioneered by the first ever factory-built 4WD pickup truck–a Dodge release right after WWII. This truck’s MSRP is $69,525.
For those who would prefer to configure their heavy-duty off-roader. The Ram 2500 Rebel (also starting at $69k) is available with the Cummins I6. Ram engineered the Rebel’s off-road suspension to retain as much of its towing capacity as possible (up to 16,870 pounds). A Cummins Ram Rebel will run you at least $81,115, but with a few options such as a bumper winch, it can easily cost more than a 1500 TRX.
A well-optioned heavy-duty diesel Ram may well cost as much as a TRX with a supercharged Hellcat V8. Which one you consider the ultimate flex is just be a matter of preference.
Check out our hands-on review of the Cummins-powered Rebel in the video below:
