Hearing that Ram Trucks was discontinuing the Ram 1500 TRX super truck gave me the same dread as being a kid and learning the truth about Santa Claus. The automotive landscape will undergo a tectonic shift once the TRX and Hemi V8 are no longer in production in the dawn of 2024.

We all knew this day would come, but it didn’t help lessen the sting. The leading reason for the Ram giving the TRX a meteor sendoff is the supercharged pickup truck failed to meet the new EPA standards, much to the shock of no one. After all, this is a 6,500-pound, 702-horsepower off-road-ready truck that drinks fuel like its Oktoberfest.

It’s a party truck that just heard the last call before being blinded by the interior lights coming on at the club. A sudden and painful fall back to reality. After this year, the Ram 1500 TRX will be unofficially inducted into the Dodge/Ram Hall of Fame. Becoming an addition to the high-powered, high-flare history of Mopar-engineered pickup trucks like the pioneering 1946 Dodge Power Wagon, the far-out 1979 Dodge Lil’ Red Express, and the venomous 2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10.

During the record-breaking summer of 2023, I had the key fob to a Hydro Blue Ram 1500 TRX. Sweltering in a triple-digit heatwave, I muscled the earth with 35-inch all-terrain tires and unleashed the screaming banshee supercharger on the open road, throwing caution and a good chunk of gas money to the wind to experience every layer of the truck’s infamous reputation. And it didn’t disappoint (for the most part).

Sweltering in a triple-digit heatwave, I muscled the earth with 35-inch all-terrain tires and unleashed the screaming banshee supercharger on the open road, throwing caution and a good chunk of gas money to the wind to experience every layer of the truck’s infamous reputation.

Few domestic brands match Stellantis in showmanship, whether it’s a Jeep, Dodge, Alfa Romeo, or Ram. It’s not just the power. It’s the box it comes in. When you walk up to a Ram TRX, you get the impression that words like “subtle” and “stealth” are outside the marketing and product development vocabulary. The massive 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory tires, functional hood vents, vibrant gloss paint with contrasting matte black trim, and blood red 6.2 L Supercharged emblem on the hood are all style cues that turn the truck into a beacon that tells the world to look at you through a bellowing exhaust note.

The peacocking continues inside with a cabin saturated in Alcantara, leather, suede and real (optional) carbon fiber trim. Pushing the big red button next to the flat-top steering wheel kickstarts the combustion parade that greets you with a hardy bellow. At idle, the 702-horsepower supercharged Hemi V8 keeps a rhythmic pace with a metallic tap like the drumline of a college football marching band. Pull the console-mounted lever down until it clicks into drive. Brace yourself before you lean on the skinny pedal because you’ll experience the TRX’s primary party trick – acceleration.

The option to use Launch Control is available at the push of a button for a guaranteed pull off the line. However, you can just as easily stomp on the throttle like you’re trying to put out a fire to get the thrill of an off-road-spec pickup truck sprinting from zero to 60 in under 5 seconds. 

At idle, the 702-horsepower supercharged Hemi V8 keeps a rhythmic pace with a metallic tap like the drumline of a college football marching band. Pull the console-mounted lever down until it clicks into drive. Brace yourself before you lean on the skinny pedal because you’ll experience the TRX’s primary party trick – acceleration.

This truck shines the brightest when accelerating anywhere between 30 to 90 mph. Whether needing to overtake a slow driver in the fast lane or trying to beat the yellow light, the sensation and supported soundtrack are addictive and intoxicating. Moreover, it feels so effortless, like Thor lifting his hammer or a grizzly bear running through the woods. It’s big, burly, and quicker than it looks.

However, while the truck is quick off the line, it needs the legs to go the distance. The Ram 1500 TRX is electronically limited from the factory to a top speed of 117-118 mph. Granted, if you don’t care about voiding the warranty, a good automotive technician can work some electronic wizardry to eliminate that nanny-state handicap. But I would not recommend that, as traveling at over 120 mph in a truck of this size and ground clearance sounds like the adult version of running with scissors.

The truck’s 4×4 system comes standard without the option to select rear-wheel drive and offers various drive modes to make practical use of its off-road and towing brawn. The 2023 Ram 1500 TRX max towing capacity is 8,100 pounds and a 1,310-pound payload.

Off-road, the truck is broader than a rugby player’s shoulders and leaves Paul Bunyan sized track marks while trampling over the wilderness. All that power and size are disadvantaged if you don’t take the correct driving line, as I found out the hard way. While attempting to drive up a steep dune and test the truck’s off-road prowess, I accidentally got the TRX stuck halfway up.

Like a whale in shallow water, the TRX was beached on the dune with all four wheels spinning. I freed the truck by moving the steering wheel side to side while adjusting between the drive and reverse gears to let gravity push the TRX back and regain traction. I take the lion’s share of the blame for the truck’s lackluster off-road performance, as I certainly don’t consider myself an all-terrain guru. However, that obstacle was fine for the Jeep Grand Cherokee L or mid-size GMC Canyon AT4 —two vehicles with less ground clearance and power than the TRX.

Having fun in the TRX comes at a cost, as leaning heavily on the throttle translates to a single-digit fuel economy that drains its 33-gallon fuel tank. But, on the highway and in normal driving conditions, you can expect to average as high as 14 mpg. Just remember that this premium truck takes premium fuel. This variant may have a blue-collar persona but with a white-collar starting price of $84k, which might as well be six figures when you include options and dealer fees.It is easy to dismiss the Ram 1500 TRX as an oversized, unnecessary symbol of excess moonlighting as nightmare fuel for climate change protesters. It’s a ridiculous vehicle that fits perfectly in today’s surreal times. The Ram TRX is not a vehicle for the modest. It’s a showboat for the road. Rick Flair on wheels. But once you get past the initial shock value, you find a super truck that’s still down to Earth when it comes to being a pickup truck.