We are halfway through our time with our 2021 Pickup Truck of the Year-winning Ram TRX, and we have used it for a variety of truck tasks, like hauling and towing, along with the usual school drop-offs and off-road trips. With our TRX fully broken-in now, we have seen the already impressive 0-60 times drop to sub-4-seconds—3.9 to be precise—with our quickest quarter-mile now registering at 12.7 seconds at 103 mph. Incredible numbers for something that weighs 3.5 tons.
Unlike other Rams, the TRX comes with the SRT Performance Pages App on the 12-inch Uconnect system. Performance Pages is super cool and tracks a bevy of information but takes a frustratingly long time to load. Thankfully that’s not the case for Launch Control or Sport mode, which are available at the push of a button. In normal driving the TRX pedal is wooden for the first 25 percent or so of travel. Selecting Sport mode makes a meaningful change to the throttle mapping, and it’s the perfect mode for those who want to feel all 702 horses right now. We’ve found that the best place to set the TRX Launch Control is 2200-2400 rpm; then, mat the throttle and go. There isn’t anyone who hasn’t been impressed with a TRX launch, and thanks to the full-time transfer case, there isn’t so much as a chirp from the 35-inch Goodyears. The TRX just leaps from a standstill with the ferocity and grace of a big cat.
In daily driving, the TRX is as luxurious and docile as they come and is perfectly adept at everyday living. Sure, it fills up the parking spaces, and you won’t be squeezing around traffic for those right-hand turns, but there isn’t any place that we’ve wanted to go that we couldn’t take the TRX, including parking structures … and no, we don’t ever hand our super truck over to the valets.
In our experience, 5 to 6-hour stints in the TRX are no big deal thanks to a great highway ride, quiet interior, and big supportive seats. We do miss the expansive center console of other Ram 1500s, but we like having the console shifter, and it is a convenient place to rest our hand. If anything, we wish the TRX had the same active exhaust setup as the Wrangler 392 or new Ford Raptor because it is super rowdy, and while we love it with every fiber of our body, there are times that require a little more discretion than the TRX allows. On the highway, we see about 12-14mpg, which translates to 400-plus miles of real-world highway range, which is completely acceptable to us.
When our 1942 Ford GPW, Project Odd Ford, needed to be transported, we jumped at the chance to hook it up to the TRX. With around 5,500 pounds of trailer and cargo, the TRX doesn’t feel any different to drive, and you can literally forget that there is a trailer in tow since the width of the TRX blocks the view of the trailer in the rearview mirror. Ram’s Tow mode and integrated trailer brake controller are as good as any we have tested from the factory, and the TRX will log trailer mileage for you and even comes with extra TPS sensors for your trailer’s wheels.
Because the TRX is more sensitive to tongue weight with the performance suspension, we would recommend a weight-distributing hitch for any loads that approach the TRX’s 8,100-pound towing capacity. Thanks to the active Bilstein Blackhawk e2 shocks, the ride with the trailer is well-controlled, with road imperfections never allowed to overwhelm the suspension.
One of the features that to some might come across as gimmicky but really works well is the Trailer Reverse Steering Control. Unlike the competition’s offerings, there is no need to enter any dimensions into the system, as it will calibrate on its own and is immediately available to the driver. Whether you know how to tow a trailer or not, the system is useful in maneuvering your trailer in tight quarters or nailing that narrow parking spot. The blind-spot monitoring system also requires no setup to operate with a trailer, automatically measuring the length of the trailer as you turn and maintaining eyes on your blind spot while towing.
To date, the TRX has only required one scheduled service to change the oil and rotate the tires, which was performed at Huntington Beach Ram, in Huntington Beach, California. We did inquire about a metallic ticking noise at idle, especially when cold, and they referred us to a manufacturer bulletin that said the noise is normal and is “… inherent to the exhaust manifold and catalyst design … this sound is amplified by the ground clearance and height of the TRX in comparison to other vehicles with the 6.2-liter supercharged engine. It is considered normal …”
While we have been spending significant time on the trail with the TRX, we will save those thoughts for the next installment. Now, excuse us while we get back to driving one of the best all-around trucks we’ve ever tested. Did we mention we just love this thing?
Watch: 2021 Ram 1500 TRX Overview
REPORT: 2 OF 4
CLICK HERE FOR REPORT 1
Base price: $70,325
Price as tested: $92,080
Four-wheel-drive system: Full-time, two-speed
OPTIONS AS TESTED:
Technology Group ($1,095), Trailer Tow Group ($195), Advanced Safety Group ($995), Bed Utility Group ($845), Lower Two-Tone Paint ($250), TRX Carbon Fiber Package ($1,295), TRX Level 2 Equipment Group ($7,920), TRX Red Interior Accents ($1,495), TRX Exterior Graphics ($495), TRX Hood Graphic ($895), Mopar Rock Rails ($995), 19-Speaker Harmon Kardon Premium Sound ($1,195), 18 x 9-inch Beadlock-capable Wheels ($1,895), and Trailer Reverse Steering Control ($495)
LONG-TERM NUMBERS:
Miles to date: 8,544
Miles since last report: 5,064
Average mpg (this report): 10.99
Test best tank (mpg): 13.62
Test worst tank (mpg): 8.89
MAINTENANCE:
This period: Scheduled maintenance ($219.61)
Problem areas: None
WHAT’S HOT, WHAT’S NOT:
Hot: Plenty of room of the family, easy daily driver, decent tow rig
Not: Performance Pages take too long to load, scalding interior trim
LOGBOOK QUOTES:
“It looks like a concept vehicle you can buy, and everyone wants to stop and talk about the mighty TRX.”
“The TRX is full of real leather, carbon fiber, and metal. Especially metal. I am reminded every time I get in on a hot day and I am branded with the VIN plate on the center console.”
“Why doesn’t the TRX have the same active exhaust as a 392? There are times we wish we could be a little stealthier in our movements.”
“I’ve decided I am going to start charging for rides as my side hustle, I think I can do pretty well.”
“Towing over 5,000 pounds around SoCal and still got 10.5 mpg, I can live with that.”
The TRX pops in the Mojave desert with its Flame Red paint job.
You will be reminded of the TRX’s real metal interior bits when you brand your forearm on the center console VIN badge every time you get in on a sunny day.
Ram’s Trailer Reverse Steering controls are intuitive and easy to use, requiring no complicated setup.
For the money, we are a little surprised the TRX has no rear armrest for back-seat passengers.
We love having the Performance Pages app on the TRX, but it takes a patience-challenging 20-plus seconds to load.
Families will appreciate the TRX’s large cabin, which means room for everybody and plenty of space for your toddler to kick her feet without kicking the front seat.
Looks good! More details?
Keyword: From Towing to Going In the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX