South Africa’s list of high-end bakkies has increased tremendously over the last few years as automakers continue to cook up new models that deliver a premium experience both on and off the tarmac.
While bakkies like the Mercedes-Benz X-Class were arguably ahead of their time with a powerful V6 engine and a price tag past the R1-million mark, there are now several double cabs from various manufacturers that go well beyond this figure, including the Jeep Gladiator and the flagship Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max, and VW Amarok.
The title of the country’s official most expensive high-rider belongs to the Ineos Quartermaster, which retails from R1,717,100 and is available with two BMW-source engines.
However, this is not the most exclusive 4×4 you can get your hands on, as it is possible to get an American pickup truck imported here thanks to a company called US Trucks.
Based in Richard’s Bay, US Trucks specializes in importing and selling new and pre-owned American vehicles with a particular emphasis on RAM and its selection of powerful pickups.
It currently has three RAMs listed on its site – the 1500, the 2500, and the TRX – the latter of which is the company’s flagship vehicle and a direct competitor to the likes of the Ford 150 Raptor, the bigger sibling to the Ranger Raptor that South Africans are more familiar with.
Of course, you’ll need to put down quite an investment to get your hands on such a prestigious vehicle, as a right-hand drive RAM TRX will set you back approximately R4.4 million depending on your finalized spec list, the company confirmed to TopAuto.
Cranking things up to 11
The RAM TRX measures 5,915mm in length, 2,235mm in width, and 2,054mm in height, making it substantially larger than the already sizeable Ranger Raptor or Quartermaster.
This comes with the benefit of a long wheelbase clocking in at 3,686mm, and its tall stance is no doubt helped by a set of beefy 35-inch tyres mounted on 18-inch alloy rims which contribute towards a ground clearance of 300mm.
Despite its hulking size, the pickup is no slouch thanks to its Hellcat twin-supercharged, 6.2-litre, V8 engine manufactured by Chrysler’s Street and Racing (SRT) division, in case you needed any more convincing that this was a vehicle from the USA.
This powerplant generates a staggering total of 523kW and 881Nm, letting the bakkie race from 0 to 100km/h in just 4.5 seconds and reach an electronically-limited top speed of 190km/h.
Other notable performance attributes include its towing capacity of 3,600kg, a wading depth of 800mm, and an approach and departure angle of 30.2 and 23.5 degrees, respectively.
All of this is held up by a robust high-strength steel ladder-frame chassis with Bilstein Black Hawk shocks, with an eight-speed automatic transmission negotiating all the inputs from the driver to the full-time 4×4 system.
Users also have access to eight driving modes including Auto, Sport, Custom, Rock, Baja, Sand/Mud, Tow, and Snow.
Equipment on the flagship RAM includes automatic LED headlights, a lockable rear differential, a 12-inch digital instrument cluster with in-line navigation, a 12-inch portrait infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 10-speaker Alpine stereo, electronically adjustable front bucket seats, a wireless phone charger, a 360-degree camera, rear cross-traffic monitoring, a leather sport steering wheel with paddle shifters, keyless entry and start, and dual-zone climate control.
Despite not being an official subsidiary, US Trucks provides a 3-year/100,000km warranty on all its products and offers roadside assistance to its customers. The company also stocks a wide range of general service items, spares, and aftermarket additions, and can source client-requested parts from all over the world.
Regarding replacement parts that are not in stock, a spokesperson told TopAuto that they can airfreight smaller items from the US with an estimated waiting time of 14 to 21 days.
If much larger parts are required, as might be the case in a car accident, US Trucks will need to have the replacements brought in by sea, which can raise the waiting time to about three months.
RAM TRX
Keyword: RAM TRX – The most expensive bakkie you can buy in South Africa