While there is no official subsidiary for RAM bakkies in South Africa, you can still get one delivered to you right here on the tip of Africa in right-hand drive.
Richards Bay-based US Trucks specializes in importing and selling new and used American vehicles including RAM Trucks in the domestic market, and it currently offers the 1500, 2500, and 1500 TRX – the direct competitor to Ford’s Ranger Raptor – to any local fans keen on owning one.
The 1500 can be yours from a starting price of R2,699,000, while the 2500 goes from R3,200,000 and up. Pricing for the TRX isn’t listed, but if you’re already shopping for a R3-million bakkie, whatever the high-performance RAM costs likely won’t be too far out of your budget.
If you’re worried about limited after-sales support, US Trucks has a workshop in Richards Bay for RAM vehicles and is willing to send a team to your location to perform a job should you be unable to drive your bakkie to them.
The company also stocks a wide range of general service items and spares, as well as aftermarket upgrades, and can source client-specific parts or accessories from anywhere in the world.
RAM’s parent company Stellantis also recently opened its Eurorepar spare parts business in South Africa and if you ask nicely enough, they’ll probably be able to get you what you need.
1500 specs
The RAM 1500 is offered in Limited, Limited Long Horn Edition, Rebel, and Laramie Sport specifications, which all bring different looks and standard equipment.
The Limited “is perfect for the business class personality” with its chrome or optional black-out features, paired with 18 to 22-inch wheels to complete the sophisticated look.
“For those with a wild heart and country soul,” the Limited Long Horn Edition is the poison of choice, wearing “country” accents and 20-inch wheels that give it a slightly more rugged look and feel.
The Rebel is the “hooligan child” in the 1500 family, getting off-road body styling and steel bumpers, paired with 18-inch alloys covered in all-terrain tyres.
If you’re feeling dynamic, the Laramie Sport is the obvious option, providing colour-coded accents, and a classic chrome grille and bumper, or alternatively, a darkened Night Edition trim.
Across the 1500 line-up, prospective owners can expect premium stitched leather seats, leather-trimmed door panels with wood inserts, fully-electric front seats with heating and ventilation, a large touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, a multifunction steering wheel, and a premium sound system.
Buyers then have two powerful foundations to choose from comprising a 3.0-litre, V6, turbo-diesel, or a massive 5.7-litre, Hemi V8 petrol with 48V mild-hybrid technologies.
The diesel pushes out 192kW and 650Nm, the petrol does 291kW and 556Nm, and both are paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and 4×4 system.
2500 specs
The heavy-duty 2500 is a bit more restrictive with options, being sold in Laramie Sport and Limited grades both equipped with a 6.7-litre, turbo-diesel block coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission.
With its 276kW and 1,152Nm power reading, this bakkie is built for purpose and can carry a maximum of 1,814kg in the rear box and tow a staunch 9,071kg behind it.
It also comes with many of the nice-to-haves of the smaller 1500 including the leather upholstery, an all-round camera system, a central touchscreen, a digital driver’s cluster, a tyre-pressure system that provides readings for up to four trailers, and a “plethora of entertainment, safety, and security features,” according to its importers.
TRX specs
The TRX is a beefed-up version of the standard RAM 1500 and boasts a width that exceeds that of the regular model by 20cm which lends it a more commanding presence on the road.
Furthermore, the sporty double cab features distinct LED amber identification lamps, a sizeable and functional hood scoop, wider fenders, larger wheel wells for improved brake cooling, and it rides on 35-inch tyres.
This particular model also gets bespoke Bilstein Black Hawk shock absorbers giving it 300mm of ground clearance, 330mm of front suspension travel, and 356mm of rear suspension travel.
The party piece of the TRX is its Dodge Hellcat-derived supercharged, 6.2-litre, V8 powerplant generating in the realm of 523kW and 881Nm.
This is enough to rocket the RAM from 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds with Launch Control activated, on to its way to an electronically-governed top speed of 190km/h.
The TRX isn’t short of off-road abilities, either, providing eight drive settings for various surfaces as well as the Selec-Speed Control system that enables it to maintain a steady speed while navigating changes in terrain slope.
As luxurious as can be, the TRX’s interior leaves little to be desired, too.
You can look forward to a 12-inch digital driver’s display, a 12-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a leather-wrapped sports steering wheel and seats, and a wireless charger.
RAM 1500
RAM 2500
RAM TRX
Keyword: What it costs to buy a RAM bakkie in South Africa