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2022 Ram 1500 BackCountry bundles a bunch of off-road bits

The Chicago Auto Show is coming up this week, and Ram is leading the reveals with exactly what we would expect for the show: a special trim level of a pickup truck. It's the 2022 Ram 1500 BackCountry, and it's based on the Big Horn and Lone Star models, but gets its own color scheme and a bundle of features for off-roading and for bed functionality. The BackCountry will be identifiable mainly by its two-tone color scheme with a black lower section. That's matched by many more black accents including the wheels, mirrors, headlight bezels, badging and exhaust tips. It also has running boards and a body-color grille and tonneau cover. But what earns it the BackCountry name are the functional parts. It adds to the Big Horn's standard features list the Off-Road Group and the Bed Utility Group. The former includes all-terrain tires, off-road shocks, hill-descent control, electronic rear differential lock, and skid plates to protect the front suspension, power steering, transfer case and fuel tank. The latter adds a spray-in bedliner, bed lighting, bed step and adjustable tie-down points. If you add the RamBox bed-side storage, it includes a bed extender. The interior is fairly plain with black cloth, but you get bucket seats and a 7-inch touchscreen. The dashboard is also adorned with a BackCountry badge. The BackCountry starts at $41,780. These features are available on the Big Horn trim, but the cheapest way to get them is $45,470, so the BackCountry is a significant discount if you're looking for some off-road capability in your Ram. It's available in both Crew Cab and the slightly shorter Quad Cab configurations with either the regular 5.7-liter V8 or the eTorque version of the same engine. Naturally, four-wheel-drive is the only driveline option. You'll be able to get one in the third quarter of this year. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Apocalypse Warlord 6x6 Ram 1500 TRX wears its name well

Florida-based Apocalypse specializes in building trucks that look like they're ready for, well, the apocalypse. One of its wildest and most powerful builds is a six-wheel-drive, Ram 1500 TRX-based monster called Warlord, and Barrett-Jackson is selling one of the few units built. Ram's hot-rodded TRX already stands out as one of the most impressive pickup trucks on the market; it's powered by the vaunted 6.2-liter, supercharged Hellcat V8 tuned to 702 horsepower and it features nearly a foot of ground clearance. Apocalypse builds on these solid foundations by adding a second set of driven rear wheels, 37-inch tires on all three axles, and a 750-horsepower evolution of the Hellcat V8. Enthusiast website Muscle Car & Trucks reports that there's also a custom-designed suspension system built with Bilstein components. The end result is a behemoth that's 294 inches long, 94 inches tall, and capable of towing 12,000 pounds. Visual modifications include 20-inch wheels, KC lights above the cab, and "WAR" lettering on both ends, where you'd expect to see "RAM." Inside, there's black and red leather and suede upholstery plus a long list of tech features shared with the standard, four-wheeled TRX. What's not included is a stepladder, which you may need in order to hop inside the cab, though power-operated side steps help reduce the size of the jump. If you want one, you're in luck: there is a Warlord looking for a new home at Barrett-Jackson's Scottsdale 2022 sale, which runs between January 22 and 30. The truck is scheduled to cross the auction block on the 29th at 6 p.m. mountain time. It's offered with no reserve, so the highest bidder will take it home, but don't expect to score a bargain. Apocalypse charges $250,000 before options are factored in. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

2013 Ram 1500 tows away Motor Trend Truck of the Year laurels

Motor Trend has named their 2013 Truck of the Year, and this time, the coveted honor goes to Chrysler's 2013 Ram 1500. The Ram unseats the Ford F-150 pickup from Truck of the Year with a package that the magazine argues fulfills owners' needs for everyday usability as much as worksite utility.
MT points out that the 1500's available air suspension is a quantum leap in the light-duty pickup segment. This system can raise for more ground clearance or lower for highway driving. Chrysler has been pushing for friendly daily-driver manners for some time now - you'll recall it debuted coils in place of rear leaf springs in the 2009 Ram 1500, back when it the truck was sold under the Dodge nameplate. The new optional air setup is another step towards more comfortable everyday driving.
The Ram 1500 can also be paired with the company's 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 in place of the loveless 3.7-liter unit, in the process getting some pretty surprising fuel economy figures. MT also notes that the interior update - complete with available Uconnect 8.3-inch screen and new rotary shifter - is a welcome upgrade. These attributes have conspired to yield a deserving award for Team Ram, which MT says has nailed the motivations of light-duty truck buyers - comfort and capability in one package.