5 Ways the Ram TRX Dominates the Truck Technology World
Ram TRX features a 12-inch touch screen, heads-up display, the Performance Pages and much more.
The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX is the quickest, fastest and most powerful truck on the market today. With 702 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, the Hellcat-powered pickup will accelerate more quickly than any other truck en route to a top speed that is higher than any other truck on the market today. At the same time, this is an off-road truck, so it features a stronger frame and an array of suspension components that make it the most capable in mud, rocks, dirt and sand.
However, the Ram TRX isn’t just a normal half-ton pickup with a big engine and off-road suspension. This truck is packed with high tech features that blow the competition out of the water. As a result, not only is the Ram 1500 TRX the quickest, fastest and most powerful while being the most capable on- and off-road, but it also offers more premium technology than any other truck on the market today. Some trucks have one or two of these features, but only the Hellcat Hemi-powered Ram TRX has them all. Of course, some of these features are already offered on other Ram trucks while the others are likely to reach the rest of the lineup soon.
In the meantime, only the 702-horsepower Ram 1500 TRX offers all of these high tech goodies in one package, allowing to out-class the competition before it hits the off-road course.
Bilstein Adaptive Dampers
First up, the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX wears 2.5-inch Bilstein Black Hawk e2 adaptive performance shocks at all four corners. These dampers feature continuously adjusting dual electronic proportioning valves that are constantly working to provide the best footing possible. There are other performance trucks with high performance dampers, but the TRX suspension is adjusted via the Drive Mode system.
When the driver selects the Baja, Mud/Sand or Rock drive mode, the dampers are adjusted to handle the rough, uneven terrain. When the driver switches to Auto mode, the dampers default to the smoothest ride possible while Sport mode leads to better road-handling. Tow mode adjusts the dampers to deal with the effects of the extra weight out back. In other words, not only do these dampers constantly adjust based on the terrain, but they have a variety of preprogrammed settings that focus on handling, ride quality and off-road capabilities.
This is the most intricate suspension system offered in any consumer pickup, helping to make the Ram 1500 TRX the most capable half-ton in a variety of situations.
12-Inch Infotainment System
When the current generation of the Ram 1500 was introduced, the crown jewel of the premium interior packages was the 12-inch UConnect infotainment screen. The only automaker that offers a screen this big is Tesla and there is no truck sold in the world with a screen of this size. It is essentially two of the previous 8.4-inch UConnect screens stacked on top of each other and combined into one, so not only does it look impressive, but it offers a much wider range of readouts than smaller systems offered by the competition.
For example, the Ram TRX 12-inch screen can offer a very large look at the navigation map, the radio station currently playing or vehicle settings, but due to the size, the driver can pick two menu options at once. Basically, where the 8.4-inch screen requires you to pick either navigation, radio settings, climate control or the vehicle setup screen one at a time, the 12-inch screen allows you to pick two options.
As a result, you can keep your navigation map open while scrolling through radio stations or adjusting the climate control. This layout makes it much easier to make use of multiple infotainment systems at once and in the case of the TRX, the driver can view the Performance Pages screens while still keeping an eye on the navigation map or adjusting the climate controls. Of course, the huge 12-inch screen looks mighty impressive in the center stack, giving the interior of any truck with this system a very premium look.
Driver Information Center with a Heads-Up Display
The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX comes standard with a 7-inch screen nestled in the gauge cluster between the tachometer and speedometer. This screen is configurable, with an array of options that can be displayed at all times.
The large center portion of the screen can be toggled between different menus to show things like off-road angles, the drive mode chosen, performance timers, auxiliary gauges, fuel economy, navigation instructions and other useful readouts. This system is offered in many new Ram 1500 pickups and while competitors offer similar driver information screens, none are as large or as thorough as the system at work in the TRX.
One of the features that is being introduced to the Ram Trucks brand by the TRX is the new heads-up display. Many other companies offer a heads-up display, but this is the first application for a modern FCA product.
This full-color projection system will display up to five different types of content on the windshield in front of the driver. Content included in the heads-up displays includes Lane Departure, Lane Keep Assist, adaptive cruise control, turn-by-turn navigation, current speed, current gear and speed limit. The look and function of this new system is controlled through the 12-inch UConnect screen.
We can expect that the new Ram heads-up system will soon be offered in other 1500 models, especially those in the higher price classes.
Ram Trailer Steering Control System
Ford shook up the truck market when they introduced their Pro Trailer Backup Assist, which allows the driver to back up a truck and trailer with the turn of a knob on the dash. It is a great system for those who struggle with backing up a towing combo, but the Ford system requires some time consuming setup. First, you have to place a specific sticker on your trailer, then you have to enter several measurements into the infotainment system. Without the sticker on your trailer and without the proper measurements, the system will not function correctly. This is especially problematic for anyone who pulls many different trailers on a regular basis, as each trailer requires the sticker and the measurements.
The Ram TRX features the brand’s new Trailer Reverse Steer Control system works in a similar manner to the Ford system, but there is no time consuming setup. You don’t have to put a sticker on your trailer and you don’t need to input measurements from the trailer to the truck. According to the folks from Ram, you just hook up your truck and trailer and the Trailer Reverse Steer Control system self-calibrates. At that point, the driver uses the knob on the dash to direct the trailer on the 12-inch UConnect screen and the truck does the actual steering for you.
The Ford system works well when properly setup. The Ram system doesn’t require any setup to get the same end result, giving an edge to the TRX.
TRX RAM Performance Pages
Finally, the Ram 1500 TRX infotainment system includes both the Performance Pages and the Off-Road Pages, both of which are controlled via the 12-inch UConnect screen. The TRX is the first FCA vehicle to showcase these systems on the new screen. Most of the gauges and timers are also viewable in the 7-inch driver information screen.
The Performance Pages have long been a popular feature on the Dodge Hellcat cars, including a long list of performance measurements, drive mode controls, race options and a suite of gauges. We don’t have a full list yet, but the performance measurements are likely to include 0-60, 0-100, braking distance, G-force meters, top speed, a quarter mile timer with incremental times at 330, 660 and 1000 feet and the dyno screen, showing real time power output.
Race options include launch control and the shift light and the additional gauges include transmission temperature, oil temperature, oil pressure, coolant temperature, boost level, air-to-fuel ratio, charging voltage and more. Other companies offer an on-board timing system or gauge readouts, but none are as elaborate as the Ram’s Performance Pages.
The Off-Road Pages show ride height, transfer case gear, pitch and roll of the truck, suspension articulation and steering angle. Again, some other trucks have a similar system, but none are as comprehensive as the combination of Off-Road Pages and Performance Pages.
Photos: FCA
Join the Dodge Forums now!
