The Ram 1500 RHO, Ram 1500 TRX, and Ford F-150 Raptor all follow the same basic formula: take a full-size pickup, give it serious power, widen the body, add long-travel suspension, and build it to handle terrain that would punish a normal truck.
But these three trucks approach that formula very differently.
The Ram RHO uses a modern twin-turbocharged inline-six and tries to balance speed, off-road capability, comfort, and price. The discontinued Ram TRX takes the muscle-truck approach with a 702-horsepower supercharged V8. The Ford F-150 Raptor gives up some straight-line power in exchange for a platform that has been refined for high-speed off-road driving for more than a decade.
So which one is best? For most buyers, the RHO may be the best overall package. The TRX is still the most exciting, while the Raptor remains an excellent choice for buyers who put off-road performance ahead of outright horsepower.
Ram RHO vs. TRX vs. Raptor: Quick Comparison
Here is how the Ram 1500 RHO, Ram 1500 TRX, and standard Ford F-150 Raptor compare on paper. Scroll right on mobile to see the full table.
| Specification | Ram RHO Best Overall Balance | Ram TRX Most Powerful | Ford Raptor Off-Road Specialist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3.0L Twin-Turbo Hurricane I6 | 6.2L Supercharged HEMI V8 | 3.5L Twin-Turbo EcoBoost V6 |
| Horsepower | 540 hp | 702 hp | 450 hp |
| Torque | 521 lb-ft | 650 lb-ft | 510 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 8-Speed Automatic | 8-Speed Automatic | 10-Speed Automatic |
| 0-60 MPH | 4.6 sec. | 4.5 sec. | About 5.2 sec. |
| Ground Clearance | 11.8 in. | 11.8 in. | About 11.5 in. |
| Front Suspension Travel | 13 in. | 13 in. | Up to 14 in. |
| Rear Suspension Travel | 14 in. | 14 in. | Up to 15 in. |
| Shock System | Bilstein Black Hawk e2 | Bilstein Black Hawk e2 | FOX Live Valve |
| Best For | Overall Balance | Power & Drama | Off-Road |
| Status | Current | Discontinued | Current |
Note: This comparison uses the standard F-150 Raptor, not the considerably more powerful Raptor R. Manufacturer acceleration estimates are shown where available, and real-world results can vary.
Performance: The TRX Is Still the Power King
If horsepower is the deciding factor, the TRX wins this comparison easily.
Its supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 produces 702 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. The engine is related to the supercharged V8s used in Dodge’s Hellcat models, and it completely changes the personality of the truck.
Ram rated the TRX at 4.5 seconds from zero to 60 mph, although instrumented tests have recorded quicker launches. Considering the truck’s size, weight, and 35-inch all-terrain tires, its acceleration remains remarkable.
The RHO replaces the big supercharged V8 with the high-output version of Ram’s 3.0-liter twin-turbo Hurricane inline-six. It produces 540 horsepower and 521 lb-ft of torque.
That is a substantial 162-horsepower drop from the TRX, but the numbers don’t tell the entire story. The Hurricane engine is lighter, and the RHO is still extremely quick. Ram estimates a 4.6-second 0-60 mph time, putting it much closer to the TRX in acceleration than the horsepower difference might suggest.
The regular Raptor comes in third on raw power. Its 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 makes 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. That is still plenty in a truck designed primarily for off-road speed, but drivers moving from a TRX or RHO will notice the difference in straight-line acceleration.
The TRX wins if the goal is maximum acceleration, horsepower, sound, and drama. The RHO gets surprisingly close, but it cannot recreate the experience of the TRX’s supercharged V8.
RHO vs. TRX: More Different Than the Numbers Suggest
It is tempting to describe the RHO as a TRX with two fewer cylinders, but that undersells what Ram changed.
The basic idea is certainly similar. Both trucks use massive tires, wide bodywork, specialized suspension, four-wheel drive, and adaptive Bilstein dampers. The RHO retains 11.8 inches of ground clearance, 13 inches of front suspension travel, and 14 inches of rear suspension travel.
The major difference is under the hood.
The RHO’s lighter Hurricane six-cylinder reduces weight over the front axle compared with the TRX’s supercharged V8. That matters when turning, braking, and controlling the truck over uneven terrain. The result is a truck that feels more balanced and less dominated by its engine.
The tradeoff is character.
A 540-horsepower twin-turbo six-cylinder is hardly boring, but the TRX’s supercharger whine and V8 exhaust note were central to the experience. The RHO is the more rational performance truck. The TRX is the one that makes rationality seem unimportant.
Off-Road: The Raptor Shows Why Experience Matters
Ford created the original F-150 Raptor around high-speed desert driving, and years of development have made its suspension one of the truck’s biggest strengths.
The current generation uses sophisticated FOX Live Valve shocks that can continuously change damping based on terrain and driver inputs. Ford has continued developing the system to provide impressive control over fast, uneven terrain.
That makes the Raptor particularly impressive when the trail opens up. It can absorb large impacts while remaining surprisingly controlled for a full-size pickup.
The RHO is not far behind on hardware. Its Bilstein Black Hawk e2 adaptive shock system, long suspension travel, 35-inch tires, locking rear differential, and multiple terrain modes make it an extremely serious off-road machine.
The TRX uses similarly capable Bilstein hardware. Despite having enough horsepower to dominate a drag race, it was never simply a street truck with off-road tires. Ram engineered it to take jumps, run quickly through rough terrain, and withstand serious off-road use.
The biggest disadvantage of the TRX is weight. The supercharged V8 and hardware surrounding it put more mass toward the front of the truck. The RHO’s lighter powertrain helps address that issue.
The Raptor gets the edge for buyers primarily interested in high-speed off-road driving. Its combination of chassis tuning, adaptive FOX suspension, and years of refinement makes it exceptionally capable.
On-Road Driving: RHO Makes a Strong Case
Most of these trucks will spend far more time on pavement than they will flying across desert trails.
That’s where the RHO’s approach begins to make a lot of sense.
It has substantially more power than the standard Raptor, but without the TRX’s massive supercharged V8 sitting over the front axle. The result is an extremely fast truck that can also feel more composed during normal driving.
The Raptor is comfortable for something with this much suspension travel, although it feels more focused on its off-road mission. Its EcoBoost V6 also provides strong low-end torque without needing 700 horsepower to move the truck quickly.
The TRX remains entertaining everywhere. Every highway entrance can become an excuse to hear the supercharger and V8. That personality is its greatest strength, but it comes with obvious costs in fuel consumption and operating expense.
For someone actually using one of these trucks every day, the RHO arguably strikes the best balance between acceleration, ride quality, refinement, and off-road capability.
Interior and Technology
None of these trucks has the stripped-out cabin you might associate with an old-school off-road vehicle.
Ram has made interior quality a major selling point of the 1500, and both the RHO and TRX benefit from that foundation. Large displays, comfortable seats, upscale materials, and plenty of available technology make the RHO feel just as much like a premium truck as an off-road performance machine.
The TRX feels similar but adds the novelty of owning Ram’s outrageous supercharged halo truck. Its unique performance displays, badging, drive modes, and other TRX-specific details make the cabin feel more special.
The Raptor also provides a modern, well-equipped interior and integrates its off-road controls well. Buyers who already prefer the layout and controls of the F-150 may prefer the Ford cabin, even if the Ram interior has a slight edge in luxury feel.
The TRX Has One Advantage the RHO Can’t Replace
The TRX is no longer simply another new-truck alternative.
Production of the supercharged TRX ended with the 2024 model year. That changes the buying decision because a shopper considering one now will generally be looking at a used truck or a remaining unsold example rather than ordering a current model.
That also gives the TRX something the RHO doesn’t yet have: significance as the end of an era.
Large-displacement supercharged V8 performance trucks are becoming unusual. A 702-horsepower factory pickup with a supercharged HEMI, four-wheel drive, 35-inch tires, and long-travel suspension is unlikely to feel ordinary anytime soon.
If sound, personality, and the experience of owning something excessive matter more than efficiency or value, the TRX remains difficult to replace.
RHO vs. Raptor: Which New Truck Makes More Sense?
For someone buying new, this is probably the most relevant comparison.
The RHO gives you 540 horsepower compared with the standard Raptor’s 450 horsepower. Both offer sophisticated off-road suspension, locking differentials, large all-terrain tires, and terrain-specific drive modes.
The decision therefore comes down to priorities.
- Choose the RHO if you want stronger acceleration, a luxurious cabin, serious off-road hardware, and an excellent balance between road and trail performance.
- Choose the Raptor if high-speed off-road driving is the priority and you value Ford’s highly developed Raptor chassis and FOX suspension.
- Choose a used TRX if the 702-horsepower supercharged V8 experience matters more than fuel costs, purchase price, or having the newest platform.
Which Is the Fastest?
The Ram TRX is the fastest of the three. Its 702-horsepower supercharged V8 gives it a substantial power advantage over both competitors.
The RHO takes second place, and its 540-horsepower Hurricane engine makes it significantly quicker than the standard Raptor in a straight line.
The Raptor comes third, but speed in a straight line was never its only purpose. Its powertrain is designed to work as part of a complete high-speed off-road package.
Which Is Best Off-Road?
The Ford Raptor gets a narrow overall win for dedicated off-road use.
The RHO and TRX have enough suspension travel and specialized hardware to tackle terrain most owners will never attempt, so this isn’t a case of one truck being capable and the others being pretenders.
But Ford’s long history developing the Raptor as a desert-running truck, combined with its FOX adaptive suspension, gives it an advantage when off-road performance is the main objective.
Which Is the Best Value?
The Ram RHO is the value winner.
It doesn’t have the TRX’s 702 horsepower, but 540 horsepower is still enormous for an off-road pickup. More importantly, the RHO retains the suspension travel, ground clearance, aggressive stance, and much of the basic formula that made the TRX special.
Against the standard Raptor, the RHO also brings a 90-horsepower advantage while competing for essentially the same type of buyer.
For most people shopping for a new performance truck rather than specifically chasing a supercharged V8, the RHO is arguably the sweet spot.
Final Verdict: RHO vs. TRX vs. Raptor
There isn’t a bad truck in this comparison, but there are three fairly clear winners depending on what you want.
It combines 540 horsepower, impressive acceleration, excellent suspension, a refined interior, and serious off-road capability. For most buyers, it offers the best balance of the three.
Nothing here matches the drama of its 702-horsepower supercharged HEMI. The TRX is heavier, thirstier, and discontinued, but those drawbacks do little to diminish its personality.
The Raptor gives up horsepower to both Rams, but Ford’s suspension engineering and years of desert-focused development make it an exceptionally polished off-road package.
If you want one truck to commute in during the week and take into the desert on the weekend, the RHO is probably the smartest choice.
If you want the truck you’ll still talk about years after selling it, the TRX is hard to beat.
And if the trail matters more than the drag strip, the Raptor remains one of the best factory off-road pickups available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ram RHO Faster Than the Ford Raptor?
Yes. The Ram RHO has 540 horsepower and Ram estimates it can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. The standard Ford F-150 Raptor produces 450 horsepower, and independent testing has generally put its 0-60 mph time above five seconds.
Is the Ram RHO Faster Than the TRX?
No. The TRX’s 702-horsepower supercharged V8 gives it the advantage in straight-line performance. The RHO is still remarkably quick considering it has 162 fewer horsepower.
Did the RHO Replace the TRX?
The RHO effectively took over the high-performance off-road position in the Ram 1500 lineup after production of the supercharged TRX ended. However, it is not a direct mechanical replacement. The biggest change is the move from the TRX’s 6.2-liter supercharged V8 to the RHO’s 3.0-liter twin-turbo Hurricane inline-six.
Does the RHO Have a V8?
No. The Ram 1500 RHO uses a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged Hurricane inline-six producing 540 horsepower and 521 lb-ft of torque.
What Is the Difference Between the Raptor and Raptor R?
The standard F-150 Raptor in this comparison uses a 450-horsepower 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6. The Raptor R is a separate, considerably more powerful model using a supercharged V8 with more than 700 horsepower. The Raptor R is therefore a much closer competitor to the old TRX in outright engine performance than the standard Raptor is.