Ram just threw down a serious challenge to Ford’s Raptor dynasty.
Meet the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO, a high-speed, desert-ready monster built to run across dunes, blast through dirt trails, and prove that Ram isn’t backing down in the off-road world.
The RHO isn’t about fake looks or empty promises. It brings real off-road tech, serious power, and a ton of attitude.
Here’s everything you need to know about Ram’s new Raptor fighter and why it matters.
Design: Aggressive and Ready to Run
The first thing you notice about the 2025 RHO is its stance.
It is wide, about eight inches wider than a standard Ram 1500.
The fenders are stretched to cover massive 35-inch all-terrain tires. The grille is unique to the RHO, featuring bold RAM lettering and large vents to cool the twin-turbo engine underneath.
There is real heat extraction on the hood, tough skid plates underneath, and a high-clearance front bumper designed to survive serious off-road abuse.
LED marker lights are built into the front and sides, just like you see on the Ford Raptor, because the RHO is so wide it needs them by law.
At the rear, you’ll find a custom bumper, beefy tow hooks, and twin exhaust outlets.
The RHO looks exactly like what it is meant to be: aggressive, fast, and ready to tear up trails.
Performance: Big Power from a New Heart
Here’s the shocker: no V8 under the hood.
Instead, the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO uses Stellantis’ new 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six, called the Hurricane High Output.
This engine cranks out about 540 horsepower and 521 pound-feet of torque, making the RHO every bit as fast as you hoped.
The power flows through an eight-speed automatic transmission and a full-time four-wheel-drive system.
On dirt, the RHO launches hard and pulls with a surge that builds steadily. It feels lighter on its feet than the old TRX, and it keeps pushing strong deep into the rev range.
Official 0 to 60 mph times are not released yet, but expect mid-four-second runs, which is blistering for a truck this size.
The Hurricane engine makes the front end feel lighter too, making the RHO more agile on rough trails.
If you miss the sound of a V8, sure, it is different. But the RHO still sounds great, with a sharp, muscular tone and plenty of turbo whoosh under load.
Suspension and Off-Road Hardware: Built to Handle Anything
The RHO’s real strength is underneath.
It has a fully unique suspension setup compared to any other Ram 1500.
Ram fitted the RHO with Bilstein Black Hawk e2 adaptive shocks tuned specifically for high-speed off-road abuse.
Longer control arms and the wider track help stability, especially at speed. The suspension travel is huge, with over 14 inches at the front and almost 15 inches at the rear.
There’s an electronic locking rear differential to help when the going gets rough.
The Black Hawk shocks react instantly to the terrain, soaking up jumps, deep ruts, and rough whoops without losing control.
Ground clearance is over 11 inches, which means you can charge over rocks, dips, and deep sand without worrying.
This is not a soft crossover pretending to be tough. The RHO is a real desert racer you can buy straight from the showroom.
Interior: Rugged but Comfortable
Inside, the RHO is pure Ram with a performance twist.
The cabin feels familiar if you’ve seen the new Ram 1500, but it is dressed up for off-road action.
Performance front seats with extra bolstering hold you in place. There are unique trim pieces with red stitching, aluminum accents, and tough materials that can handle dirt and grit.
The 12-inch touchscreen runs Ram’s latest Uconnect system. It is fast, clean, and easy to use.
You also get Off-Road Pages built into the screen, which show pitch, roll, suspension articulation, and drivetrain settings.
Paddle shifters behind the steering wheel let you take manual control when you need it.
The RHO’s cabin is rugged where it matters but still comfortable enough for daily use, long drives, or weekends away.
Real-World Use: Race Truck by Weekend, Commuter by Weekday
The best thing about the RHO might be how livable it is.
Sure, it is wide and tall and looks wild, but the Hurricane engine makes it smoother and more refined in regular driving.
On pavement, the RHO rides firm but never harsh. Steering is direct, and the adaptive suspension helps soak up potholes and rough streets.
Towing capacity is about 8,700 pounds, and payload is strong too, making the RHO genuinely useful for real work.
You can cruise to work during the week, tow a trailer on Friday night, and hit the trails hard on Saturday without missing a beat.
It is not just a toy. It is a real truck you can live with every day.
Price and Competition
The 2025 Ram 1500 RHO will start around $71,000 to $75,000 depending on options.
That makes it slightly cheaper than the Ford Raptor, which starts closer to $78,000.
Direct rivals include:
- Ford F-150 Raptor, still the desert benchmark
- Chevrolet Silverado ZR2, more rock-crawler than racer
- Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, off-road capable but not as aggressive
The RHO is fast enough, tough enough, and priced right to pull buyers away from Ford and Chevy.
If you want the absolute craziest truck on sale, the Raptor R with its V8 is still faster — but it costs over $100,000.
For most drivers, the RHO hits a sweet spot between wild performance and real-world value.
Final Verdict: Ram Built a Real Winner
The 2025 Ram 1500 RHO is exactly what off-road truck fans were hoping for.
It is fast, rugged, serious, and more refined than the old V8-powered TRX.
It is designed to handle real desert runs and still get you to work without rattling your teeth out.
Sure, it sounds different without a V8 under the hood. But the RHO’s Hurricane engine is lighter, smoother, and faster where it counts.
Personally, I think Ram nailed it.
The 2025 RHO is not just a replacement for the TRX. It is a smarter, better truck that shows Ram knows exactly what off-road buyers want — and they delivered.
