#1G
Ram 2500
97The pick — Ground clearance 14.3" — capable off-road, Locking front differential. Class-leading trail hardware.
Best Ram Trucks for Off-Road
Every Ram pickup, ranked on off-road score.
Here's the Ram off-road ranking. I count trail hardware, not badging.
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#2
Ram 1500
76Ground clearance 11.8" — capable off-road, Skid plate protection. Legit off-road credit.
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#3
Ram 1500
76Ground clearance 11.8" — capable off-road, Skid plate protection. Legit off-road credit.
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Spec table
| Model | Max Tow (lbs) | Max Payload (lbs) | Powertrains |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ram 2500 | 22,660 | 6,830 | 6.7L Cummins I6 Turbo Diesel, 6.4L V8 HEMI, 6.4L HEMI V8 |
| Ram 1500 | 12,750 | 2,300 | 3.0L I6 Hurricane HO Twin Turbo, 3.0L Hurricane I6 SO, 3.0L Hurricane I6 HO, 3.6L V6, 5.7L V8 HEMI |
| Ram 1500 | — | — | — |
How Goose scores Off-Road
Off-road capability is hardware you can point at, not a badge.
Off-road capability is hardware you can point at: ground clearance, 4x4 system, tires, skid plates, lockers, and the approach angles that decide whether you clear the rock or donate your bumper to it. I don't score paint packages or badges — a sticker that says Trail adds nothing if the hardware underneath is the same 2WD base truck. The score tells you how far off the pavement a truck was actually built to go.
Frequently asked
- What moves the off-road score most?
- Ground clearance, a real 4x4 system, and factory trail hardware: skid plates, lockers, all-terrain tires. In roughly that order.
- Is AWD the same as 4x4 for off-road?
- No. AWD manages slippery pavement; a true 4x4 with low range is built for terrain. The score knows the difference even when the sales sheet blurs it.
- Do off-road packages actually matter, or is it stickers?
- The real ones matter a lot — a factory off-road package can add lockers, lifted suspension, and armor that would cost thousands aftermarket. The sticker-only ones add nothing, and score like it.
- Why does a stock HD truck score lower off-road than a smaller truck?
- Weight and geometry. A 7,500-lb crew cab with a long wheelbase drags its belly where a midsize walks through. Capability off-road isn't about size.
- Will bigger aftermarket tires raise my score?
- Published scores reflect the factory build. Upgrades change what the truck can do — they don't rewrite what it was born as.