It’s no secret the Hellcat-power Ram TRX is one of the most capable, powerful trucks on the road today. Trucks of the past can’t hold a candle to the ability and performance of the TRX. So, it’s somewhat ironic that a YouTube channel named This Old Truck highlighted the (not old) 2021 Ram TRX in one of the most unrelenting locations around: the St. Anthony Sand Dunes.
The sand dunes are located in Idaho near the Snake River Plain, and St. Anthony features an ever-shifting landscape of steep, other worldly dunes courtesy of wind carrying riverbank sediment from the nearby Teton and Snake rivers. Once home to lava-spewing volcanic vents, the ancient hillsides have become a mecca in the Western U.S. for dirt biking, as well as ATV and UTV enthusiasts.
“Driving in sand like this is a completely different sort of off-roading experience. Honestly, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect,” comments Legacy Classic Trucks Founder Winslow Bent. “I’ve taken some of our resto-modded Power Wagons out to the Dunes, so I had to see how the Hellcat V-8 would do out here. Fine sand is fickle. I’ve had trucks choke in 15 minutes out here. We were really impressed with how the TRX took on everything that we threw at it with zero issues. The TRX is a great pick for overlanders that play in this sort of sandbox.”
Bent is no stranger to driving different trucks, from all eras. But there’s definitely nothing around like the 6.2-liter Hemi V-8-powered TRX. The engine output is impressive with 702 horsepower operating alongside a powerful 650 pound-feet of torque.
To conquer St. Anthony, the TRX was fitted with Goodyear custom-made tires.
“The tires are slightly more aggressive than all-terrains but fall just short of mud tires,” Bent said.
In the video, Bent talks up the importance of beadlock tires.
“Experiencing the TRX in the sand also showcases how important beadlock wheels are for off-roading at higher speeds without worrying about tires slipping off the wheel at any given time. With the TRX also encountering steep and rounded, always shifty sand banks, soft suspension is vital,” he said.
Bent’s TRX includes adaptive Bilstein Black Hawk e2 shocks that he said performed excellently.
One of the mechanical features that was most impressive to Bent was the TRX’s front air intakes. At 80 inches wide, the truck design also incorporates air intakes that line the entire front bumper and there’s even a cover over the HEMI engine to keep dirt or sand from penetrating.
The Ram logo on the grille is open, instead of being a solid design, allowing for as much air as possible into the engine, and making this an impressive truck. He said this design is crucial in preventing overheating with the sandy conditions.
I wish I could’ve driven the TRX on those dunes, or at least gone along for the ride. It’s certainly a truck that’s an instant legend and capable of almost anything.
Be sure to check out Publisher Tim Esterdahl’s thoughts on the TRX as he caught some air while driving it.
Check out the full gallery of photos of this truck at St. Anthony’s.
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