We all know that the off-road-ready trim levels of trucks can be pricey and, in many cases, it feels like a waste to pay all that money for a truck you will use and abuse off-road.
Thankfully, many brands have started launching trim levels that do increase capabilities without breaking the bank.
The latest company to do this is Ram with the Ram 1500 BackCountry edition. However, does it have what it takes to be deemed off-road worthy? In this article, we find out.
What Upgrades Does the Ram 1500 BackCountry Get?
The BackCountry edition is all-new for 2022 and it provides three new things: new exterior design, off-road accessories, and some additional utility accessories in the bed.
The exterior gets a two-tone paint job with black bumpers, black paint on the bottom of the truck’s side profile, and a black rear bumper.
The grille is body color matched and the headlights have been finished in gloss black. Running boards are also added, but they are not tough enough to act as rock sliders.
Recovery hooks, skid plates, off-road calibrated shocks, and some Falken Wildpeak all-terrain tires are also present..
Hill descent control and an E locker for the rear axle can be found inside the cabin.. The rear E locker will make a huge difference off-road.
Bed Utility is Maximized
The first thing you get is a soft bed cover to help keep all your personal belongings out of view.
A spray-in bed liner is also part of the package as well as a tie down system with sliding ankers that you can loosen and reposition. Bed lighting and an extendable step finish off the package.
What Engines are Available in the Ram 1500 BackCountry
Under the hood customers of the Rebel have a few more choices when it comes to engines. These include a V6, EcoDiesel, or the big V8.
Buyers of the BackCountry will be limited just to the Hemi V8.
When it comes to design the BackCountry looks a bit more subtle with all the body-matched trim whereas the Rebel is a bit more aggressive with a differently shaped black grille and front bumper that gives a better approach angle.
Payload of the Truck
The BackCountry is rated at 1,452 lbs. of payload whereas the Rebel is at 1,484 lbs. So, both vehicles will be very close when it comes to hauling weight.
Which One Should You Buy?
The Rebel still has the upper hand when it comes to off-road ability. It has better suspension, and the different bumpers give it a better approach angle. It also has more aggressive tires from the factory.
However, the BackCountry also provides some cool features such as recovery points and skid plates. Therefore, it also is off-road ready.
The choice will depend on the type of usage the truck will see. If you are going to extensively use it off-road then the Rebel is the choice.
If you will mostly be driving on the pavement with some mild trails on the weekend the BackCountry is more than enough!