Ram Off-Road Fitment: 1500 and TRX

Written & researched by Wren Ashby Truck Fitment Editor

Published Sep 29, 2026

At a Glance: 2026 Ram 1500 Off-Road Hardware by Trim

This table comes from Ram's 2026 feature-availability sheet and specifications. The part-time case is the BorgWarner 48-12, the on-demand case the 48-11 with a 4WD Auto mode, and the full-time case the 48-13. All three have a 2.64:1 low range. Ram's two documents disagree on one point: the specification sheet ties the full-time 48-13 to the high-output engine, while the feature sheet lists full-time 4WD only on the RHO. Check the build sheet of a specific Longhorn, Limited or Tungsten.

Air Suspension: What It Does and Why It Changes Lift Shopping

Ram's Active-Level four-corner air suspension replaces the coil springs with air springs, and Ram's 2025 press kit lists up to five modes: entry/exit, aero, normal, off-road 1 and off-road 2. Ram's 2026 specifications show what those heights mean on a Crew Cab with the 5-ft 7-in box and 275/55R20 tires:

For comparison, a coil-spring 4x4 Crew Cab with the same box lists 8.6 in of clearance and an 18.8° approach angle. An air truck already gains 2 in of clearance in Off-road 2 before any aftermarket parts. The catch is fitment. Rough Country's 3.5-inch lift for 2019–2026 Ram 1500s states it does not fit models with the 4-corner air suspension, and it sells a separate lift built only for air-ride trucks. Confirm which suspension your truck has before buying anything.

Trims That Already Sit Higher

Several Ram 1500 variants leave the factory taller than a base truck, and that changes which leveling or spacer kits apply. Ram's 2025 press kit lists the Rebel with a one-inch lift, Bilstein shocks, 33-inch all-terrain tires, skid plates and an electronic-locking differential. Rough Country's fitment notes say the Warlock and trucks with the Off-Road package also have a 1-inch factory lift, so its spacer kits don't fit them. Ram's 2026 4x4 Off-road Group, standard on Warlock and Rebel, adds:

• tow hooks;
• front suspension, transfer case, steering and fuel tank skid plates;
• the rear electronic locker;
• off-road-calibrated shocks;
• hill-descent control;
• all-terrain tires.

Engine Choice Affects Suspension Fitment

The 2026 Ram 1500 comes with four engines:

• the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 eTorque (305 hp);
• the 3.0-liter Hurricane twin-turbo straight-six (420 hp);
• the returning 5.7-liter HEMI V8 eTorque (395 hp);
• the 540-hp high-output straight-six, offered only on Longhorn, Limited, RHO and Tungsten.

Engine choice can change which suspension parts fit. Rough Country's 3.5-inch kit notes that, because of differences in motor weight, its replacement struts don't fit the Pentastar V6. When you shop suspension, check a part's fitment notes for the engine as well as the trim.

RHO and TRX: Different Width, Different Parts

The RHO and TRX sit on wider tracks than any other 1500, so bumpers, fender-area parts and suspension aren't interchangeable with standard trucks. From Ram's figures:

Rough Country's standard 1500 lift notes that it doesn't fit the TRX because of the TRX's long-travel suspension and Bilstein Black Hawk e2 adaptive shocks. For how these two trucks compare with Ford's Raptor, see RHO vs Raptor. For TRX build notes, see the TRX overland build guide.

Cab, Box and Wheelbase

Tonneau covers, bed racks and bed-mounted tents fit by box length, and the 1500's box length follows the cab. Ram's 2026 specifications:

Both boxes have a 66.4-in cargo width and a 60.0-in tailgate opening. Ram's feature sheet also lists the RamBox cargo-management option, so if your truck has it, confirm a bed accessory lists RamBox compatibility.

Recovery Gear and Winch Sizing

WARN sizes a winch at GVWR × 1.5, using the GVWR on the door-jamb label. Ram's 2026 towing charts list GVWRs of 6,800–7,200 lb for every configuration except the RHO, which puts the minimum at about 10,200–10,800 lb of line pull. The RHO carries a 7,800 lb GVWR, so its minimum is 11,700 lb. ARB sizes a kinetic strap at two to three times gross vehicle mass, which gives 14,000–21,000 lb of breaking strength for a 7,000 lb truck. Ram's 4x4 Off-road Group adds factory tow hooks, but a winch needs a winch-ready bumper or mounting plate rated for its line pull. The recovery gear hub covers shackle and recovery-point ratings.

How We Research Ram Fitment

This hub is built from Ram's 2026 Ram 1500 specifications, feature-availability sheet and towing charts, Ram's 2025 and 2027 press materials, and manufacturers' published fitment notes. We don't buy, install or test parts ourselves. See how we rank and the affiliate disclosure.

Ram, HEMI, Hurricane, RamBox, RHO and TRX are trademarks of their respective owners. 4x4 & Overlanding is an independent publication and is not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by any vehicle manufacturer.