Compare the2024 Ford F-150 RaptorVS 2024 Ram 1500 TRX

The Ford F-150 Raptor has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The 1500 TRX doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The F-150 Raptor has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The 1500 TRX doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The F-150 Raptor’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the 1500 TRX.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the F-150 Raptor has standard Cross Traffic Alert and Cross Traffic Braking automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Ram charges extra for Rear Cross Path Detection on the 1500 TRX and the 1500 TRX’s Rear Cross Path Detection does not include automatic braking.

The F-150 Raptor’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The 1500 TRX doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the F-150 Raptor and the 1500 TRX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available front parking sensors.

There are over 24 percent more Ford dealers than there are Ram dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the F-150 Raptor’s warranty.

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the F-150 Raptor have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the engine in the 1500 TRX.

The F-150 Raptor has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The 1500 TRX doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Ram vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in long-term dependability. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Ram is rated below average.

As tested in Motor Trend the F-150 Raptor R 5.2 supercharged V8 is faster than the Ram 1500 TRX:

On the EPA test cycle the F-150 Raptor gets better mileage than the 1500 TRX:

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the F-150 Raptor’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The 1500 TRX doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The F-150 Raptor has 3 gallons more fuel capacity than the 1500 TRX (36 vs. 33 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Ford F-150 Raptor higher (3 to 6 out of 10) than the Ram 1500 TRX (1). This means the F-150 Raptor produces up to 45.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the 1500 TRX every 15,000 miles.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Ford F-150 Raptor, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the 1500 TRX.

The F-150 Raptor R handles at .71 G’s, while the 1500 TRX pulls only .70 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the F-150 Raptor’s turning circle is .3 feet tighter than the 1500 TRX’s (48 feet vs. 48.3 feet).

The Ford F-150 Raptor may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 700 pounds less than the Ram 1500 TRX.

The F-150 Raptor has 3 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the 1500 TRX.

A low lift-over bed design makes loading and unloading the F-150 Raptor easier. The F-150 Raptor’s bed lift-over height is 37 inches, while the 1500 TRX’s liftover is 38.1 inches.

The Ford F-150 Raptor has a standard Tailgate Lift Assist, which prevents the heavy tailgate from falling with a crash and causing injury. It allows adults and children to easily open and close the tailgate with one hand to better facilitate loading and unloading. The Ram 1500 TRX doesn’t offer a tailgate assist.

The Ford F-150 Raptor has a standard Tailgate Step, which folds out and allows for much easier access to the cargo area. The Ram 1500 TRX doesn’t offer a rear cargo step.

The F-150 Raptor has stake post holes, to allow the containment of tall, light loads. The 1500 TRX doesn’t offer stake post holes.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the F-150 Raptor has a standard power cargo door, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The 1500 TRX doesn’t offer a power cargo door.

The F-150 Raptor’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the 1500 TRX’s (8200 vs. 8100 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Ram 1500 TRX is only 8100 pounds. The F-150 Raptor offers up to a 8700 lbs. towing capacity.

The F-150 Raptor has a higher standard payload capacity than the 1500 TRX (1410 vs. 1310 lbs.).

The F-150 Raptor’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The 1500 TRX doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the F-150 Raptor’s exterior PIN entry system. The 1500 TRX doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its 9-1-1 Call can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The F-150 Raptor’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The 1500 TRX’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The F-150 Raptor has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the 1500 TRX.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Ford F-150 Raptor has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the 1500 TRX.

The F-150 Raptor’s Park Assist can parallel park by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The 1500 TRX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its May 2023 issue and the Ford F-150 Raptor R won out over the Ram 1500 TRX.

The Ford F-Series outsold the Ram Pickup by 69% during 2023.