It's not hard to believe that the best pickup trucks are hot sellers right now. Trucks are typically the best-sellers in the industry, but they're more popular than ever. Manufacturers have definitely caught wind of that, and they're building them as fast as they can (delays from the microchip crisis are not helping). Ram is debuting a new special edition this week in Chicago, and it's called the BackCountry Edition. From the recently released photos, it looks pretty aggressive.
The 2022 Ram 1500 BackCountry Edition is based on the hugely successful Ram 1500 Big Horn and Lone Star models that strike the right balance of luxury and utility. The BackCountry Edition isn't just a 1500 with trim changes. It also happens to get off-road upgrades that boost its rugged capabilities even more. It looks like a win-win for those who want a great pickup truck that looks ready for urban duties, coupled with the increased off-road chops.
The exterior changes include unique 18-inch black wheels, as well a darkened trim package with black badging, black exhaust tips, and even black headlight and taillight bezels, black exterior mirrors, and black running boards. The grille surround matches the body, and the grille mesh is black. The running boards seem to work against its off-road leanings by decreasing the truck's breakover angle, but who are we to judge?
In terms of off-road upgrades on the BackCountry, it gets the normally optional 4x4 Off-Road Group as standard equipment. The package includes tow hooks, front skid plates, transfer cases (for the front suspension, the power steering, and the fuel tank), a rear electronic locking axle, special off-road shocks, hill-descent control, and all-terrain tires. You'll notice there's ample clearance in the wheel wells for suspension travel. The BackCountry also includes the Bed Utility Group as standard equipment, and it includes the RAMBox cargo management system, adjustable tie-downs, bed extender, deployable corner bed step, in-bed lighting, and a rugged spray-in black bed liner.
The interior is blackened, as well, and it receives BackCountry badging on the bucket seats, the infotainment screen, and on the center console. The BackCountry Edition also receives black all-weather Mopar floor mats in front and back. The truck gets a 7" standard Uconnect touchscreen. It's unclear as to whether or not you can upgrade to the big 12.3" touchscreen. There isn't a good photo of the interior, so we're not sure what else is different about the BackCountry Edition.
The 2022 Ram 1500 BackCountry will go on sale in the third quarter of 2021. It will be available in 4x4 Quad and 4x4 Crew Cab configurations with both the larger displacement 5.7-liter V-8 and the 5.7-liter V-8 engine with eTorque mild-hybrid assist. The special edition truck is priced at a base MSRP of $40,085, not including the $1,695 destination charge.
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