FEATURE - RAM concepts

Words: Mike Ryan

Photos: Stellantis North America and Newspress

Every year, the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) presents the newest and best in the automotive aftermarket industry at the SEMA show. Mopar, the Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge/RAM factory parts brand, has been a part of the SEMA show for most of its history. At SEMA 2022, Mopar presented a range of new, existing and upcoming parts, as well as a lineup of custom vehicles that included two RAM pickup trucks.

If you’re already familiar with SEMA, you’ll know that the annual industry trade show in Las Vegas is regarded by many as a default car show, too, as virtually every exhibitor at the event has a vehicle of some sort on their stand. Some of these are built by the exhibitor, while others are built for them. And while some of these often demonstrate the relevant products the exhibitor offers, more often than not they’re just ways of grabbing attention.

In the case of Stellantis North America (parent company of Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge/RAM), their Mopar parts brand has been the focus of several display vehicles at SEMA in the past, primarily demonstrating how customers can personalise their Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge/RAM vehicles. That being said, some display vehicles, particularly those under the Jeep brand, have been pure flights of fancy that have no real connection to the aftermarket parts industry - they just look cool!

At SEMA 2022, Stellantis had nine vehicles on display, of which the units that were closer to reality included a pair of RAM pickups. Finished in custom paint, both were also fitted out with Mopar performance parts and accessories, some of which are already available and others that may be part of the Mopar range in the future.

Mark Bosanac, North America senior vice president, Mopar service, parts and customer care, described the pair as showcasing a truckload of innovative Mopar accessories.

RAM 1500 TRX Gold Shot Concept

Based on the RAM 1500 TRX that made its Australian debut last year, the Gold Shot Concept was described as a high-performance toy hauler for the motocross enthusiast. To reinforce that point, a pair of dirt bikes graced the tray for the concept’s reveal.

Ensuring the concept couldn’t be missed at SEMA, its one-off paint scheme of Satin Bitter Yellow over Satin Black was accented with massive ‘TRX’ graphics on the flanks. The RamBar sports bar behind the cabin is a factory accessory, but the auxiliary lights mounted to that were concept 14-inch LEDs from TYRI, generating 4,300 lumens.

Mopar black exhaust tips complemented the blackout treatment of the concept’s rear end, while Black Rhino ‘Chamber’ wheels in a special Vintage Bronze finish and 18x9.5-inch size added to the visual appeal. These were shod with 37-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain tyres for what Mopar called a “performance-inspired appearance at all four corners”.

Practical touches on the Gold Shot Concept included a Mopar spray-in tubliner that allows the tub to be hosed out after muddy dirt bikes have made their presence felt, while a Mopar bed step makes for easier access to the tub. When not required, this fold-down step retracts out of the way.

While the RAM 1500 TRX is already pretty handy off-road, accessories were added to the Gold Shot Concept to ensure it’s even tougher off the beaten track. These included Mopar rock rails and bespoke skid plates with custom etched Mopar lettering. Fitted throughout the pickup’s ventral area, the front skid plate in this set also increased approach angle to 32.5 degrees – a 2.3 degree improvement on factory.

Inside the God Shot Concept, it was mostly stock 1500 TRX parts, but special trim in yellow and black picked up on the exterior colouring. The concept's 1500 TRX sports seats, trimmed in Capri leather and Alcantara, featured unique Gold Spinneybeck stripe accents, Alaska Gold stitching and gold 'TRX' embroidered identification on the front seat uprights. While not visible in the images shown here, the seats also carried Mopar branding on the outboard shoulder bolsters.

The same Alaska Gold contrast stitching was added to the steering wheel and door cards, with yellow surrounds added to the cabin air vents.

With the same easy-clean approach applied to the tub, the Gold Shot Concept’s cabin featured vinyl flooring taken from the RAM 1500 Tradesman.

RAM 1500 Backcountry X Concept

While the Gold Shot Concept was more about “play”, the Backcountry X Concept claimed to suit truck owners who are “serious about combining work and play”.

Based on a RAM 1500 with the Big Horn Backcountry package, the key feature on this 4x4 concept was its additional storage, building on the factory RamBox tubside storage compartments that RAM already offers on some models here.

What Mopar called ‘RamPack’ and ‘RamRack’ claim to significantly increase cargo space without impacting the functionality of the RAM 1500’s standard 1700mm (5’7”) long tub.

The RamPack storage compartments, incorporated into the RamBox, increase the capacity of these built-in, secure storage compartments from 206 litres (7.3 cubic feet) to 348.2 litres (12.3 cubic feet).

Opening the top-hinged carbon fibre panel on each RamPack allows access to a ‘two-tier’ storage layout, with full-length shelves separating the upper storage compartment from the existing RamBox space. Vertical dividers allow this space to be utilised even more efficiently, while built-in tie-down loops were added to secure long or bulky loads.

The RamRack on the Backcountry X Concept was a development of the telescoping rack system first shown on the RAM 1500 Outdoorsman concept at SEMA in 2021. For this latest iteration, extra Thule cross rails were added to the RamRack to carry long items, like ladders and lengths of timber, or surfboards and kayaks. The aft crossbar in this new arrangement included a brake light, while 2-inch TYRI LED lights in each corner of the rack ensured the tub could be well illuminated at night.

Making this concept even more practical for work was the RamGate that turns the tailgate into a workbench. Rulers, conversion charts and angle finders are moulded into this tailgate panel, while slots allow an array of Rockler clamps and woodworking tools to be incorporated, too. In the tub itself, a Mopar spray-in liner was added for durability.

Other Mopar parts on this concept included a grille guard with a quartet of 5-inch LED lights, tube steps and a swing-out rear tub access step.

While the Backcountry X Concept was mostly unaltered from a stock RAM 1500 mechanically, it did feature a Mopar 2-inch lift kit and a set of Fox shocks. Upping the off-road cred were a set of 37-inch BFGoodrich tyres on 20x9-inch Fuel 'Heater' wheels. Tow hooks were added at each end, too.

Cosmetic touches started with Matte Iced Silver Titanium paint, accented with a matte black and anodised orange stripe, while orange accents were added on areas like the grille, tow hooks and the concept RamPack storage covers.

Inside, bucket seats front and rear were trimmed in multi-tone green leather, with orange stitching for contrast and ‘Backcountry X’ identification embroidered into the front seat uprights.

That orange stitching extended to the door cards, armrests and steering wheel, while anodised orange trim on the air vent controls kept the theme going.

Grab handles in the cabin were trimmed in Gore-Tex, while Mopar all-weather mats lined the floor. To make cabin cleaning easy after a day on the worksite, a concept RamVac on-board vacuum cleaner was also incorporated into the cabin.

Finally, echoing the practicality of the RamGate workbench, a slide-out panel in the centre console between the front seats provided an additional workspace and included a measuring system.

SEMA Jeep Fest

The other Mopar and Stellantis concepts at SEMA 2022 were all Jeep-based and many had previously debuted at the Easter Jeep Safari, but one new arrival was the CJ Surge, which took a classic CJ-7 Jeep and gave it a modern makeover, including an electric drivetrain, custom rollcage and a swathe of accessories from the Mopar and Jeep Performance Parts catalogues.