S3, E99 - Have You Heard? Truck News!
About this episode
Get up to speed on the latest truck industry headlines, starting with the eye-watering $102,790 price tag for the 2027 Ram TRX. Learn about a bizarre legal case in Pennsylvania where a seller tried to pass off a retired NASCAR race truck as a street-legal Chevy S10. Plus, discover why Ford is putting the brakes on a V8-powered Ranger Raptor, how Rivian is expanding its mountain-ready mobile service fleet, and why Toyota is changing its engine replacement strategy for recalled Tundra V6s.
Ram TRX pricing, former NASCAR race truck gets busted on the street, Ranger Raptor too powerful, Rivian will save you on the trail, Toyota won't replace all recalled Tundra engines, Ford works on quality control, government armored Suburbans hit the private market, Nissan raises Frontier pricing, plus Ram's latest recall.
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Dodge Ram
"...e going to start off with TRX pricing So the 2027 Ram TRX is back as you know And the price for the 777..."
This is a large pickup truck made by Ram. The TRX version is a special model built to go very fast off-road using an incredibly powerful engine.
Although Ram became its own standalone brand in 2009, many still refer to these trucks as Dodge Rams, especially when discussing high-performance models like the TRX. The 2027 Ram TRX is a high-performance, desert-racing-inspired pickup truck powered by a supercharged Hellcat V8 engine. It is designed to deliver extreme horsepower and off-road suspension capability directly from the factory.
2027 Ram TRX
"So the 2027 Ram TRX is back as you know and the price for the 777 horsepower Hellcat powered truck has been announced. The Hellcat powered truck is going to cost you $102,790."
A ridiculously fast, wide, and loud version of the Ram 1500 truck designed to jump over sand dunes and go incredibly fast off-road. It uses a massive engine borrowed from Dodge's muscle cars.
The Ram 1500 TRX is a high-performance off-road pickup truck powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat V8 engine producing over 700 horsepower. It is famous for its widebody styling, active Bilstein Black Hawk e2 dampers, and its ability to tackle high-speed desert running.
Challenger Hellcat
"... as you know And the price for the 777 horsepower Hellcat powered truck Has been announced"
This is a two-door sports car, often called a muscle car, made by Dodge. It is famous for its retro look and for having very loud, powerful engines in its high-performance versions.
The Dodge Challenger is a classic American muscle car known for its retro styling, spacious cabin, and powerful engine options. While primarily a two-door coupe, its platform and supercharged Hellcat V8 engines heavily influenced other high-performance vehicles in the Dodge and Ram lineups, including extreme off-road trucks. Production of the gas-powered Challenger ended recently, cementing its status as a modern performance icon.
destination fee
"That includes an insane destination fee of $2,795. That's a down payment on some vehicles. I mean obviously percentage wise it's like you know 2% of this one but that has to be one of the higher destination fees in America."
A mandatory delivery fee that you have to pay when buying a brand-new car to cover the cost of shipping it from the factory to the dealership.
A mandatory charge added to the MSRP of a new vehicle to cover the cost of transporting it from the assembly plant or port of entry to the dealership. This fee is regulated by the government and must be uniform for a given model regardless of how far the dealership is from the factory.
Ram 1500 RHO
"Well you have to take into account just under that is the RHO. So $102,790. What do you think would you buy TRX for that kind of money or would you just get the RHO which is the exact same truck essentially but with the really sweet 540 horsepower turbocharged inline 6 which is known as the hurricane high output."
A high-performance off-road truck that looks like the TRX but swaps the loud V8 engine for a more efficient, high-tech six-cylinder engine that still makes a lot of power.
The Ram 1500 RHO is a high-performance off-road truck powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged 'Hurricane' inline-six engine producing 540 horsepower. Serving as the successor to the V8-powered TRX, it retains the long-travel suspension and aggressive widebody stance at a more accessible price point.
Chevrolet S10
"As a street legal pickup In fact it was a 1999 Chevrolet S10 Vin That was put on the race truck"
This is a smaller, older pickup truck made by Chevrolet that has four doors to fit more passengers. It was popular in the 1990s and 2000s for everyday chores and light towing.
The Chevrolet S-10 was a popular compact and later midsize pickup truck produced by General Motors, with the Crew Cab variant offering four full doors for passenger convenience. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, it served as a highly versatile platform for everyday use, commercial fleets, and even off-road racing chassis. Its simple construction made it a favorite for customization and motorsport adaptations.
1999 Chevrolet S10
"In fact it was a 1999 Chevrolet S10 Vin that was put on the race truck which as we all know is not the right way to do it."
A small, basic pickup truck from Chevy that was very popular in the 1990s and early 2000s for everyday work and commuting.
The Chevrolet S10 is a compact pickup truck that served as a staple of GM's light-truck lineup across two generations from 1982 to 2004. It is highly regarded in enthusiast circles for its simple mechanicals, lightweight chassis, and popularity in custom street-truck and drag-racing builds.
tube frame
"But it still had its tube frame, the racing chassis, the racing V8. So it was not quite the S10 that it was being passed off as."
A skeleton-like frame made of welded metal pipes that forms the structure of a race car, making it incredibly strong and safe if it crashes.
A structural chassis constructed from welded steel tubing, commonly used in race cars and high-performance off-road vehicles. It provides exceptional torsional rigidity and occupant safety (acting as an integrated roll cage) while keeping weight relatively low compared to traditional body-on-frame designs.
Ford Bronco Raptor
"So don't go expecting a V8R varying of the Bronco Raptor or Ranger Raptor anytime soon or ever as Ford has put the kibosh on speculation that an even more extreme Ranger Raptor R or Bronco Raptor R are in the pipeline."
An incredibly wide, aggressive version of the Ford Bronco SUV that comes from the factory with giant tires and heavy-duty suspension designed to fly over rough desert terrain.
The Ford Bronco Raptor is an extreme off-road SUV powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 engine producing 418 horsepower. It is instantly recognizable by its massive 37-inch tires, ultra-wide track, and heavy-duty HOSS 4.0 suspension system designed for high-speed desert bashing.
F-150 Raptor
"So don't go expecting a V8R Varying of the Bronco Raptor Or Ranger Raptor anytime soon"
This is a very popular, standard-sized pickup truck made by Ford. It is designed to carry cargo in the back, tow trailers, and carry passengers in comfort.
The Ford F-150 is a light-duty pickup truck that serves as the benchmark for the American truck market. It is available in a wide variety of configurations, ranging from basic work trucks to luxury cruisers and high-performance off-roaders. Its aluminum-alloy body and diverse engine lineup, including EcoBoost V6s and traditional V8s, help it balance capability with fuel efficiency.
Ford Ranger Raptor
"So don't go expecting a V8R varying of the Bronco Raptor or Ranger Raptor anytime soon or ever as Ford has put the kibosh on speculation that an even more extreme Ranger Raptor R or Bronco Raptor R are in the pipeline."
A smaller version of the famous F-150 Raptor, designed to go fast over rough dirt roads and jump over bumps, but sized to fit more easily in a standard garage.
The Ford Ranger Raptor is a midsize high-performance off-road truck powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 engine producing 405 horsepower. It is defined by its sophisticated Fox Live Valve bypass shocks and front/rear locking differentials, bringing desert-racing capability to a smaller footprint.
Carl Widman
"So Ford's performance chief engineer Carl Widman said there's no plans currently to build a R version of either vehicle..."
The head engineer at Ford who is in charge of making their fastest, most powerful, and most extreme cars and trucks.
The Chief Engineer for Ford Performance, responsible for leading the development of high-performance vehicles like the Mustang Shelby GT500, F-150 Raptor, and other enthusiast-focused Ford models.
Jeep Wrangler
"And there's also aftermarket tuners like Cobb and some of those tunes are good for 4550 horsepower I believe which gets you real close to a Wrangler 392."
A classic Jeep Wrangler that has had a massive, loud V8 muscle-car engine stuffed into it from the factory, making it incredibly fast and loud.
The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 is a high-performance variant of the iconic off-roader powered by a 6.4-liter (392 ci) naturally aspirated Hemi V8 engine producing 470 horsepower. It represents the pinnacle of factory Wrangler performance, combining solid-axle articulation with muscle-car acceleration.
R.J. Scaringe
"Where Rivian CEO R.J. Scarrange said the company has a growing mobile service network that's designed to reach customers almost anywhere..."
The founder and boss of the electric truck company Rivian, who helped design their unique electric vehicles.
The founder and CEO of Rivian, an American electric vehicle manufacturer. He holds a PhD in mechanical engineering from MIT and has guided the company from its stealth-mode origins to producing the R1T, R1S, and commercial delivery vans.
Rivian R1T
"Which makes me think of when I took the Rivian R1T down Black Bear Pass in Colorado as the first person to ever drive a fully electric vehicle..."
A futuristic, fully electric pickup truck that is incredibly fast, has lots of clever storage compartments, and can drive through deep water and climb steep rocky trails without using a drop of gasoline.
The Rivian R1T is an all-electric light-duty pickup truck featuring a sophisticated quad-motor or dual-motor AWD system producing up to 835 horsepower. It pioneered the modern electric adventure vehicle segment, featuring an adjustable air suspension, a unique 'gear tunnel' storage compartment, and sports-car-like on-road handling.
Black Bear Pass
"Which makes me think of when I took the Rivian R1T down Black Bear Pass in Colorado as the first person to ever drive a fully electric vehicle..."
A famous, very scary dirt road high up in the mountains of Colorado that is so steep and narrow that cars can only drive down it in one direction, requiring careful driving to avoid falling off the cliff.
A notorious and highly challenging off-road trail in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, connecting Ouray to Telluride. It is famous for its steep, narrow switchbacks, loose shale, and a one-way descent that requires extreme driver focus and high-clearance 4x4 vehicles.
resident frequency test
"So technicians are going to first perform what's called a resident frequency test that will be able to detect internal damage without tearing the engine apart."
A high-tech test that listens to the vibrations of an engine to figure out if there is hidden damage inside, without having to take the whole engine apart.
A diagnostic method (often referred to as a resonance frequency test) that measures the natural vibration frequencies of an engine's internal components. By analyzing these acoustic or vibrational signatures, technicians can detect microscopic structural damage or bearing wear without disassembling the engine.
Toyota Tundra
"But their recall now has more than 260,000 non-hybrid 22-24 tundra and related Lexus SUVs..."
Toyota's large pickup truck that was recently redesigned to use a high-tech twin-turbo V6 engine instead of the old, thirsty V8 engine.
The Toyota Tundra (2022-present) is a full-size pickup truck that marked a major shift for Toyota by replacing the traditional naturally aspirated V8 with a 3.4-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine. Built on the TNGA-F global body-on-frame platform, it features a modern multi-link rear coil-spring suspension.
Chevrolet Suburban
"And there were six 2019 Suburban HDs that were originally manufactured for Capitol Police duty and they feature a heavy duty chassis armored construction..."
A heavy-duty, extra-strong version of the Chevy Suburban that is built like a commercial truck, often used by the government or police because it can carry heavy armor plating.
The Chevrolet Suburban HD (Heavy Duty) is a specialized, fleet-only version of the full-size SUV built on a stronger commercial-grade chassis to handle heavy payloads and armoring. It is highly prized by government agencies and security firms for its robust 6.0-liter V8 engine and heavy-duty suspension.
superchargers
"Most of the SUVs are powered by the six-liter V8 and they have superchargers on it boosting the output to 650 horsepower..."
A device bolted to an engine that pumps extra air into it to make the car much faster, giving you instant power as soon as you step on the gas.
An engine-driven air compressor that forces more air into the cylinders to increase horsepower and torque. Unlike a turbocharger, which is driven by exhaust gases, a supercharger is belt-driven directly from the engine's crankshaft, providing instant throttle response.
Ford F350
"3500 HD, the 2025 Ford F350 Super Duty and the 2025 Ram 3500"
This is an extremely large and powerful truck made by Ford, designed for heavy-duty work like towing massive trailers or carrying heavy loads. It is much larger and stronger than a standard everyday pickup truck.
The Ford F-350 Super Duty is a heavy-duty pickup truck engineered for extreme towing, hauling, and commercial work applications. Positioned above the half-ton F-150, the 2025 model offers massive payload capacities and powerful engine options, including the high-output Power Stroke turbo-diesel V8. It is a staple for fifth-wheel towing and heavy industrial use.
Ram 3500
"F350 Super Duty and the 2025 Ram 3500 The Chevy and the Ford are in top marks"
This is a very large, heavy-duty truck made by Ram. It is built specifically for pulling extremely heavy trailers, like horse trailers or large campers, and is much stronger than a standard pickup truck.
The Ram 3500 is a heavy-duty pickup truck designed for maximum towing and hauling capabilities, competing directly in the one-ton truck segment. The 2025 model features robust chassis options and the optional Cummins inline-six turbo-diesel engine, which is highly regarded for its immense torque and longevity. It is commonly used for commercial hauling, agricultural work, and towing large recreational trailers.
TrailSport
"Honda just released a new free companion app for the trail sport models at least the Passport Pilot and CR-V..."
A special version of Honda's SUVs that comes with tougher tires, stronger suspension, and extra protection underneath so you can drive them on dirt trails and camping trips.
Honda's rugged, off-road-oriented trim level applied to its SUVs and light trucks. It typically includes functional upgrades such as increased ground clearance, steel skid plates, all-terrain tires, and specially tuned suspension and all-wheel-drive systems.
Honda Ridgeline
"At least the Passport Pilot and CR-V Not the Ridgeline and the reason for that Is on a different archite..."
This is a midsize pickup truck made by Honda. Unlike most trucks that are built like heavy commercial vehicles, this one is built more like a large SUV, making it smoother and more comfortable to drive everyday.
The Honda Ridgeline is a midsize pickup truck known for its unique unibody construction, which it shares with Honda's crossovers rather than traditional body-on-frame trucks. This design gives it superior on-road ride comfort, handling, and interior packaging. It is highly regarded for its practical dual-action tailgate and in-bed trunk.
2027 Nissan Frontier
"And if you're a fan of the Nissan Frontier like we are, you might want to get a 26 because the 27 Nissan Frontier well, it just got more expensive for 27."
Nissan's midsize truck that is known for being simple, rugged, and reliable, offering a strong V6 engine and a comfortable cabin.
The Nissan Frontier is a midsize pickup truck powered by a rugged 3.8-liter naturally aspirated V6 engine producing 310 horsepower. Known for its traditional body-on-frame construction and straightforward mechanical layout, it offers a highly capable Pro-4X off-road trim with Bilstein shocks.
tire speed rating
"Because more than 12,000 Ram heavy-duty trucks were being recalled because their top speed is set above their tire rating."
A letter printed on the side of a tire that tells you the absolute fastest speed the tire can safely handle before it risks overheating or blowing out.
An alphabetical code molded onto a tire's sidewall indicating the maximum speed the tire can safely sustain under its recommended load capacity. For example, an 'R' rating indicates a maximum safe speed of 106 mph (170 km/h), while a 'Y' rating is certified up to 186 mph (300 km/h).
Ram 2500 HD
"There's about 12,736 2500 HD pickups built between June 21st 22nd and April 14th 2026 that have this defect."
A very large, heavy-duty truck built by Ram that is designed to tow massive trailers, horse trailers, or heavy machinery.
The Ram 2500 is a heavy-duty full-size pickup truck designed for extreme towing and hauling, famously available with a 6.7-liter Cummins turbo-diesel inline-six engine. It is unique in the heavy-duty segment for utilizing a rear coil-spring or air-suspension setup to improve unladen ride quality.
Alpine A106
"So they all wear R rated tires From the factory, so that's a 106 mile an hour limit So normally Ram would limit"
This is a small, historic sports car made by a French company called Alpine in the 1950s. It was built using lightweight materials and parts from everyday French cars to make it fun and sporty to drive.
The Alpine A106 was a lightweight sports coupe produced in the 1950s by the French manufacturer Alpine, utilizing fiberglass bodywork and Renault mechanical components. It is historically significant as the very first production model from Alpine, laying the foundation for the brand's future rallying and sports car legacy. Its compact design and rear-engine layout emphasized agile handling over raw straight-line speed.
powertrain control module
"Fortunately, the fix is super simple. Owners just have to go down to the dealer and they'll get a software update on the powertrain control module."
The main computer brain of a car or truck that manages how the engine runs and how the transmission shifts gears.
The primary onboard computer in modern vehicles that controls the engine, transmission, and other drivetrain functions. It processes data from various sensors to optimize fuel delivery, ignition timing, emissions, and gear shifts.
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