It’s my RHO’s 1st birthday…time to say goodbye?

[eltaco]

Thoughtful & well put.

RHO is the 5th pickup I’ve owned over the years.

A 4x4 Toyota Tacoma reg cab with a 4 cylinder manual is in my “top 3” favorite vehicles I’ve ever owned. It was light & tossable, a pure joy to drive abusively. I remember flying across a freshly plowed field & hitting the runoff ditch so hard, it cracked the windshield. I could drive it on 2 wheels around off camber turns! I didn’t handle like a sports car, but it was so predictable. I was much younger then.

My last pickup was a ‘15 Ram RT with muffler delete. It never had any mechanical issues & I used the Hemi to its fullest. A great experience. Totally street oriented. It did go off road, but rarely.

The RHO, on pavement, has not met my expectations. And, the gremlins have fueled the “dissatisfaction fire”. So, you are 100% correct.

Totally fair.

I had a 2007 Tacoma that I lifted with good suspension and tire upgrades, and that truck was crazy amounts of fun on fast off-road trails. I also was much younger then and truthfully, the younger me selected the RHO. It’s everything I dreamed I could afford back in those days. Moving to today, I have the RHO, but no longer have access to those fast desert roads, and honestly, my discernment has improved to the point I probably wouldn’t run it as hard as I used to even if I had the access!

I bought a Ducati a few years back with the same story. I used to rip around on a sport bike every week and always wanted the Ducati. Once I finally got one, reality that I’m a middle aged married man with 3 kids to get around really put a damper on my use and excitement for the bike. Really fun to look at, but unable to meet any of my obligations as a single passenger vehicle. I rarely jumped on it!

All of that said, I need a truck for my uses. The RHO to me is the best looking truck out there right now, and more power and features than I really need for. It still excites me to jump into the seat every day, so despite the fact that I won’t be racing it off-road anytime soon, I can’t think of another truck I’d rather have.

I’d probably have different feelings if mine were in the shop for 4mo…

 

[RDRHINO]

All great options…

I might avoid another FCA product for a while, but GW is quite NICE!

Not a big Ford fan. Have only owned 2 in my lifetime. Neither were bad or great.

Escalade is cool, but might choose something lower key. Test drove a Tahoe over the weekend. Drove well. With 6.2L & Brembo brakes, it gets pricey. Not off my radar yet.

I'd be careful with that GM L86 6.2L power plant. I've lost faith in GM following my debacle and the issues with my wife's '23 Yukon. The GW though......I actually really enjoy driving it. It's very mild mannered but has enough power to surprise you when you need it to.

 

[RHOfan]

I'd be careful with that GM L86 6.2L power plant. I've lost faith in GM following my debacle and the issues with my wife's '23 Yukon. The GW though......I actually really enjoy driving it. It's very mild mannered but has enough power to surprise you when you need it to.

As I understand it, the 6.2L engine problems were 2021-2024…more current models with this engine are NOT subject to recall.

That being said, GM products have rarely treated me well over the years.

I mentioned the ‘26 Honda Pilot Trailsport because I figured it might get a rise out of folks, but also because I plan to look at it when it hits dealers next month. Not saying I’m a buyer, but if it hits me right, it meets most of my more reasonable performance requirements & NO MORE GREMLINS, hopefully.

 

[JonnyBEST]

Twelve months ago on this day, I signed the papers. The RHO’s promise of 18 MPG (common disclosure error of the time, which was SST HO in non-RHO trim) with TRX capability & wide body looks, it seemed like a perfect fit. It was going to be my “weekend getaway rig”, a second vehicle that would NOT be a daily driver.

On the ride home from the dealer, with 33 miles on the odometer, the electronic gremlins initially showed their ugly heads. Three service visits, a bunch of misdiagnoses & 4 weeks in the shop later, my truck was fixed. Well, kinda. We’ve had other gremlins show-up at inopportune times, only to have these gremlins inexplicably disappear moments later, so I have never 100% trusted the truck.

Recently, a fun trip to Moab allowed me to use more of the truck’s capabilities. But let’s face it, serious off-roading a truck beats the crap out of it. If you need it to get you a long distance home, you can’t just throw caution to the wind. That is when my wife suggested renting a Jeep or SxS on location for any serious off-roading. Seemed like a good idea, but then why do I own an RHO? To get me to a remote trailhead on a forest road? Heck, a Camry could get me there.

And let’s face it, a truck that’s engineered to do so many amazing things off-road, you are going to have to compromise its street ride & handling. Realistically, 99% of our driving is on pavement, so is a “wanna-be” trophy truck the best option? And, this truck is so complex & historically troublesome, it’s only a matter of time before the next gremlin peeks from beneath the hood.

So, what’s next? A soft roader with great highway chops, maybe? The ‘26 Honda Pilot Trailsport just received a mid-cycle refresh & at least one owner said his ‘25 model easily completed the Shafer Switchbacks in Moab with his entire family onboard. Reliable? Definitely! Great pavement manners? Yes! Comparatively economical with no relevant compromises? A nice perk!

Let the hilarious, but thoughtful, commentary begin…

I greatly appreciate your view. My recent experience with Ram is that Stellantis does not back up it's products due to poor quality vehicles. RHO is supposed to be a flagship line. However, from the jump it has been obviously plagued with issues and from what I hear from other owners, every dealership is struggling to repair and keep our trucks operating flawlessly. The RHO has impressive looks, hp, and feels amazing when running - but that lasts a few days, maybe weeks, at best before the lack of functionality arises. If Stellantis believed in the RHO they would uniformly extend warranties for 2025 first generation models to match the 2026 model warranties. My experience with my local LA based Ram dealership, Stellantis, even Ramcares on here has been deplorable, at best. No one cares! I was hooked on the hope of a new line truck that could outperform the tried & true (but played out) Raptor and fell for the what I today see are gimmicky perks that don't actually work well. Ram doesn't back up it's products. I am far from being xenophobic but my experience dealing both with Ford and Ram service centers and their respective manufacturing headquarters assures me Ram is cutting corners and not going to step up for consumers by providing reliable service and dependable vehicles. One example, when my several years old F150 was stuck at Ford's service department not only did they provide a rental, Ford immediately extended my warranty and gave me 3 years of free maintenance service (oil changes etc). Ram's customer service is based outside the US - if you call, you'll experience someone going through the motions responding from a script and not truly answering nor resolving your issues. Ford was US based; my customer care agent was a working from home mother (I could hear her young child in the background) and she immediately began requesting bonus services and warranty extensions to compensate for my ordeal. As I stated in my previous post, I have a love-hate relationship with my RHO; fully loaded BEAUTIFUL looking truck. I bought a ton of stuff (Retrax, bed rack, gear etc) to build out an overlanding beast. Unfortunately, today I am terrified of the likeliness that my RHO was not effectively built to handle rigors of off-roading [my truck broke down on the mean streets of Los Angeles!]. I own a small owner-operator trucking company (Super 10 dumps) with both Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks. I work in horrible conditions and these huge trucks take a beating but keep going. Not directly comparing our RHO's to semi-trucks; only expressing that I have little confidence in my fancy Ram truck that certainly isn't backed by the manufacturer and continually shows signs of poor build quality. Stellantis should extend warranties to ALL owners. We showed our support to Ram buying their first gen flagship models and today are suffering from what many call "gremlins" but in reality, is a sign of upcoming major failures. My work trucks have tons of sensors that often get triggered; if I don't address & repair the issue immediately it leads to something catastrophic that will break under duress. I see this occurring with our RHO's and Ram is not backing up their vehicles by making sure they can handle the kinds of driving rigors advertised. I wouldn't be surprised if Ram used a TRX with RHO branding, body when advertising - just saying...
I PRAY I'm wrong! But the pattern points to a truck that is a complete gimmick not supported by Ram and going to fail. As such, I totally understand other's reasoning to sell. As for those of us that cannot afford to, I hope we band together and press Stellantis to back up their flagship vehicle with extended warranties and expedited repairs for all the crap we endure repeatedly bringing our fancy looking trucks into Ram-uncaring dealerships.

 

[RAM-Ranch-MT]

I love mine. Zero vehicles are better or interest me, pray mine stays good to go. Sorry you had issues with yours. Nobody will fault you for selling something with issues or you dont personally like.

My experience has been the opposite but not going to say yours isnt valid! Each truck is different. I love everything about mine. Suspension, power, interior, features. Zero gripes. Far exceeds any factory suspension on the market and neck and neck with raptor. Have even jumped these trucks 100+ feet in the desert and doesn't bat an eye! Offroad pre-runner beast.

Hell maybe order a 2026?! Lol who knows. I wouldn't go back to raptor. Or if you have no need for offroad use or speed just get an suv like others have suggested. Wish you the best ram fan!

 

[RAM-Ranch-MT]

Maybe get the hellcat track hawk with the mark dodge discount that Anthony posted? Idk just thought of that. Fast and suv lol

 

[JonnyBEST]

All good options. Unfortunately, I own a trucking company - hence, I NEED a personal truck to haul equipment, parts, tools etc. The RHO was a gift to myself for a VERY looong year working fire cleanup here in LA along with my birthday. And again, its a love-hate relationship because I truly love the looks, speed, size and potential. The quality and Ram's disinterest to step up on our behalf and provide quality care/services is concerning. There should not be this many issues, this soon! Not jumping ship just yet - but not holding back stating the obvious (truths).

 

[Scottie2Hottie]

Enjoy the Honda. I’m sure it’s capable of 95% of what most users will ask of it. Reliable. Cheaper insurance and service. Talk shit at 4 Runner owners.
All I ask is to keep the left lane open so we don’t have to pass you on the right.

 

[CORHinO]

It pains me to hear of other RHO owners having to deal with never ending electronic gremlins. My truck has a few, but nothing like what others have experienced here. Given that dissatisfied customers are 10x more likely to share their experiences, I have to believe there are more “good” RHOs on the market than bad. Still, that “luck” (at least for now) gives me a feeling akin to survivor’s guilt. I love my RHO and it’s never let me down so far on road trips, trails, or city (5,500 miles). Unless Stellantis does right by these owners, I’m leaning against buying an another one.

 

[RHOfan]

Curious what hasn't met expectations on pavement? I only drive on pavement and it's my favorite vehicle I've ever owned.

Hey Matt…I know your question was already answered, but I read a recent review of a unibody off-road biased SUV…the writer said body-on-frame, off-road oriented trucks have a “jittery and unsettled ride” compared to unibody framed vehicles.

I’d say “jittery & unsettled” best describes my criticism of RHO’s on-pavement ride quality, along a surprising amount of impact harshness.

I know…these are likely unavoidable qualities due to the extreme off-road capability of RHO.

 

[MattH89]

I myself am jittery and unsettled so I accept it

 

[Chase]

Very interesting take.

I don’t know what kind of offroading you are doing, but there is a lot of middle ground between something a Camry can handle and something that will cause you to not make it home in an off-road truck.

I’m not talking about a random flat tire which could happen on any vehicle on any road. I’m talking about rocks, shelves, ledges that an RHO will make easy work of and will pull the bumper off a Camry.

The truck doing this is, by it’s very nature, not going to be the best on road vehicle.

I like the Pilot Trailsport actually, but if that suits your needs then an RHO really probably wasn’t the best vehicle for you. That is a good “can handle the light off-roading and has a full-size spare family hauler”.

Or, if you needed a truck bed, your average limited sounds capable enough off road and will match more of what you are looking for on road.

 

[RHOfan]

Very interesting take.

I don’t know what kind of offroading you are doing, but there is a lot of middle ground between something a Camry can handle and something that will cause you to not make it home in an off-road truck.

I’m not talking about a random flat tire which could happen on any vehicle on any road. I’m talking about rocks, shelves, ledges that an RHO will make easy work of and will pull the bumper off a Camry.

The truck doing this is, by it’s very nature, not going to be the best on road vehicle.

I like the Pilot Trailsport actually, but if that suits your needs then an RHO really probably wasn’t the best vehicle for you. That is a good “can handle the light off-roading and has a full-size spare family hauler”.

Or, if you needed a truck bed, your average limited sounds capable enough off road and will match more of what you are looking for on road.

Thoughtful reply. Really.

I was joking about a Camry. To your point, the last remote hiking trail that I reached with my X5 that was more challenging than I thought was suitable for any SUV, I was surprised to see a new Corolla in the “parking” area. It was a rental & had been driven to that spot by a couple of German tourists. And yes, the entire rear bumper was torn off!

My neighbor has a really sweet F-150, non-Raptor. He saw me detailing the RHO & said, “That truck is too nice to trash off-road…you need a beater.” I don’t want a 3rd vehicle, just for beating off-road. But, I looked at his truck & thought, “That could work.” It has an Ecoboost engine that sounds like a V8 on start-up. Nice black leather interior. Blacked out badges from the factory. A middle of the road pickup, just a little special.

Sometimes the most extreme version of anything is not the most balanced option.

 

[RAM-Ranch-MT]

Thoughtful reply. Really.

I was joking about a Camry. To your point, the last remote hiking trail that I reached with my X5 that was more challenging than I thought was suitable for any SUV, I was surprised to see a new Corolla in the “parking” area. It was a rental & had been driven to that spot by a couple of German tourists. And yes, the entire rear bumper was torn off!

My neighbor has a really sweet F-150, non-Raptor. He saw me detailing the RHO & said, “That truck is too nice to trash off-road…you need a beater.” I don’t want a 3rd vehicle, just for beating off-road. But, I looked at his truck & thought, “That could work.” It has an Ecoboost engine that sounds like a V8 on start-up. Nice black leather interior. Blacked out badges from the factory. A middle of the road pickup, just a little special.

Sometimes the most extreme version of anything is not the most balanced option.

Or just beat up the RHO offroad like its designed?

What exactly are you trying to accomplish?

You want a rock crawler/beater? buy a cheap jeep or taco or ranger and go thrash it...

You want luxury, raw power, wide body pre runner high speed offroad truck with the best suspension: Buy RHO/TRX/Raptor.

You want a run of the mill shitbox f150 that does nothing well buy your neighbors.

 

[MattH89]

Or just beat up the RHO offroad like its designed?

What exactly are you trying to accomplish?

You want a rock crawler/beater? buy a cheap jeep or taco or ranger and go thrash it...

You want luxury, raw power, wide body pre runner high speed offroad truck with the best suspension: Buy RHO/TRX/Raptor.

You want a run of the mill shitbox f150 that does nothing well buy your neighbors.

I wanted to look cool as fuck on the way to and from the grocery store. Mission accomplished in a big way thanks to the RHO.

 

[Mikey Swift]

Y'all drive??
I bought it to look cool sitting in the garage.

 

[Santino]

Twelve months ago on this day, I signed the papers. The RHO’s promise of 18 MPG (common disclosure error of the time, which was SST HO in non-RHO trim) with TRX capability & wide body looks, it seemed like a perfect fit. It was going to be my “weekend getaway rig”, a second vehicle that would NOT be a daily driver.

On the ride home from the dealer, with 33 miles on the odometer, the electronic gremlins initially showed their ugly heads. Three service visits, a bunch of misdiagnoses & 4 weeks in the shop later, my truck was fixed. Well, kinda. We’ve had other gremlins show-up at inopportune times, only to have these gremlins inexplicably disappear moments later, so I have never 100% trusted the truck.

Recently, a fun trip to Moab allowed me to use more of the truck’s capabilities. But let’s face it, serious off-roading a truck beats the crap out of it. If you need it to get you a long distance home, you can’t just throw caution to the wind. That is when my wife suggested renting a Jeep or SxS on location for any serious off-roading. Seemed like a good idea, but then why do I own an RHO? To get me to a remote trailhead on a forest road? Heck, a Camry could get me there.

And let’s face it, a truck that’s engineered to do so many amazing things off-road, you are going to have to compromise its street ride & handling. Realistically, 99% of our driving is on pavement, so is a “wanna-be” trophy truck the best option? And, this truck is so complex & historically troublesome, it’s only a matter of time before the next gremlin peeks from beneath the hood.

So, what’s next? A soft roader with great highway chops, maybe? The ‘26 Honda Pilot Trailsport just received a mid-cycle refresh & at least one owner said his ‘25 model easily completed the Shafer Switchbacks in Moab with his entire family onboard. Reliable? Definitely! Great pavement manners? Yes! Comparatively economical with no relevant compromises? A nice perk!

Let the hilarious, but thoughtful, commentary begin…

This is exactly how I feel...My truck is almost 12 months old and she has got to go!!!...This might be the first time in forty years I won't be driving a truck...I guess it's a soccer mom suv next..Bmw or Audi...Love the hell out of the truck but today was the last straw for me... Is "Ram Don't Care" their motto?

 

[RamFan]

If someone is scared and wants to leave.

Bye.

Do you do this with your house, with any other purchase? Man up.

Tired of boys. Go home to momma.

Peace

Chris

 

[Santino]

If someone is scared and wants to leave.

Bye.

Do you do this with your house, with any other purchase? Man up.

Tired of boys. Go home to momma.

Peace

Chris

Leave What???....Are you the president of the "86k Turd Club"....And I went home to your momma,she said I was man enough.....peace

 

[RHOfan]

This is exactly how I feel...My truck is almost 12 months old and she has got to go!!!...This might be the first time in forty years I won't be driving a truck...I guess it's a soccer mom suv next..Bmw or Audi...Love the hell out of the truck but today was the last straw for me... Is "Ram Don't Care" their motto?

Not driving a truck? Be careful…

I was going down the SUV path & almost bought one last week. Thankfully, my salesman was off, so things got delayed.

My wife said, “Remember when you used to drive our X5…seemed like every trip with you behind the wheel, you complained about not having a pickup.” There’s just something feminine about most SUVs. Maybe because I see moms behind the wheel of 99% of the SUVs driving down the road.

So, I’m waiting to see what 2 products SRT has coming at Ram (we should know within the next 30 days).