The F-150 Raptor was the undisputed king of high-performance off-roading trucks for years, but in 2026, the Ram 1500 RHO changes the game. It makes its move with a modern powertrain, an expanded warranty coverage, and a smaller price tag. Find out how the 2026 Ram 1500 RHO compares to the Ford F-150 Raptor below!
Key Takeaways
- With a starting price of $76,685 as of March 13, 2025, the RHO is over $5,000 cheaper than the base Raptor while delivering more standard horsepower.
- Ram now includes a 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain warranty on the RHO.
- In terms of power, the RHO's inline-six beats out the standard Raptor's V6 right from the jump.
2026 Changes for the Ram 1500 RHO vs. Ford F-150 Raptor
You can now opt for a dealer-installed MagnaFlow cat-back exhaust for the RHO--an absolute must-buy if you want the truck to sound as aggressive as it looks. You also have five new ways to customize your look with colors like Canyon Lake, Silver Zynith, Serrano Green Metallic, and two different Molten and Delmonico Red Pearlcoats. The real kicker, though, is the new 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. It's a massive win, giving you peace of mind when you use the truck off-road. The RHO has just one trim starting at $76,685.
Over at Ford, there are some minor updates to the Raptor's tech and interior materials, but the mechanical side stays the same as last year. The Raptor remains the more expensive path:
- F-150 Raptor: $81,800
- F-150 Raptor R: $113,525
Model Year Changes and Pricing
| 2026 Ram 1500 RHO |
2026 Ford F-150 Raptor |
| New MagnaFlow cat-back exhaust available (dealer-installed); Canyon Lake, Silver Zynith, Serrano Green Metallic, and two different Molten and Delmonico Red Pearlcoats colors added |
Minor interior materials and tech tweaks |
| Added 10-year / 100,000-mile powertrain warranty |
No other changes for 2026 |
| $76,685 (Single RHO model) |
Raptor for $81,800 and Raptor R for $113,525 |
Engine Options in the Ram 1500 RHO vs. Ford F-150 Raptor
The soul of the RHO is the "Hurricane" high-output, twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six, which sends 540 horsepower through an eight-speed automatic. Ram packed it with Bilstein Blackhawk e2 adaptive shocks and a custom air-spring suspension that allows for 14 inches of rear axle travel. Sitting on 35-inch tires with a factory lift, the RHO clears 11.8 inches of ground, the highest clearance in the Ram 1500 family.
The Raptor sticks with its 450-hp twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 and a 10-speed automatic. It's down on power compared to the RHO, but it does feature Fox internal-bypass dampers and a five-link rear coil-spring setup. The Raptor R offers a 720-hp supercharged V8 and 37-inch tires that push ground clearance to 13 inches, but you'll have to pay a premium for those upgrades.
Ram 1500 RHO vs. Ford F-150 Raptor Towing and Payload
The RHO rates for a maximum towing capacity of 8,360 pounds--plenty for a car trailer or a speedboat. It also edges out the Ford in the bed with a max payload of 1,490 pounds.
The Raptor R can pull a bit more (8,700 pounds), but both the standard Raptor and the R model trail the Ram in payload capacity, topping out at 1,400 pounds.
Which Truck Comes Out On Top?
When you look at the raw numbers, the 2026 Ram 1500 RHO offers more standard horsepower than the base Raptor, a much stronger warranty, and a more enticing price. If you're tired of the same old options and want a truck that actually brings something new to the table, you need to come to Thunder CDJR and take the RHO for a spin.