2026 Ram 1500 BackCountry Debuts With Off-Road Upgrades

It levels up the Big Horn trim with a suspension lift and 32-inch off-road tires.

2026 Ram 1500 BackCountry

Photo by: Ram

Adrian Padeanu

By: Adrian Padeanu

Mar 16, at 8:00am ET

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The Breakdown

BackCountry is a $2,995 package for the Big Horn 4x4 Crew Cab.
Ram jacks up the suspension by an inch and mounts 32‑inch off‑road tires.
BackCountry also gets front tow hooks, underbody skid plates, and an off‑road cruise control.

Although it’s only March, the Ram 1500 has already been updated twice this year. 2026 kicked off strong with the return of the TRX, followed by a new Rebel X flavor that slots between the Rebel and the Ram 1500 RHO. Now, a third revision to the truck’s portfolio introduces an optional package for the Big Horn.

BackCountry is positioned between the Warlock and Rebel trims in the 1500’s already complicated lineup. For an extra $2,995 over the regular Big Horn, Ram adds a one-inch suspension lift with heavy-duty shock absorbers. You also get meaty 32-inch off-road tires and a rear electronic locking differential. To sweeten the deal, skid plates protect the front underbody, power steering rack, transfer case, and fuel tank.

For your money’s worth, this 1500 gets front tow hooks and an off-road cruise control system. If you’re still not convinced, this higher-grade variant features a host of black accents that set it apart from the regular Big Horn. The dark look extends to the 18-inch wheels, lighting bezels, and exterior badging.

Photo by: Ram

Ram also spruces up the cabin with all-weather rubber floor mats and the panel seatback storage system. Black vinyl seats with vinyl inserts might not look especially premium, but they make sense in a truck with an off-road focus. A BackCountry badge on the passenger side rounds off the list of changes.

Because the BackCountry requires the Level 1 Equipment Group, the truck comes with niceties such as heated front seats and electrically adjustable pedals. Other goodies range from a heated steering wheel to second-row in-floor storage bins. Power-folding, heated, auto-dimming mirrors also come standard, as does a heated rear sliding window.

Ram is already accepting orders for the BackCountry, which is offered exclusively for the Big Horn 4x4 Crew Cab. Engine choices include the usual suspects: the twin-turbo 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six (Standard Output) and the 5.7-liter V8. The former produces 420 horsepower and 469 pound-feet of torque, whereas the latter delivers 395 hp and 410 lb-ft.

The BackCountry costs $62,410, and you can splurge on the Level 2 Equipment Group. It adds features such as dual-zone climate control and a power tailgate. The optional kit also brings a 12-inch touchscreen, a nine-speaker sound system, dual wireless charging pads, and a 10-way power driver seat.

Stay Up To Date With The Ram 1500:

2026 Ram 1500 Rebel X Goes Full Combat Mode In Military Green

2027 Ram TRX Revealed: Now With 777 Horsepower

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Motor1's Take: It’s great to have more variety, but we do wonder whether configuring a new Ram 1500 isn’t getting a bit overwhelming. Choosing among so many trim levels and optional packages can take time, but the effort should pay off by letting buyers configure the truck exactly as they want while staying within budget.

The lineup will expand further with the upcoming 1500 Ramcharger, an electric truck with a range-extending combustion engine. Ram had also planned a pure EV, but it was canceled last year.

Source: Ram

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