As Spring takes hold across the country, many people start thinking about off-roading. In fact, tens of thousands of off-roaders are heading to Moab, Utah, for the Easter Jeep Safari. Ram knows that trail capability is a huge selling point for trucks, even though gas prices are high right now. Ram is betting prices will come down soon enough that its new model, the 2026 Ram 1500 BackCountry will be a strong seller.
“The off‑road segment has been growing for a while now and Ram has been leading that charge with Warlock, Rebel, RHO and TRX,” said Tim Kuniskis, Head of American Brands, SRT Performance, NA Marketing and Retail Strategy. “BackCountry is another option from Ram for customers looking to get into this growing part of the market without breaking the bank.”
2026 Ram 1500 BackCountry Helps Fill Out Ram’s Off-Road Lineup
Positioned between the Warlock and Rebel trims, the 2026 Ram 1500 BackCountry builds on the popular Big Horn 4x4 Crew Cab with added off‑road capability and distinctive exterior styling. The comprehensive package builds on the popular Off-Road Group and Bed Utility Group with color-matched exterior trim, blacked-out details, unique interior upholstery and functional off-road accessories. The BackCountry package adds a 1-inch suspension lift kit, heavy-duty shocks, underbody skid plates, front tow hooks, a rear electronic locking differential (ELocker), Selec‑Speed off‑road cruise control and 32‑inch off‑road tires.
The most important part is that the truck comes with all of this equipment straight from the factory, so it is covered by the factory warranty. Unfortunately, when people add a lot of this as aftermarket equipment, sometimes it can void the factory warranty. Plus, buying the truck with all of the equipment allows you to spread the cost over the length of the loan, rather than paying out of pocket at an aftermarket upfitter.
The BackCountry also sports body‑color accents and grille surround, black-painted lower body and bumpers, contrast black fender flares and Satin Black wheels.
Inside, the BackCountry is outfitted for the trails as well. The truck has a durable, easy to clean cabin with black vinyl bucket seats with printed mesh inserts. The truck comes with the MOLLE panel seatback storage system, which allows for customization. The truck also has BackCountry badging on the passenger-side instrument panel.
BackCountry Package Offers a Range of Choices
Priced at $2,995, the BackCountry package is available as an upgrade to the Ram 1500 Big Horn with either the Level 1 or Level 2 Equipment Group. Buyers also have the choice between what engine they want. Drivers can go all out with the 5.7-liter HEMI V‑8 eTorque or choose the more efficient 3.0-liter Hurricane Standard Output Twin Turbo I‑6.
The Level 1 Equipment Group brings interior upgrades, like heated front seats, a heated leather steering wheel, power adjustable pedals and second-row in-floor storage bins. On the outside, upgrades include automatic dimming side mirrors with power fold and heat, LED courtesy lamps and a rear power-sliding window with defrost.
Upgrading to the Level 2 Equipment Group adds a 7-inch instrument cluster display, 12-inch Uconnect 5 center touchscreen and configurable drive modes with Off-Road Info Pages. Additional content includes a 10-way power driver seat with lumbar, a center console wireless charging pad, dual-zone climate control, a power tailgate-release and a 9-speaker amplified audio system.
2026 BackCountry Package Features
- 1-inch suspension lift with heavy-duty shock absorbers
- Skid plates for the front underbody, power steering rack, transfer case and fuel tank
- Rear electronic locking differential (ELocker); functions as anti-spin when disengaged
- 32-inch off-road tires
- Satin Black 18-inch aluminum five-spoke wheels
- Front tow hooks
- Selec-Speed off‑road cruise control
- Contrasting black fender flares for added trail protection
- Body-color grille surround and accents
- Contrast lower body and bumpers painted in Diamond Black Crystal Pearl-Coat
- Satin Black BackCountry emblem on the passenger side instrument panel
- Satin Black badging and lighting bezels
- Durable vinyl bucket seats with printed mesh inserts
- MOLLE panel seatback storage system
Orders are open for the 2026 Ram 1500 BackCountry with pricing starting at $62,410 (including destination).
Image by Ram
About the Author
Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin. Follow Mary at @MaryConwayMedia on X and on Facebook, and send her car news tips for future stories. Mary Conway is an esteemed automotive and business reporter who was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame in 2019. Mary is a member of the Automotive Press Association, Rocky Mountain Automotive Press, Society of Professional Journalists, and NATAS.
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