Chrysler, Mopar hope Ram Runner kit can challenge Ford SVT Raptor

In an effort to compete with the Ford SVT Raptor off-road pickup, Chrysler and parts group Mopar have released the Ram Runner kit.

The Mopar Ram Runner kit, available for owners of 2009-2011 Dodge Ram 1500 models, can be installed at home or by the dealer for a total parts cost of just less than $20,000. The Ram Runner upgraders on a budget can add kit elements individually as well.

The kit was developed with the help of Baja off-road racer Kent Kroeker. He owns Team Kore and Kore Performance, an off-road accessory company.

The most expensive part of the package, at $13,270, is the Pre-Runner Stage II Lift Kit. It comes with a five-link coil-spring rear suspension, 4130 chrome-moly upper and lower control arms, rebuildable high-angle ball joints and forged-steel, high-angle tie rods. The kit provides 14 inches of suspension travel, damped by three-inch internal-bypass Fox shocks. The one-inch outer tie rods are made of forged steel, while the inner tie rods are upgraded as well.

After the upgrades, ground clearance on the truck is 13 inches at the center of the front crossmember and 16 inches at the rocker panels.

A steel off-road front bumper gets an integrated aluminum skid plate. It allows for an approach angle of 41 degrees for greater clearance. The off-road front bumper costs $1,250.

Mopar charges $1,010 for the off-road rear tire carrier, which allows for easier access and the ability to carry larger, off-road tires.

The off-road fenders have wider wheel wells for more suspension articulation, no body-to-tire contact and a more aggressive appearance. The lightweight fiberglass upgrades cost $1,020 each.

Finally, the complete package adds a cat-back exhaust system for the 5.7-liter Hemi truck. It gets special chrome tips for a bumper with cutouts.

PRESS RELEASE: Mopar Announces Details of Ram Runner Kit for Off-Road Enthusiasts

Turn Your Ram Truck into a Desert Racer

-Mopar

By Jake Lingeman