CAUGHT: Is The Outdoorsman Returning To The Ram 1500 Lineup?

A decade ago, the Ram Truck brand rolled out the Ram 1500 Outdoorsman. The Outdoorsman was designed for hunters, fishermen, campers, and boaters. The unique package featured trailer-towing upgrades, off-road-oriented tires, and a rugged exterior appearance without breaking customer’s bank accounts. The package disappeared after the 2018 model year when the fifth-generation Ram 1500 launched. 

With the 2021 model year well underway, our keen-eyed spy photographers have appeared to catch the next generation of the Ram 1500 Outdoorsman testing near Metro Detroit. It appears that the Outdoorsman takes cues from three different packages, the Rebel, the North Edition, and the Night Edition.

The two-tone painted Ram 1500 stands out with its darkened-theme lighting and dark bumpers. Ready to attack the trail the Outdoorsman features aggressive Falken Wildpeak A/T tires on black-painted 18-inch aluminum wheels. If this new version of the Outdoorsman follows the formula of the last, we can expect the following equipment…

• Trailer-Tow Group –
  • Add Class IV Receiver-Hitch
  • Class IV Receiver-Hitch
  • Trailer Brake-Controller
  • Trailer Light Check
  • Trailer Reverse Steering Control
  • Trailer Tire Pressure Monitoring System
  • 8.4-Inch Uconnect^® 4 Touchscreen Display

• 4×4 Off-Road Group – 
  • Electronic Locking Rear Axle
  • Front Extra-Heavy-Duty Shock Absorbers
  • Front Suspension Skid-Plate
  • Fuel Tank Skid-Plate
  • Full-Size Spare Tire
  • Hill-Descent Control
  • “Off-Road” Decals
  • Off-Road Information Pages
  • Rear Extra-Heavy-Duty Shock Absorbers
  • Steering Gear Skid-Plate
  • Tow Hooks
  • Transfer-Case Skid-Plate

• Exterior Features – 
  • Black-Painted Front Bumper
  • Black-Painted Rear Bumper
  • Body-Color Grille-Surround
  • Black-Painted Exterior Mirrors with Supplemental Signals & Mirror
  • Tow Hooks

The older models of Ram 1500 Outdoorsman included such equipment as…

• Front & Rear Rubber Floor Mats by Mopar_®
• 3.92 Rear Axle Ratio
• Full-Size Spare Tire
• Front & Rear Extra Heavy-Duty Shock Absorbers
• 4-Corner Air Suspension (Optional)
• ParkSense^® Front and Rear Park-Assist with Stop (Optional)
• Heated Front Seats (Optional)
• Heated Steering Wheel (Optional)
• RamBox^® Cargo Management System (Optional)

The original Outdoorsman models were based on the popular Big Horn trim level, which probably explains the LoneStar (the Texas variant of the Big Horn trim) on the tailgate on this tester. Why no “Outdoorsman” badge on the tailgate? We aren’t sure. Maybe this new Outdoorsman is a package under the Big Horn/Lone Star trim, similar to the North Edition, Night Edition, and Built to Serve Edition pickups?

The last-generation Outdoorsman models also featured not just one, but three powertrains. With the fifth-generation Ram 1500, there might be four powertrain options including…

• 3.6-liter eTorque Pentastar V6 engine, delivering 305 horsepower and 269 lb.-ft. of torque
• 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 engine, delivering 260 horsepower and 480 lb.-ft. of torque
• 5.7-liter HEMI® V8 with variable-valve timing (VVT), 395 horsepower and 410 lb.-ft. of torque
• 5.7-liter eTorque HEMI V8 with VVT, 395 horsepower and 410 lb.-ft. of torque

Another detail of the last-generation Outdoorsman that appealed to customers was the ability to choose from three different configurations. Customers could choose from a Quad Cab with a 6-foot, 4-inch bed, a Crew Cab with a 5-foot, 7-inch bed, or a Crew Cab with a 6-foot, 4-inch bed. We expect those options also to be available on the newest generation.

So what do you think of a fifth-generation Ram 1500 Outdoorsman? Let us know in our 5thGenRams.com owners forums.