https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIvzp33LUvk
Going out to the sand dunes is usually reserved for four-wheelers, dirt bikes, and dedicated off-road vehicles like modified Jeeps.
You might expect to find vehicles like this Ram 1500 towing the lightweight, rigid vehicles that do well with dune hopping, because it's really good at doing that particular job. However, the owner decides he wants to fly. Never mind the truck weighs 2.5 tons. It's all good.
Physics has some pretty hard and fast rules about what types of things fly well, and which don't. Yes, there are trucks that are designed for off-roading. We're all aware of the Ford F-150 Raptor's origin story with the Baja 1000. And yes, it's true that the Ram 1500 TRX is specifically pictured doing this very type of thing in press shots.
But, this is not a TRX. It's just a big old Ram 1500, and as the badge indicates, it has a 5.7L Hemi V8 engine adding weight to the front. And, as per the rules of physics, the second this big old Ram touches down and starts sinking in the sand, we hear something go "snap," and the truck veers off track.
Unlike some truck jumping videos, this seems to be the best version of a worst case scenario. The driver is definitely going to need a tow, but the good news is that he seems to be ok. In fact, he seems to be pretty ok with everything that's going on, including being buried up to the running board in sand, and having what one off-screen voice speculates is a snapped tire rod. The fender looks a little jacked up, too, but if you think you're escaping the dunes without a scratch, you're highly mistaken.
This post was originally published on May 13, 2021.