Ram 1500 Warlock vs Big Horn is a choice between two trucks that share a 3.6 litre V6 and then head in different directions. Ram Canada lists the Warlock's enhancements against the Express: an electronic locker rear axle, Bilstein shocks, underbody skid plates and 33 inch all terrain tires. Its 2027 Ram 1500 page sets the Big Horn's against the Tradesman: an electronic shift on demand transfer case, chrome bumpers and adaptive cruise control with stop and go. Stellantis Canada's 2027 equipment information lists that cruise control on the Tradesman and the on demand transfer case on the Sport instead, so the window sticker settles both. Browse new Ram 1500 inventory in Portage la Prairie with that split in mind, and our Ram 1500 Warlock guide covers the Warlock on its own.
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Ram Canada's public Ram 1500 models, capability and editions pages, read in October 2026, describe the 2026 model year; the Big Horn list below comes from Ram Canada's 2027 Ram 1500 page, which lists the Warlock the same way. Where Stellantis Canada's 2027 Ram 1500 equipment information differs, we say so. Either way, the window sticker on the exact truck is the final word.
Around Portage la Prairie the test is a gravel grid road after a rain, a soft field approach in April and the Trans-Canada Highway run to Brandon or Winnipeg, so read both trucks against those roads.
Key Takeaways
- The Warlock is its own model, not a Big Horn package. Ram Canada lists it in the Ram 1500 lineup with its enhancements set against the Express, and its editions page calls it the Warlock Edition.
- The Warlock carries the traction and ground hardware. Ram Canada lists an electronic locker rear axle, Bilstein front and rear shocks, underbody skidplates, 33 inch all terrain tires and a one inch raised ride height.
- The Big Horn carries the highway equipment on Ram Canada's list. Ram Canada's 2027 Ram 1500 page gives it an electronic shift on demand transfer case, chrome front and rear bumpers, adaptive cruise control with stop and go and the Level 1 Safety Group. Stellantis Canada's 2027 equipment information puts that cruise control on the Tradesman and the on demand transfer case on the Sport, so read the sticker for both.
- Both start with the 3.6 litre Pentastar V6, 305 hp, with 269 lb ft on Ram Canada's 2026 pages and 271 lb ft in Stellantis Canada's 2027 information. Ram Canada's 2026 capability page names the Hurricane SO twin turbo six and the 5.7 litre HEMI V8 as available on the Big Horn, and Stellantis Canada lists the same two as 2027 Warlock options.
- Neither truck stops shorter on ice. Four wheel drive helps you get moving; winter tires help you stop and steer.
Ram 1500 Warlock vs Big Horn Side by Side
Here are the two trims as Ram Canada lists them, each against the trim it builds on: the Warlock from its 2026 and 2027 Ram 1500 pages, the Big Horn from its 2027 page.
| Trim | Listed against | Key items, in Ram Canada's words |
|---|---|---|
| Warlock | Express | 18 inch black aluminum wheels with 33 inch all terrain tires; Bilstein front and rear shocks; underbody skidplates; electronic locker rear axle; 3.6L Pentastar VVT V6 engine with eTorque |
| Big Horn | Tradesman | Electronic shift on demand transfer case; chrome front and rear bumpers; adaptive cruise control with stop and go; Level 1 Safety Group; 3.6L Pentastar VVT V6 engine with eTorque |
Is the Warlock a Trim or a Package?
The Warlock is a model of its own in Canada. Ram Canada's Ram 1500 page counts it among the models in the lineup and sets its enhancements against the Express, not the Big Horn. Ram Canada's 2026 editions page calls it the Warlock Edition and credits its skid plates, all terrain tires and rear locking differential for getting out of the muck.
The Ram 1500 Warlock in Detail
Suspension and stance. Bilstein front and rear shocks, and a raised ride height that Ram Canada's 2026 capability page gives as one inch (about 2.5 cm).
Wheels and tires. 18 inch black aluminum wheels with 33 inch all terrain tires. Stellantis Canada names the tire an LT275/70R18E OWL all terrain, an outline white letter tire.
Traction and protection. An electronic locker rear axle and underbody skidplates; Stellantis Canada names fuel tank and transfer case skid plates, plus tow hooks. The pages we read do not name its transfer case type; check the sticker.
The black look. On the 2027 lists the black is in the wheels, set off by the white letter tires. Stellantis Canada adds front LED fog lamps and dual black exhaust tips, the tips not available with the V6.
Interior and technology. Stellantis Canada lists a cloth 40/20/40 split front bench, a cloth 60/40 rear bench, rear in floor storage bins, a rear power sliding window, Mopar rubber floor mats, a 115 volt outlet and a 7 inch digital cluster.
Engine. The 3.6 litre Pentastar V6 is standard: Ram Canada's 2026 pages give it 305 hp and 269 lb ft with eTorque, and Stellantis Canada lists the 2027 V6 at 305 hp and 271 lb ft. Stellantis Canada lists the 3.0 litre Hurricane SO twin turbo inline six and the 5.7 litre HEMI V8 as 2027 Warlock options. Read the engine line on the sticker of the exact truck or ask our team.
The Ram 1500 Big Horn in Detail
Engine. Ram Canada's 2026 capability page lists the 3.6 litre Pentastar V6 with eTorque as standard, 305 hp and 269 lb ft (Stellantis Canada gives the 2027 V6 271 lb ft), and names the 3.0 litre Hurricane SO twin turbo inline six (420 hp, 469 lb ft) and the 5.7 litre HEMI V8 (395 hp, 410 lb ft) as available.
Four by four and driver assistance. An electronic shift on demand transfer case, adaptive cruise control with stop and go and the Level 1 Safety Group, all on Ram Canada's 2027 Big Horn list. Stellantis Canada's 2027 equipment information lists adaptive cruise control with stop and go on the Tradesman and names the on demand transfer case as a Sport enhancement over the Big Horn, so check the cruise control and transfer case lines on the sticker.
The look. Chrome front and rear bumpers. Read the wheel, tire and seat lines on the sticker of the exact truck.
Technology. Ram Canada lists the Uconnect 5 with an 8.4 inch touchscreen on the Tradesman, and the Big Horn's enhancements name no larger screen. Our Ram 1500 Big Horn guide goes deeper on the trim.
Gravel Roads and a Spring Field Approach
Picture a section road north of Portage in April, frost coming out of the clay and a field approach with water standing in the ruts. That is the Warlock's road. An electronic locker ties the two rear wheels together so both turn when one sits in mud. The raise and the 33 inch tires add room over the crown between the ruts, and the skidplates are there for the stone the cultivator missed. None of that makes a flooded approach a good idea: when the ruts are deeper than you can see, walk it first.
Highway Kilometres to Brandon and a Clean Daily Truck
If the truck's week is the Trans-Canada Highway to Brandon and the Perimeter in Winnipeg, the Big Horn's list reads better. Adaptive cruise control with stop and go takes some of the work out of a long run; Ram Canada lists it on the Big Horn, and the sources differ on which other trims carry it, so check the sticker of the exact Warlock for it too. The chrome bumpers give the clean daily look. If a camper or a boat for Lake Manitoba goes behind it, the Hurricane SO twin turbo six that Ram Canada lists as available on the Big Horn is the engine to ask about.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy the Warlock if your truck lives on gravel and grid roads, crosses a field approach in spring or backs a trailer down a soft launch. The locker, the shocks, the skidplates and the tires are the reason to buy it; the black wheels are a bonus.
Buy the Big Horn if your truck lives on Highway 1, the Perimeter and town streets, and you want a clean chrome look and the adaptive cruise and on demand transfer case on Ram Canada's Big Horn list, confirmed on the sticker.
Where the Warlock gives ground. Ram Canada's Warlock list does not name adaptive cruise control or the on demand transfer case, and the sources differ on which trims carry the cruise control, so read the sticker of the exact Warlock for both.
Where the Big Horn gives ground. Ram Canada's Big Horn list names no locker, no skid plates, no Bilstein shocks and no all terrain tires. If a gravel approach is part of every week, that is hardware you would do without.
Either way it is a Ram 1500, MotorTrend's 2025 Truck of the Year. If you are weighing the Warlock against the BackCountry and the Rebel instead, our BackCountry vs Warlock vs Rebel comparison walks that matchup.
What Neither Truck Does on Ice
A locker, 33 inch all terrain tires and four wheel drive help a truck get moving. They do not shorten a stop. Winter tires help you stop and steer, on a Warlock and a Big Horn alike. We are a participating retailer in the MPI Winter Tire Program. Manitoba Public Insurance's rule from October 1, 2026 is that "only manufacturer designated winter tires that display the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol will be eligible." In plain terms, all weather and all season tires no longer qualify, even with the mountain snowflake mark. Book a winter tire changeover with our service team before the snow stays.
FAQs
Is the Ram 1500 Warlock a trim or a package on the Big Horn?
The Warlock is its own model. Ram Canada's Ram 1500 page lists it as a model in the lineup with its enhancements set against the Express, not the Big Horn, and Ram Canada's editions page calls it the Warlock Edition.
Ram Warlock vs Big Horn: what is the difference?
The hardware. Ram Canada lists the Warlock with an electronic locker rear axle, Bilstein front and rear shocks, underbody skidplates and 33 inch all terrain tires, and the Big Horn with an electronic shift on demand transfer case, chrome bumpers and adaptive cruise control with stop and go. Stellantis Canada's 2027 equipment information lists that cruise control on the Tradesman and the on demand transfer case on the Sport, so read the sticker for both. Both start with the 3.6 litre Pentastar V6.
What engines come in a 2027 Ram 1500 Warlock or Big Horn?
Both come standard with the 3.6 litre Pentastar V6: Ram Canada's 2026 pages give 305 hp and 269 lb ft with eTorque, and Stellantis Canada lists the 2027 V6 at 305 hp and 271 lb ft. Ram Canada's 2026 capability page names the 3.0 litre Hurricane SO twin turbo inline six and the 5.7 litre HEMI V8 as available on the Big Horn, and Stellantis Canada lists the same two as options on the 2027 Warlock. Read the window sticker of the exact truck for the engine it carries.
Is the Warlock better than the Big Horn in a Manitoba winter?
Not for stopping. The Warlock's locker and all terrain tires help it get moving in snow and mud, but four wheel drive and all terrain tires do not shorten a stop on ice; winter tires help you stop and steer on either truck. We are a participating retailer in the MPI Winter Tire Program.
Which is better for highway driving to Brandon or Winnipeg?
On Ram Canada's lists, the Big Horn: its 2027 Ram 1500 page gives it adaptive cruise control with stop and go, the Level 1 Safety Group and an electronic shift on demand transfer case. Stellantis Canada's 2027 equipment information lists that cruise control on the Tradesman and the Hurricane SO twin turbo inline six as a Warlock option as well, so read the sticker of the exact truck.
The Bottom Line
Buy the Warlock for the gravel, the field approach and the locker. Buy the Big Horn for the highway and the clean chrome. On either one, read the sticker for the engine, the transfer case and the cruise control, and put winter tires on it.
Dunn Ram Trucks in Portage la Prairie serves Ram buyers across Manitoba, and we deliver anywhere in Manitoba with road access. Our pricing is aggressive and posted, so check our current pricing in our new Ram 1500 inventory, and this month's offers by model year and trim are on our Ram finance deals page. If you have a truck to move on, see what it is worth with our trade-in value tool, and you can apply for financing online. Any approval, rate or term is on approved credit.
Tyler Dunn, Dunn Ram Trucks, Portage la Prairie
