đź•‘4 min read
The Ram 1500 RHO is an amazing off-road performance truck, but there has been one thing owners haven’t been able to do easily since the truck arrived: send all the power to the rear wheels.
In this articleâ–ľ
Fixing One Of The RHO’s Enthusiast Frustrations
Synapze DT Adds Forced RWD
Synapze Already Does Much More
Free Updates Keep Adding Features
A Much More Interesting Upgrade For RHO Owners
That is changing.
Z Automotive has added a Forced RWD mode to its new Synapze DT programmer for the 2025-and-newer Ram 1500 DT, including the Ram 1500 RHO. The feature arrived with Synapze firmware version 27.0.3, giving RHO owners the ability to command the truck into rear-wheel drive (RWD) rather than operating through its normal full-time four-wheel-drive (4Ă—4) system.
And yes, that means burnouts are finally on the table.
2026 Ram 1500 RHO Crew Cab 4Ă—4. (Ram).
Fixing One Of The RHO’s Enthusiast Frustrations
The RHO packs a twin-turbo 3.0-liter HURRICANE High-Output (H/O) I6 producing 540 horsepower and 521 lb-ft of torque. Ram pairs that engine with an 8-speed 8HP75 automatic and a BorgWarner 48-13 full-time active transfer case.
That setup is fantastic when you are launching the truck, blasting across loose terrain, or putting the power down in less-than-ideal conditions. What it doesn’t give the driver from the factory is a traditional selectable two-wheel-drive (4×2) mode.
Even Baja Mode, which gives the RHO a much more rear-biased feel, isn’t the same thing as having a true rear-drive-only setting.
For owners who want to use their trucks at the drag strip, during closed-course events, or simply want the capability available, that has been a noticeable omission.
Synapze DT Adds Forced RWD
Z Automotive’s answer is the Synapze DT.
With firmware 27.0.3 or newer, Synapze adds a ForceRWD function specifically aimed at changing how the truck’s 4×4 system behaves. Instead of continually operating through the factory full-time setup, the new function commands the RHO into RWD operation.
That opens up something RHO owners haven’t really had before: the ability to properly spin the rear tires without also trying to drive the front wheels.
Synapze also incorporates a Line Lock function. When activated, Line Lock uses the front braking system to hold the truck while allowing the rear tires to spin. That means the driver isn’t fighting the rear brakes while doing a burnout.
Obviously, this is something that should be reserved for a drag strip, closed course, or other controlled environment.
Z Automotive Synapze DT Programmer. (Z Automotive).
Synapze Already Does Much More
Forced RWD might be the feature getting everyone’s attention, but Synapze DT was already a pretty interesting piece of hardware.
The plug-in module can remember the owner’s preferred Electronic Stop/Start (ESS) setting and drive mode instead of making you reset them every time you start the truck.
It also allows owners to read and clear Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) across nine vehicle modules directly from the driver’s seat.
An optional PIN security function can prevent the truck from starting until a specific sequence of steering-wheel button presses is entered.
For trucks equipped with the premium LED headlights, Synapze can even change the factory Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) to amber. There are five available settings, including White, Day, Night, Both, and DarkPark. DarkPark completely shuts the front lighting off while the truck is in Park before returning it to normal when the truck is shifted out.
Everything is controlled through the factory instrument cluster and steering-wheel buttons, so there are no additional switches or phone apps involved. Installation is advertised as plug-and-play and takes roughly five minutes, with no cutting or splicing required.
2025 Ram 1500 RHO in Hydro Blue. (Ram).
Free Updates Keep Adding Features
One of the more important aspects of Synapze DT is that its firmware can be updated.
Z Automotive released version 27.0.4 on September 21, 2026, following the ForceRWD-equipped 27.0.3 release. The newer version addresses a battery-drain issue while retaining the previously added features. Z Automotive’s programming utility supports Synapze DT and provides firmware updates for the module.
That also means the feature list isn’t necessarily set in stone. Additional functionality could be added as Z Automotive continues developing the platform.
2025 Ram 1500 RHO. (Ram).
A Much More Interesting Upgrade For RHO Owners
The Synapze DT is currently priced at $319 and is listed for 2025-and-newer 4×4 Ram 1500 DT models. The amber DRL feature requires the premium LED headlamps, but the module’s other compatible functions aren’t dependent on that lighting package.
For RHO owners, though, Forced RWD changes the conversation around Synapze DT considerably.
The RHO already has 540 horsepower, a stout Dana 60 rear axle, and more than enough torque to have some fun. Now owners finally have an electronic way to send that HURRICANE power where burnout fans have wanted it all along… straight to the rear tires.
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Robert S. Miller