<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-08-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001012019</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RUSH ENTERPRISES INC \TX\</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RUSH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001392503</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Keller Steven L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>555 IH 35 SOUTH, SUITE 500</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW BRAUNFELS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>78130</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CFO &amp; Treasurer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
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                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
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            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <ownershipNature>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <value>2018-12-10</value>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-08-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-12-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <transactionShares>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-12-10</value>
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                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>71.847</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-03-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>87375.367</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-03-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1055</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>32.83</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>86320.367</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-03-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1136</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>32.83</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>85184.367</value>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>33.42</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-03-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F9"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2030-03-13</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares were acquired pursuant to a dividend reinvestment feature of the Rush Enterprises, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes certain shares included in the Company's deferred compensation plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes 341 shares acquired January 1, 2020, under the Rush Enterprises, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Includes unvested restricted stock (RSAs) and certain shares and unvested restricted stock units included in the Company's deferred compensation plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Shares reported are shares not distributed to the reporting person in order to satisfy the reporting person's tax obligations with respect to the distribution of shares of the Company's Class B Common Stock pursuant to the Company's Deferred Compensation Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Reflects the grant of RSAs. The RSAs vest in increments of 1/3 on each of the first, second, and third anniversary of the grant date, which is March 13, 2020.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Shares reported are shares not distributed to the reporting person in order to satisfy the reporting person's tax obligations with respect to vesting associated with the grant of restricted stock units that occurred on March 15, 2018.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Shares reported are shares not distributed to the reporting person in order to satisfy the reporting person's tax obligations with respect to vesting associated with the grant of RSAs that occurred on March 15, 2019.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">Options may be exercised in increments of 1/3 on each anniversary of the grant date beginning on the third anniversary of the grant date.  The grant date is ten years prior to the expiration date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Steven L. Keller</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-03-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
