Since 2010, Ford’s F-150 Raptor has been the apex predator in the world of off-road pickups. From its high-output twin-turbo V6 (or the 720-horsepower supercharged V8 found in the high-performance Raptor R) to the upgraded suspension with FOX internal bypass dampers and rear coil springs, there’s no mistaking the Raptor for any other F-150 model. […]
Category: Trucks
The Syclone Effect: A Powerhouse Ahead of Its Time
What were you doing in 1991? Arnold Schwarzenegger coined “Hasta la vista, baby,” and a young Macaulay Culkin taught six-year-olds like me what to do when left home alone during Christmas. Friday nights were planned around television lineups featuring a young, suspenders-wearing Urkel, a home improvement show with grunts demanding “more power,” and a fresh […]
Worst Car of the Nation 2024: Tesla Cybertruck
A wise man once said, “In many ways, the work of a critic is easy… We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read,” and he wasn’t wrong. Negative criticism is fun to write, and seeing someone taken down a peg—particularly when they deserve it—is fun to read, but that doesn’t […]
The Ram 1500 HEMI: The History of a Historic Truck
If you’re a fan of trucks, you’ve likely heard of the Ram 1500. Seeing one drive down the road is an everyday occurrence for most of us. There are a lot of trucks on the market, but Ram always tends to stick out for good reasons. Its affordability, durability, and towing capacity make it hard […]
Five Features That Make the GMC Hummer EV Pickup an Off-Road Colossus
The Hummer’s impressive off-road resume isn’t that surprising for those who are familiar with the model’s history. Originally introduced as a civilian-grade version of the US Army’s High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle—colloquially known as a Humvee—the Hummer first hit the market in 1992. The rugged SUV boasted much of the same heavy-duty off-road equipment as […]
Why the Tundra TRD Pro Is the Top Dog in the TRD Family
Performance enthusiasts will agree that it takes a lot to really impress them, especially when it comes to off-road-ready vehicles. With legends like Jeep and Ford out there, it’s difficult for other automakers to really make a statement in this arena, but over the years, Toyota has come to occupy one of these top spots. […]
When Did Full-Size Truck Models Get Their Off-Road Trims, and What Do They Have to Offer?
It seems as though trucks have been exploring the great outdoors for as long as we can remember, but actually off-road oriented trims just started making their way into truck lineups in more recent years. From the Trail Boss to the AT4, Tremor to the Rebel, there’s an off-road variant suited for any type of […]
Does the Silverado 1500 RST Live up to Its Sporty Name?
What’s in a name? That which we call a Trail Boss would, by any other name, still be the boss of the trails. Still, other trucks deny their purpose and refuse their trim name, leaving themselves open to the slings and arrows of vicious mockery from enthusiasts. But where does the Silverado 1500 RST fall? […]
The Warlock Rides Again as a 2025 Ram 1500 Trim
If you’re in the market for your next truck, your top priorities are probably going to be practical. You likely want a model that’s dependable, capable, within your price range…all that good stuff. But let’s face it: a good name doesn’t hurt. While it’s not enough to keep an unimpressive truck afloat (remember the Chevrolet […]
The Powerful Ram 1500, Revisited in Five Snapshots
For well over 40 years now, the Ram pickup has been one of the leading full-size trucks in the US; that’s a lot of years for a model to do its thing, making it older than the Chevy Silverado nameplate and almost as old as the Ford F-150. When it comes to the kinds of […]
Rebels With a Cause: Exploring Ram’s Off-Road Offerings
Ever since bursting onto the scene 10 years ago, the Ram 1500 Rebel has set a new bar for performance in the full-size segment. Off-road-ready pickups have now become par for the course in the decade since the Rebel’s debut, but Ram’s own offering was well ahead of the curve, combining the company’s reputation for […]
How the F-150 Got Its Trims
When you’re shopping for a Ford F-150 these days, you have seemingly countless options available. From high-value options like the XL, STX, and XLT to premium trims like the Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum to off-road models like the Tremor, Raptor, and Raptor R, there is an F-150 model for everyone. But it wasn’t always […]
4 Top-Tier Luxury Trucks Guaranteed to Make You Drool With Envy
Looking at a lineup of full-size trucks for sale, you’re going to find a wide range of models filling a variety of niches. Some are affordable work trucks that are focused solely on tackling tough jobs. Others are loaded to the teeth with specialized equipment to make them capable off-road. And then there are the […]
An Electric Pickup Truck With a Pike’s Peak Victory
Ford is no stranger to outlandish electric race cars. In 2022, it unveiled an ultra-high-performance version of the Ford Transit EV at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, humbling supercars from Porsche, Ferrari, and McLaren at the British hill climb. The year after that, the improved SuperVan 4.2 made its appearance on the slopes of Pikes […]
The Ram 1500 RHO Is an F-150 Raptor Fighter
Looking at the new 2025 lineup that will soon start showing up at your Ram dealer, you might notice a conspicuous absence, especially if you’re an avid off-roader. The Ram 1500 TRX made its debut for the 2021 model year, and it sang its swan song during the 2024 model year. But just because it’s […]
X Marks the Spot: Taking a Closer Look at the 2024 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon X and Mojave X
Off-roading is a hobby that exists for the bold and daring. The Jeep is the brand trusted above all others for those needing a vehicle to facilitate adventures on the less traveled path. Most off-roaders use one of two primary vehicles to undertake the impossible: the Jeep Wrangler and various pickup trucks. The Jeep Gladiator […]
What’s New on the 2024 F-150 Raptor
Since it burst on the scene in 2010, the F-150 Raptor has turned heads with its brash performance and devil-may-care attitude. In their original review, MotorTrend described it as what happens when hot rodders decide to go off-road racing. For my money, it’s the vehicle that truly spawned the “mainstream super-truck” category of souped-up trucks […]
2025 Ram 1500 RHO: Everything You Need to Know
Some people fear change, others embrace it. I, on the other hand, am somewhere in between. If something is changing, it better have a decent reason to do so, or at the least, provide an outcome that makes you understand the change more than question it further. Innovation is something that constantly raises its head […]
Does the New TrailSport Trim Really Make the Ridgeline Off-Road Ready?
Can you find a truck at your local Honda dealer? Depends on your definition. For some, body-on-frame construction is what separates the trucks from the cars. But if you’re not a purist, you might be willing to admit that for most practical purposes, it’s the presence of an open cargo bed that defines the category. […]
Which Z71 Package Is Right for Your Silverado 2500 HD?
For more than 35 years, the Z71—whether as an optional package or a trim level—has given Chevy trucks and SUVs an off-roading shot in the arm. By tweaking the suspension, adding underbody production, and even giving the driver advanced assistance features, Chevy makes it easier for drivers to tackle the terrain that gets their adrenaline […]