At the turn of the eighties and nineties, American companies rushed to convert pickup trucks of various stripes into “street fighters.” Thus was born a clan of goofy and fun cars for debauchery on a Saturday night – a turbocharged GMC Syclone, a rare Shelby Dakota, full-size Ford F-150 SVT Lightning and Chevrolet 454 SS with naturally aspirated V-8s, and, finally, the quintessence of the trend in the person of the Dodge Ram Vipertruck. SRT-10 with the 8.3-liter V10 from the Viper supercar. Decades have passed and the concept has changed: now the main battlefield is the earth. As well as sand, gravel and stones.
Modern frame trucks from the USA usually have several levels of off-road training. We won’t waste time on trifles and will tell you about the top ones from each brand.
Ram
Before the appearance of the recently consigned Ram 1500 TRX, the Ford F-150 Raptor was considered the trendsetter of the genre. Chrysler’s cunning maximalists struck at their opponent, taking advantage of his “weakness” – a very peppy, but not flawless from an image point of view, 3.5-liter twin-turbo six. For some enthusiasts, don’t feed them bread, just give them eight cylinders. Under the hood of the super-Ram they threw a 6.2-liter compressor V8 from the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and Charger SRT Hellcat muscle cars. Unprecedented for the segment 717 hp. transmitted through an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
Ram 
Ram 
Ram 
Ram
The TRX’s temperament is astonishing – 97 km/h (60 mph) in 4.5 seconds and quarter in 12.9 seconds. The monster is very good at drag, but its main talent is the ability to calmly chew and grind off-road. To achieve this, there is a significantly more energy-intensive suspension than the regular Ram 1500 with adaptive shock absorbers Bilstein Black Hawk e2 and a track widened by as much as 152 mm. Look and be surprised: the rear wheel travel is over 330 mm versus 229 mm for the base “truck”!
Ram 
Ram
The recently introduced Ram 1500 RHO is good old metal with a new interpretation, and a second wind. Not the drawn-out Metallica ballads, but the aggressive, fast Testament – listen and you’ll understand what I’m talking about! From the outside, the sports pickup mimics a TRX. Under the hood is a three-liter Hurricane in-line six with two turbochargers, which can be found on the restyled Ram 1500, the newest Charger and the full-size Jeep Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer. Here it is in the High Output version and inflated from the heart – up to 547 hp. and 706 Nm. The returns of the TRX are anything but thinner, and for die-hard orthodox V8 fans, the fact of the existence of “one and a half packets of juice” is probably a tragedy and a disaster.
Ram
In reality, the non-closed-minded consumer gets a balanced character at a lower cost. By the way, the RHO is by no means phlegmatic: it loses 0.1 seconds to the TRX to 97 km/h and a couple of tenths in the quarter mile. A little more entertaining arithmetic: the wheel diameter is 35 inches, the ground clearance is 300 mm, the fording depth exceeds 810 mm. In some ways, the Ram RHO is even cooler than its ancestor. For example, it is capable of towing a heavier trailer (3.8 tonnes) and is preferable in terms of payload capacity (689 kg).
Ram 
Ram
It’s hard to disagree with the manufacturer’s bold statement about the “best-in-class interior” – Ram really does great in this area. For the lion’s share of settings, you will have to dive into the colorful menu of the 14.5-inch vertical “tablet” on the center console. The front passenger is entertained by a custom 10.25-inch screen.
Ford
Once upon a time, the Raptor was equipped with a naturally aspirated V8 “six and two”, and now – a 3.5-liter six-cylinder EcoBoost with a pair of turbochargers (456 hp and 691 Nm) and a ten-speed automatic transmission. From a chassis perspective, it’s no slouch, with long-travel suspension, electronically controlled Fox Dual Live Valve shock absorbers, optional 37-inch tires, and a Terrain Management system with seven settings.
Ford 
Ford
After TRX rewrote the proportions of good and evil, Ford people thought deeply: “Are we any worse?” And they made Raptor R according to a competitor’s recipe. The Mustang Shelby GT500 super coupe borrowed a 5.2-liter Predator V8 compressor. It was slightly strangled – with 771 hp. to approximately 710 hp, but the torque increased from 847 Nm to 868 Nm.
Ford
Only an inveterate fan and connoisseur will distinguish the “Erk” from the “simple” Raptor based on a few clues like the massive hump on the hood and, of course, the furious bubbling of the exhaust. But similar appearance does not mean that the cars are identical except for the engine. The ten-speed automatic transmission has been locally strengthened (for example, the torque converter has been modified), and the front springs are stiffer by 5%. Ground clearance with “thirty-seventh” wheels is gigantic – 333 mm.
Ford 
Ford 
Ford 
Ford 
Ford
The guys over at Car and Driver tested the Raptor R and found it to be faster than the TRX: 3.6 seconds to 60 mph. Is there something fishy here? In general, yes – the clock starts ticking after the car has passed the first foot (about 30 cm). This is due to the specific operation of the measuring equipment. Taking into account the so-called 1-ft rollout, it comes out to 3.9 seconds. The disadvantages include the astronomical price of over 100 thousand dollars and the inability to lock the rear differential in 2WD mode.
Ford
In addition to the extreme F-150, the mid-size Ranger Raptor is presented on the American market. It has been comprehensively modified, but the company sticks out the suspension, calling it “the heart of every Raptor.” In this case, aluminum front control arms, long-travel rear axle components with a Watt mechanism, and Fox adaptive shock absorbers. All-wheel drive of the full-time type, “low-low” and cross-axle differential locks are not associated with any body, although without all this goodness Ranger would definitely not be itself.
Ford 
Ford 
Ford 
Ford 
Ford
An equally important role in the engineering composition is played by the three-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo six (411 hp and 583 Nm) in combination with a ten-speed automatic transmission. Plus driving modes and an exhaust system with adjustable sound volume (Quiet, Normal, Sport and Baja) to suit any mood and situation.
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Chevrolet/GMC
The large Chevrolet Silverado in its most off-road version bears the pretentious ZR2 index. Let us remind you that the most ferocious Corvette sports cars are labeled in harmony – ZR1. But the pickup is a different beast, and it’s not just the body type: the Silverado is not a direct competitor to the TRX and Raptor. Alas and ah! We believe that loyal fans don’t care about this sad fact, since tuners are always ready to increase the power to four-digit values.
Chevrolet 
Chevrolet 
Chevrolet
The ZR2 (a similarly packaged “double” of the GMC Sierra is designated AT4X) based on the Silverado 1500 has a 6.2-liter naturally aspirated gasoline (426 hp) or a Duramax inline turbodiesel “six” (309 hp), a ten-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. A cool feature of the heavy Silverado HD (Heavy Duty) ZR2 is the optional Duramax V8 diesel engine with a volume of 6.6 liters (477 hp and 1322 Nm), with which you can drag even a skyscraper with you.
Chevrolet/GMC 
Chevrolet/GMC 
Chevrolet/GMC
On rough terrain, the Chevy and its sister GMC are fun, although they’re unlikely to let you race like crazy at the TRX’s pace. There are “omnivorous” suspensions, clever Multimatic DSSV shock absorbers with three chambers and three spool valves to control damping, as well as electronic cross-axle differential locks. Ground clearance and approach and departure angles could be even higher if not for the 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires.
Car and Driver experts called the lack of larger wheels one of the disadvantages, along with its insufficiently wild character. Among the advantages is a high smoothness of operation: Multimatic work!
The heavy Silverado HD ZR2 features original front control arms and steering knuckles, a locking rear diff, and thirty-five Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires. The ground clearance has increased by about 38 mm. The arsenal of the special ZR2 Bison (pictured), built jointly with American Expedition Vehicles (AEV), is expanded with 18-inch wheels of a special design, power bumpers and steel underbody protection.
Chevrolet 
Chevrolet
The younger Chevy Colorado attracts primarily with its exterior with a predatory front end and graceful edges of the arches – as if Michelangelo himself had separated everything unnecessary from the body. The range, like the Silverado, includes variations of the Z71 (increased ground clearance, 18-inch wheels, self-locking rear), Trail Boss (even more ground clearance, wider track, tires with an outer diameter of 32 inches).
Chevrolet 
Chevrolet 
Chevrolet
The top-spec ZR2 is everything to the max. The suspension is complemented by Multimatic DSSV shock absorbers. Ground clearance reaches an impressive 272 mm, the tires are 33 inches, and the approach angle is 38.3 degrees. For an additional fee, the Desert Boss package is offered: tires with beadlocks, beveled bumpers, a roll bar in the body, and additional optics.
Chevrolet 
Chevrolet 
Chevrolet 
Chevrolet
Engine? Unfortunately, the Chevy ZR2 is no different from the Z71 and Trail Boss – it gets the same 2.7-liter supercharged V6 with an ample 314 hp.
Chevrolet 
Chevrolet 
Chevrolet
That’s not all! At the top of the food chain is the ZR2 Bison. This beauty with the appearance of a baby trophy truck “thirty-five” mud wheels, 310 mm ground clearance, Jounce Control Dampers to soften impacts and additional accessories from AEV. In general, what you need for rock crawling without fanaticism and other extreme entertainment!
Toyota
Compared to the full-size monsters of its competitors, the Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, created with little blood, is quite modest. This applies to both styling and equipment. The i-Force Max hybrid power plant remains unchanged – the 3.4-liter twin-turbo six and the electric motor develop 443 hp at peak. and a very convincing 790 Nm. The gearbox is automatic with ten steps. The TRD Pro is not as disruptive as any Raptors, but it is playful – it reaches 97 km/h in 6 seconds, according to Car and Driver measurements.
Toyota 
Toyota 
Toyota
There are not many differences between the special version and the original truck with all-wheel drive and reduction gear. The key ones are a custom suspension with Fox shock absorbers (front lift by 28 mm), a different front anti-roll bar, a slightly “shortened” steering gear, a standard Multi-Terrain Select driving mode system, Crawl Control off-road cruise control, hill descent assistant mountains and rear differential lock. Ground clearance is “only” 229 mm.
Toyota 
Toyota 
Toyota 
Toyota 
Toyota 
Toyota 
Toyota
Either the American wing of Toyota was not particularly eager to remake the full-size model into something truly formidable a la Raptor for rational reasons, or it did not take the idea seriously. Be that as it may, Toyotaphiles will not be bored – the mid-size Tacoma is taking the rap for the Tundra. It comes in different versions, but the most interesting in the context of our story are TRD Pro and Trailhunter. The first is to bludgeon across deserts. The second is to go in search of adventure far from civilization.
Toyota 
Toyota 
Toyota 
Toyota 
Toyota 
Toyota
Both mid-size pickups are similar: they have the i-Force Max hybrid system (327–331 hp) with a 2.4-liter turbo-four and an electric motor integrated into the eight-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel drive with a reduction gear, an unlockable front anti-roll bar stability for increased articulation and rear diff locking. The Toyotas sit higher, and both ride on thirty-third Goodyear Territory R/T tires. But while the TRD Pro has manually adjustable Fox Quick Switch 3 (QS3) shock absorbers, the Trailhunter has Old Man Emu components. /m
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