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These are the 21 consumer pickups that have defined what America expects a pickup truck to be and do. No SUVs, no semis, and no vans. These are the compact to full-size trucks we actually buy...
Searches related to top 10 best trucks of all time
- Justin Owen
- Toyota Pickup (aka Hilux) The undisputed champ of reliable and literally indestructible trucks is the Toyota Pickup, or Hilux outside of North America.
- Toyota T100. In the early '90s, Toyota decided to step up its truck game by going upsized with the T100. It has been seen as Toyota's first full-size truck, however, it is really a mid-size, much like the Dakota.
- Honda Ridgeline. Honda's first entry into the truck market came rather late. In 2006, the Ridgeline debuted as a uniquely Honda creation. Instead of building a large V8-engined body-on-frame full-size truck, Honda's Ridgeline was slightly smaller and built with unibody construction, like a car.
- Subaru Baja. The short-lived successor to Subaru's quirky and fun BRAT minitruck only lasted four model years but left a lasting impression. The Subaru Baja was first released for the 2003 model year and 2006 was the last.
We've ranked the Best Pickup Trucks based on roughly 200 data points encompassing acceleration, handling, comfort, cargo space, fuel efficiency, value, and how enjoyable they are to drive.
Feb 16, 2021 · The 10 Best Diesel Pickup Trucks of All Time. Want power? Towing capability? Mod-ability? These are the diesel rigs you must consider.
- KJ Jones
- 2 min
- Ford
- 20 1917 Ford Model TT Is The Classic Truck That Started It All
- 19 1946-1968 Dodge Power Wagon Is A Four-Wheel Drive Truck to Remember
- 18 1972-1979 Datsun D20 Was Small to Fit The Demand
- 17 1967-1972 Chevrolet C-Series Were Built For The Everyday Person
- 16 1979-1983 Toyota Pickup Changed The Idea of Small Trucks For Off-Roading
- 15 1986-1997 Nissan Hardbody Is Basic But Dependable
- 14 1963-1971 Jeep Gladiator Is An Offroad Classic Legend
- 13 1988-1998 GMC Sierra Is A Classic That Stands The Test of Time
- 12 1966-1977 Ford F-250 Highboy Was Actually A Nickname, Not A Trim
- 11 1993-1995 Ford Lightning Was Created by The SVT
Top Speed: 42 MPH
No top 10 classic truck list would be complete without adding in the first trucks ever made for mass production in America. 1917 was a time in history that changed the world forever. The first 3 Ford Model TTtrucks rolled off the production lines to be sold for a mere $600. These trucks are worth $20,000, with one going for over $335,000. That is, of course, if they can be found. The amazing thing is that when these trucks were sold to the consumers, the only thing offered was the chassis. Th...
Performance
There is no towing capacity listed anywhere by Ford, but since the old classic had some decent torque, you can surely hook up an average trailer if you really need to. As for hauling, the Ford Model TT was rated to haul up to 2,000 pounds, or a full ton if you prefer. Which, if you are not aware, is why the one-ton truck came to be.
Top Speed: 68 MPH
The Dodge Power Wagon started as a military vehicle designed to transport goods and troops from one location to another on and off the battlefield. Once WWII ended, Dodge saw the benefit of having a four-wheel driven truck in America for use on the farm, in the lumber and construction fields, and for the do-it-yourselfers that needed a way to haul things through rough terrain. The Power Wagon brought some substantial technology to the industry,such as optional two or four-wheel drive systems,...
Performance
The old-school classic Power Wagon was built to work, so it should not come as much of a surprise to hear that the Dodge Power Wagon of old had a GVW of 8,700 and a maximum payload of 3,000 pounds. It can get any job done that you need to get completed. Finding one is a problem, though; when you do, you will pay anywhere from $11,000 to $63,000.
Top Speed: 87 MPH
The Datsun D20 series pickup trucks are still in production today, just called the Nissan Frontier. They were one of the original compact trucks shipped over from Japan to offer a smaller version of a vehicle that everybody wanted. This small version was beyond dependable, and considering the periods between '72 and '79, it had fantastic fuel mileage. As with most other trucks on the market, you could go with two- or four-wheel drive, with the latter being more fuel efficient. The truck had a...
Performance
The little Datsun pickup was not built for large jobs, but it could still surprise you since it is so durable and rugged. It was officially rated with a GVW of 1,441 pounds, which may not seem like a whole lot, but once you get the pickup truck bed loaded, you will see that it is more than a full load of garbage that needs hauled away or brush that needs to be taken to the compost yard. The best thing is that when you find one for sale, they are more than affordable, going for as little as $2...
Top Speed: 92 MPH
For the most part, trucks were designed and produced to fill a gap in the car industry. That spot that needed to be filled back in the early days was a vehicle to haul and tow, or to put it in more plain words, America needed a work vehicle that could be used on farms and work sites nationwide. As the country grew, people began to see the benefits of owning a truck. They began to choose them as their number one purchase. Still, they wanted to be able to use them for all their necessities, whi...
Performance
Keep in mind that the C designation means that the truck is a two-wheel drive, and the C/K is a four-wheel variation. As for towing and hauling, the truck was built for working so it could handle up to 6,000 pounds behind (depending upon the engine and set-up). These trucks are not difficult to find, but since they have always been used for work trucks, they are not in the best of shape at times. The Chevy C10 averages between $3,600 and $27,500, with lots of room for haggling.
Top Speed: 93 MPH
The third generation of Toyota trucks changed how off-road enthusiasts looked at small, foreign-designed trucks because 1979 was the first year the truck came with an optional four-wheel drive system. As the years progressed, more off-road truck lovers began to veer away from the larger, less fuel-efficient trucks for the economical and dependable Toyota 4x4. Since it is smaller, this pickup could go places the leading brands could not manage. When adding in the fuel economy, it could go fart...
Performance
The classic Toyota pickup is so tough and dependable that even though the specs limit the truck to a GVW of just 3,655 pounds and a towing capacity of 3,086 pounds with trailer brakes installed, many truck owners carry more than that. Of course, that is never recommended, but since these trucks can be picked up for less than $10,000 most of the time, it is an easy way to work hard and replace them when needed.
Top Speed: 95 MPH
The Nissan D21, or Nissan Hardbody as the company dubbed it, was the mini-truck before the Frontier and Toyota Tacoma. It was the go-to truck for consumers that wanted something small, dependable, and versatile. It came off the production lines as a two- or four-wheel drive, four- or six-cylinder engine, and a single or extended cab. The Hardbody name was retired in 1997 when it was officially renamed the Nissan Frontier. The Nissan pickup has fallen behind in today's technology, but for a ba...
Performance
The Nissan Hardbody is not an easy truck to find because those with them do not like to part with them. However, when they come up for sale, they can be picked up for around $5,000 for a pickup needing some work to $20,000 for one in pristine condition. The main thing to remember when using the Hardbody for work is that it has a strict towing limit of 3,501 pounds, so stay under that threshold. RELATED: History Of The Ford F-Series Pickup Truck
Top Speed: 97 MPH
Even though the Gladiator disappeared in 1971, the truck that came after with the J-series designations was the same truck, just with a name that made it easier to distinguish between the models. The Jeep Gladiator was an afterthought of the Cherokee, one of the most luxurious and usable SUVs of the time. It originally came off the production lines with a small 3.6-liter inline-six cylinder, but it had many more options as it continued to thrive on the market. Rear-wheel drive was also standa...
Performance
Starting in 1968, the Jeep Gladiator came with an optional Buick 350 small-block V-8 that could pump out 230 horsepower. A camper option was added to the J-3600 model giving it a reported towing capacity of up to 10,000 pounds. A 1963 to 1971 Jeep Gladiator can be found priced for sale anywhere between $7,000 and $45,000, depending upon the condition and location.
Top Speed: 98 MPH
The easy styling of the GMC came upon the market in 1988 at the perfect time. It was when the U.S. citizens decided that a truck was for more than work. Consumers wanted the versatility of a truck, with simplicity and dependability. These trucks were designed for the working men and women that did not want to pay an arm and a leg for a truck. The best part of all is that the GMC trucks are so easy to work on and upgrade that they are one of the most popular choices for a monster built for str...
Performance
Since the GMC Sierra is a full-size pickup, it is better suited for towing and hauling than some other choices on this list. The maximum towing capacity listed for the Sierra is anywhere between 5,000 and 6,000 pounds, and the maximum payload is up to 2,230 pounds. Pricing can vary by condition and location, but you are looking at paying anywhere from $4,000 to $10,000.
Top Speed: 101 MPH
Even though Ford Motor Company never dubbed the F250 a Highboy, truck lovers named it so they could tell them apart from the rest. The '67 to '77 F-250 Highboycame off the production line with the same drivetrain set up as the two-wheel drive trucks. This means the transmission is joined to the transfer case with a short driveshaft instead of being married to the back of the transmission, as seen today. This also meant that the driveshaft in front had to be longer, which was impossible unless...
Performance
The Highboy had the option of so many engines that it would be impossible to cover them all without giving them an entire list, but one of the most common to find was the 400 cid. It offered plenty of power while not guzzling the gas for which the big 460 cid was famous for. The 400 cid could tow up to 4,500 pounds and haul a total of 3,625 pounds. As for the current prices, they range from a low $10,000 all the way up to $70,000, depending on the conditions and location. RELATED: These 10 Fa...
Top Speed: 110 MPH
The success of the Chevrolet 454 SS pickup brought about the need for Ford to come up with an answer of their own. The Special Vehicle Team (SVT) at Ford took the challenge a step beyond by taking a basic F150, upgrading a 351W engine, pairing it to an E40D heavy-duty four-speed automatic transmission, and connecting it to a Traction-Lok rear end by way of an aluminum driveshaft. The engine could pump out up to 240 horses and 340 pound-feet of torque. The Lightning sat lower to the ground tha...
Performance
According to the people at Motor Trend, the Ford Lightning is a Mustang with a cargo bed, so it is not designed to be a work truck. However, that being said, it can still tow up to 5,000 pounds. Since the average small camper only weighs 3,000 pounds or so, you can travel around the country tearing up the tracks and still have a place to sleep. Finding one to buy may pose a problem, but if you have cash in hand, you can pick them up for under $60,000.
Oct 5, 2023 · Truckin’ ain’t easy, but these best pickup trucks don’t make it that hard. We explore full-size and midsize offerings from Ford, GM, Ram, Jeep, Toyota, and Honda.
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May 25, 2016 · There's just something we all like about a pickup, man. [Editor's Note: Our list is not ranked from 51 to 1. These are just our favorite trucks.]
