Top 5 New Trucks You Must Drive from Midsize to Heavy Duty!

What are the most interesting trucks? Nathan Adlen and Andre Smirnov discuss the Top 5 New Trucks You Must Drive on this episode of TFLtruck Talk. This episode is presented by Air Lift Company, the maker of air helper springs.

5. 2017 Ford Super Duty

The 2017 Super Duty is an all-new truck. The previous truck’s frame and cab date back to 1999, so it was time for a complete redesign. The truck rides on an all-new fully-boxed steel frame. The Super Duty shares the aluminum cab with the Ford F-150, and the bed is made out of thicker gauge aluminum for higher payloads. That’s all fine, but how does it drive? Andre says: “I was impressed by the comfortable ride of the Super Duty empty or loaded. It felt more like a half-ton truck than a heavy duty.” This is why it’s on our list of new must-drive trucks.

2017-Ford-super-duty-F450-Platinum

4. 2017 Nissan Armada / Nissan Titan

The new Armada is a full-size body-on-frame SUV with an excellent powertrain that is shared with the all-new 2017 Nissan Titan half-ton. The completely redesigned 5.6L Endurance V8 produces 390 horsepower and 394 lb-ft of torque and it’s paired with a 7-speed automatic transmission. The engine feels very powerful and the exhaust system sounds great. The transmission can knock-off quick shifts or be mellow when cruising around. Ride and handling are among the best in the respective classes, and this is why the 2017 Armada and Titan are on this list.

3. 2016 GMC Canyon Duramax

The GMC Canyon Duramax and its cousin Chevy Colorado Duramax are surprising little trucks. They ride as comfortable as a midsize crossover, but have a lot of utility and can tow up to 7,700 lbs for a 2WD version. The most welcome aspect is the highway fuel efficiency. We got 31.3 MPG in a Canyon Duramax on our 100-mile highway efficiency loop. That’s just great.

2. 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro

We are really looking forward to driving the 2017 Tacoma TRD Pro in October 2016. It’s high on our list because of our experiences in the 2015 Tacoma TRD Pro and the 2016 Tacoma TRD Off-Road. The latest Off-Road version of the Tacoma is already an outstanding truck for off-road performance. The TRD Pro takes it to the next level with detailed suspension work. The 2017 version will sit a little higher, it uses the latest FOX Racing off-road shocks and specially tuned springs for improved high speed off-road driving. While it’s made for off-roading the more compliant suspension is great for on-road cruising as well. Just take a look at the 2016 4Runner TRD Pro. It’s a great riding SUV.

1. 2017 Ram Power Wagon

The off-road brute get a facelift for the 2017 model year with new exterior components and a more luxurious interior. The 6.4L HEMI V8, the lockable front/rear axles, the off-road suspension, the disconnect-able front sway bar, and the winch are all still there. The truck has a comfortable on-road ride and unstoppable off-road capability. The truck won our 2016 Off-road truck award and it also did well on the extreme Ike Gauntlet towing test. The 2017 model adds more interior comfort and new exterior elements (grille, a new color, and graphics).

Bonus: Ford Raptor

We still enjoy getting in and driving our 2014 Ford Raptor “shop truck”. The 2017 Raptor is an all-new truck, based on the latest F-150. The 2017 truck has a reinforced frame, aluminum body and bed, and a high-output 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Everything is new on this truck. This is why it’s our bonus for must-drive trucks.