What is the best all-around truck that can tow, but also do some serious off-roading? A truck that has good acceleration, but also is not crazy expensive? This tough question was recently sent in to patreon.com/tflcar (or ask@tfltruck.com) by Robert L.
I love your videos. I am trying to use them as guidance in buying my next vehicle. However, I stumped. I’m looking for the best all around truck /or vehicle based on the following factors: good acceleration, minimum tow capacity 7,700 lbs, off road worthiness with front & rear diff locks or comparable tech, and price. The 4Runner doesn’t seem to have enough acceleration & the ZR2 diesel appears to be the best option, but I’m concerned about reliability. Please help. FYI, I did buy a RAV4 v6 based on your video & love it.
Robert, your constraints and requirements are fairly tough. Neither a new Toyota 4Runner nor the Chevy Colorado ZR2 are capable of towing a minimum of 7,700 lbs. The ZR2 is a great truck. We voted it 2018 Gold Hitch Truck of the Year. However, it has a maximum towing rating of 5,000 lbs.
Another truck comes to mind that fits all or most of your criteria. It’s the Ram Power Wagon. More specifically, it’s a Ram HD 2500 Tradesman with a Power Wagon package. The Tradesman Power Wagon is the most affordable version of the truck. It has overwhelming off-road capability, and it can tow up to 10,000 lbs.
It you can settle on towing 5,000 lbs or less, then your options significantly increase. Also, if you relax your need for lockers front & rear – there are countless half-ton truck options for you.
Let us know what you think in the comment section below.
Here is how the three top off-road pickup truck stack up against each other on our Cliffhanger 2.0 off-road challenge.
