The Top Trucks and Truck Trends We’re Thankful For This Year

2018 thanksgiving trucks
2018 Thanksgiving

2018 has been a wonderful year for new trucks, and there’s plenty of truck trends to be thankful for.

On this Thanksgiving day let’s take a break from the reviewing and testing to reflect on some of the trucks and features that have come to life in 2018 that we’re thankful for.

  • The Ford Ranger is back! 

We haven’t actually been able to drive a Ford Ranger yet, so we have no idea what’s it like (we might not be so thankful after all… but more on that when we review the truck in the coming weeks!).

We’re simply thankful that this midsize truck is back on the market to keep the competition on its toes. Fierce competition tends to result in the best products, and no doubt that Ford will look to dominate sales in this space like the F-150 does in the half-ton segment.

  • The all-new Chevy Silverado / GMC Sierra

Whether or not you like the look or even the performance of the 2019 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra, I think GM has to get credit for pushing trucks into the future with some class-exclusive features like the Multi-Pro tailgate, rear-view camera mirror and heads-up display. The bed on the new GM trucks deserves some credit as well, with its plentiful tie-downs and wider walls making hauling cargo easier than ever.

  • The 2019 Ram 1500

And in the world of all-new half-tons, we can’t forget about the Ram 1500. We appreciate the interior on this truck, as Ram has truly raised the bar for the competition. That means that truck interiors are going to continue to be more luxurious, and we’re alright with that.

  • Last V8 stronghold – Thankful

Trucks are truly the last segment where big beautiful V8s continue to be the dominant powertrains. Although Dodge’s Charger and Challenger are certainly some of the last hold outs in the car world to ditch V8s, every truck manufacturer knows that having a solid V8 is good for business. Even Ford, the brand that has gone mostly turbocharged, won’t let go of its 5.0-liter V8 in the F-150. Viva la V8!

  • Off-Road Trucks 

The level of capability that comes baked into off-road pickup trucks now is pretty amazing. This year, we received the 2019 Ram Rebel, the 2019 Toyota TRD Pro lineup, the 2019 Ford Raptor and the 2019 Silverado Trail Boss / GMC Sierra AT4. That’s a long list of trucks that are ready for fun in the dirt straight from the dealership, and that is alright by us.

  • #SaveTheManuals

Manual transmission trucks are quite rare these days, and we appreciate that there are still a few kicking around. We want to thank Toyota especially because you can get a four-wheel drive TRD Pro Tacoma with a six-speed manual, unlike at GM where you have to get a Work Truck to get a stick in the Colorado/Canyon. Ram and Nissan also get props for still offering a stick in the 2500 HD or the Frontier midsize trucks.

  • Fuel Economy Focus

Trust me, I know folks don’t buy trucks because they expect great gas mileage, but the strides being made in making trucks more efficient are huge, and if that means less dollars and cents to keep these big V8s running, that’s alright in my books.

Let us know what you’re thankful for this year and Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours from the entire team here at TFLTruck!