Full-size pickups are a little like a solid relationship: comfortable, forgiving, strong, reliable and loyal. Over the years trucks have become more luxurious, better equipped and cushier. Though they are still built to be mechanical workhorses, they often serve double duty as daily drivers. And automakers recognize the potential: full-size pickups come in dozens of combinations of cabs, drivetrains, beds and suspensions. If you're planning to travel the snow-filled trail to the cottage this winter or rutted, mud-slicked roads when the frost thaws, and perhaps take along an all-terrain vehicle or snowmobile, here are the biggest, most capable trucks for the job.
Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra Though General Motors admits these two trucks, redesigned for 2007, share most components (sheet metal separates the fraternal twins), the Chevy/GMC faceoff exists because loyal buyers think otherwise. It's not uncommon to hear the "My Silverado is better than your Sierra" debate, especially in small towns, the heartland for pickups. Built on an all-new platform, the Silverado/Sierra's ride is smooth, and handling is tight. The cabin is quiet and there's a choice of two interiors: pure pickup (with larger controls and door handles easier to use with gloves) and luxury (with an upscale, SUV-like design, leather, heated seats and Bose speakers). For 2008, the trucks get upgraded with a power-adjustable driver's portion of the regular cab's front bench and brighter instrument needles in the gauge cluster. Though there's still no driver's side grab handle for easier entry. Three cab styles are available: regular, extended and crew; three cargo boxes: short (5.8-foot), standard (6.6-foot) and long (8-foot); three trims (Silverado/Sierra): base WT or W/E, LT/SLE and LTZ/SLT; and two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. Five suspension systems are offered, up to eight different engines (including a 5.3 L V8 with fuel-saving Displacement on Demand) and up to three transmissions (two for the Silverado). Best for: Those in the fishing industry. The rugged Silverado and Sierra are like magnets in fishing villages from the inner harbours on Vancouver Island to Trinity Bay, Nfld. It likely has a lot to do with low flatbed load-in height, ideal for stacking lobster traps. Numbers that matter: Towing capacity: 3,629 to 4,763 kg Payload: 709 to 980 kg Starting price: $23,520
Dodge Ram To say the Ram is big is an understatement. The truck is massive – so large Dodge claims it's available with the largest cargo bed, interior cargo volume, cargo volume behind the rear seat, flat-floor load area, second-row legroom, rear door opening and open angle. The irony, however, is that while it's without a doubt big to park, it's easy to manoeuvre into a spot, even if it's a tight fit. And like all of the big pickups, side running boards are a necessity rather an accessory. Earlier this year, Dodge upgraded the Ram's optional (and pricey, $9,045) Cummins inline-six turbodiesel from 5.9 L to a new, smoother and quieter 6.7 L version with 350 hp and 650 lb.-ft. of torque. The rig also moved up to a more competitive six-speed automatic transmission. Three Ram models are available: 1500, 2500 and 3500 (the new Cummins is standard). A 5.7 L Hemi V8 with 345 hp and 375 lb.-ft. of torque is standard on the 1500 and 2500 trucks. Four transmissions are on offer, as well as several trims (ST, SLT, TRX4, Sport and Laramie). Choose between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. Two box sizes are available: 6.4-foot or 8-foot. Best for: Construction. Whether you're the foreperson of a multi-million-dollar site or a regular at the Home Depot, the Ram is a workhorse that lives up to the task of getting down and dirty (check out the ground clearance) or weighed down with material. Numbers that matter: Towing capacity: 1,338 to 7,438 kg Payload: 567 to 2,327 kg Starting price: $21,995
Ford F-Series Big trucks are not typically known for having a plush ride, but that was one of Ford's goals when it redesigned its F-Series lineup for the 2007 model year. Ride and handling have improved by attaching the suspension's new rear leaf springs more forward on the frame. And, as an added benefit, the rear suspension was specifically designed to keep the rear end lower to give the vehicle more balance and control when towing taller gooseneck and fifth-wheel trailers. Ford says its huge trucks, like those in the F-450 category (with a 7,257 to 11,113 kg towing capacity), were once only used as hardcore working haulers. The market, however, is crossing over to appeal to customers who pull large recreational equipment such as 12-metre-long boats or Airstreams. Behind that bold grille is an optional 6.4 L Power Stroke turbodiesel that delivers 350 hp and 650 lb.-ft. of torque starting at 2000 rpm. The engine complies with new North American diesel regulations, and helps to reduce soot by up to 97 per cent while posting emissions numbers on par with those from gasoline engines, its maker says. There's a choice of two other gas-powered engines, four models (XL, XLT, FX4 and Lariat), three body types (regular, SuperCab, Crew Cab) and two drivelines (4x2 or 4x4). Ford has also pulled a few convenient gizmos out of the hat: There's an available ($495) rear backup camera that's built into the rear-view mirror. An optional tailgate step makes it easier to climb into the flatbed. At the touch of a button, new PowerScope trailer-tow side mirrors telescope in or out and fold. Best for: Farming. Running through the fields loaded down with hay bales, towing equipment and serving double duty as a family hauler, the F-Series is ideal for the simple life. Numbers that matter: Towing capacity: 2,313 to 11,113 kg Payload: 653 to 2,775 kg Starting price: $22,199
Nissan Titan The newest truck to join the full-size pickup market (it debuted for 2004), the Titan gets a minor facelift for 2008 with a revised front end, wheel lip mouldings and new 18- and 20-inch wheel designs. Inside, the truck sports new seats and a refined instrument cluster. For a newcomer to the truck game, the Titan has a good choice of permutations: there are four models (XE, SE, PRO-4X and LE); two cab styles: King and Crew; standard or long wheelbase; four bed lengths (5.6-foot or 7-foot for Crew, 6.6-foot or 8-foot for King), and 4x2 and 4x4 drive configurations. A 5.6 L V8 with 317 hp and 385 lb.-ft. of torque and a five-speed automatic transmission are standar For one of the smallest engines in the group, the Titan feels adequately powered, and, when it's not weighed down, acceleration is swift. But that's where the fun ends. Titan is the bulkiest to drive of all the full-size trucks. It's harder to see over the hood compared to rivals, it's chunky to park in a Canadian Tire-sized spot and its turning radius feels wider than the rest. Inside, Titan seems more SUV in its design than work truck, though there are the requisite nooks and crannies, bins and boxes to hold all the stuff that accumulates in an office on wheels. The centre console can even hold a 1 L water bottle, a convenient feature. Best for: Pilots. Like an airplane, this Nissan is awkward to manoeuvre on the ground. Factor in more space than you need to fit in a parking spot or traffic, and you'll master the physics of driving a Titan. But, like a plane, once it gets moving, it runs pretty quickly. Numbers that matter: Towing capacity: 4,218 to 4,309 kg Payload: 867 to 911 kg Starting price: $33,498
Toyota Tundra While Nissan might be happy going after alternative full-size truck buyers, Toyota is aiming for the jugulars of the Detroit Three. You could say the Tundra is the persistent pickup. When it was launched in 2000, it was criticized for being too small and too car-like in its abilities. And it was built by a Japanese automaker, while the traditional contenders hailed from the U.S. But the new-generation Tundra, rolled out earlier in 2007, took the crown at this year's Truck King Challenge, a pickup competition organized by freelance auto writer Howard J. Elmer. And though the new truck is Japanese by brand, it's striving to be American: It's designed in California, gets its technical wherewithal from engineers in Ann Arbor, Mich., and comes to life at a plant in the heart of truck country, San Antonio, Tex. Like the competition, the Tundra is highly customizable. There are said to be 32 ways to mix engines (4.7 L or 5.7 L V8s), transmissions (five- or all-new six-speed), cab size (regular, double and CrewMax), bed lengths (5.5-foot, 6.5-foot and 8.1-foot), 4x2 or 4x4 drivelines, trim levels and option packages. Tundra's love-it-or-loathe-it styling features bold and edgy lines and takes some getting used to. The cabin design is clean and modern, with an abundance of storage solutions (some are even hidden in the doors). Best for: The city-dwelling young professional who regularly escapes to the cottage, with an ATV, boat and/or dirt bike. When it's time to move around those goodies, the Tundra is up to the task. Numbers that matter: Towing capacity: 3,535 to 4,895 kg Payload: 565 to 860 kg Starting price: $23,475 |