Secure, equipped and practical, big American made pick-up trucks have become popular around the world during the last 20 years. Perfectly equipped and durable for bad roads, they don’t come inexpensive and are generally thirsty, but are very good value and advantage from more forgiving tasks.
Rough way of life and work vehicles, massive American pick-ups, nevertheless, started to be far more attractive and fascinating with the 2010 release of the 1st Ford F150 Raptor. Among the many well known overall performance vehicles, the Raptor now enters its 3rd generation and has been joined by the also more robust Ram 1500 TRX and Jeep’s specialized desert driving Gladiator Sand Runner.
Ford F150 Raptor
Undisputed winner of the near ready-to-race, design and style mass manufacturing off-road full-size truck segment since its first appearance. Featuring a lot of new technology and connectivity options including flexible sound levels, the most current Raptor increases on its thoroughly awesome predecessor, but holds its successful recipe and identity.
Created on a durable frame engineered for punishing high performance off-road driving, the Raptor’s suspension system is fundamental to its comprehensive capabilities. Trading leaf springs for five-link coil spring back suspension, the new Raptor provides advanced axle articulation, and ride and handling properties. Larger than ever before at 78mm diameter, the Raptor’s Fox Live Valve internal bypass dampers meanwhile offer more rapidly and more nuanced dynamic adjustability to better respond to changing terrain with level of comfort, control and confidence.
Easily absorbing punishing landings, the job of launching the 2.6-tonne Ford F150 Raptor from desert dunes is once again entrusted to Ford’s twin-turbo 3.5-litre engine. Putting power down to all 4 wheels with a 10-speed automatic gearbox and electronically locking rear differential, the Raptor’s fantastic 450BHP and 510lb/ft engine supplies comfortably muscular general performance, including estimated 5.5-second 0-100km/h acceleration. However, a more efficient upcoming Raptor variant is expected to release the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500’s 760BHP supercharged 5.2-litre V8 Predator V8 engine. Photo> Ford
Ford F150 Raptor Technical specs:
Engine: 3.5-litre, twin turbo V6-cylinders
Gearbox: 10-speed automatic
Drive-line: Four-wheel-drive, low ratio gears, electronic locking rear differential
Power, BHP (PS) [kW]: 450 (456) [335] @5,850rpm
Torque, lb/ft (Nm): 510 (691) @3,000rpm
0-100km/h: 5.5-seconds
(approximate)
Top speed: 190km/h
(approximate)
Length: 5,908mm
Width: 2,200mm
Height: 2,027mm
Wheelbase: 3,693mm
Ground clearance: 305mm
Approach, break-over, departure angles: 31°,
22.7°, 23.9°
Kerb weight: 2,603kg
Suspension: Suspension: Double wishbones/5-link solid axle
Dampers: Fox, variable compression, 79mm
Tyres: 315/70R17
Jeep Gladiator Sand Runner
Specially designed with high speed desert driving high jinks in head, the Jeep Gladiator Sand Runner is the brand’s 1st to wear a new desert scored badge, and is for the most part a Middle East edition of the US market Gladiator Mojave model. Designed for extreme potential rather than outright extreme effectiveness, the Sand Runner holds the same tried and true 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine and 8-speed automatic gearbox as garden variety Gladiators.
Enhancing on the Jeep Wrangler-based Gladiator pick-up’s already remarkably off-road effective formula, the Sand Runner gains a suspension lift, wider track, silver skidplate and reinforced frame, axles and steering knuckles. To deal with the hard knocks of high speed desert driving, the Sand Runner as well gets 64mm variable compression Fox dampers with internal bypass, external fluid tank and jounce bumpers to increase comfort, controlling, fade and bottoming out
resistance for more challenging desert runs. Photo> Stellantis
If not really the significant high speed super-truck, the Gladiator’s off-road specific design allows a absolutely extreme 44.7° approach angle, while its 281BHP and 260lb/ft output can provide a lot of high rev power and low-end muscle. Strong and specially-oriented for speedy desert driving, the Sand Runner attributes low gear ratios and a rear axle that can uniquely be locked in high gear four-wheel-drive option, but lacks the more tech Gladiator Rubicon off-roader’s front differential lock and disconnecting excessive axle articulation anti-roll bars.
Jeep Gladiator Sand Runner Technical specs:
Engine: 3.6-litre, V6-cylinders
Gearbox: 8-speed automatic
Drive-line: Four-wheel-drive,
low ratio gears, rear differential lock
Power, BHP (PS) [kW]: 281 (285) [209] @6,400rpm
Torque, lb/ft (Nm): 260 (353) @4,400rpm
0-100km/h: approximately 9-seconds (estimate)
Top speed: approximately 160km/h (estimate)
Length: 5,539mm
Width: 1,875mm
Height: 1,857mm
Wheelbase: 3,487mm
Ground clearance: 295mm
Approach, break-over, departure angles: 44.7°, 20.9°, 25.5°
Kerb weight: 2,256kg
Suspension: Solid axles, multilink, coil springs
Dampers: Fox, variable compression, 64mm
Tyres: 285/70R17
Ram 1500 TRX
A follow-up to Dodge’s Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye super saloon and Durango SRT Hellcat super SUV when presented last year, it was expected that Stellantis-owned Chrysler automotive group would both give the Hellcat engine treatment on the Ram 1500 pick-up truck, and in one fell swoop challenge the long uncontested Ford F150 super-truck champ. Dubbed 1500 TRX, Ram’s new major tier truck may out-muscle the regular F150 for now, but even now follows a very much the same trophy-truck motivated strategy.
Produced on a robust high strength, low torsion frame and riding on enormous 325/65R18 tyres, the Ram 1500 TRX’s high performance off-road potential are mostly facilitated by its it considerably improved suspension set-up. Along with forged aluminium components and much more comfortable and a active five-link, coil spring rigid axle system at the backside, the TRX also features noticeably increased wheel travel, and a 66mm Bilstein Black Hawk e2 dynamic performance damping system engineered to tackle challenging high speed off-road driving at over 160km/h. Photo> RAM Trucks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAic0BRNz-U&t=1s
The most impressive in its class — at least until Ford’s Raptor R fight back shows up — the TRX’s supercharged 6.2-litre V8-powered formula is brutally efficient with 702BHP and 650lb/f output. Driving all 4 wheels thru a full-time dynamic transfer case and 8-speed automatic gearbox, the TRX blasts through 0-97km/h in just 4.5-seconds and attains 190km/h, irrespective of a near 2.9-tonne weight. In the mean time, an electronic locking rear differential helps manage off-road traction. Video> YouTube- Ram
Ram 1500 TRX Technical specs:
Engine: 6.2-litre, supercharged V8-cylinders
Gearbox: 8-speed automatic
Drive-line: Four-wheel-drive, low ratio gears, electronic locking rear differential
Power, BHP (PS) [kW]: 702 (711) [523] @6,100rpm
Torque, lb/ft (Nm): 650 (882) @4,800rpm
0-97km/h: 4.5-seconds
Top speed: 190km/h
Length: 5,916mm
Width: 2,235mm
Height: 2,055mm
Wheelbase: 3,685mm
Ground clearance: 300mm
Approach, break-over, departure angles: 30.2°, 21.9°, 23.5°
Kerb weight: 2,880kg
Suspension: Double wishbones / 5-link, solid axle, coil springs
Dampers: Bilstein active dampers, 66mm
Tyres: 325/65R18