Random Best Off-Road Trucks on Four Wheels (20 items)

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  (#20) Ford Courier

  • Mazda

  Some mini-truck had to make this list, and I had a 1973 Courier with a 2.3-liter Mustang engine. So, there it is. If you've never experienced the joy of mercilessly thrashing a lightweight, low-geared, rear-drive minitruck around the backroads, then you might not understand what makes the Courier so utterly perfect. Think of it as a Mazda Miata for the dirt; a momentum machine that rewards talent, bravery and flawless control. Granted, you could say the same for any Ranger or Chevy S-10. But having owned all three, take my word for it: Light makes right, and Ford's Courier is the rightest of them all.  
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  (#4) Full-Sized Bronco

  The Ranger-based Bronco II has long been a favorite among enthusiasts, and for good reason. But the F-Series based Big Bronco is one of those trucks that almost instantly became a legend in its own time. There was a time in the 1970s and '80s when you couldn't find a beach in America that didn't have at least one Big Bronc with its rear roof section off. It's at least as good off-road as any F-150, which is definitely nothing to sneeze at. But more than anything else, Big Broncos are just cool. Always have been, always will be. 
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  (#9) Suzuki Samurai

  Most Japanese kei cars absolutely flop in the United States - we're just not big fans of cute little versions of the real thing. Suzuki's Samurai is the notable exception. Despite the fact that it's about as stable as a hippo on a telephone pole, the Samurai's half-scale dimensions, light weight, and indestructibility have definitely made it a favorite among certain types. If you're looking for a real off-roader that can squeeze down the average game trail, the list of potentials pretty much begins and ends with Suzuki. 
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  (#15) Nissan Xterra

  • Nissan

  History of rollovers aside, the Xterra has always been one of the sleeper choices among off-road enthusiasts. Much of that had to do with the Xterra's pragmatic, stripped-down character, its broad range of powertrain options, the (rollover-inducing) narrow track that allowed the Xterra to get down tighter trails than most SUVs, and the fact that it used a real, no-kidding body-on-frame chassis. 
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  (#2) Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

  This might be Jeep's hardest-core off-roader to date, including the old CJ. In an odd departure from the "bigger is better" evolution of most models, the current JK is actually 2.5 inches shorter in overall length than the TJ it replaced. Much as it might pain some to admit, the JK is everything the CJ was, plus 40 years of development, electronic controls, and a lot more power. About the only bad thing you can say about the JK is that it's much more complicated than the CJ, and electronic-everything isn't exactly ideal off road. But, that's just how it is these days.
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  (#6) 2005-Up Dodge Ram Power Wagon

  The original Power Wagon was based on Dodge's WWII era WC chassis, and it is rightly considered the grandfather of all four-wheel-drive trucks today. By some standards, it's still one of the best. But the newer Power Wagon package probably makes 2005-later Rams objectively better off-roaders. Granted, it's not quite the low-speed crawler that the original Power Wagon was - that particular Dodge was almost more tractor than truck. But the newer model's almost as good at crawling over obstacles, and its Hemi engine gives it plenty of power for hammering through deep sand and mud. It might or might not be "better," but the new Power Wagon is at least far more versatile. 

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