Six seats
You need room for six
Six people means a 40/20/40 front bench, and that means a full-size truck. The Ram 2500 Warlock has the bench standard, with the 6.4-liter HEMI V8, Bilstein shocks and 34-inch all-terrains. In a half ton, the 2026 Silverado 1500 Custom Trail Boss and the Ram 1500 Warlock keep the bench too.
The Silverado is all new for 2027, so confirm the bench on a 2027 build. Every truck with a bench.
In our lineup: the Ram 2500 Warlock and the Silverado 1500 Custom Trail Boss.
Towing and the beach
You tow a camper and drive the sand
A three-quarter ton has the stronger frame, axles and springs for a heavy trailer. The F-250 XLT with the Tremor Off-Road Package adds 35-inch all-terrains, a factory lift, an electronic locking rear differential and Rock Crawl Mode to Ford’s 7.3-liter V8, and keeps the bench.
Check your trailer against the exact truck’s rating before you order. 1500 vs. 2500 · Ram 2500 vs. F-250.
In our lineup.
Trail hardware
You want the most off-road gear
The Ram 2500 Power Wagon comes with front and rear locking differentials, a disconnecting front sway bar, a front winch, Bilstein shocks, skid plates and the 6.4-liter HEMI V8, and it still seats six. In a midsize, the Jeep Gladiator Rubicon also locks front and rear.
Daily driver
It’s your everyday truck
A half ton rides softer with an empty bed, parks easier and uses less gas. A 2026 Ram 1500 with the 5.7-liter HEMI is EPA-rated 18 mpg combined; three-quarter tons carry no EPA rating at all.
The Ram 1500 Rebel rides on coil springs, the F-150 Tremor brings the most off-road tools, and the Tundra TRD Pro is the only hybrid of the three. All three seat five. Rebel vs. Tremor vs. Trail Boss vs. Tundra.
Smaller truck
You want something easier to park
The Nissan Frontier PRO-4X, Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road, Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss and Ford Ranger FX4 are midsize trucks with a locking rear axle. All four seat five. The midsize comparison.
Open air
You want the top off
The Jeep Gladiator is the only pickup with a top that comes off. The Rubicon adds front and rear lockers and 11.1 inches of ground clearance, with the 3.6-liter V6.
The Gladiator is in our lineup.
Value
Money matters most
Midsize off-road trims with a locking rear axle start in the low to mid $40,000s with destination. In full size, the Ram 2500 Warlock costs only about $640 more than a Ram 1500 Warlock with the V8, and it keeps the bench. See the price gap.
