Main Street Rides

Pick-up trucks have been around for what seems like forever, getting bigger and tougher by the year.  Each year it seems, every manufacturer that builds a truck is trying to out do the other in towing capacity, acceleration, and these days even fuel economy has been thrown into the mix.  It wasn’t too long ago that Toyota and Nissan decided to join in on the fray of full size trucks, adding to the selection that is available when looking for your next work horse.  Whether your looking for a big diesel to pull heavy loads, a 4×4 to tackle tough terrain in, or just a pick-up with a bed to haul things in there is surely a truck out there that will fit your needs.

On the other hand you see a lot of trucks out there that are just ridiculous.  Not everyone buys a truck just to get in and do the dirty work, no, there are many out there that buy big manly trucks and then inject them with steroids, just for fun.  I’m talking about those big jacked up trucks that ride 6 to 8 inches over their stock height and roll on 35 to 40 inch tires.  Big smoke stacks or tail pipes belch black smoke while the turbo screams under pressure from the big diesels and glass-pack exhausts make the gas powered trucks sound more like muscle cars.  Not everyone can can or wants to put so much into a truck however, what if you just want a stock truck that can do everything you need it to and more?  The question stands, what is the most manly, hairy chested truck that money can buy?  The answer is, there are actually two!

Ram Power Wagon

Roughly $48,000 will bring home a 2011 Ram Power Wagon and somewhere around $44,000 will clear a Ford f-150 Raptor.  As a pair, these two trucks are the manliest of the manly when it comes to trucks that can be bought off the show room floor.  That being said, both trucks are purpose built machines, built for completely different purposes….. very rugged purposes.  The Dodge Power Wagon has been around for long time with a few gaps here and there.  2005 brought the Power Wagon back after a 25 year hiatus, most everyone growing up had a Grandpa with a pick-up truck, my Granddad had a red 1976 Power Wagon and it was the object of my desire.  Back then the Power Wagon’s were bare bones, there wasn’t much to them aside from 4-wheel-drive, big engines, and a minimalistic interior.  Now days, Power Wagons can be had with all the luxuries that you’d expect from a Mercedes-Benz.  Even with available sunroofs, remote-starters, and satellite radio that is not the point of the Ram Power Wagon.  With a standard 2-in lift, 32 inch all-terrain tires, a 12,000 lb winch, lockable axles, and a myriad of other off-road goodies, the Power Wagon is a purpose built machine.  With it’s 383-hp Hemi V8 and electronic sway-bar disconnect system that will allow 13 inches of travel from the axles there isn’t much that a Power Wagon can’t handle.

Ford F-150 Raptor

While the Ram Power Wagon is designed for the high up mountains and rough country that’s full of boulders, fallen trees, and deep mud, the Ford F-150 Raptor is designed for lower altitudes.  To get right the point the Raptor is thoroughbred desert racer.  While the Power Wagon is designed to articulate over boulders and splash through giant mud holes, the Raptor can take a washboard dirt road, dried up river bed, or a desert full of sand dunes at triple digit speeds.  Think of the Raptor as a civilian Baja 1000 racer and you’ll have a pretty good idea of what it can do.  Available with Ford’s new 6.2L V8 the Raptor pumps out 411-hp, comes standard with 35-in all-terrain tires and has some of the most heavy duty suspension parts that you’ll find on a truck anywhere.  Whether it’s jumping sand dunes like Travis Pastrana or blasting across the worlds lowest and hottest elevations at 100 mph the Ford F-150 Raptor is the truck for the job.

While these two trucks are about as similar as Sylvester Stallone and Bruce Lee there is not doubt, they are the manliest of the manly when it comes down to big burly trucks that can and will take you anywhere you want to go.