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16 Pickup Trucks That Are Hot Garbage Off-Road

Although pickup trucks are supposed to be great at off-roading, not all are. These ones, for instance, are hot garbage anywhere slightly off-road.

Luxury and pickup trucks do not go along very well, generally. When looking at the functions of pickup trucks, such as hauling stuff or going off-roading, the ideas of luxury and comfort get thrown right out of the window. Few manufacturers have cracked the code when it comes to providing a decent level of comfortability in pickup trucks, but many are still miles behind.

Some pickup trucks do pack a serious punch, but are very low in the comfortability department, rendering them almost useless. Others do provide comfort but are so underpowered that they have trouble going up a steep slope. A perfect balance between the two is what most off-roaders are after, as comfortability without serious power is no good either. In today’s article, we have compiled a list of 16 pickup trucks that are hot garbage off-road. Let’s dive in!

16 GMC Sierra

The GMC Sierra is not the worst off-roading truck per se, but GMC could have made it a lot better. Some aftermarket modifications are required to make the pickup off-road worthy. The traction, for example, on Sierra’s stock tires is not so good for off-roading, so the addition of 18-inch rims to the equation becomes an absolute necessity. When it comes to power, a little bit extra would have made a vast difference for off-roading.

15 Dodge Ram SRT-10

The Dodge Ram SRT-10 is almost a full-step back from ultimate performance, with more focus on its versatility. The SRT-10 can accommodate up to six people, making it a decent family truck. In addition to its four-door cabin, Dodge chose to go with an 8.3-liter V10 engine, allowing it to crank around 500 hp and 525 lb-ft of torque. The automatic-only transmission, however, is a bit of a letdown and takes the pickup one notch downwards in terms of off-road comfortability.

14 Ford F-150 Lightning

Ford F-150 Lightning does perform well off-road, but not as astounding as you would expect it to do. The F-150’s fuel consumption is not ideal for extensive off-roading, pushing buyers to go for other economical options. Plus, the reliability rating on the F-150 Lightning is surprisingly low, and its ten-speed automatic transmission is known to be problematic at times.

13 Dodge Ram Rumble Bee:

The Rumble Bee takes the cake in terms of its overall body design. Dodge could have even scored a role for its Rumble Bee in the Transformer film series, with its beautiful design and a strong-enough performance. The truck came with a Hemi V8 engine, the most powerful in Dodge’s inventory at the time, capable of cranking up to 345 hp and 375 lb-ft torque. The Rumble Bee doesn’t provide the ground clearance needed for comfortable off-roading and comes with an automatic transmission, both of which are a turn off for hardcore off-roaders.

12 Chevy 454 SS

The 454 SS by Chevrolet was among the most powerful pickup trucks during the 90s. Everything from its body design to the V8 engine in its belly made the Chevy 454 a benchmark for all truck manufacturers. It was not ideal for off-roading, however. In fact, it would struggle on anything other than asphalt or a gravel road. While improving its performance and design, Chevrolet took off-roading out of the equation for the 454 SS.

11 Dodge Ram Daytona

The Ram Daytona was Dodge’s comeback after the poor performance of the HemiGTX. This upgrade was a step up from the GTX, but it still had some failings that Dodge should have addressed before its release. The SRT-10-inspired hood scoop had no apparent function. Paired with a spoiler at the truck’s rear, it made the Daytona look like Dodge’s attempt at milking this lineup for cash.

10 Subaru Baja

If you think your truck’s cargo capacity is low, have a look at the Subaru Baja. With its 2-12’ cargo capacity, there is no way a motorcycle can fit in there. Plus, Subaru’s decision to go with trim bars in the Baja’s bed made it almost impossible to get a cap or a tonneau cover for the truck. The undercarriage on the Baja and its 15-inch rims also does not paint a beautiful off-roading picture.

9 GMC Syclone

Introduced with a turbocharged V6 engine, this S-15 pickup by GMC was able to produce a decent 280 hp. The truck is still a worthy competition to today’s sports cars but is a terrible pickup. Syclone’s features that made it fast also hampered its chances of succeeding as a nice off-road truck. The GMC Syclone has a load-carrying capacity of only 500 lbs and a towing capacity of 2000 lbs.

8 Toyota Tacoma X Runner:

The Toyota Tacoma X Runner might perform well on smooth dirt roads, but it certainly is not a reliable off-road pickup. Its low ground clearance is the first hurdle towards off-roading since most rocks are not so kind with such vehicles. Moreover, its kit further reduces its ground clearance, bringing it close to that of a minivan or some normal streetcars.

7 2003 Chevy Avalanche

The 2003 Chevy Avalanche looks like it was built more like a gimmick than a hardcore off-road truck. The stock trim doesn’t look as reliable as an off-roader should, and the Avalanche’s departure and approach angles are not that promising as well. Nevertheless, this pickup truck packs some fabulous engine specifications, so some aftermarket modifications are required to make off-roading on it a breeze.

6 Honda Ridgeline

The Honda Ridgeline struggles a lot when driven off-road. The truck’s differential lock works only in the first and second gears, while still struggling over slippery or sandy terrain. The approach angle on the Ridgeline is also not optimal, with the departure angle still being in the acceptable range. All in all, the Honda Ridgeline is not a decent truck for off-roading, owing to its low-par design and performance.

5 2018 Mercedes-Benz X-Class

The 2018 Mercedes-Benz X-Class is a reasonable option if you are looking for a truck suitable for both on-road and off-road use. However, there are other better trucks out there, especially when compared to Benz X-Class’s off-road performance. The suspension is a bit firm, and the ground clearance is not as good as its contemporaries.

4 Shelby Dodge Dakota - Sport Convertible:

This drop-top was Shelby’s attempt at the revival of the Ford Model A trucks that traditionally came with a removable roof. Minus the roof, Dodge offered a decent match to the Ford Ranger and the GMC S-15. Shelby Dodge Dakota was enormous than the rivals, but owing to its unique features that were not in popular demand, the sales were low from the beginning.

3 2002 Lincoln Blackwood

The 2002 Lincoln Blackwood was a massive failure on the company’s part. The Blackwood came with a carpeted bed, yes you read it right, and a tonneau that had an angle limitation of only 45°. Good luck with putting your motorcycle or any other stuff in there! To top it off, the Lincoln Blackwood only came as a two-wheel drive with 19-inch alloy wheels.

2 Chevrolet SSR

After being dubbed as the most confusing pickup truck ever made, the SSR makes this list of pickup trucks that are hot garbage off-road. It becomes evident that the SSR is not an actual pickup truck by looking at its hybrid-esque design. Chevrolet has paired a six-speed manual transmission with a V8 engine in its SSR.

1 2009 Hummer H2 SUT

The 2009 Hummer H2 SUT is all about looks. There is something about it that gives it an aggressive profile. According to the New York Times, the 2009 Hummer SUT’s towing capacity is the same as a Chevrolet Silverado, but one thing that the Chevy truck lacks is the impression that the SUT has in abundance. For off-roading, the Hummer is a bit meh, solely because of its renowned unreliability.