The difference between duds and studs is a deep subject, but if we were to narrow it down strictly to what one chooses to drive, we can then classify them into categories by their choice of automobile. Ultimately, the two different types of people have very different lifestyles; studs get it done and handle business. They work hard, move up the ranks and don’t settle; they take what they want. Duds just seem to take what comes their way; they have an obscure vision of style and maybe even a little socially inept. Some people say that it doesn’t matter what you drive, and that true beauty is on the inside. They will lead you to believe that’s what’s important. But the fact of the matter is this; as humans we make snap judgments about everything in our everyday life as an evolutionary survival tactic. We don’t mean to, but we judge everything with stereotypes and preconceived notions to help us efficiently move through our day. Say all you want about some stereotypes, but they don’t come from nowhere, and not for no reason.

Translate this into your choice of automobile and it’s clear that what you drive makes a statement about you; who you are, what you believe in and what you care about. Smart Car drivers care about cheap, economical transportation and don’t care about how silly they look driving around, performance, or traveling. There’s no way to pimp out a smart car, Prius, or Kia Rio. If you’re a truck guy, pay close attention as this is what your ride says about who you are!

20 600HP Ford 6x6 VelociRaptor

(hennessyperformance.com)

I’m going right out of the gate with a top tier truck here. This is NOT the everyman’s truck; as a matter of fact, it isn’t even a made man’s truck. This truck is for the guy who has done so well for himself he can spend the better part of a quarter million dollars on an off-road beast that won’t likely ever go off-roading. The Hennessey Ford Velociraptor 6x6 is an actual production Raptor modified by Hennessey Performance out of Sealy, Texas and commercially available in 2017-2018 Raptor models.

The truck is based on the ever-popular and super capable Ford Raptor; one of the coolest production trucks ever to hit the market in history. Unmatched performance and killer styling on one of the most popular truck platforms in history is already a recipe for success. The addition of Hennessey’s upgrades makes it a one-off that’ll turn you into an instant superstar; locking rear drive axles, VelociRaptor 600 twin turbo upgrade (600+ horsepower), custom 20” rims and offroad tires, upgraded Fox suspension, stainless exhaust, intercooled induction, and retuned factory computer. Optional upgrades include large Brembo brakes, even bigger wheels and tires and LED lighting along with a list of other cool goodies according to Hennessey’s promo page. It’s not easy balling this hard, but if you can pony up $349,000, you can get your hands on the BASE model Hennessey 6x6. No one said being a stud was easy.

19 2018 Ford F-150 XLT Sport

(digitaltrends.com)

For those of you Ford F-150 guys not into wasting away an entire house on a truck, fear not; there are alternatives. The 2018 Ford F-150 XLT Sport has received numerous awards as a top choice pickup truck and is well within the budget of the average man who cares about what he drives. Starting at a modest $27,700, the F-150 hasn’t been the best-selling pickup truck in the U.S. for decades for no reason.

Great styling, capable utility, an array of creature comforts to make the ride enjoyable; decent pickup truck performance makes this a solid choice for any baller on a budget.

You can opt for the 3.5L twin turbo Ecoboost motor or settle for the standard 3.3L V-6. There’s always the legendary 5.0L V-8 option for those of you who like your cylinders in sets of four. Up to 25mpg and an optional 36gal fuel tank will get you where you need to go with minimal fuel stops, and the available 10-speed electronically controlled transmission will keep that engine speed right where you need it under all driving conditions. This clean looking, capable truck is perfect for a cruising around town with a date and hitting the campsite on the weekend. When the fun’s done, it’ll be work ready until the next weekend.

18 2015 Chevy Silverado 1500

(hardworkingtrucks.com)

Another great option for truck enthusiasts that like to make a less than subtle statement about their encouraging position in life is the 2015 Silverado. The 1500 ½ ton model Silverado is an iconic pickup truck that’s recognizable throughout the world even though the whole world isn’t fortunate enough to have the luxury of owning one. It’s trusted by the Mexican Military and Federal Government to get their dirty work done when it has to get done without questions. Countless industrial, commercial, and agricultural operations use the Chevy Silverado as the unsung hero of the field. Aside from its commercial success, the Silverado has been the subject of many award-winning SEMA builds and one-offs making it a popular truck choice whether you have a heavy duty job to take care of, just want to look cool, or both at the same time.

The styling on the 2015 model has some of the best body lines I’ve ever seen on a Silverado, or almost any truck for that matter. I’m a fan of the beautiful curves like those found on Chevy’s ’47 pickup, but one cannot deny the stout appearance and tough look of the symmetrically designed body contours, from the hood line and fenders all the way down the cab to the bed. This truck makes the statement that you’re serious about work, but aren’t willing to sacrifice looks in the process.

17 2014 Dodge Ram 1500 HEMI

(purplewave.com)

Don’t worry Mopar fans, I didn’t forget about you! But I do have a special treat if you’re jonesing for a Ram horn; the 2014 Ram 1500 HEMI. We all know what a hemi is, and we often attribute this engine design to Dodge as they have made the term extremely popular in the last 50 years. In truth, hemispherical head designs have been used in early 20th century Peugeots and the Pratt & Whitney radial engines that powered WWII aircraft. Though Dodge did not invent it, they made a hell of a reputation with it; 1951 was the debut of the design by Dodge and their legendary 426 HEMI was in production from 1964-1971.

You too can own a piece of history underneath your hood if you go the Mopar route as they are still producing versions of the HEMI for their new model lines.

Introduce the hemispherical head design with modern engine technology and you have a pretty cool piece of equipment sitting underneath your hood. An impressive 395 horsepower and 407ft/lb of torque is produced by the 5.7L and you have the choice of a six or eight speed transmission to put behind it. Even with a HEMI you’re still able to expect above 18mpg on the highway, unless you drive it like a HEMI that is. The Ram has all the power and looks you need to project your confidence onto your everyday commute.

16 2017 Ford F-350 Super Duty

via car and driver

Alright truck fans, now we’re getting serious. We’ve dabbled in the ½ ton category to find the best rides to get you there in style, but what about the big daddies? In today’s truck market, it’s plain that styling and comfort are more prevalent in today’s heavy-duty light trucks than ever before. The question is, how do you make an 8,000lb, 20’ truck feel handle like a smaller truck? Ford somehow managed with Super Duty’s new variable-ratio steering system. Basically, it mechanically adds or subtracts required steering input for a given output at different speeds. This gives the illusion that you’re actually driving a smaller, more maneuverable vehicle.

That might be a welcome enhancement as the truck is impressively large and powerful in the first place. The turbocharged 32 valve aluminum block V-8 is a direct injection engine that can pump out 440 horsepower and a stump-pulling 925ft/lb of torque with its 406 cubic inch displacement. All this power is able to propel the truck down the highway for 570 miles on a single tank at 17mpg. That’s a lot of looking good for not a lot of fuel. Whether you’re going to look good working, or look good playing, you’re going to look good some way.

15 2015 GMC Sierra 3500HD

(gm.ca)

How do you make a statement without making a statement? If I tried to answer that without answering that, it would never get answered. Fortunately for you, not only can a statement be made, but a very bold statement with a very bold rig; the 2015 GMC Sierra 3500HD. The dual rear wheels give it a sturdy stance and the factory suspension gives you plenty of room between the wheel wells and tops of the tires. The squared grille design is lightly accented with chrome is just enough to decorate the front end.

Just a few feet behind the shiny black and chrome sits the 6.6L turbocharged Duramax that’s going to give you almost 400 horsepower and upwards of 750 lb/ft of torque.

Power would get you nowhere without functionality, and the ridged suspension can handle 3 ½ tons of payload and tow more than 20,000lbs when equipped with a 5th wheel. So break your toy haulers out, dust off the tents and stock the consumables; this bad boy is ready to take you where you wanna go. I’m not even going to start to name all of the inside features of the Sierra 3500 but it’s got a milestone setting list of creature comforts and features to make long drives to the river or cruises down the beach feel like a first class seat on a Dreamliner.

14 2018 Toyota Tundra

via motor1.com

We’ve already hit a decent list of domestic homerun hitters in the truck market; whether you’re looking for a light duty and efficient commuter for occasional weekend fun or want to look like the man when you hook your fifth wheel up; there’s a rig to feed any ego. If your ego happens to have a slightly different palate but still wants a full size dish, you may consider the newly redesigned Toyota Tundra. The ’18 model steps it up in the styling department compared to the decade old first-gen line, and it looks really good. It took a moment for me to acclimate to it, as I wasn’t initially a fan, but the contours do grow on you after a while and it’s one of the best looking pickups Toyota has ever developed.

Looks are just the half of it. We all know Toyota is reliable, but entering into the full-size arena, there is an extra variable to consider; power. As mini and midsize trucks, this was only of a minor importance when considering a Toyota truck, but now that they want to play with the big boys, how does the Tundra stack up? Well, with an optional 5.7L i-Force V-8 you’ll be packing 381 horsepower and a 401ft/lb torque rating. The payload capacity is only just over 2000lbs but the rig is potentially able to haul up to an industry standard 6-10,000lbs. Bottom line, it’s a great looking truck that you’d be proud to own.

13 1956 Chevy Pickup

(hotrod.com)

Ok so I could have gone on and on with a meandering list of new trucks to make even the most socially obtuse reject look cool, but that would be doing you a severe injustice as there are so many options out there to choose from we couldn’t fit them all. You should have a good idea by now what to look for in newer trucks if that’s the route you want to go. For those looking for something with even MORE style, you have to dig a little deeper and get your hands dirty. Owning a masterpiece of machinery like this 1956 Chevy is no breeze.

You have to earn the truck’s respect; you have to tune it, maintain it, care for it. That means letting her warm up when she’s cold, keeping the oil clean and understanding there’s more to ownership than warranty dealer service trips.

For those willing to go the distance, a truck like this will do things for your ego you never dreamed of. You’ll be the envy of the road, and compliments will tail you everywhere you go. You’re driving something now that many people wish they had or once had when they were young. Even with a modest 350 crate engine bored .030 over this thing is going to take you places any new truck could only dream.

12 1972 Ranger F-250

via pinterest

Here’s a curveball for most of you. You’re looking at this thinking that it should be down there with the other undesirables. Well that sentiment is exactly why I made a point to bring the spotlight on this truck. Welcome to the most underrated and overlooked muscle truck of the day. With everybody all the rage about Chevys, these early ‘70s Fords are just about off the radar to most people, and that’s exactly what makes them so desirable. You don’t have to forfeit an arm and a leg to own one in good condition, and they have just as much potential as their Chevy counterparts.

Welcome to the toughest rock solid Ford truck you can get your hands on; the last samurai. Just old enough to be one of the last quality trucks Ford built, and new enough that they aren’t yet on the collector’s list, this F-Series is the perfect platform for whatever you could want to do to it; they’re great and dependable off-road trailblazers, have almost unlimited space under the hood for any power plant you see fit. Even in completely stock form you’ll feel a truly amazing ride quality. I used to steer my dad’s F-250 XLT around with my index finger. This is one you have to see to appreciate, thus making it probably one of the rarest gems still hiding under the radar.

11 1970 Chevrolet C10

(americanlegendwheels.com)

How could one mention the early ‘70s pickup scene without a having a bone to toss to one of the most recognizable pickup trucks in the dying era of big muscle? Yes the Chevrolet C10 with its rectangular design and crisp body lines is none to be forgotten. This truck enjoyed years of love and adoration from rodders and gearheads as high sales numbers and a large available array of parts were always easy to obtain.

The truck was a formidable machine at the strip, reliable farm mule and perfect tailgater; and still to this day is a treasure to own.

This is another one of those rare machines that will inspire the imagination when you get in and lay your foot into the throttle; you’ll hear the exhaust pipes roar louder the deeper you push; the raw, unrestricted exhaust spewing hydrocarbons all over the atmosphere with no apologies to Greenpeace. Let somebody else offset your carbon footprint and stop blowing exhaust through catalytic converters. For every classic on the road today, there are at least two Prius’ owners offsetting your emissions; and probably driving like douchebags while they’re at it so feel free to goose the throttle when you pull up to one at a light to thank them for their sacrifice.

10 1990 Ford Ranger

(flickr.com)

Ok so we spent some time talking about trucks that make you a badass, but since there is an equal and opposite reaction to every action; what, I ask you is at the other end of the spectrum? Being a loser is a lifestyle and a choice. I’m not saying that’s necessarily you, but looking like a loser when you drive around may be what you’re doing; thus I have come to save you from yourself with the second half of this list. Reader beware, if this is you, you have some serious considerations to make about the life you are living.

The 1990 Ford Ranger was a disgrace in the Ranger line from the moment the newly redesigned model rolled off the assembly line. Having come from a full size model line, the Ranger name was applied to the mini trucks as a branding scheme to promote the new model with a reputable name. I’m not going to go overboard and say it was a monumental pile of crap when it was produced next to other monumental heaps of garbage. Just about everything produced in the two decades between 1980 and 2000 was trash; it lacked quality in craftsmanship, was manufactured with substandard materials, and had a distinctive styling that I find to be atrocious. This truck is no exception and does nothing for your image.

9 1987 Ford F-150

via barn finds

Here’s a truck that is the size the ranger should have been; and at just about as ugly as the ranger. It’s a good thing the ranger didn’t stay full size or we’d have two full size ½ ton beaters on our hands. Not only does this truck have some of the worst materials of which to be constructed of, they didn’t try to make them look good. Sure in the late ‘80s it looked good, but there is an uncomfortable period of time between the mid to late ‘70s to the early 2000s that was a tragedy in everything automotive. The EPA was running a horsepower embargo so automakers were scrambling to meet new, stringent standards. As a result, you’ll find some of the most hindering, cluttered, and poorly working emissions devices ever installed on cars. Three decades later, we have smog and emissions down to a much finer art; systems are electronically controlled, computer operated, variable this and cylinder shut off that….It all works pretty nice.

Not at all the case with this Ford, or anything produced in its era. So why did I choose this particular truck? Well, with some of the worst styling I’ve seen in trucks ever, this one takes the gold for woman repellant. Everything about this rig screams beater; I didn’t have the heart to even show you what the front end looks like, but if you can picture it, it only gets worse. Sadly, this is the truck’s good side!

8 1995 Chevy Silverado

via cardomain

Here’s another wonder of the lost ages we’re constantly trying to forget. Mid ‘90s Silverados were laden with cheap parts and poor quality fasteners to hold the cheap parts together that resulted in a rolling joke decades later. Poor quality finishes didn’t protect the metal under the paint as well as we’d hoped they would. These trucks are rust buckets back east where the roads get salted. The thin-gauge stamped body construction of the bed was covered with an ugly plastic bed liner that did its job, but not much else. Water would get caught in the corners of the bed if it failed to drain and your truck could be rusting out from underneath you without you even knowing it. The door handles, mirrors and trim, every piece of plastic on the outside was poorly made; suffering from both poor design and cheap materials. Had one of those attributes been remedied, they build quality would be much better, but these 20 year old parts are quick to fall apart leaving a pile of junk costing more to replace than it’s worth.

All in all, it was a great truck back in its day, but the manufacturing in the ‘80s and ‘90s wasn’t meant to last this long, and these trucks are mostly all near the end of their lifespan; even if you have one in good condition, with pretty paint and a tight motor, you’re still driving around on embryotic smog technology that’s robbing you of performance. Lose-lose.

7 1987 Nissan Hardbody

(trucktrend.com)

The 1989 Nissan hardbody example I’ve provided seems to prove my point well. It’s a relatively nice showcase of the little truck, sunlight cascading across the lake in the background from the evening sunset; the reflection of the horizon running down the smooth side panels (that is a really smooth truck by the way). Maybe it’s your style, maybe it’s not, but the truck is a very clean example of the Nissan hardbody in its heyday. If you can step out of your subjective opinion for a moment, you’ll be able to see that, maybe despite it being slammed it’s really not a bad looking truck considering its age. Maybe the lowering is what is saving it altogether, I don’t know, but before I bash this little guy, I’m trying to consider its value objectively and appreciate it for what it is; a small, no-frills pickup truck that got it done back in the day.

By today’s standards, it's super old and the styling is so outdated you’d almost expect to open the door to a red shag carpet.

These were really good trucks back in the day, and still today they have a loyal following in multiple arenas of the car world; off-roading, landscaping, lowering, low riding. I actually used to see convoys of these things pulling other cars to Mexico along I-10. But being seen in this little guy isn’t going to get you any phone numbers from the girls you want the phone numbers from.

6 1985 Toyota Hilux

(speedhunters.com)

Since we’re on a blast from the past right now, I’ll take you down to Hill Valley in 1985. Marty McFly just got his new wheels, and he’s out with his hot chick (because in 1985 this thing was apparently a magnet). It’s got the bull bar, KC Daylighters on the roll bar, a nice little lift; Marty was styling. Yes back in 1985 when this rig was brand new it must have been so fast and powerful that Needles even felt compelled to challenge Marty to a race from a red light, as if the little tiny Toyota had a chance against a small block Ford. (Something that literally has not dawned on me until right now is how silly that scene was.)

I don’t think I can ever recall seeing a Toyota as clean and glassy as Marty’s; maybe Biff is just that good? Not with one coat he isn’t. The fact of the matter is then you compare Marty’s truck to a common ’85 nowadays, it’s not even the same truck. There is a time and a place, a reason and a season for everything. I’m actually a really big fan of little Toyotas although I’m partial to the 2000 body style; but I’m still going to tell you right now that this truck isn’t doing you any favors other than whizzing along at about 45mpg and well, whizzing along at 45mpg.

5 Volkswagen Rabbit

(flickr.com)

Here’s a one-off for you Volkswagen fans. The 1979 release of this little truck concept is known by different names in different regions. It’s called the MK1 Caddy elsewhere, but here in the United States we know it as the rabbit. It was released in right and left hand drive options to integrate into different world markets. When Volkswagen was experimenting with the golf/truck derivative, Volkswagen of America was interested in the design and subsequently opened the Westmoreland Plant in Pennsylvania to produce them from 1978-1984. Believe it or not, there was even a Sportruck trim level. The little bugger came in two different engine configurations; 1.5L diesel and a 1.7L gasoline version. The diesel version had a 5-speed gearbox optional and interestingly, the 5th gear was labeled Economy or “E.”

Economy seems easy to achieve in a 1,900lb truck, but unlike your Rabbit at home, this little guy wasn’t built for economy. It was built for rubber ripping power slides with its twin turbo 1JZ motor transplant. The 1JZ inline six DOHC 2.5L and 3.0L Toyota engines were never meant to be stuffed into this little truck, which is why it’s so awesome. That’s probably also why that is not the motor you have equipped in your Caddy, and unless you’re reading this in Europe you can’t even call it that. The synopsis: Caddys are cool with 1JZ twin turbos and racing modifications; Rabbits like the one you make liquor store runs in are not.

4 Honda Ridgeline

(autowpaper.com)

Ok now back to the future (which will shortly be the present), I’m about to take a few stabs at the Honda Ridgeline. It’s about the gayest truck you could ever buy, but if you put aside your criteria of a traditional truck, and view this solely as a purpose built machine, you have to have a little respect for it. The ridgeline has been very well received by consumers since its debut; more importantly however, those purchasing customers give it overwhelmingly positive reviews. All that counts at the end of the day is if you are satisfied with your purchase, not your neighbors.

Now that that’s out of the way, the Ridgeline is a foot-half-in-the-door version of a truck for people who “don’t want a truck.” It’s not supposed to be a truck, and anyone you see driving one isn’t really a truck guy at all.

For the first time in 32 years, a front wheel drive truck is being offered in the U.S. The last time that happened we were wrapped up in gas shortages back to back and if you take note, that’s when we were forced to trade our horsepower in for smog pumps. That decade in the ‘70s defined the direction and utility of what the automobile meant to us, and I don’t like where it took us one bit. So when I see this thing rolling around, I can only brace myself for the ‘80s all over again.

3 Nissan Frontier

(Joseph Rickard)

Getting a facelift in 2005, the Nissan Frontier transitioned into the mid-size pickup market from its mini truck roots that can actually be traced back to the beloved hardbody decades prior. With that in mind, this truck is a derivative of a much smaller truck that is trying to spread its legs in unfamiliar territory. The 4.0L 261 horsepower DOHC V-6 is an acceptable means of propulsion for the medium truck, and fares ok with the 5-speed automatic, but just acceptable is not actually acceptable in this case. This pickup truck isn’t going to be doing anything noteworthy or spectacular in its current configuration. People do off-road them with varying degrees of success, but with an average power plant installed in an average platform with what I’d classify as sub-par styling, this truck falls short of making any kind of statement other than you own just about the bare minimum of what one could call a truck.

For what they are, they are swell trucks, don’t get me wrong; but the title of this post isn’t "Swell Trucks to Own." If you wanted just the bare minimum you could always go buy a Ridgeline in that case. Void of all the attributes that make a truck a truck; it’s one that will do your bidding without giving you any reason to be proud in the process.

2 Chevy LUV Truck

(autoinfluence.com)

Flash back (again) to the late ‘70s (remember how I warned you about that time period?). The badge-engineered Chevy LUV, designed and manufactured by Isuzu, hit the market in ’72 and just missed Motor Trend truck of the year by one place. Being a rebranded Isuzu, the imported Japanese truck was much cheaper to ‘produce’ than having been designed and manufactured domestically. Honda, Nissan, Datsun and Toyota were all giving domestic automakers a stiff run for their money in the small truck arena and the little Isuzu seemed to be the answer to their problem.

As often is the case, capturing a younger market of buyers was going to be pivotal to the viability of Chevy’s small pickup line, and younger buyers are often characterized by limited funds and an economical approach to their spending.

At just under $2,000, a new Datsun was an attractive buy compared to the Chevy equivalent S-10 at around $2,700. The LUV was branded by Chevy as ‘light utility vehicle’ and started to turn up the heat on the competition. Ford turned up their game as well, and the rest of the econo-based mini truck trend in America is history. All is well and good here, but five decades later you don’t really want to be seen in something that was a bare bones offering to poor kids in the early ‘70s as a product of fuel shortages and foreign competition. That’s just not American.

1 Ford Explorer Sport Trac

(cardomain.com)

A derivative of the infamous Explorer line, the Sport Trac aims to add truck functionality into an SUV by fusing a mini truck bed to the back of the explorer, thus effectively making it a crew cab with a bed big enough for your lunchbox. This style of crossover is a popular combination, and many manufacturers are doing it, but the market it’s designed to cater to is not one that’s inclined to have pride in what they drive.

This is for the person that occasionally needs just a little bit more than what the trunk of their car can accommodate, and evident by the cheap plastic accessories like tie-down hooks and a weird looking roof rack, the function stops about right there.

Maybe you can put your snowboards on it and throw the duffle bags in the back, and maybe it affords the comfortable roominess of a big cabin; but aside from the weekend warrior getaway that you’ll endeavor once a year, you’re going to spend the rest of the time driving around looking like you either hate trucks or wish you had one. I still can’t decide what this thing says about you. To each their own, if it suits your needs, fantastic. But if my truck can’t go pick up a Chevy II rear axle without half of it hanging out the bed, it’s really not a truck at all.

Sources: Caranddriver.com, trucktrend.com