Trucks have almost always been an American affair. We do trucks right here in the States, where everything is bigger and better. Whether you're hauling things on the farm, pulling a camper for hundreds of miles through flyover country, or just plain taking the kids to school, American manufacturers have found a way to make these machines versatile enough for whatever you might need to do.

There are the more tame options like the long-lasting Avalanche that have become favorites among those who want more versatility than an SUV can offer. But there are also options out there like the sport-minded GMC Syclone and the Dodge Ram SRT-10 that pack some serious power under their hoods.

Whether you like them or not, pickup trucks will always be a piece of Americana. It's that freedom to take on anything that people will trade even their precious fuel efficiency for, and these trucks are no exception. American automakers have found a way to make a truck for every situation and also have figured out how to make that truck dependable and lasting. We put together a list of the top 19 trucks that will help you haul, tow, and transport for the next 20 years or, hopefully, more.

19 Dodge Dakota

Dodge is somewhat the forgotten stepchild of American truck brands. However, this thing is American through and through. Designed in Detroit and made just to its north, in Warren, the Dakota is on par with other light-duty trucks like the Ford Ranger and the Chevrolet S-10.

The second-generation Dakotas were the prime for these trucks. Those manufactured between 1997 and 2004 are considered to be the best of this truck, and the proof is on the roads.

The Dakota brought power to the compact truck market, with a huge V8 engine option that gave drivers more than 200 horsepower to play with in the second generation Dakota.

This truck still gave you enough power to use it as a proper truck while still allowing you to pick up the whole crew with the spacious club cab. The second generation will never make you leave anything behind either since it could pull up to 6,700 pounds, which is a substantial amount for a truck of this size.

Reading reviews will show just how bad the gas mileage is for this truck, with just about every owner complaining about it. But as one owner put it on review site Car Guru, "It doesn't have a 5.9 V8 in it for economy." He's not wrong.

18 Chevrolet Colorado

Created to replace the light-duty Chevrolet S-10, the Colorado was made to be small and nimble yet incredibly functional.

In its most popular year, the Chevy Colorado sold over 128,000 in the U.S. alone, according to General Motors. 2005 brought this truck lots of success, and even though it was only in its first generation, the Colorado was an instant fan favorite.

While it could be considered underwhelming with a small 4-cylinder engine, it had options like the Z71 package and other larger engines to choose from that could very well make this truck worth the money.

This was also the only vehicle made by any U.S. automaker to have an inline 5-cylinder engine. Though they're not uncommon in European cars (especially German automakers like BMW and Mercedes-Benz) the inline-5 engine didn't have a place in the American scene until General Motors introduced the Atlas in the 2004 Colorado.

17 Ford Explorer Sport Trac

The Explorer Sport Trac was one of the first of the SUV-truck crossovers of the early 2000s, similar to the likes of the Chevy Avalanche truck and the Cadillac Escalade EXT. The Explorer Sport Trac was actually much more similar to the Ford Explorer SUV than the light-duty Ranger truck.

Built on an Explorer chassis, this truck shared many of the physical features of the SUV. It did, however, have the bed from the F-150 attached to the back. The only downside to this is that the bed was largely plastic, giving it an appearance that some found looked somewhat cheap. But this truck was far more than met the eye.

The addition of a V8 engine option gave this truck lots of power. Tack that onto the fact that it’s built on the frame of the Explorer, and you’ve got a real force on your hands. It was so popular that it had a 10-year run on the market.

This truck also shared a great deal of reliability with its SUV brother. These trucks are still super popular, even if now a bit older. There’s no doubt that you’ll still be seeing these trucks on the roads for years to come.

16 RAM 1500

Dodge might be the smaller of the American automakers, but that doesn't mean that they can't make a good truck. In fact, this truck was so well revered that it became the spearhead of its own brand.

In 2010, Chrysler—which has owned the Dodge brand name since 1900—divided the brand into two divisions for cars and trucks. While the Dodge name continued to make cars and vans like the ever-popular Grand Caravan, RAM would become the brand for all of the trucks that were once produced under the other name. So, if you ever hear someone call a 2013 Ram 1500 a "Dodge Ram 1500," for example, they're wrong!

That said, RAM worked hard to improve the quality of these trucks. Inside, they got a decked-out dash and lots of attention to design details. Though it didn't have the most powerful standard engine options on the market, this is a truck that's great if you want a smooth ride and a beautiful interior.

15 Chevrolet Avalanche

Many people thought that this SUV-inspired truck looked tough enough to be a reliable truck. Well, they were wrong.

Regardless of the amount of plastic on the bed, this truck is a real powerhouse when you needed it to be. Whether you have to haul large objects or just the kids off to school, the Avalanche is still the truck to do it in.

This truck combines a comfortable interior with a functional (though small) bed. It also has an incredibly reliable 8-cylinder engine and a solid drivetrain, which makes this truck a real survivor over the years.

In fact, they're still in high demand. It's hard to find one of these for sale, but when you do, just know that they've held their value, with most selling for somewhere between $14,000 to $19,000, according to Kelley Blue Book.

14 Chevrolet Silverado HD

The Silverado is one of the most classic trucks on the road, and the Silverado HD is one of the most capable.

In 2000, these trucks came with two distinct engine options: the 6600 Duramax Diesel engine and the Vortec 81oo, both V8s. So, there's no doubt that this truck had some major power.

Inside, this truck has lots of space and is pretty comfortable. Car and Driver said in its review of this truck that "the seating in this rig seems to have been conceived by folks who ordinarily design sofas." They say this somewhat demeaningly, but honestly, comfort over style is the way to go; after all, this is a truck we're talking about.

So, combine a comfortable interior with the insane towing capacity and power, and you've got a real force in the Chevy Silverado HD.

13 GMC Sierra

From the side, this probably looks exactly the same as the above Silverado. Well, it's not, but it's very, very similar.

If you didn't already know, the GMC Sierra is a rebadged version of the Chevrolet Silverado. Featuring very similar power and towing capacity, this truck is one that's very capable of doing any type of work that you might need it to.

In 1999, the Sierra (and also the Silverado) were redesigned and given a look that updated the truck significantly. This was the style that was available until 2007 when it was redesigned with more linear, sharp features.

The Sierra is often considered the upscale version of the Silverado, with upgrades inside and out. The Denali version is the one to look for if a sharp interior is on the top of your list.

These trucks were leading the pack, and they're still one to look for on the modern market. But if you invested in one of these back in the day, you're probably still getting a lot out of it!

12 RAM HD

Pop-quiz time: if a Ram truck was made in 2010 (like the one in the photo above) is it a Dodge Ram or a RAM?

This one's just a RAM. The Dodge part of the name was dropped in 2010, making this line of trucks its own brand. It seems to be a general consensus that the earlier 2010s were the better versions of the truck because of this. Those years before 2014 were especially great for RAM's Heavy Duty pickup trucks. JD Power and Associates gave the RAM HD above-average rankings for long-term dependability, with scores that well outdid those of the F-250.

The HD versions of these trucks are incredibly powerful and are capable of doing pretty much anything. Great towing capacity makes this a good choice for those looking to pull trailers or haul a lot of things, so there's no doubt that the RAM HD is up for a challenge.

11 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

While the HD version of this truck has already been mentioned, the 1500 also deserves to make this list. The Silverado has been one dependable truck since it replaced the C/K in 1999.

This truck was highly regarded because of the number of options available and the super powerful engine options. The Silverado could be made with lots of combinations of bed lengths and cab sizes. Whether you need a work truck or something to haul the kids around in, the Silverado could cover it all under one type of truck.

While the 1500 doesn't have as great a payload or towing capacity as the larger 2500 and 3500, this is still a truck that can be versatile enough to drive every day. Unlike the larger diesel versions, the 1500 is a pretty good option if you don't have to do heavy-duty work regularly.

The Silverado 1500 is an all-around American classic. It's sturdy and tough, and it's surely going to last you a long time.

10 Chevrolet C/K Series

This hidden gem of a truck was the forerunner for the Silverado. The latter truck got its name from one of the trim levels of this truck; instead of the acronyms now used, the C/K was offered in Cheyenne, Scottsdale, and Silverado.

Now the truck itself isn't just called "C/K." The truck line is actually divided into two different series: the C series and the K series. The C series came equipped with two-wheel drive, while the K series had four-wheel drive.

This truck is such a classic that it's been in production since the 1960s. They're easily one of the most popular trucks gracing America's streets, and one of the things that have given them such great appeal is the fact that they're just so sturdy.

Aside from some controversy with the move of the gas tank in the third generation, these trucks proved to hold up and be incredibly reliable in the process. There are tons of these trucks out there from the '60s and the '70s, so no doubt, there'll be some from the '90s still hauling and working for many years to come.

9 GMC Sonoma

The GMC Sonoma and its sister vehicle, the Chevrolet S-10, were the predecessors to the modern-day Chevrolet Colorado and Canyon.

Since these trucks were small, they did somewhat lack in power as compared to the larger, full-size truck options. There were only a few 4- and 6-cylinder engine options, which don't quite hold a match to the bigger trucks of the time.

The Sonoma is one of those trucks that you'll still find on the road today. They're now popular among truck enthusiasts and modifiers because they're easy to work on and have lots of readily available parts and a good amount of space under the hood that make them easy to customize and take to the streets.

This truck isn't going anywhere, so you can definitely expect to see the Sonoma on the roads. Their last year for production might've been 2004, but most of these trucks still have a long road ahead.

8 Chevrolet S-10

Much like the Sonoma above, the S-10 is still on the road and continuing to be a truck that has kept the love of loyalists all over America.

Reviewers like Edmunds were never thrilled with this truck, but that was mainly for reasons of style. These things were super functional and are definitely still holding up, even as many of them are approaching 20 years on the road.

As Edmunds said in a review, "Affordable and highly configurable, it was an everyman's truck." They went on to say that the S-10 is great for "meeting the needs of anyone who didn't need the towing and payload capacities of a full-size pickup." And this truck was made just for that.

Its replacement, the Colorado, is a fairly worthy truck as well. But you'll really have a hard time beating the versatility of this truck.

7 Ford Ranger

Another classic small pickup truck? The Ford Ranger—this is one that you can definitely count on, and it has such a good reputation that it's coming back in 2019.

These trucks first started production in 1983 and remained on the market until they went out of production in 2011. They were just the right size for most consumers, and they did well as fleet vehicles, too. That said, the Ranger was an insanely popular truck.

Many people rag on the simplistic interior, but that's okay. You're buying a pickup truck, not a Cadillac, after all. Maybe this will improve when they hit the market again.

The Ranger is back by popular demand, and we can't wait to see what the next generation of this truck brings.

6 GMC Syclone

Don't let its looks fool you. This truck was a modified version of the GMC Sonoma, but this thing had serious power.

Car and Driver put it up against a Ferrari 348ts, and in somewhat of a surprise, the Syclone won. This truck has a 4.3-liter V-6 that surprisingly throws out 280 horsepower at 4,400 rotations per minute.

So, this truck can slam a Ferrari, and there's one in Jay Leno's garage. (He talked about owning one to Autoweek.) Still, this truck is the definition of a sleeper—it just looks too similar to the not-so-powerful Sonoma to be really anything special from the outside. But it's what on the inside that counts because though it might not look like much, the Syclone packs some serious power under the hood.

This is a truck that can do 0-60 in 4.2. And it's not anything like the sleeper it might appear to be.

5 GMC Sierra 2500 HD

Here's another staple of the truck market. The GMC Sierra HD is one of those heavy-duty trucks that are super solid vehicles all around.

Available as a 2500 or a 3500, these trucks have been bigger and better than their 1500 counterparts mentioned above since 1999.

Since its release, this truck has been a favorite among those who like the Silverado but also want some luxury upgrades. The Denali package available in this truck brings an incredible and stately interior but also includes a hefty upcharge as compared to the lower trimmed versions.

The Sierra HD series is one that buyers who want a touch of sophistication will want to consider. Combine that with lots of power, and there's no doubt why these trucks are still out on the roads today even though the earlier versions of these models are now approaching their twenties.

4 Ford Raptor

The Ford Raptor is the epitome of an incredible truck. This truck has extreme capabilities and more power than you'd expect for a truck. In fact, it's part of Ford's supercar lineup, right up there next to the Mustang Shelby GT350 and the super exclusive (and powerful) Ford GT.

Since 2010, Ford has been turning out these super trucks and trampling the competition. The Raptor features sick all-terrain tires and styling that makes the regular F-150 look weak. They might retail for around 63,000 new, but they're worth every single penny if off-roading (or owning a completely bad truck) is your thing.

This truck has a completely sick interior, with almost every feature from the F-150s. It's got serious shocks that will make for a ride that feels as smooth as butter gliding across a hot pan.

It's tough, it's bad, it's incredible—the Ford Raptor is more than just the F-150 that some might think it is. It's an off-roading, hill-jumping, and mud-crushing machine.

3 Dodge Ram SRT-10

Dodge was wondering how they could level up their truck game. Someone suggested putting a ridiculously powerful 8.3-liter, V10 Viper engine in it. And it was just crazy enough of an idea to be incredible.

This wasn't a cheap truck either. Car and Driver reported that most prospective owners were putting down about $50,000 for these trucks when they were new. That's far higher than the average Dodge Ram, but this one wasn't your average medium-duty truck.

"SRT" stands for "Street and Racing Technology," the same division of Dodge that's responsible for the Dodge Viper supercar. The SRT-10 was available also as a quad cab version for an additional $5,000.

So, needless to say, this truck was a total beast. Whether you were hitting the track or the highway, this truck was a great performer, and there are still quite a few out there today. There's no doubt this truck will make it t0 2024 when its first year will hit 20 years old.

2  Ford F-250

The larger version of Ford's popular F-150 is made to last for a long time. Many users report driving these heavy-duty pickups to 200,000 miles and beyond, which is incredible for a truck like this.

The F-250 is often a diesel truck, and most are equipped with a very willing V-8 engine. They're known for sophisticated interiors and beautiful options, which give them such a classy look inside, just like we see in the King Ranch edition.

Pair a gorgeous interior with a powerful engine and lots of hauling capacity, and you've got quite a force here. This truck is one that definitely does what you want it to do and, with the heavy-duty equipment, is up for any challenge you might throw at it.

The F-250 has been out doing hard work since its release in 1999. These trucks have long been a staple of the heavy-duty market, so it's easy to see why they're such a hit among those who need a truck that can keep up with their demands.

1 Ford F-150

The Ford F-150 is easily one of the most recognizable pickup trucks out on the roads today. Ford introduced their F-series pickup to the public way back in 1948. These post-war trucks got their own dedicated truck chassis, and they helped to shape what would become the modern truck market.

A true classic, the F-150 has been changed a lot over time, but its goal has long been the same: help hardworking Americans do more and go further.

Ever since the Model T, Ford has been giving American consumers what they've wanted for their needs. The truck has almost always been a staple in their lineup, and if it's any indication of their deep-rooted heritage in the brand, the 50th-anniversary edition was released in 1998.

The F-150 was an instant classic for anyone who needed more than a just a regular car could offer them. There's no doubt that the F-150 is a lasting icon; after all, it's "built Ford tough," as the brand likes to say.

Sources: The Daily Drive, Autotrader, Kelley Blue Book, Motor Trend