It used to be that “off-roading” was the way of jeeps and other smaller cars. After all, the lower weight aided in the off-road capabilities to navigate the hazards. Off-roading has gained momentum for pickup truck owners as time has gone on as they can often use long hauls in some rough terrain. SUVs are following suit, yet pickups are still better when it comes to some great off-road capabilities.

Modern technology has improved it a lot, so scores of trucks can handle the road better than others. A few can be rough, but it’s astounding how trucks that are just okay on the road can be amazing machines off of it. A few are hard pickups, while others can be “luxury” yet can dominate in a rough setting. Here are ten great off-road pickups to show how getting off the highway is better for some trucks.

10  Chevrolet Silverado LT Trail Boss

media.chevrolet.com

Silverados aren’t constructed so much as they evolve from great to even better. A regular Silverado is already a fine off-road truck but the Silverado 1500 LT Trail Boss ups the ante. Every trim has 32-inch tires and a great powertrain of 5.3-liter V8 standard that makes 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque with upgrades to 420 hp.

via Peicher Automotive

With 10.9 inches of clearance, it can handle the road well, with good fuel economy to boot. And a whopping 9400-pound towing capacity is nothing to sneeze at. It’s well worth the upgrade to enjoy a classic off-road truck that still entertains drivers.

9 GMC Sierra 2500 All Terrain X

Big off road truck
via Motor Authority

There are a lot of great Sierra models like the 1500. But the 2500 All Terrain X lives up to its name by dominating from open roads to muddy fields to rivers with ease. The standard 360-hp 6.0-liter V8 is already good, but one can also upgrade to the 6.6-liter V8 Duramax diesel that produces an insane 910 lb-ft of torque.

With eight inches of clearance, there's plenty of room for it in environments. Surprisingly not offered in recent years, the All Terrain X deserves attention for allowing amazing off-road power in an already fine truck.

Related: 10 Best New 4x4s You Can Take Off-Roading (5 To Stay Away From)

8 Nissan Titan XD Pro 4X

via Top Speed

On paper, the Nissan Titan XD Pro 4X may rank below other trucks. It has a lower payload and towing capacity, lower top speeds, and a checkered reliability rating. So why is it on this list? Because the Titan is also probably the best off-road vehicle Nissan can offer with almost ten inches of clearance.

Via carscoops.com

The gasoline-powered 5.6-liter V-8 can get 400 hp, and the interior tech is top-notch. Maybe it comes up short on the open highway but turn it off-road, and the Titan stands tall with any competitor.

7 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X

Via Trucktrend.com

Living up to its name, the Nissan Frontier is a terrific off-road machine. Sure, it hasn’t changed much since 2009 but why mess with near-perfection? The Hankook Dynapro AT-M all-terrain tires can handle any type of road and obstacle with a 32.6-degree approach angle balanced out with a great drivetrain.

2018 Nissan Frontier
via Nissan

Off that, the 2020 edition finally upgrades to a 3.8l V6 to aid the powertrain to 310 hp and offers a ground clearance of nearly nine inches. Plus, the price tag makes it a very affordable ride so the Frontier is truly one of the best trucks to ride the wilderness.

6 Ford F-150 Raptor FX4

autoguide.com

It’s impossible to have a list of best pickups of any type and not include a Ford F-150 in it. The FX4 takes what makes this pickup work so well and enhances it to a stunning off-road powerhouse. The unique 3.5-liter V6 powers the car with the best in modern tech to give it a serious edge in off-roading.

caricos.com

The FX4 package enhances the off-road capabilities with improved suspension, ten-inches, and better skid plates. In short, it turns the already fearsome Raptor into a machine that makes the F-150 the king of modern pickups.

Related: 15 Best Off-Road Vehicles That Aren't A Jeep Wrangler

5 Jeep Gladiator

Via Car and Driver

All these years later and the Jeep Gladiator is still an off-road monster. The latest model is notable for how it’s probably better off-road than on an open highway. Every trim offers a Pentastar V6 with 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, and most feature the choice of either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission.

2020 Jeep Gladiator Mojave parked against sunset
Business Insider

Those beefy all-terrain tires can carry it through a muddy road or large rocks with ease and haul 7650 pounds. On an open highway, the Gladiator can seem slow but turn it off the road, and there are few trucks better.

Related: 5 Reasons Why The New Ford Bronco Is The Best Off-Road SUV (5 Reasons Why We'll Rather Have A Jeep Wrangler)

4 Bowler Bulldog

bowler bulldog
via bowlermotorsport.com

You wouldn’t expect a genius off-roader from England, but the Bowler Bulldog fits the bill. The all-new, all-aluminum ‘CSP’ chassis makes this road-legal rally car a sensational off-road force.

via: autocar.com

The 280-hp, 515 lb-ft diesel allows for impressive speeds on the dirt roads and rock climbing, and while the hauling power isn’t quite on the level of other pickups, the speed makes up for it. It feels more like a hatchback than a pickup and shows British engineering can also create a stunning off-road vehicle.

Related: Best Off-Road-Ready Trucks And SUVs Available This Year

3 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2

Via motor1.com

Proof that good things come in small packages, the Colorado ZR2 is the smallest truck in Chevy’s lineup (clearance is 8.9 inches). But that aids its performance as it means not as much weight in off-road adventuring.

Via media.chevrolet.com

The 3.6l V8 is good for touring, but the 2.8l turbo diesel is better for rock climbing. The true beauty is the fantastic suspension that allows the ZR2 to handle the rough terrains much better than fancier trucks, and the rugged power is compelling. In terms of off-roading, bigger is not always better.

2 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro

via MotorTrend

Picking the best off-road Toyota is like trying to decide which is the coolest Bugatti supercar. Yet the Tundra TRD Pro has to rank as the top offering. Every model offers a 381-hp V-8 that can tow up to 10,200 pounds.

The Tundra That Refused To Trundle: 2009 Toyota Tundra TRD
Pinterest

The TRD Pro enhances that with a 2.0-inch suspension lift for 10.6 inches off the ground and 18-inch BBS wheels wrapped in Michelin all-terrain tires. The result is a high-powered machine that proves why Toyota dominates so well in the off-road field.

1 2020 Ram Rebel

thetruthaboutcars.com

The price may be high, but the newest model of the Ram Rebel is worth every penny. This is one “luxury” pickup that can also be a serious off-roading machine. Whether it’s the standard V-6 or optional 5.7 Hemi V-8 with hybrid systems, the Rebel has all the power to carry its weight well.

musclecarsandtrucks.com

It can haul 12,750 pounds and carry a payload of up to 2320 pounds with a smooth suspension that allows terrific power on the road and nearly ten inches of clearance. The result is an off-road truck that can put all rivals to shame.

Sources: autocar.com, caranddriver.com, jalopnik.com, forbes.com

Next: 10 Coolest High-Performance Trucks Of All Time