Publisher’s Note: At TFLTruck we’re lucky to have access to brand new trucks and vans direct from the manufacturer. This means we get to drive a lot of new trucks and vans every year, and in our testing we learn many things about these new vehicles. In this new column we will strive to share that hard-earned knowledge with you. All you have to do is ask TFLTruck and if we know the answer to your question. Best of all we will answer it right here and right now starting with these two questions sent to us by TFLT readers and viewers.
Question 1:
The Fast Lane Truck,
I need your help. I am a member of the Civil Air Patrol and need a truck that can be used for search and rescue here in Colorado. I have seen your video’s regarding the Pickups that are sold in this country, however, I cannot tell by your video’s which truck to get. I have also seen the video’s for the new Ram Rebel. I am interested in knowing more about its capabilities. I will be using this vehicle for search and rescue. It will be getting beat up really good, so it will have to be reliable. It will be used on roads, trails, off trail, and basically anywhere an air craft could crash, a hiker could get lost, or natural disaster could hit in Colorado.
I hope you can help me as I am looking for a very durable, reliable, fuel efficient, and powerful Pickup truck for my missions with the Civil Air Patrol.
This will also be a personal daily driver, as the Civil Air Patrol is a volunteer organization.
Thank you for any assistance you can provide.
Sincerely,
Kenneth USN Retired
Answer:
Hello Kenneth,
Thank you for writing to us.
The Ram Rebel was just unveiled in Detroit and we have had a chance to test it in the real world.
However, we have tried the Ram HD Power Wagon and it’s great, capable, and tough off-road. It’s also a very large and heavy truck.
We cannot really comment on how reliable it is because we do not have data on it. However, it has very robust components that are solely meant for hard off-road.
Our company truck is a 2014 Ford Raptor. We have owned it for more than a year and it’s been problem free. It’s great off-road. But it is also a wide and big truck.
Toyota TRD Pro Tundra should be very reliable, but cannot handle as extreme obstacles as Power Wagon or Raptor can.
If you need a smaller and more maneuverable truck, then Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro is the truck you want to look at.
The Tacoma has the reputation for reliability and off-road capability.
Thanks,
Andre
Question 2:
Short and sweet:
I own a 1995 Buick Le Sabre and at one time owned a 1991 S10 Baja.
I want a truck.
I want a cool truck. Don’t like sedans.
ZR2 fits the bill.
Will the ZR2 see production ( on a scale of 1-10 )
My dream truck was an H4 type “Wrangler fighter”.
Loved the H4.
Want a truck still…
Rumors of a GMC Wrangler fighter still out there and want to wait for that if possible, but ZR2 would be great too.
What are the chances of a GMC Wrangler fighter coming out? ( 1-10 also )
Any further comments on above trucks would be much appreciated too, if you can do that…!
Thanks,
Chris
Answer:
On a scale of 1-10 I’d say a 5. I asked GM about this and they said they have no plans to build the ZR2 but I suspect you could flip a coin and you’d be just as correct.
However, while the GM truck is perhaps waiting in the wings, this truck will soon be for sale:
And no need to flip a coin.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Roman
If you have questions for the TFLtruck team please send them to ask@tfltruck.com and we will answer them right here.
