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The Ram Power Wagon DON’T CARE Off-Road…But What About on the World’s Toughest Towing Test?

By
Zach Butler
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2026 Ram Power Wagon Tradesman Hemi Ike - featured
(Image: TFL Studios)

Can the more affordable Power Wagon option still tow? Let’s find out!

These days, you have a ton of different options if you’re shopping for a new Ram 2500 truck. There’s the Black Express, the Warlock, the Rebel or, if you’re looking for more luxury, the Laramie and the Limited…and that’s only about half the list. One of the arguably cooler options in the range, however, is still the Power Wagon. Because (say it with me) Power Wagon don’t care! In this video, we’re finding out exactly how well this 6.4-liter Hemi beast can tow up the World’s Toughest Towing Test — the Ike Gauntlet.

Specifically, Kase and Andre are taking a look at the more affordable version of the Power Wagon. At more than $76,000, the higher-end Power Wagon’s price might make your eyes water a bit, unless you go for this Trademan-based 2500 with the Power Wagon Package for about $10,000 less ($66,490). With 405 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque on tap, the Hemi-packing Power Wagon is rated to tow about 10,900 pounds. On that basis, it’s not the go-to truck for full-time towing, as other Ram 2500 models can tow up to 20,000 pounds. Nevertheless, it is still a heavy-duty truck, and one of the huge selling points of these kinds of rigs is their all-around versatility.

Even while maxed out by way of our 14-foot Big Tex trailer and Cat 242D skid steer — about 11,000 pounds in total — this truck managed the downhill test with 5 brake applications. Sure, a Cummins-powered Ram 2500 would have some help with an exhaust brake to hold everything back, but even so, this Hemi-equipped Tradesman Power Wagon managed an impressive performance for being at max capacity. The truck does squat a fair bit thanks to its off-road focused suspension, but still remained a stable towing platform on the way down the hill.

On the uphill run, the Ram 2500 Tradesman Power Wagon put down an 8:20.73 minute time (about 20 seconds off a perfect run at the 60 mph speed limit), as well as 3.2 mpg in terms of fuel economy. That’s one of the lower numbers we’ve seen, though even the diesel-powered trucks manage around 1 mpg better in this sort of mountain climb.

Check out more on how the tests went in the full review below:

Mitsubishi Confirms It’s Developing a New Pickup Truck for North America with Nissan

By
Zach Butler
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Mitsubishi L200 Triton One-Ton - 2
(Images: Mitsubishi Motors)

Mitsubishi outlined its near- and long-term plans Friday, including a new midsize truck for the U.S.

If you look around any Mitsubishi lot right now (or for the past several years), you’ll see nothing but cars and crossovers. The automaker wants to change that, however, and on Friday confirmed it is working on bringing a new midsize truck to the North American market. For reference, the last pickup Mitsubishi actually sold here was the Dakota-based Raider, which went down about as well as that sort of tie-up sounds like it would. This latest pickup project, however, is being done in collaboration with Nissan.

This announcement is particularly timely, for a few different reasons. Not only does Mitsubishi need some new and exciting product here in the U.S., but it confirmed this truck alongside the imminent return of the Pajero SUV, which we knew as the Montero here in the States. The brand is dead set on bringing off-roaders back into its portfolio. While Mitsubishi does sell the Triton/L200 overseas, the company’s latest financial outlook and long-term vision includes more distinctive products across global markets. By doing so, it hopes to increase its overall retail sales volume from about 700,000 units (globally) in fiscal year 2025 to more than 930,000 units by the early 2030s.

In the grand scheme of things, this Nissan co-developed pickup and the new Pajero/Montero are just two in a run of 13 new models the automaker plans to launch within the next five years.

So…what are we looking at for Mitsubishi’s new midsize truck?

Another angle to why we’re hearing about this new truck right now is happening over at Nissan itself. Work is already underway on a next-generation Frontier, which should arrive at U.S. dealers before the end of the decade. The upcoming truck could likely bring a new hybrid powertrain, similar to what’s coming to the new Xterra, as well as fresh styling and technological updates to the current model, which went on sale for the 2022 model year.

The word “collaboration” is key here, as Mitsubishi looks to expand its presence into new market segments. At this point, we don’t know whether this truck (or these trucks, more precisely) will more or less be carbon copies of each other, or if each will bring its own character and target demographic to the mix. More than likely, the underlying platform will be shared between the two trucks, as well as the potential powertrains. From there, though, we could see some differences between the two.

It’s also unclear what Mitsubishi might call this new midsize truck. It did renew international trademarks for the “Endeavor” name, so its possible we could see that make a comeback as this pickup makes its formal debut.

This co-development could allow a way for Mitsubishi to feasibly sell a North American-specific truck in the U.S., since Nissan builds the Frontier in Mississippi. Otherwise, it would have to import its truck from abroad, which would face new import tariffs as well as the long-running 25% Chicken Tax that’s kept the Triton and so many other overseas trucks from making it to the American market.

It seems like we will still have to wait awhile to see any more official details, as the collaboration may be in its earlier stages. However, when a new Mitsubishi truck (and Nissan Frontier, for that matter) make it to the market as well as Hyundai’s midsize body-on-frame truck, the midsize truck market could become even more crowded as competitive around the turn of the decade.

This New GMC Hummer X Concept Could Be the Next TRD Pro or Rubicon Killer: Breaking News

By
Andre Smirnov
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2028 gmc hummer x pickup truck concept
(Images: GMC)

GM surprises with an unveiling of two GMC Hummer X concept vehicles: the SUV and the pickup truck. At this time, these are just concepts, but GMC provides very specific dimensions and specs. The SUV is rolling on 37-inch all-terrain tires. The new midsize pickup truck concept is showing off 35s. Let’s dig into all of the details we have so far.

GM is using this opportunity to unveil the company’s new advanced design studio in Pasadena, California. This concept vehicles are also a showcase of GM’s new FLEX FAB manufacturing technique. Let us know what you think about these concept vehicles.

Digging into the GMC HUMMER X Pickup Truck

The big news is that this concept vehicle is smaller than the current production GMC Hummer Truck. This X concept has true midsize dimensions.

PICKUP TRUCK SPECS:

  • Overall Dimensions:
    • Wheelbase: 3318.6mm (130.7”)
    • Length: 5264.5mm (207.3”)
    • Height: 1854.4mm (73.0”)
    • Width: 2032mm (80”)
    • —- This concept’s wheelbase is just 0.7 inches shorter than the current Chevy Colorado / GMC Canyon
    • Approach Angle: 41.5 Deg.
    • Departure Angle: 29.7 Deg.
    • Breakover Angle: 24.9 Deg.
    • Ground Clearance: 316.7mm (12.5”)
    • —- These off-road specs are better than those of a Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro or a Jeep Gladiator Rubicon
  • Tires by Goodyear:
  • (Street) 305/55R22 x 9.5, OD 35”
  • (Rock) 315/75R18 x 9, OD 37”

GMC HUMMER X SUV

The midsize SUV has a much shorter wheelbase and ridiculously good off-road specs.

Overall Dimensions:

  • Wheelbase: 2945.5mm (116”)
  • Length: 4782.5mm (188.3”)
  • Height: 1852.6mm (72.9”)
  • Width: 2032mm (80”)
  • Approach Angle: 44 Deg.
  • Departure Angle: 46 Deg.
  • Breakover Angle: 30.9 Deg.
  • Ground Clearance: 334.3mm (13.2”)

These dimensions and off-road specs are very close to those of a Ford Bronco Raptor. While this is a concept vehicle, the specs are spot on for it to be an exceptional off-roader.

Could this HUMMER X SUV concept hint at the rumored new GMC Jimmy off-road SUV? GMC did not provide any comment about this during this announcement.

GMC did not provide any details about the possible powertrains. The company says that these concept vehicles are EVs with relatively low center of gravity. The company did not discuss any other powertrain options.

Several serious players are coming into the Off-Road SUV game. We are looking at the upcoming all-new Hyundai Boulder, Nissan Xterra, Scout Traveler, Rivian R2, and others. It appears that GM does not want to be left behind.

GMC says that these HUMMER X concept vehicles are not meant to go into production. However, we expect the design language, interior features, the manufacturing techniques, and off-road specs to show up on some future GM trucks and SUVs.

What do you think?

While we contemplate this, here is our first drive review of a Hummer H3T Alpha pickup truck.

We TOAST the Turbo Toyota Tacoma! Does It Hold Up?

By
Zach Butler
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(Image: TFL Studios)

We torture tested the hybrid Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, but how does the turbo TRD Off-Road handle the strain?

Among the battery of towing tests we run at TFLtruck, one of the more recent additions is the “toaster” test. In the video below, Andre and Kase pitch the 2026 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road against the grades climbing out of Boulder, Colorado into the foothills, to find out just how well this midsize truck can handle such strain on a (relatively) warm May afternoon.

This time around, we’re testing the non-hybrid, 2.4-liter-equipped Taco, after we ran the turbo-hybrid Trailhunter about 18 months ago. Here, the 278-horsepower gas engine is on its own, with our 14-foot Big Tex trailer and long-term Kawasaki Ridge Crew side-by-side serving as our load for the run up toward Gold Hill. As equipped, this Tacoma can tow up to 6,400 pounds at its rated maximum. While we’re on the subject of numbers, the latest Tacoma manages about 1,200 pounds of payload in this TRD Off-Road configuration. That’s not too bad, but you will have to take that into consideration if you plan to pull a trailer, throw some gear in the bed and bring some passengers along.

With around 6,000 pounds behind the Tacoma in today’s test, this combination does introduce enough weight that this midsize truck will bear some serious strain heading up the 8-mile test, and also have to manage heading back downhill with that same mass. In fact, the run back down the hill is more of a white-knuckle experience, in some ways, thanks to the grade itself, the transition from dirt (with massive potholes) back to pavement, narrow stretches and tight curves.

One of the big appeals for the 2026 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road versus its range-topping breathren is value. Now, there are more affordable trims still like the SR5, but the TRD Off-Road brings one of the most well-rounded packages to your driveway for about $45,560, assuming you get it with an 8-speed automatic transmission. It’s worth noting that, at least right now, this is the only new truck available with a 6-speed manual (and you’ll save about $1,100 in the process).

Our particular TRD Off-Road, however, gets the TRD Off-Road Premium package, for a princely $8,940. That adds in heated and ventilated front seats, a larger 14-inch infotainment screen, a JBL premium audio system, wireless charging, pre-wired auxiliary switches and a host of other goodies…but getting that package pushes the price into the mid-$50,000 range. At that point, you’re right up against the Ford Ranger Raptor and GMC Canyon AT4X, each of which are a few thousand dollars more.

So, how well does the America’s best-selling midsize truck handle the Truck Toaster (or, as senior editor Ian included in the video, the Tow-ture Test?). Find out below:

Honda May Pause Ridgeline Production Until 2028: Report

By
Zach Butler
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(Images: TFL Studios | Zach Butler)

The Honda Ridgeline is a steady seller, but the automaker could temporarily shelve it as it grasps with emissions standards.

As the midsize truck market stands right now, Honda has enjoyed fairly steady sales with its Ridgeline over the years. That said, even though the current generation last saw some updates for the 2024 model year with the addition of the TrailSport, the current-generation truck stretches all the way back to 2017. Its single overhead cam (SOHC), 3.5-liter V6 stretches back even farther, and it’s showing its age. So much so, per a report from Automotive News, that the automaker is pausing production for nearly 18 months as it grapples with tighter upcoming emissions standards.

This report follows revelations concerning Honda’s car lineup in the wake of heavy losses from its EV development program. As a result of nearly $16 billion in losses due to the now-cancelled 0 Series and Acura RSX electric models, the company is extending Accord, Odyssey production for at least a couple more years, as well as the Acura Integra and MDX.

The second-generation Honda Ridgeline uses the J35Y6 engine, a version that’s shared with the Honda Odyssey and saw service in the last Pilot and Passport SUVs. Newer versions of those two SUVs use the J35Y8 engine, which changed to a dual overhead cam (DOHC) valvetrain and no longer has Honda’s beloved i-VTEC system. The changeover to DOHC over the SOHC design helps the new powertrain meet tighter CARB emissions standards moving forward.

While the U.S. federal government moved to revoke California’s ability to set its own emissions standards, which are followed by more than a dozen other states, the state has sued to challenge those actions. It also instituted emergency regulations as a sort of status quo while the legal process plays out, so for the moment, Honda and other automakers still have to comply with the state’s tighter emissions regulations to sell vehicles within California. The latest version of CARB emissions standards, known as LEV IV, take effect with Model Year 2026 and forward vehicles.

The older-design J35Y6 engine is at the heart of this report, in that Honda may pause Ridgeline production while it works on an update to make the truck compliant with new emissions standards.

For the moment, Honda itself is staying mum on the potential year-and-a-half production pause. In a comment to Car and Driver, the company said that “Ridgeline remains an important model in our lineup and one of our top conquest models with unique appeal within the industry pickup segment. The Ridgeline will continue to play an important role in our product lineup now and in the future.”

There’s not much you can really glean from that statement other than Honda doesn’t want to cancel the Ridgeline. This report from AN doesn’t allude that the automaker is going to walk away from its truck like that, either. Instead, it seems the company is trying to work out a solution and will lean on inventory to carry the Ridgeline through this period until we see a new powertrain.

Now, “new” in this context will probably mean the current truck will get an update to use the J35Y8 in the Pilot and Passport. This would also see the Ridgeline get a new (to it) 10-speed automatic rather than a 9-speed, as well as an ever-so-slight power bump. Honda may well bring a few other changes in another refresh for the 2028 model year.

While we’d love to see a completely new, third-generation Ridgeline emerge by 2028, it doesn’t seem like that’s going to happen, given Honda’s current reported trajectory. Again, it appears the company is keeping its current model lines going a little longer, so any new and potentially hybrid trucks may not arrive until 2030 or later.

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