Chevy, Ford & Toyota Challenge Jeep for ‘King of Off-road’ Title

When it comes to off-road domination, the Jeep reigns supreme. But what other trucks could inherit the throne? 

In the world of off-roading, no vehicle has been made for the challenge like Jeep. No one can dispute that. However, what other rides could potentially make a worthy runner-up? As it turns out, there are a few options.

420 Motors poses this question in their latest video on YouTube. And host Kevin does what he does best, grabs a fleet of Jeeps and other vehicles and heads out to the stunning Cleghorn Trail in San Bernardino, California. This is an intense proving ground, with demanding terrain, steep crawls, and hardcore descents.

“If you want to do some awesome crawling, awesome climbing, go anywhere, nothing-stops-it vehicle, you’ve gotta get a Jeep,” Kevin says. “It’s the best around for this kind of activity. But most of us can’t drive a Willys-Jeep all day, every day…Most of us need trucks.” So Kevin and his crew sets out to demonstrate how various trucks stack up against Jeeps.

After getting a taste of the Jeeps in action, it’s time to introduce the line-up of contenders. This includes Toyota Tacomas, Toyota Tacoma TRD, a stock Chevy Colorado ZR2, a Ford F-150 Raptor custom build, and a Ford F-250 Super Duty. Let the crawling begin.

First up we get a taste of the ZR2 having a bit of a time. After a struggle, the ZR2 almost rolls.

“This is not a fair fight,” Kevin says after watching a tough, modded Rubicon slay the same trail without breaking a sweat.

A heavily-modded Ford F-150 with a custom Raptor build goes next, and it does a good job. The 2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro with Fox Shots takes a run at it, but due to the driver’s inexperience with off-roading and his own equipment, there is a lot of struggling. The crew helps him out, after all, this is supposed to be fun! He does much better and Kevin is indeed impressed with the Tacoma. “It is one of the better crawlers in the truck world.”

Other Tacomas take on the trail, including a 4×4 Off-Road model that is one of the least-equipped trucks. Despite some initial struggles, and with a little coaching, this definitely crawled very nicely. There is another 2017 Tacoma TRD Off-Road with some new mods and tires that performs admirably.

Next up is a 2001 F-250 Diesel Super Duty. An unlikely candidate, who goes up with no lockers and sporting street wheels. But the pure size and heft of the truck is an asset, pulling it through like the beast it is.

The video features amazing off-road action in a truly awe-inspiring locale. In the end, Kevin doesn’t declare a clear winner, although he notes that Tacos and the F-250 had serious game. It’s important to note that with off-roading it isn’t always the vehicle, a lot of the onus falls on the driver. The better the driver knows how to handle and utilize the equipment, and get a lot of practice, the better the off-roading experience.

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S.J. Bryan

Longtime automotive journalist S.J. Bryan has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is an editor with Ford Truck Enthusiasts and regular contributor to F-150 Online, Harley-Davidson Forums, and The Mustang Source, among other popular auto sites.

Bryan first discovered her passion for all things automotive while riding in her parent's 1968 Ford Mustang. The automotive expert cut her teeth growing up riding on Harleys, and her first car was a Chevy Nova. Despite her lead foot, Bryan has yet to receive a speeding ticket.

The award-winning former playwright was first published at age 18. She has worked extensively as a writer and editor for a number of lifestyle and pop culture publications. The diehard gearhead is a big fan of American muscle cars, sixth-gen Ford trucks, and Oxford commas.

S.J. can be reached at sherryjbry@gmail.com.