Awesome Trucks

Most wedding banquet halls are either permanent structures or set up under a tent. But this unique vehicle from Chinese event company Hanchuan Ximen Bridge Liangming Etiquette Co., Ltd. packs an entire mobile reception hall and dining room into the back of a tractor-trailer rig.

The Prinoth Panther T14R is a unique dump truck that rides on tank treads and can spin its bed around 360º. Its design allows it to load and unload its contents in opposite directions without having to make a U-turn.

There’s a series of videos making the rounds that shows vehicles being launched off of a disproportionately tall bulge in the road, and they’re quite entertaining. The clips were made using the soft-body vehicle simulator BeamNG.drive, and these ones were posted by BeamNG Nation. That Cybertruck aced the landing.

Because the gas-guzzling Hummer H1 wasn’t big enough, Sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan aka the “Rainbow Sheikh” commissioned the build of this monster edition that’s roughly three times the size of the original. It’s powered by four diesel engines – one for each wheel, and its interior serves as a conference room.

DanCreator built this substantial cardboard dump truck with a working drivetrain. He started with the chassis from an R/C sports car, then cut it down to size and retrofitted it with a new body that he cut out from cardboard sheets. He also added a motor and mechanism to open and close its dump box.

Reporting for Pickup Truck Plus SUV Talk, automotive journalist and friend of The Awesomer, Micah Wright headed to the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon for an up-close look at some of the weird and wonderful custom SUVs, trucks, and vans on display on the show floor. That Daihatsu Midget truck is bonkers. Watch part two here.

Baja 1000 champ Alan Ampudia is back with a sequel to his epic trophy truck stunt film AMPD. This time, he drove through Cabo San Lucas, Mexico to catch some crazy air, kick up lots of dirt, and show off sponsor Toyo Tires’ rugged Open Country A/T III tires.

MegaRexx specializes in upgrading for Ford Super Duty trucks. The custom-built MegaBronc started as a 2021 F-250, but now seats seven, and has a removable hardtop. Powered by a 6.7L V8 turbodiesel engine, it rides on enormous 40″ mud-terrain tires, and has a custom grille inspired by its namesake Ford Bronco.

The shiny new 2022 Nissan Frontier has a bold design, a powerful new V6 engine, and is just the right size for everyday life and weekend fun. The PRO-4X model comes fully outfitted for adventures both on- and off-road and has rugged good looks.

Chevy turned up at SEMA 2021 with this over-the-top desert runner truck. It’s based on the chassis of a Silverado short bed with a shortened frame, a Chromoly roll cage, and an extra-wide stance. It rocks a custom off-road suspension, massive 37″ tires, and is powered by a 6.2L supercharged LT4 V8 that makes 650 hp.

There’s little question that EVs reduce carbon emissions, but they’re not as convenient to fill up as gas-powered vehicles. Tom Scott headed to Germany to check out an power solution that sends electricity to trucks via overhead wires like a tram. A hybrid powertrain takes over when changing lanes or exiting highways.

Toyota’s full-size pickup has received the top-to-bottom redesign we’ve been waiting for, and we spent a day putting the new Tundra through its paces in and around its hometown of San Antonio, Texas. Highlights include two powerful new engines, a smooth new suspension, and a bold new interior with a new multimedia interface.

Toyota’s big pickup has bold new looks and two new engines: a twin-turbo V6 with 389hp and 479 lb-ft. of torque or the motor-enhanced i-FORCE MAX with 437 hp and 583 lb-ft. of torque. Also new is a multi-link rear suspension, optional adaptive suspension, trailering cameras, and a new multimedia system with up to a 14″ touchscreen.

This tricked-out GMC Canyon AT4 has been outfitted for overland adventures. The lifted pickup truck has added underbody protection, a heavy-duty front bumper with a winch, recovery points, a swing-out spare tire, and windshield guy lines. It also packs a kitchenette, a drawer bed storage system, a roof-mounted tent, and more.

It’s tricky enough to back up an 18-wheeler in a straight line, but truck driver Niall Reid is a show-off. Not only did he roll his truck wheels backward without hitting the teacup on the ground, but he also used its hydraulic suspension to dip a tea bag into it for his afternoon break.

The Rebel G/T is a sport styling and performance upgrade for Ram’s already excellent 1500 Rebel pickup. The G/T gets a sport hood, a factory-installed Mopar cold-end exhaust and cold-air intake, paddle shifters, metal pedals, G/T bucket seats, and Performance pages. A 5.7-liter V8 with eTorque mild-hybrid assist is standard.

One of the cooler options coming to the Rivian R1T electric pickup truck is the integrated mobile kitchen. It slides out of the side of the truck and includes a pair of induction burners, a sink, 5 gallons of water storage, and storage for cooking and serving accessories. Volter Media posted a demo of a late-stage prototype.

While visiting a classic car show in Nebraska, Tim from Pickup Truck Plus SUV Talk came across the most appropriate method of transporting collectible show cars. What he saw was this restomodded 1947 Ford COE Semi carrying some sweet hot rods and vintage wheels, and snagged an interview with its owners.

Ford’s first electric pickup truck has a dual-motor, four-wheel drivetrain that makes either 426 hp or 563 hp and 775 lb-ft. of torque, with a range of 230 or 300 miles. It has a large front storage space in place of the engine and can be equipped with a 2.4kW or 9.6kW Pro Power system for powering AC tools, lights, and more.

Mr. Michal shows off a metal truck that incorporates a multi-fire rocket launcher in its bed. Loaded up with gunpowder, it puts on quite a spectacle, but the danger level rises precipitously with the addition of ball-bearing projectiles. Yep, don’t try this at home. Leave it to the YouTube “professionals.”

Candylab celebrates a staple of modern dining, the food truck. Among their wonderful collection of wooden toy cars, you’ll find this series of box trucks, featuring delicious treats like burgers, hot dogs, pretzels, ice cream, and more. They look great with LEGO minifigs lined up and waiting to chow down.

TruckVault creates in-vehicle storage systems for every profession and lifestyle. Their setups for photo gear secure and protect cameras, lenses, lights, tripods, and other accessories while keeping them readily accessible. Available for a wide variety of trucks, SUVs, and crossovers. They also make a drawer for car trunks.

The yellow machine you’re looking at is “Le Mécanophone,” otherwise known as a 1935 Citroën truck, equipped with 42 different car horns. But this thing doesn’t just beep, it’s basically a calliope on wheels. We want one of these just so we can honk at traffic all day long.